Canon PIXMA MX870 Ink Cartridges Printer
Your Canon PIXMA MX870 uses the PGI-520 / CLI-521 cartridge series, operating on an individual five-ink delivery system that isolates the primary document black tank from the dedicated photographic palette. We have been supplying replacement consumables for this printer since Sep 2010, supporting small business owners and busy households who require stable, high-performance multifunction printing. Our 4.8 Google rating is built on dependable cartridge performance and uncompromised structural quality. Because this printer configuration employs independent ink wells, you only need to change the specific colour tank that runs dry, preventing the unnecessary waste common to older tri-colour blocks.
Document vs photo ink replacement lifecycles
Anticipating how long these cartridges last in real-world application requires assessing your typical home or office production habits. The wider PGI-520BK cartridge houses dark pigment ink formulated explicitly for crisp line art and text on plain paper stock, while the slimmer CLI-521 units contain vivid dye inks engineered for smooth colour transitions and graphics. Because these channels function independently, a workspace managing heavy textual paperwork or contracts will drain the pigment black reservoir rapidly, while the colour chambers remain relatively untouched. Document print yields for this office-ready inkjet family are verified under the international ISO/IEC 24711 standard, establishing an objective criteria for tracking volume performance over standard text patterns.
| Cartridge Number | Type | Colour | Page Yield | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLI-521BK | Standard | Black | 1,875 | $0.012 |
| PGI-520BK | Standard | Black | 350 | $0.067 |
| CLI-521C | Standard | Cyan | 505 | $0.046 |
| CLI-521M | Standard | Magenta | 471 | $0.049 |
| CLI-521Y | Standard | Yellow | 505 | $0.046 |
Cost Per Page = Total Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield (at 5% coverage). Prices based on Genuine cartridges.
Choosing between genuine and compatible options
Utilising generic replacement cartridges provides an excellent avenue for mitigating high office or household printing costs over time. Many domestic workstations run combined configurations where a genuine factory tank and a compatible alternative tank sit side by side in the carriage bay without causing any mechanical interference or software alerts. Under Australian Consumer Law, using compatible cartridges does not void your printer warranty. To inspect real-world formula stability metrics and cartridge assembly components, you can view our informational summary page on our genuine vs compatible cartridges blog post.
Best way to stock these cartridges
Securing value-packed multi-packs represents the most cost-effective approach to prevent unexpected interruptions during critical office, business, or university printing tasks. If your setup handles predominantly monochrome letterheads, invoices, or document printing, maintaining a spare standalone pigment black cartridge alongside your main bundle creates a more efficient and stress-free supply routine. Every generic replacement ink tank we ship is backed by a comprehensive money-back guarantee, ensuring your total peace of mind. Review our full return parameters on our dedicated returns policy page. Free delivery applies on all orders over $99 (conditions apply), with shipments leaving daily from local distribution hubs situated in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Browse broader purchase paths by checking our main Canon ink cartridges catalog page.
Pro Tip
The Canon PIXMA MX870 relies on a premium, removable printhead assembly coupled with separate optical chips on the base of every PGI-520 and CLI-521 cartridge. If you notice a flashing red light on a newly installed tank or the printer reports a communication fault, remove the cartridge and use a clean, dry cloth to gently wipe the golden contact chips on the tank. This eliminates any static electricity or residue that might prevent the carriage sensors from validating the chip link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Canon PIXMA MX870 require two different types of black ink cartridges?
The system uses a large PGI-520BK pigment black cartridge and a small CLI-521BK dye black cartridge. The pigment black is specially formulated to deliver razor-sharp, smudge-resistant text on plain paper for documents and faxes, while the dye black is used to create rich contrast, deep shadows, and gradations in colour graphics and photo prints.
Will my printer continue to scan or send faxes if one of the ink cartridges runs completely dry?
The printer software usually locks down all operational functions, including scanning or copying, when an ink tank reads completely empty to safeguard the internal printing mechanics. However, you can often bypass this error block temporarily by holding down the printer's 'Stop/Reset' button for 5 to 10 seconds, which tells the printer to ignore the ink sensor so you can finish urgent non-printing tasks.
What is the difference in performance between standard genuine and compatible cartridges for this printer?
Compatible PGI-520 and CLI-521 cartridges are engineered to match the physical specifications and ink volumes of original factory tanks at a fraction of the price. While genuine cartridges offer maximum colour accuracy for archival photographic printing, high-quality compatible cartridges provide an exceptionally sharp and reliable output for standard everyday office documents, text, and business reports.
