Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820 Ink Cartridges
Your Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820 uses the 812, 812XL, 812XXL cartridge series, which is engineered with a four-cartridge individual pigment ink system. Small business operators find this design optimal because it allows for high-capacity monochrome text printing alongside professional colour document rendering. By housing each colour in a separate cartridge, you only replace the specific ink that has depleted, preventing the waste commonly associated with combined multi-colour systems during intense print schedules.
Expected page output and replacement cycles
Page yields for these high-performance DURABrite Ultra pigment inks are determined using the ISO/IEC 24711 standard, which utilizes five test patterns printed continuously on plain office paper. For small business environments, monitoring document types is key to planning cartridge purchases. If your everyday business output consists of heavy accounting spreadsheets and black-and-white invoices, your black cartridge will require replacement far sooner than your colour cartridges. Upgrading to high-yield 812XL cartridges offers more than triple the page output of standard cartridges, dramatically reducing how often you need to drop new inks into the carriage.
| Cartridge Number | Type | Colour | Page Yield | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 812 | Standard | Black | 350 | $0.089 |
| 812 | Standard | Cyan | 300 | $0.098 |
| 812 | Standard | Magenta | 300 | $0.098 |
| 812 | Standard | Yellow | 300 | $0.098 |
| 812XL | High Yield | Black | 1,100 | $0.046 |
| 812XL | High Yield | Cyan | 1,100 | $0.044 |
| 812XL | High Yield | Magenta | 1,100 | $0.044 |
| 812XL | High Yield | Yellow | 1,100 | $0.044 |
Cost Per Page = Total Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield (at 5% coverage). Prices based on Genuine cartridges.
Choosing between genuine and compatible cartridges
To achieve the lowest operating expenses in a busy office, switching to compatible cartridges provides substantial cost reductions. Compatible 812XL cartridges deliver identical page capacities to genuine cartridges without compromising on ink drying times or text clarity. Under Australian Consumer Law, using compatible cartridges does not void your printer warranty. If you want to read more about how compatible alternatives match manufacturer standards, visit our genuine vs compatible cartridges comparison guide.
Best way to stock these cartridges
When your business runs a mix of high-volume text and daily marketing materials, selecting value bundle packs is the most cost-effective procurement strategy. Value bundles keep your operating costs low and ensure you have a backup ink cartridge ready before an active print run halts. If you decide to try our compatible alternatives, they are backed by a complete money-back guarantee for peace of mind.
Free delivery applies on all orders over $99 (conditions apply). We ship all orders directly from our local distribution centers in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide to minimize delivery transit times. Check our full range of Epson ink cartridges to order what you need. If you ever purchase an incorrect model for your workspace, you can easily return unopened items in accordance with our returns policy.
Pro Tip
Epson WorkForce Pro printers are designed to run an automatic maintenance cycle upon cartridge replacement to prime the printhead. To prevent excess ink consumption during these priming cycles, try to replace all low or empty cartridges in a single session rather than replacing individual cartridges days apart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install an 812XL cartridge in my printer if I am currently using standard 812 cartridges?
Yes. Standard 812 and high-yield 812XL cartridges are designed with identical external dimensions and fit into the exact same slots inside the printhead assembly. You can freely mix standard and XL capacities within the same printer based on your specific print volumes.
Why is it important that the 812 cartridge series uses pigment ink rather than dye ink?
Pigment ink uses solid colour particles suspended in liquid, whereas dye ink is fully dissolved. For small business documents, pigment ink is critical because it binds to the surface of plain paper, making your printed text, invoices, and bar codes completely smudge-resistant, water-resistant, and highlight-safe.
What happens if I try to print on my Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3820 when one colour is completely dry?
The printer will pause all active print jobs and display an error message on the screen. It is impossible to bypass this warning to print in monochrome using only black ink, as a minimum ink volume must remain in all colour cartridges to protect the physical printhead nozzles from heat-induced damage.
