Compatible Canon CLI-521 Black ink cartridge

Will this cartridge work in my Canon printer?

Use our 'Check this ink fits your printer' box at the top of this page to confirm this cartridge is suitable for your printer model. In most cases the model number is written on the front of your printer.

Note: These cartridges will only work in printers purchased in the UK and Europe. Printers purchased outside of these zones will have different coding and electronics.

How much ink is in a Canon PGi-520 and CLi-521 Compatible cartridge?

We don't advise on the number of millilitres, as not every cartridge prints using the same droplet size, so two cartridges for two different printers may both have 5ml of ink, but one will print more than the other. Instead, more accurately, the industry standard is based on printing 5% of an A4 page.

How many pages will this Canon PGi-520 and CLi-521 Compatible cartridge print?

This is known as page yield. The number of pages you'll be able to print depends on the cartridge you purchase and the kind of printing you do. The page yields shown higher up the page are based on printing 5% of the area on an A4 page.

Learn more about how many pages you'll be able to print with this cartridge in this article.

Will this compatible ink cartridge work with my printer?

Providing you haven't had a recent firmware update (see question below), you shouldn't have a problem. The chips on our cartridges are updated regularly to avoid firmware interference, but in the unlikely event your printer did reject the cartridges, you are covered by our 12-month guarantee.

What are firmware updates?

Firmware updates are updates put through your printer by the printer manufacturers (e.g. HP, Epson, Canon etc.). The update can contain code that stops any third-party cartridges from working, so that you can only use original brand cartridges. In most cases you cannot undo this update, but you can switch updates off to prevent it.

Do the cartridges display ink levels?

Yes, these cartridges are designed to work no differently from originals, so all the same functions should be available.

The cartridges look different to the originals or ones I have had before, will they fit my printer?

Third-party cartridges must be designed to differ slightly from the originals, to fit in with legal copyright requirements. However, the cartridges are still made to fit in your printer and are tested rigorously to ensure compatibility with your printer. We use a small number of trusted suppliers and while the look of the cartridges can vary slightly from each one, they will fit your printer.