PIXMA MG5520

Canon PIXMA MG5520 Ink — PGI-250 / CLI-251 Cartridges

The Canon PIXMA MG5520 runs on PGI-250 / CLI-251 tanks: PGI-250XL pigment black (up to 500 pages), CLI-251XL black (up to 5,565 pages), CLI-251XL cyan (up to 715 pages), CLI-251XL magenta (up to 645 pages), CLI-251XL yellow (up to 715 pages). Compatible cartridges for the MG5520 start at $8.24 at Clever Supplies — each one chipped, and each one covered by a lifetime warranty.

The PIXMA MG5520 is a photo all-in-one built around print, scan and copy work, and its ink system is deliberately flexible. Every tank is individual, so a half-empty color never forces a full set change — you top up only the tank the printer is asking for, replacing each color as it runs dry. Genuine Canon and compatible tanks can also run side by side in the same machine.

Which PGI-250 / CLI-251 cartridges should you buy for the MG5520?

PGI-250XL Pigment Black Ink Cartridge — $8.24 · up to 500 pages — the document black; start here if you print mostly text
CLI-251XL Black Ink Cartridge — $8.24 · up to 5,565 pages — the dye black tank, swapped on its own when photo black runs low
CLI-251XL Cyan Ink Cartridge — $8.24 · up to 715 pages — the cyan tank, swapped on its own when blue tones run low
CLI-251XL Magenta Ink Cartridge — $8.24 · up to 645 pages — the magenta tank, swapped on its own when red tones run low
CLI-251XL Yellow Ink Cartridge — $8.24 · up to 715 pages — the yellow tank, swapped on its own when yellow runs low
PGI-250 / CLI-251 Set of 11 BCMY Ink Cartridges — $65.84 · 11 cartridges (BCMY) — the deeper reserve box for a household that prints every week
PGI-250 / CLI-251 Set of 5 BCMY Ink Cartridges — $29.93 · 5 cartridges (BCMY) — the complete five-tank top-up in one box

Chip, ink and everyday use

Each cartridge carries a new compatible chip, so the MG5520 reads ink levels the way it reads an original tank. Text comes from the pigment black, while color and photos come from the dye tanks. If a cartridge is ever not recognized, reseat it until it clicks and restart the printer; wiping the gold contacts with a dry, lint-free cloth is the next step. Store spares sealed and upright so they are ready when a tank runs dry.