SKU:

CS-CN-261-TCXL

Condition:

New Compatible

OEM Part #:

CL-261XL

Color:

Tri-Color

Ink Type:

Dye

Page Yield:

Up to 300 pages (ISO/IEC 24711)

Chip:

Yes — new compatible chip; reports ink levels to the printer

Warranty:

Lifetime Warranty

Returns:

1-Year Free Returns

Frequently Asked Questions

What page yield should I expect from the CL-261XL?

Up to 300 pages, measured on the ISO/IEC 24711 pattern — Canon’s published rating for the CL-261XL. Real life varies with coverage, paper and cleaning cycles: dense photos can halve it, plain text memos can beat it.

Will this work in my printer?

It fits the PG-260 / CL-261 models: Canon PIXMA TS5320, Canon PIXMA TS6420, Canon PIXMA TS6420a, Canon PIXMA TR7020, Canon PIXMA TR7020a and Canon PIXMA TR7022a. The full list is also under Compatible Printers on this page. Order by the code printed on your printer’s cartridge door — neighboring Canon families use similar shells with different codes and chips, and they are not interchangeable.

Why did a new cartridge fix my streaky prints?

On every FINE family the printhead is built into the cartridge itself. Fitting a fresh cartridge therefore fits a fresh printhead — the part that actually puts ink on the page. That is why a cartridge change clears the streaks, gaps and missing lines that repeated cleaning cycles leave behind on these printers, and why a "printhead error" on this platform is usually cured by the cartridge, not by a service part.

Does it carry a chip that reports ink levels?

This cartridge carries a new compatible chip, and the printer reads ink levels normally. If a recognition message appears, power the printer off, reseat the cartridge until it clicks, and restart before assuming the cartridge is faulty — on FINE models a half-seated cartridge is the most common cause. We do not promise recognition under every future firmware version; if a recognition problem cannot be cleared, the cartridge is covered by our Lifetime Warranty.

How does a tri-color cartridge work?

The CL cartridge carries cyan, magenta and yellow in one body with one printhead. The practical consequence: when one color runs out, the cartridge is replaced as a unit even if the other two still hold ink. Printing a test page after long idle periods keeps all three channels clear, and it is worth knowing that these printers draw small amounts of color ink during cleaning cycles even on black-only work — Canon states this in its own support answers.

Is the CL-261XL ink pigment or dye?

Dye. The CL-261XL tri-color cartridge carries dye-based cyan, magenta and yellow — the ink type that produces the bright, blended color these PIXMA printers are known for in photos. The black position in the same printers takes a pigment cartridge, which handles text.

What is the right way to fit a FINE cartridge?

Open the cover and wait for the carriage to stop at the replacement position. Push the lock lever, lift the spent cartridge out, and unpack the new one only when you are ready to fit it — remove the protective tape and cap without touching the printhead nozzles or the gold contacts. Seat the cartridge in the slot for its code (black on the left, color on the right on most models), lower the lock lever until it clicks, close the cover and let the printer charge the ink before printing.

What warranty covers this cartridge?

Our Lifetime Warranty: if the cartridge fails in normal use — leaks, is not recognized after the reseat steps, or stops printing well short of its rated yield — we replace it or refund it, for the life of the cartridge. Returns are free for the first year. The warranty is ours, not Canon’s; this is a Clever Supplies compatible cartridge, clearly labeled compatible on the box and on this page, and it is not manufactured by Canon.

Why do the XL yields differ between black and color here?

Canon rated this family asymmetrically: the PG-260XL reaches up to 400 pages while the CL-261XL is rated up to 300. That mirrors real use — these printers burn through black on documents far faster than color. We stock this family in its XL tier; the standard PG-260 / CL-261 codes are the same slot at up to 180 pages each.