Which ink does the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 use?
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 (ecotank, 2021) uses Epson 502.
Third-party cartridge risk: Low no firmware lockout is on record for this printer, so compatible and remanufactured cartridges should work.
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 uses standard Epson 502 cartridges for black and cyan/magenta/yellow ink. When choosing between standard and high-yield options, consider that standard cyan/magenta/yellow cartridges have a yield of about 6000 pages each. Standard black cartridges have a lower page yield at about 4500 pages.
Compatible cartridges
| Cartridge | Color | Yield | Pages | OEM price | Cost/page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson 502 | black | standard | 4500 | $15.99 | 0.4¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| Epson 502 | cyan | standard | 6000 | $12.99 | 0.2¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| Epson 502 | magenta | standard | 6000 | $12.99 | 0.2¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| Epson 502 | yellow | standard | 6000 | $12.99 | 0.2¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
XL (high-yield) cartridges cost more upfront but lower the cost per page, which is better if you print a lot.
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is not on our firmware-lockout list, so a well-reviewed compatible or remanufactured cartridge should work and costs well below OEM. By list price the lowest cost per page here is the Epson 502 at about 0.2 cents per page, and a reliable compatible typically undercuts that. Buy from a seller with strong reviews and a compatibility guarantee.
Cheaper third-party options
- InkCartridges.com compatible for Epson 502: $9.99
link pending
Good: bottle refills, easy install on EcoTank.
Frequently asked questions
Which ink does the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 use?
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 uses Epson 502.
Does the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 use toner?
No. The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is an refillable ink tank printer, so it prints with liquid ink poured from bottles, not toner powder, and no toner cartridge fits it. If you were searching for EcoTank ET-3850 toner, the part you want is Epson 502.
Will third-party ink work in the Epson EcoTank ET-3850, or will firmware block it?
The Epson EcoTank ET-3850 is not on our firmware-lockout list, so compatible and remanufactured cartridges should work. Firmware can change with an update, so it is worth checking before buying a large supply.
How many pages do the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 cartridges print?
Rated yields are the Epson 502 at about 4500 pages and the Epson 502 at about 6000 pages. Real-world yield depends on how much you print and how much ink each page uses.
What is the cheapest ink for the Epson EcoTank ET-3850?
By list price the lowest cost per page here is the Epson 502 at about 0.2 cents per page. A reliable compatible or remanufactured cartridge can lower that further.
Related Epson EcoTank printers
- Epson EcoTank ET-15000
- Epson EcoTank ET-16500
- Epson EcoTank ET-2400
- Epson EcoTank ET-2500
- Epson EcoTank ET-2710
- Epson EcoTank ET-2720
- Epson EcoTank ET-2750
- Epson EcoTank ET-2760
Guides for Epson EcoTank ET-3850 owners
- Setup cartridges: why a new printer runs out of ink so fast, and what the first refill costs
- Waste ink pads and maintenance boxes: the counter that stops a printer that still works
- Does Epson block third-party ink? Yes on cartridge models, no on EcoTank
- Epson ink cartridge chart: which number fits which printer, and what it costs
- How to reset an Epson printer and clear an ink or non-genuine cartridge error
Last reviewed . Compiled by MyCartridgeFinder from manufacturer cartridge finders and retailer cross reference tables, then checked against this printer's database record. Cartridge numbers and yields come from that record, never from guesswork. See our methodology and data sources.