Which ink does the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 use?
The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 (ecotank, 2021) uses Epson 542.
Third-party cartridge risk: Low no firmware lockout is on record for this printer, so compatible and remanufactured cartridges should work.
The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 uses standard Epson 542 ink cartridges which are available in black cyan magenta and yellow. When purchasing these cartridges you may come across "standard" options with a page yield of about 6000 pages at an estimated cost per page of about 0.4 cents. It is worth noting that the printer does not have firmware DRM on record so third-party compatible cartridges should work.
Compatible cartridges
| Cartridge | Color | Yield | Pages | OEM price | Cost/page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epson 542 | black | standard | 6000 | $25.00 | 0.4¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| Epson 542 | cyan | standard | 6000 | $25.00 | 0.4¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| Epson 542 | magenta | standard | 6000 | $25.00 | 0.4¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| Epson 542 | yellow | standard | 6000 | $25.00 | 0.4¢ | 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 Pro ET-5850 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 542 at about 0.4 cents per page, and a reliable compatible typically undercuts that. Buy from a seller with strong reviews and a compatibility guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
Which ink does the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 use?
The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 uses Epson 542.
Will third-party ink work in the Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850, or will firmware block it?
The Epson EcoTank Pro ET-5850 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 Pro ET-5850 cartridges print?
Rated yields are the Epson 542 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 Pro ET-5850?
By list price the lowest cost per page here is the Epson 542 at about 0.4 cents per page. A reliable compatible or remanufactured cartridge can lower that further.
Related Epson EcoTank Pro printers
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.