Canon PG-40 & CL-41 Ink Cartridges: Australian Guide 🖨️
The Canon PIXMA iP1800 and MP140 were among Canon's most affordable compact inkjets in Australia during the 2005–2009 period — tiny footprint, simple operation, and widely distributed. Many are still functional in Australian homes and offices.
If yours is still printing, PG-40 and CL-41 are your ink cartridges. Compatible options are now the only practical route. Ollie and Noodle have the complete picture (Ollie admires the iP1800's longevity 🐾).
Which Printers Use PG-40 and CL-41?
PG-40/CL-41 covers the first wave of Canon PIXMA compact printers sold in Australia:
PIXMA iP series (print-only):
- iP1200, iP1300, iP1600, iP1700
- iP1800, iP1900 — widely sold AU models
- iP2200, iP2500, iP2600
PIXMA MP series (all-in-one):
- MP140, MP150, MP160, MP170
- MP180, MP190, MP210, MP220
PIXMA MX series:
- MX300, MX310
PG-40 vs CL-41: The Pair
| Cartridge | Type | Yield | |-----------|------|-------| | PG-40 | Pigment Black | ~195 pages | | CL-41 | Dye Tri-colour (C/M/Y) | ~312 pages |
PG-40 uses pigment ink — sharp, smudge-resistant text. CL-41 is a tri-colour dye cartridge combining cyan, magenta, and yellow. When one colour depletes, the full CL-41 must be replaced.
The page yields are low by modern standards, but the low cost of compatible cartridges makes this manageable.
PG-40 vs PG-510 vs PG-512: Avoiding Confusion
Canon's PIXMA range spanned multiple cartridge generations, and the model names overlap confusingly:
| Cartridge | Era | Fits | |-----------|-----|------| | PG-40 / CL-41 | 2005–2009 | iP1x00, iP2x00, MP1xx, MP2xx (early) | | PG-510 / CL-511 | 2009–2013 | MP2xx (later), MP4xx, iP2700, MX3xx–MX4xx | | PG-512 / CL-513 | 2009–2013 | Higher yield for overlapping range | | PG-640 / CL-641 | 2012–2018 | MG3xx, MG5xx, TS5160 |
Not interchangeable across generations. Check the cartridge bay door on your printer — it will show the correct number.
Genuine Availability
Genuine Canon PG-40 and CL-41 are discontinued. Canon has not manufactured or distributed them in Australia for a decade. Compatible cartridges from third-party online retailers are the only ongoing practical option.
At typical compatible pricing:
- PG-40 compatible: ~$6–$10
- CL-41 compatible: ~$8–$12
For a household printing ~50–60 pages/month: ~$20–$35/year in ink costs.
Is It Worth Keeping the Printer?
At $20–$35/year, running cost is not the issue with these printers.
Worth keeping if:
- Output is clean and consistent
- You only need basic document printing (not photo quality by modern standards)
- The printer is working and you don't want to spend on a replacement
Consider replacing if:
- Printhead cleaning cycles (Tools → Maintenance in the printer driver) don't fix output
- You need wireless, duplex, or scan-to-email functionality
- You can't find compatible ink at a price that makes sense
A modern wireless PIXMA (TS3360 or similar) is available for $60–$80 at Officeworks and uses more widely available ink (PG-645/CL-646 or similar).
Australian Consumer Law
Canon Australia cannot void your statutory warranty because you used compatible ink. For printers well outside their warranty period, ACL statutory consumer guarantees still apply based on reasonable product lifespan.
Summary
- ✅ PG-40 (pigment black, ~195 pages) + CL-41 (tri-colour dye, ~312 pages) — 2-cartridge system
- ✅ Compatible is the only practical option — genuine PG-40/CL-41 are discontinued in AU
- ✅ Very low running cost (~$20–$35/year at light use)
- ✅ Not interchangeable with PG-510, PG-512, or PG-640 — check printer cartridge door
- ✅ Fits: iP1200–iP2600, MP140–MP220, MX300–MX310
- ✅ No warranty risk under Australian Consumer Law