Canon Spongeless Refillable Cartridges: OEM Ink Capacity vs. Refillable Tank Capacity

Question:
When converting Canon cartridges such as PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, and CL-246 into spongeless refillable cartridges, how much ink does the original OEM cartridge hold compared to a refillable tank? Is there a gram-to-gram or milliliter-to-milliliter comparison?

Answer:

Now, regarding the Canon PG-240, CL-241, PG-245, and CL-246 cartridges, here’s how the ink capacity compares between OEM and refillable versions:

1. OEM Cartridge Ink Capacity

Canon OEM cartridges in this family are designed with sponge-filled chambers. These sponges retain ink but also limit usable capacity because not all of the ink gets released during printing. Typically:

• PG-240/PG-245 (Black): Around 8–12 ml of usable ink in standard cartridges. The XL versions can hold up to 15–18 ml, but a portion of that remains trapped in the sponge.

• CL-241/CL-246 (Tri-Color): Around 6–8 ml per color in standard versions, with XL models holding closer to 12–13 ml total. Again, some of that stays absorbed in the sponge rather than reaching the printhead.

Because of this sponge design, users often find that OEM cartridges report "empty" or produce faded prints before all ink is truly depleted.

2. Spongeless Refillable Cartridge Capacity

When you convert to a spongeless refillable tank system, you eliminate the sponge barrier, and ink flows directly to the printhead chamber. This design increases usable ink capacity:

• Black refillable tank (PG-240/245 replacement): Typically holds 18–22 ml of ink.

• Tri-color refillable tank (CL-241/246 replacement): Typically, the tank holds around 15–18 ml of ink, ensuring more even distribution across the three colors.

This means refillables can often double the usable ink compared to the standard OEM cartridges. On a cost-per-page basis, this makes refillables far more economical, especially for high-volume printing.

For more details on Canon cartridge model differences, check out our article: What Is the Difference Between PG-243, CL-244, PG-245, and CL-246 for Canon Pixma Printers (https://bchtechnologies.com/blogs/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-pg-243-cl-244-and-pg-245-cl-246-for-canon-pixma-printer?srsltid=AfmBOoqgUZ25S2pMltFg9kIV5ao0CPpZ9BtKE4gRFffF1kHYVHS-lBUj).

3. Weight (Grams) vs. Volume (Milliliters)

Ink density is close to that of water—about 1 gram ≈ 1 milliliter. So if your refillable tank holds 18 ml, it will weigh roughly 18 grams of ink. Minor variations may exist depending on whether the ink is dye-based or pigment-based, but for most users, grams and milliliters can be considered interchangeable in practice.

4. Practical Takeaways

• OEM cartridges limit usable ink because of sponge absorption.

• Spongeless refillables give you full access to the ink chamber, increasing efficiency and lowering cost per page.

• For best results, always pair your refillable tanks with high-quality dye or pigment ink, depending on your printing needs. BCH offers brand-specific refill ink, including sets for Canon printers: Canon Refill Ink (https://bchtechnologies.com/standard-600-ml-4-color-refill-ink-for-all-printers-kd600x-cu/).

Important Note on Printer Repairs

Printer troubleshooting and cartridge conversions often require hands-on adjustments. We cannot provide remote one-on-one support for these types of modifications. However, we do offer in-person evaluations and repairs at our local diagnostic facility (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Due to high demand, service is first-come, first-served and may involve a wait time of a few weeks. Our rates may not be the lowest, which is why many customers choose to troubleshoot themselves with online help. If you’re researching, the most efficient way to find relevant resources is through our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Use the search icon near the “About” tab to locate the proper video tutorial quickly.

Thank you again for your question and for being part of the BCH Technologies community. Your support helps us continue creating in-depth resources for printer users worldwide.