The Epson EcoTank ET-2850 is one of the most compelling printers available in the UK right now — if you print regularly. Instead of cartridges, it uses refillable ink tanks that you top up from bottles. The result is one of the lowest cost-per-page profiles of any home inkjet.
But it's not cheap to buy. So the real question is: has your ET-2850 paid for itself yet, and does it make sense to keep?
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What ink does the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 use?
The ET-2850 uses Epson EcoTank 102 ink bottles — individual bottles for black, cyan, magenta, and yellow.
| Bottle | Yield | Typical UK price | Cost per page |
|---|---|---|---|
| T03R1 Black (102) | ~7,500 pages | ~£13 | ~0.17p |
| T03R2 Cyan (102) | ~6,000 pages | ~£10 | ~0.17p |
| T03R3 Magenta (102) | ~6,000 pages | ~£10 | ~0.17p |
| T03R4 Yellow (102) | ~6,000 pages | ~£10 | ~0.17p |
At roughly 0.5–0.7p per page all-in for black and colour combined, the ET-2850 has running costs that make virtually every cartridge-based printer look expensive.
If you are comparing EcoTank ownership with Instant Ink or retail cartridges, read HP Instant Ink vs EcoTank vs cartridges.
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Running cost comparison
| Printer type | Black cost/page | Colour cost/page |
|---|---|---|
| EcoTank ET-2850 | ~0.17p | ~0.17p/colour |
| Standard Canon/HP inkjet (XL) | 3–7p | 4–9p |
| Brother mono laser | 1–2p | — (mono only) |
| HP Instant Ink subscription | Variable | Variable |
The EcoTank genuinely competes with laser printers on cost per page — and beats them on colour cost.
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How long do the ink bottles last?
This is where EcoTank really stands out.
- At 100 pages/month: a full set of bottles lasts roughly 4–5 years
- At 200 pages/month: roughly 2–2.5 years
- At 500 pages/month: roughly 1 year
Most ET-2850 owners who bought when the printer launched have never needed to replace the starter bottles — they came with enough ink for 7,000–14,000 pages depending on model.
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Is the ET-2850 worth keeping?
Verdict: Almost certainly yes — if you print at least 50–100 pages/month.
The ET-2850 is unusual because the primary question isn't "should I upgrade?" — it's "has my upfront investment paid back yet?"
Break-even analysis
Typical UK retail for an ET-2850 is approximately £280–£320.
If you switched from a standard inkjet spending ~£60–£80/year on cartridges:
| Year | Cartridge printer running cost | ET-2850 total cost (hardware + ink) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | £70 | ~£300 (hardware) + ~£6 ink = £306 |
| Year 2 | £70 | ~£6 ink = £6 |
| Year 3 | £70 | ~£6 ink = £6 |
| Year 4 | £70 | ~£6 ink = £6 |
| 4-year total | £280 | ~£324 |
At that spending level, the ET-2850 starts paying back around Year 4. If you were spending more on cartridges — say £100–£150/year — you break even around Year 2–3.
The EcoTank genuinely makes sense when your annual cartridge spend is high, not when it's modest.
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When to consider replacing the ET-2850
The ET-2850 is a good printer to keep for a long time. Consider replacing only if:
- It develops a hardware fault (printhead clog that can't be cleared, paper feed issues)
- You need features it lacks (e.g., fax, A3 printing, very high-speed output)
- A significantly better EcoTank model becomes available at a price that makes the switch worthwhile
Do not replace it just because a new EcoTank comes out — the ink costs on the ET-2850 are already excellent, and there's no running-cost reason to upgrade until the hardware fails.
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FAQ
What ink does the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 use?
It uses Epson EcoTank 102 ink bottles — black (T03R1), cyan (T03R2), magenta (T03R3), and yellow (T03R4).
Is the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 expensive to run?
No — it's one of the cheapest inkjet printers to run in the UK. Typical all-in cost is around 0.5–0.7p per page, far below standard cartridge printers.
How often do I need to refill the ET-2850?
At typical home volumes (100 pages/month), you may only need to refill every 2–4 years per bottle. Many owners rarely need to top up at all.
Can I use third-party ink bottles in the ET-2850?
Third-party "compatible" EcoTank ink bottles exist and are cheaper. Quality varies — some work well, others can cause printhead issues. If you use them, buy from a reputable supplier. Note that Epson may use this to decline service support if something goes wrong.
Is the ET-2850 worth buying in 2026?
If you're starting from scratch, yes — if you print regularly (80+ pages/month). If you print only occasionally, the upfront cost is hard to justify.
See the full Epson EcoTank ET-2850 printer page → Compare EcoTank vs regular inkjets → Use the upgrade calculator →
