Note (October 2026): This guide was corrected. Earlier text described matte black ink as if it were clothing and recommended dye-based ink for heavily handled prints; pigment-based ink is the more water- and smudge-resistant option.
The three Epson ink types worth knowing before Black Friday are matte black (for matte and plain paper), pigment black (sharp, smudge-resistant text) and DURABrite Ultra color cartridges such as magenta. Buy only the cartridge number your printer accepts, compare price per page, and consider XL cartridges or an EcoTank if you print a lot.
Key Takeaways
- Black Friday is the Friday after US Thanksgiving: November 27 in 2026, with Cyber Monday on November 30.
- Epson cartridges are model-specific, so match the cartridge number before buying any deal.
- Pigment ink, such as DURABrite Ultra, resists water and fading better than dye ink; dye ink gives more vivid color at lower cost.
- Use matte black on matte and plain paper and photo black on glossy photo paper.
- Epson says EcoTank ink bottles save up to 90% versus cartridges (its March 2025 comparison), which suits heavy printing.
Black Friday is not only about electronics deals; it is also a popular time to compare prices on replacement ink cartridges. Before you stock up on Epson printer ink cartridges, confirm the exact cartridge series your printer uses, because each Epson printer accepts only specific cartridge numbers.
Black Friday is also not the only sale day of the season: Cyber Monday follows on the Monday after it, so it is worth comparing prices across that whole weekend rather than buying on impulse.
Three Epson Ink Types to Know Before Black Friday
In the run-up to the holiday season, many shoppers look for deals on gifts as well as on everyday supplies, and some simply want to shop for Epson ink cartridges online.
But just as Black Friday has become one of the biggest shopping days of the year, it has also become one of the biggest shopping days for printer ink cartridges–a consumables market often said to generate more than $3 billion in revenue each year, although that figure could not be independently confirmed and research firms’ estimates vary widely depending on what they count.
Black Friday falls on the Friday after US Thanksgiving and traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season at both online and in-store retailers. If you print regularly, it is a sensible moment to compare prices on genuine Epson cartridges, high-capacity XL cartridges and refill bottles.
From budget-friendly multipacks to high-yield replacements, there are plenty of ways to save some money on these essential supplies for your home or office printer. The three Epson ink types below are the ones most worth understanding before you buy.
Matte Black
Matte black ink is a black ink made for matte, fine-art and plain papers, where it gives a deeper black than photo black ink. On glossy, satin or luster photo paper it is the wrong choice, because its larger pigment particles do not bond well to the fine surface pores and the print can stay wet and less durable.
Matte black is worth stocking if your printer has a separate matte black slot or cartridge; the matte black versus photo black table further down shows which black suits which paper.
Pigment Black
Pigment black is the usual choice for sharp, durable text and line graphics, especially on plain paper. The Pigment ink also tends to dry quicker than dye ink, meaning it’s less likely to smudge when wet, which is especially helpful for fine print like text and graphics.
For media that receive heavy handling or constant contact with hands, such as board game cards, pigment-based ink is generally the better choice, because dye-based inks are not waterproof without a special coating or lamination and fade faster in light. Dye-based inks are cheaper and give the most vivid colors, which is why many photo printers still use them.
DuraBrite Ultra Magenta
DuraBrite Ultra Magenta is the magenta cartridge in Epson’s DURABrite Ultra range, which Epson describes as the only consumer four-color ink set that is entirely pigment-based. Epson markets DURABrite Ultra for text, graphics and home photo printing, and says the prints resist smudges and water even on plain paper. A printhead that uses DuraBrite ink is sometimes said to last up to 3 times longer than other printer cartridges because it needs less cleaning, but Epson’s own DURABrite Ultra information does not make that claim, so treat it as unconfirmed.
Sellers of refillable cartridge systems sometimes advertise savings of up to $145 over the life of a single set of ink cartridges, but that figure could not be independently confirmed and real savings depend on how much you print. When shopping around for printer ink cartridges it’s important to note that a discount store may not always offer you the best deals out there.
While it is true that some retailers don’t carry name brands such as DuraBrite, this does not necessarily mean they are selling cheaper products.
When Is Black Friday?
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, and Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November. In 2026, Thanksgiving falls on November 26, so Black Friday is November 27 and Cyber Monday, the Monday immediately after Black Friday, is November 30. In 2027 the same three days fall on November 25, 26 and 29.
Because the date moves every year, the simplest rule is: find the fourth Thursday of November, add one day for Black Friday and four days for Cyber Monday.
Pigment Ink vs Dye Ink: Which Epson Ink Do You Need?
Epson printers use either pigment-based ink, such as DURABrite Ultra, or dye-based ink, depending on the model. The ink type is set by the printer, so the choice matters most when you buy a new printer; for an existing printer, buy the cartridges it was designed for. The table summarizes the general differences described in the Wikipedia article on inkjet printing and in Epson’s DURABrite Ultra information.
| Feature | Pigment-based ink (e.g. DURABrite Ultra) | Dye-based ink |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | Water-resistant; Epson says this holds on all supported papers, including plain paper | Not waterproof without a special coating or lamination |
| Fading | Better long-term light resistance; Epson rates DURABrite Ultra at 120 years lightfastness on Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight | Most dye inks fade faster when exposed to light or ozone |
| Color | Strong, sharp text and graphics | Often the widest color range and most vivid color |
| Cost | Typically more expensive | Usually the least expensive |
| Best for | Documents, labels, barcodes, prints that get handled | Vivid photos kept under glass or in albums |
Matte Black vs Photo Black
Matte black and photo black are two different black inks used in many Epson photo and professional printers. The deciding factor is the surface of the paper, not whether the print is color or black and white.
| Black ink | Use it on | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Matte black | Matte papers, cotton fine-art papers, plain paper | Larger pigment particles stay near the surface and give a deeper black on matte media |
| Photo black | Glossy, semi-gloss, satin, pearl and luster photo papers | Smaller particles bond with the fine pores of glossy coatings |
On many newer Epson printers both blacks are installed at the same time, and the printer switches automatically, sometimes with a short ink swap, when you change the paper setting.
How to Choose the Right Epson Cartridge Before a Sale
- Find your printer model. It is printed on the printer itself and shown in the printer’s settings (for example WorkForce WF-2540 or Expression XP-410).
- Find the cartridge number. Read it from the cartridge you already have or from the printer manual. Epson cartridge series are model-specific: Epson 200 DURABrite Ultra cartridges, for example, fit the WorkForce WF-2520, WF-2530 and WF-2540 and the Expression XP-200, XP-300, XP-310, XP-400 and XP-410, while the WorkForce WF-3720 and WF-3730 use Epson 220 cartridges.
- Choose standard or XL. XL (high-capacity) cartridges hold more ink and print more pages, so compare price per page rather than price per cartridge.
- Check the date on the box. Do not buy far more than you can use, because ink in a sealed cartridge still has a limited shelf life.
- Compare the full weekend. Prices can differ between Black Friday and Cyber Monday and between retailers, so check more than one store.
Genuine, Compatible or Refilled Cartridges?
Printer makers commonly follow a “razor and blades” model, selling printers at or near break-even and earning their profit on replacement cartridges. Wikipedia’s ink cartridge article puts typical cartridge ink prices at $13 to $75 per US fluid ounce, which is why many buyers look at alternatives.
- Genuine Epson cartridges are made for the printer and carry Epson’s ink performance claims.
- Remanufactured cartridges are used cartridges that have been taken apart, cleaned, tested and refilled; they make up about 30% of the total printer cartridge market, according to the same article.
- Refilled cartridges are cheaper, but a 2007 study cited by Wikipedia found higher failure rates, fewer pages printed and more streaking, curling and color bleed than with new cartridges.
- Chips: cartridges carry a chip that communicates with the printer, which manufacturers can use to block refills or detect third-party cartridges.
Does third-party ink void an Epson warranty in the US?
Using compatible ink should not, on its own, void a US warranty. In April 2018 the US Federal Trade Commission warned companies that the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits making warranty coverage conditional on using specified parts or service providers, unless those parts are provided free or the FTC grants a waiver. This is general information, not legal advice; damage actually caused by a faulty third-party cartridge is a separate question.
Is an Epson EcoTank Cheaper Than Cartridges?
For heavy printing, an Epson EcoTank printer, which uses refillable tanks and ink bottles instead of cartridges, can cost less over time. Epson says its replacement EcoTank ink bottles save up to 90% compared with ink cartridges, that one set of bottles is equivalent to about 80 ink cartridges, and that a set holds enough ink to last up to three years. Epson’s comparison, dated March 2025, uses its own MSRPs and standard-capacity cartridge yields, and Epson notes that actual savings vary considerably with print volume and usage.
An EcoTank usually costs more to buy than a basic cartridge printer, so it makes most sense if you print often. If you print only a few pages a month, a cartridge printer with XL cartridges bought on sale may work out cheaper. For a wider comparison, see inkjet vs laser printers and the drawbacks of all-in-one printers.
Black Friday Ink Shopping Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying the wrong series: a discounted cartridge is worthless if it does not fit your printer, so match the cartridge number exactly.
- Comparing cartridge prices, not page costs: an XL cartridge can be cheaper per page even when it costs more up front.
- Stockpiling too much: ink can dry out or pass its use-by date before you need it.
- Using unfamiliar sellers: very cheap “genuine” cartridges from unknown sellers may not be what they claim; buy from established retailers. Our guides to getting the best deals on shopping sites and safe online shopping cover the basics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black Friday a good time to buy Epson ink cartridges?
Black Friday can be a good time to buy Epson ink cartridges because it opens the holiday shopping season, when retailers run promotions. Check the cartridge number, compare the price per page, and compare Cyber Monday prices before buying.
What is the difference between matte black and photo black ink?
Matte black ink is for matte, fine-art and plain papers, where it gives a deeper black. Photo black ink is for glossy, satin and luster photo papers, where its smaller particles bond to the coating.
Is DURABrite Ultra ink pigment or dye?
DURABrite Ultra is a pigment-based ink. Epson describes it as an all-pigment four-color consumer ink set that resists smudges, water and fading, even on plain paper.
Can I use non-Epson ink in an Epson printer?
Many people use compatible or remanufactured cartridges in Epson printers. In the US, the FTC has said warranty coverage cannot be made conditional on using a brand’s own parts, but cartridge chips can be used to detect third-party cartridges, and quality varies.
How do I know which ink my Epson printer uses?
Check the number on the cartridge already installed, the printer manual, or Epson’s support pages for your printer model. Epson cartridge series fit only specific printer models.
