Epson 664 vs 673 EcoTank Ink: Which Should You Buy? (Australia 2026)
EcoTank printers are brilliant — buy once, refill with cheap ink forever. But when it's time to top up, it's easy to grab the wrong bottle.
Epson 664 and 673 look almost identical on the shelf. Here's why that matters. 🐾
The Critical Difference: These Are NOT Interchangeable
Before anything else: Epson 664 and 673 inks cannot be swapped between printers.
They have different formulations, different bottle connectors in some markets, and are designed for fundamentally different printing purposes:
| | Epson 664 | Epson 673 | |---|---|---| | Colours | 4 (BK, C, M, Y) | 6 (BK, C, M, Y, LC, LM) | | Purpose | Documents & general printing | Photo printing | | Printer type | Document EcoTank | Photo EcoTank | | Bottle volume | 70ml | 70ml | | RRP (genuine) | ~$19–$22 AUD each | ~$19–$22 AUD each |
Using 664 ink in a 673 printer (or vice versa) risks print quality problems and potentially clogged heads.
Which Printers Use Each Ink?
Epson 664 Printers (4-colour document system)
- Epson L110, L120
- Epson L210, L220
- Epson L300, L350, L355
- Epson L365, L455
- Epson L550, L555, L565
- Epson L1300
Epson 673 Printers (6-colour photo system)
- Epson L800, L805
- Epson L810, L850
- Epson L1800
If your printer model isn't listed, check the label on your EcoTank's ink tanks — the ink number should be printed on or near the tank inlet.
Why Does the 673 Have 6 Colours?
Photo printing requires subtle colour gradation that 4-colour CMYK can't achieve cleanly. Light Cyan (LC) and Light Magenta (LM) inks handle skin tones, sky gradients, and pastel shades without the graininess you'd get trying to approximate those tones with full-strength cyan and magenta.
If you're printing documents, invoices, or everyday photos, 664 is perfectly fine. If you're printing high-quality photos for display or sale, the L805/L1800 with 673 ink is the right tool.
Cost Per Page: EcoTank Economics
EcoTank's whole pitch is low running costs. Here's how the numbers look:
Epson 664 (genuine):
- ~$22 per 70ml bottle
- Black: ~4,000 pages per bottle → ~0.55¢/page
- Colour: ~6,500 pages (combined) → very low per-page cost
Compatible 664 ink:
- ~$8–$12 per bottle from FetchInk
- Same yield → ~0.2–0.3¢/page for black
Even genuine EcoTank ink is cheap by inkjet standards. Compatible ink makes it even cheaper — without sacrificing print quality.
Compatible EcoTank Ink: Is It Safe?
Yes. A few things to know:
-
Warranty: Under Australian Consumer Law and the ACCC's position, using compatible ink cannot void your printer warranty. Epson cannot refuse warranty service simply because you used third-party ink.
-
Quality: Good compatible EcoTank ink uses dye formulations matched to Epson's specifications. Avoid no-name bottles from unknown sources — the savings aren't worth clogged heads.
-
Colour accuracy: Photo printing (673) is more sensitive to ink quality than document printing (664). For casual photo prints, compatible 673 ink works well. For professional photo output, genuine ink has the edge.
FetchInk's compatible Epson inks are tested for colour accuracy, flow consistency, and page yield. They come with a satisfaction guarantee.
Summary
- ⚠️ Epson 664 and 673 are NOT interchangeable — check your printer model first
- ✅ 664 = 4-colour, document printing (L110–L1300 series)
- ✅ 673 = 6-colour, photo printing (L800/L805/L810/L850/L1800)
- ✅ EcoTank running costs are already low — compatible ink makes them even lower
- ✅ Compatible ink cannot void your warranty under Australian Consumer Law
- ✅ For photo printing, compatible 673 ink works well for everyday use