Epson 406 vs 842 vs 815: Which WorkForce Pro Ink Do You Actually Need?
If you sell or service Epson WorkForce Pro WF-39xx and WF-49xx machines, you have probably hit this already: one printer family, three cartridge numbers. The same ink platform is sold as 406 in Europe, 842 in North America and 815 in Oceania — and the code your customer can use depends on where the machine was originally sold, not on where you happen to be standing. Order the wrong one and the printer may simply refuse to recognise the cartridge.
This guide covers the region map, the yield maths behind standard vs XL, why pigment chemistry matters for this particular family, and five things to confirm before you place a first order.
Why one printer family carries three cartridge numbers
Epson assigns different ink codes per sales region, and on the newer WorkForce Pro models the chip is region-aware. A WF-3920 bought through a European distributor expects 406; the same model sold into Canada or Mexico expects 842; an Australian or New Zealand unit expects 815. The cartridges look close enough to be mistaken for each other in a warehouse, which is exactly how distributors end up holding stock they cannot move.
For a reseller this is not trivia. Region coding decides what you can list, what you can return, and how much working capital ends up sitting in the wrong boxes.
The region map
| Code | Region | Typical printers | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 406 | Europe | WF-3920 / 3925 / 4920 / 4925 / 4930 | n/a |
| 842 | North America (excl. US) | WF-3920 / 4920 / 4930 | not available yet |
| 815 | Oceania (AU / NZ) | WF-3920 / 3925 / 4930 / 4935 | n/a |
All three come in the same four colours — black, cyan, magenta and yellow — and each colour exists in a standard and an XL size. That is 24 SKUs across the family. See the full model list with a page per code and colour.
Standard or XL: the 450 vs 1,200 page decision
Standard cartridges are rated at 450 pages and XL at 1,200, both matching the OEM figures. XL therefore delivers roughly 2.7 times the pages, and in practice it is never 2.7 times the price. That gap is the whole argument.
A rule that holds up with most office customers: below roughly 800 pages a month, standard keeps the upfront ticket small and the stock fresh. Above that, XL is cheaper per page and cuts the number of interventions — fewer half-empty cartridges in a drawer, fewer helpdesk tickets. If you are quoting a managed print contract, lead with cost per page rather than box price; that is the number the buyer is actually comparing.
Why pigment ink is the right chemistry here
The 406 / 842 / 815 line is pigment ink, not dye. Pigment particles sit on top of the fibre instead of soaking into it, which is why output survives a highlighter, a coffee ring and a filing cabinet for years. Dye ink gives punchier photos; pigment gives documents that still read when someone pulls the file in 2031.
WorkForce Pro machines are bought for contracts, invoices and archived records. Selling dye-based ink into that installed base is a mismatch, and it tends to come back as complaints about smudging — worth checking what your current supplier is actually shipping you.
Five things to confirm before a first order
- Match the region, not your address. Ask where the printer was originally purchased. A machine imported second-hand may not follow the local code.
- Check the chip batch. The first chip batch for this family ships from late September 2026. Orders are being scheduled now, so confirm timing before you promise a delivery date.
- Do not assume US coverage. 842 excludes the United States at this stage. If your channel is US-based, ask first.
- Order all four colours. Offices rarely run out of black alone, and a three-colour order creates a second shipping cost later.
- Sample before you stock. Samples are free for qualified distributors; you only cover the courier. Test chip recognition on your own machines before committing volume.
FAQ: the questions buyers actually ask
Are Epson 406, 842 and 815 the same cartridge?
They belong to the same WorkForce Pro ink platform and serve the same printer family, but the chip carries a different region code. Order the code that matches where the printer was originally sold, not where you are reading this from.
Can I use 842 ink in a printer bought in the United States?
Not yet. The 842 family currently covers North America excluding the United States. US availability has not been confirmed, so if your customer base is in the US, ask us before you commit to a purchase order.
What page yield should I quote to my customer?
Standard cartridges are rated at 450 pages and XL at 1,200 pages, both matching the OEM figures. XL delivers about 2.7 times the pages, which is why cost per page is usually the number worth leading with.
Is this pigment or dye ink?
Pigment. That is the right chemistry for a WorkForce Pro, because these machines are bought for contracts, invoices and archived documents that need to survive a highlighter and a damp folder.
Can I test before a full order?
Yes. Sample units are free for qualified distributors and you only cover the courier cost. Send the model list you want to stock and we will confirm what is available in your region.
Where to start
Request a Quote → See all 24 SKUs
Pick your region and start from the family page: Epson 406 / 842 / 815 compatible ink, full series. If you already know the code, go straight to the colour — 406 XL black, 842 XL black and 815 XL black are the usual starting points. You can also browse the full Epson compatible range.
Not sure which code your fleet needs? Send us the printer models and the countries you ship to and we will map it and quote. Sample units are free — you only pay the courier.
