The short answer: the Canon SELPHY CP1500 doesn’t take ordinary ink cartridges. It’s a dye-sublimation printer, and Canon sells its ink and paper together as matched Color Ink / Paper Sets. For standard 4×6 prints, buy the RP-108: 108 sheets and two ink cassettes, about $34 on Amazon, or roughly 31 cents a print. The KP-108IN makes the same 108 4×6 prints with three smaller cassettes, so buy whichever is cheaper when you shop. In November 2026 that was the RP-108 by about $16.
The pack list and compatibility below come from Canon’s SELPHY CP1500 user guide and support page; prices are Amazon’s in November 2026. The printer comes with a paper cassette but no ink or paper, so you need one of these sets before your first print.
What ink and paper does the SELPHY CP1500 use?
| Set | Paper size | Prints | Amazon price | Per print |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RP-108 | Postcard (4×6 in) | 108 | $33.90 | 31¢ |
| KP-108IN | Postcard (4×6 in) | 108 | $50.14 | 46¢ |
| RP-54 | Postcard (4×6 in) | 54 | $25.99 | 48¢ |
| KP-36IP | Postcard (4×6 in) | 36 | — | — |
| RP-1080V | Postcard (4×6 in) | 1,080 | $269.99 | 25¢ |
| KC-36IP | Card size (credit-card size) | 36 | $16.98 | 47¢ |
| KC-18IF, KC-18IL, KC-18IS | Card-size labels | 18 | — | — |
| KL-36IP | L size | 36 | — | — |
Two rules from Canon’s guide matter most. Regular postcards and photo paper won’t work, and neither will ink and paper made for the SELPHY ES series, the SELPHY Square QX10 and QX20, or Canon’s iNSPiC cameras. And the ink cassette has to match the paper size: a postcard-size cassette with postcard paper, a card-size cassette with card-size paper. For what 4×6 means in inches and centimeters, see our 4×6 photo size guide.
RP-108 vs KP-108IN: what’s the difference?
Less than the names suggest. Both are 4×6 postcard-size sets with 108 sheets, and Canon lists both for the CP1500. The difference is inside the box: the RP-108 has two ink cassettes of 54 prints each, and the KP-108IN has three cassettes of 36 prints. With the RP-108 you change the ink cassette less often. Canon doesn’t publish any difference in print quality between them.
Don’t be put off by the Amazon titles. The RP-108 listing names only the CP910, CP820, CP1200 and CP1300, but Canon’s own CP1500 guide lists the RP-108, KP-108IN and RP-54 for the CP1500. Since both 108-print sets make the same prints, price is the deciding factor, and that changes from store to store.
How many photos does each ink cassette print?
Each cassette is made for a set number of sheets: 54 in the RP-54 and RP-108, 36 in the KP-36IP, KP-108IN, KC-36IP and KL-36IP. That’s why the ink and paper come together. When the ink runs out, the printer tells you to swap the cassette, and Canon’s guide warns not to reuse an empty one. It also notes that a few sheets of paper may be left over if the ink runs out first.
Can you use other paper or third-party ink?
Not other paper: the CP1500 prints only on SELPHY CP paper, which comes in the sets above. Third-party “compatible” ink and paper sets are sold on Amazon too. Canon recommends its own sets “for best performance and easier printing”, and we haven’t tested the third-party ones, so we can’t say how their colors or durability compare.
How to load the ink and paper
- Check that the ink cassette and the paper are the same size.
- Open the ink cassette compartment cover and push the cassette in, in the direction of the arrow, until it clicks.
- Open the paper cassette’s outer and inner covers and load the paper glossy side up. Load all 18 sheets from one bag; Canon warns that 19 or more can damage the printer. Don’t touch the glossy side.
- For postcard prints, remove the L-size adapter from the cassette if it’s fitted.
- Close the inner cover (the outer cover stays open while printing), open the paper cassette compartment and slide the cassette in.
A 108-sheet set comes as several bags of paper, so you reload the cassette every 18 prints.
Which pack should you buy?
Canon RP-108: the best value for 4×6 prints
108 postcard-size sheets and two 54-print ink cassettes. The cheapest per print of the regular packs on Amazon in November 2026, at about 31 cents.
Canon KP-108IN: the same prints, three cassettes
108 postcard-size sheets and three 36-print cassettes. Buy it when it costs the same as or less than the RP-108.
Canon RP-54: a smaller pack
54 postcard-size sheets and one 54-print cassette. It costs more per print, but it’s the cheaper way to start if you don’t print often.
Frequently asked questions
What ink does the Canon SELPHY CP1500 use?
Canon Color Ink / Paper Sets for SELPHY CP printers, which pair an ink cassette with matching paper. For 4×6 prints that means the RP-108, KP-108IN, RP-54, KP-36IP or RP-1080V. It doesn’t use ordinary ink cartridges.
Is the Canon RP-108 compatible with the SELPHY CP1500?
Yes. Canon’s SELPHY CP1500 user guide lists the RP-108, even though some Amazon listings name only older SELPHY models.
What’s the difference between the RP-108 and KP-108IN?
Both give you 108 4×6 prints. The RP-108 has two ink cassettes of 54 prints each; the KP-108IN has three cassettes of 36. Buy whichever is cheaper.
How many photos does a SELPHY CP1500 ink cassette print?
36 or 54, depending on the set: 54 in the RP-54 and RP-108, 36 in the KP-108IN, KP-36IP, KC-36IP and KL-36IP.
Can you use any photo paper with a Canon SELPHY?
No. The CP1500 prints only on SELPHY CP paper from Canon’s Color Ink / Paper Sets. Regular postcards, inkjet photo paper and paper for the SELPHY QX20 or ES series won’t work.
Does the SELPHY CP1500 come with ink and paper?
No. It comes with a paper cassette, but Canon’s guide says to buy a Color Ink / Paper Set separately.
Why is there paper left over when the ink runs out?
Canon’s guide notes that some paper may remain if the ink runs out first. Each ink cassette is rated for a set number of prints, so the ink can run out before the last sheet.
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