Which ink/toner does the Brother HL-L3230CDW use?
The Brother HL-L3230CDW (laser, 2019) uses TN-227BK, TN-227C, TN-227M, TN-227Y, DR-223CL, TN-223BK, TN-223C, TN-223M, TN-223Y.
Third-party cartridge risk: Low no firmware lockout is on record for this printer, so compatible and remanufactured cartridges should work.
The Brother HL-L3230CDW uses toner cartridges to print. It accepts both standard and XL versions for each color including black cyan magenta and yellow with the difference being in page yield. When buying replacement toners consider whether you need a high page yield or can opt for standard capacity cartridges.
Compatible cartridges
| Cartridge | Color | Yield | Pages | OEM price | Cost/page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN-227BK | black | XL | 3000 | $78.00 | 2.6¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| TN-227C | cyan | XL | 2300 | $73.00 | 3.2¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| TN-227M | magenta | XL | 2300 | $73.00 | 3.2¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| TN-227Y | yellow | XL | 2300 | $73.00 | 3.2¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| DR-223CL | drum | drum | 18000 | - | - | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| TN-223BK | black | standard | 1400 | $56.00 | 4.0¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| TN-223C | cyan | standard | 1300 | $53.00 | 4.1¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| TN-223M | magenta | standard | 1300 | $53.00 | 4.1¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
| TN-223Y | yellow | standard | 1300 | $53.00 | 4.1¢ | OEM · AmazonCompatible |
XL (high-yield) cartridges cost more upfront but lower the cost per page, which is better if you print a lot.
The Brother HL-L3230CDW is not on our firmware-lockout list, so third-party toner should work. By list price its high-yield TN-227BK works out to about 2.6 cents per page, roughly 35% less than the 4.0 cents of the standard TN-223BK. If you print often the high-yield cartridge is the better value, and a well-reviewed compatible version lowers the cost further.
Frequently asked questions
Which toner does the Brother HL-L3230CDW use?
The Brother HL-L3230CDW uses DR-223CL, TN-223BK, TN-223C, TN-223M, TN-223Y, TN-227BK, TN-227C, TN-227M and TN-227Y.
Does the Brother HL-L3230CDW take XL cartridges?
Yes. Besides the standard cartridges it accepts TN-227BK, TN-227C, TN-227M and TN-227Y. A high-yield XL holds more toner and costs less per page, which is worth it if you print often.
Will third-party toner work in the Brother HL-L3230CDW, or will firmware block it?
The Brother HL-L3230CDW is not on our firmware-lockout list, so compatible and remanufactured cartridges should work. Firmware can change with an update, so it is worth checking before buying a large supply.
How many pages do the Brother HL-L3230CDW cartridges print?
Rated yields run from about 1300 pages (TN-223M) to about 18000 pages (DR-223CL), depending on the cartridge. Real-world yield depends on how much you print and how much toner each page uses.
What is the cheapest toner for the Brother HL-L3230CDW?
By list price the lowest cost per page here is the TN-227BK at about 2.6 cents per page. A reliable compatible or remanufactured cartridge can lower that further.
Related Brother TN-223/TN-227 printers
- Brother HL-L3210CW
- Brother HL-L3270CDW
- Brother HL-L3290CDW
- Brother MFC-L3710CW
- Brother MFC-L3750CDW
- Brother MFC-L3770CDW
Last reviewed . Compiled by MyCartridgeFinder from manufacturer cartridge finders and retailer cross reference tables, then checked against this printer's database record. Cartridge numbers and yields come from that record, never from guesswork. See our methodology and data sources.