What Drum Unit Does the Brother HL-L3210CW and HL-L3270CDW Use?

by Last Updated:

Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said the drum and toner assemblies come out through the front cover. On the HL-L3210CW and HL-L3270CDW they come out through the top cover.

Quick answer: The Brother HL-L3210CW and HL-L3270CDW use DR-223CL drums: four of them, one for each color, each rated for about 18,000 pages. Each TN-223 or high-yield TN-227 toner cartridge clips into its own drum. Castle Ink stocks a compatible DR-223CL drum, the compatible DR-223 4-drum set, and compatible TN-227 toner.

Brother sells the genuine DR-223CL as a set of four. Each color has its own drum and its own counter, though, so you only need to replace the color the printer flags. For toner, see HL-L3210CW toner and HL-L3270CDW toner.

CastleScore · October 2026

75/100 — Recommended

Brother HL-L3210CW

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 84 4.30★ average across 3,315 ratings at Amazon (4.3)
Expert reviews (20%) 60 PCMag 3.0/5
Cost per page (18%) 80 About 5¢ per page blended (black + color) with our compatible TN227 toner (3,000 black / 2,300 color pages).
Reliability (18%) 90 No recurring hardware or connection complaints in owner reviews.
Features (11%) 46 Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen.
Value (5%) 82 Running cost and owner satisfaction

Discontinued. Brother UK lists the HL-L3210CW as discontinued, and we could not confirm a current U.S. listing. TN223/TN227 toner and DR223CL drums are still widely sold.

CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked October 9, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.

The toner, pictured

Our own compatible toner, photographed in-house.

DR-223CL Drum and Toner at a Glance

Supply Brother part no. Approx. yield Castle Ink option
Drum units (BK, C, M, Y) DR-223CL ~18,000 pages each Compatible DR-223CL · 4-drum set
Standard toner TN-223 BK / C / M / Y ~1,400 black, ~1,300 color Compatible TN-223 4-pack
High-yield toner TN-227 BK / C / M / Y ~3,000 black, ~2,300 color Compatible TN-227 4-pack

Brother's 18,000-page drum rating assumes one page per job; frequent short jobs shorten it. Toner yields are ISO/IEC 19798 figures.

How Do I Replace a Drum in the HL-L3210CW or HL-L3270CDW?

  1. With the printer on, open the top cover until it locks open.
  2. Lift out the toner and drum assembly for the color shown on the display.
  3. Push down the green lock lever and lift the toner cartridge out of the old drum.
  4. Unpack the new DR-223CL without touching the drum surface, and push the toner cartridge in until it clicks.
  5. Slide the green corona-wire tab back and forth a few times, then return it to its home position. Leaving it out of place causes a vertical stripe.
  6. Put the assembly back in its matching color slot and close the top cover.
  7. Reset that color's drum counter (steps below).

How Do I Reset the Drum Counter?

HL-L3210CW: with the top cover closed, press OK and ▲ at the same time, select Drum, choose the color you replaced, then select Reset.

HL-L3270CDW: press and hold the toner icon on the touchscreen for about five seconds, press Drum, choose the color you replaced, then press Yes.

Reset only the color you replaced, and only when a new drum goes in. More: How to replace and reset a Brother drum unit.

Drum Messages and What They Mean

  • Drum End Soon: that color's drum is near the end of its life. Order one now.
  • Replace Drum: replace the drum for the color shown, then reset its counter. If the message stays, the counter wasn't reset.
  • Drum Stop: the printer has stopped until that drum is replaced.
  • Drum !: the corona wires need cleaning. Slide the green tabs; replace the drum only if the message keeps coming back.
  • No Drum Unit: an assembly isn't seated. Take it out and reinstall it.

Which Other Printers Use the DR-223CL?

The DR-223CL and TN-223/TN-227 also fit the HL-L3230CDW, HL-L3290CDW, MFC-L3710CW, MFC-L3750CDW and MFC-L3770CDW.

What HL-L3210CW and HL-L3270CDW owners ask

These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, Brother's support pages and owner reviews, answered in our words.

I put in a new drum and it still says Replace Drum. Why?

That color's counter has to be reset by hand after the swap. Use the reset steps above and pick the same color you replaced.

Only one color is flagged. Do I have to replace all four drums?

No. Each color has its own drum and counter. Brother sells genuine DR-223CL drums as a set of four, so single-color replacements are usually compatibles. If you buy the set, keep the spares.

How do I find which drum is causing a spot that repeats down the page?

Marks that repeat every 94 mm (3.7 in) come from a drum. Print the Drum Dot Check Sheet; the color of the dots tells you which drum, and you can clean the spot gently with a dry cotton swab.

What does "Drum !" mean?

The corona wires need cleaning. Slide the green tab on each drum, return it home, and only replace the drum if the message comes back.

HL-L3210CW and HL-L3270CDW quirks worth knowing

  • The drums come out through the top cover, not a front door or drawer.
  • Each color keeps its own drum counter, so the reset menu asks which color you replaced.
  • Repeating marks every 94 mm (3.7 in) point to a drum, and the printer can print a Drum Dot Check Sheet to show which one.
  • Brother tells you not to reset a drum counter unless that drum has actually been replaced.

Frequently Asked Questions

What drum does the Brother HL-L3210CW use?

DR-223CL drums, one per color, each rated for about 18,000 pages.

Do the HL-L3210CW and HL-L3270CDW use the same drum?

Yes. Both use DR-223CL drums and TN-223 or TN-227 toner.

How long does a DR-223CL drum last?

About 18,000 pages, based on one page per job.

Other printers that use TN223 and TN227 toner

Brother MFC-L3770CDW · Brother HL-L3290CDW · Brother HL-L3230CDW · Brother HL-L3270CDW · Brother MFC-L3750CDW

More Brother ink guides: Brother DCP-L2640DW · Brother MFC-L2820DW · Brother HL-L2460DW · find any printer

Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives

Sources

Ratings and prices were checked on October 14, 2026 and will change over time.

Need replacement Brother drum units? Shop Brother drum units at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.

Written and reviewed by — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer & imaging supplies industry.

Back to Printer Support