What Ink Does the Brother DCP-J152W Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all Brother LC101 & LC103 Ink Cartridges – LC101, LC103 & LC103XL → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide printed "LC103/LC103" where it meant LC101/LC103. The DCP-J152W takes standard LC101 cartridges (about 300 pages) and high-yield LC103 cartridges (about 600 pages).
CastleScore · October 2026
79/100 — Recommended
Brother DCP-J152W
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 72 | 3.70★ average across 252 ratings at Amazon (3.7) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 92 | About 2.4¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured LC103 high-yield cartridges (about 600 pages each). |
| Reliability (13%) | 90 | No recurring hardware or connection complaints in owner reviews. |
| Features (12%) | 56 | Print, copy, scan, Wi-Fi. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, no touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 82 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Discontinued. Brother USA and Brother UK both list the DCP-J152W as discontinued and name no replacement. LC101 and LC103 cartridges are still 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 10, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
LC103 BlackLC103BK · ~600 pages
LC103 CyanLC103C · ~600 pages
LC103 MagentaLC103M · ~600 pages
LC103 YellowLC103Y · ~600 pages
LC103 Black
LC103 Cyan
LC103 Magenta
LC103 YellowOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Quick answer: what ink does the Brother DCP-J152W use?
The Brother DCP-J152W uses 4 Brother LC101/LC103 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Standard LC101 and high-yield LC103 cartridges fit the same slots. LC103 cartridges print about twice as many pages as LC101 (about 600 versus 300). Each color is a separate cartridge, so you only replace the one that runs out.
Cartridge options at a glance
| Cartridge | Part numbers | Approx. yield* |
|---|---|---|
| Brother LC101 black (standard) | LC101BK | ~300 pages |
| Brother LC101 color (C/M/Y) | LC101C / LC101M / LC101Y | ~300 pages each |
| Brother LC103 black (high yield) | LC103BK | ~600 pages |
| Brother LC103 color (C/M/Y) | LC103C / LC103M / LC103Y | ~600 pages each |
*Approximate ISO yields from published cartridge specifications. Real-world results depend on coverage, photo printing, and cleaning cycles.
Common questions about Brother DCP-J152W ink
Should I buy LC101 or LC103 for the DCP-J152W?
LC103 for most people. LC103 high-yield cartridges print about twice as many pages as LC101 and fit the same slots. See Is XL ink actually worth it? Standard vs. XL with real numbers.
Can I mix standard and high-yield cartridges?
Yes. Each cartridge is read separately, so any mix of LC101 and LC103 works.
What other printers use Brother LC101/LC103 ink?
LC101/LC103 also fits the DCP-J172W, MFC-J245, MFC-J285DW, MFC-J450DW, MFC-J470DW, MFC-J475DW, MFC-J650DW, MFC-J870DW, MFC-J875DW, MFC-J4310DW, MFC-J4510DW, MFC-J4610DW, MFC-J6520DW, and MFC-J6920DW. If you own more than one, a single stock of cartridges covers them all.
Will other Brother cartridges fit the DCP-J152W?
No. Brother LC203/LC201 (MFC-J4420DW, MFC-J4620DW, MFC-J5720DW) look similar but won't fit. Always match the number on your current cartridge.
Are remanufactured LC103 cartridges safe for the DCP-J152W?
We know of no Brother lockout for LC101 or LC103 cartridges. As on other Brother inkjets, a non-Brother cartridge may not report its ink level. Using them doesn't by itself void your warranty under U.S. law. We sell remanufactured LC103 high-yield cartridges. If the printer shows “Cannot Detect” with a new cartridge, reseat it and check that the orange cap is removed. More: Compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM ink, Does compatible ink void your printer warranty? and The best compatible ink for Brother printers.
How do I replace the ink in the DCP-J152W?
Open the ink cartridge cover on the front of the printer. Push the lock-release lever for the empty color and pull the cartridge out. Unpack the new cartridge, remove the orange protective cap, and push it in until it locks. Close the cover; the printer resets that color's ink counter automatically.
Why does the DCP-J152W say “Cannot Detect” or “Cannot Print”?
Remove and reseat the cartridge until it locks, make sure the orange protective cap is off, and wipe the cartridge's contacts with a dry lint-free cloth. Turn the printer off for a minute. If one color is empty, most Brother inkjets stop printing until it's replaced. More fixes: Printer says ink cartridge not recognized: how to fix it.
Why are prints from my DCP-J152W faded or streaky?
From the control panel, run Ink (or Maintenance) > Improve Print Quality > Check Print Quality, then clean the colors that show gaps. If lines look jagged or doubled instead, run the alignment from the same menu; see our print head alignment guide. More: Why is my printer printing streaks?.
Why did the first set of cartridges run out so fast?
New printers use part of the first set to fill the ink system. It's a one-time cost. See why the first cartridges run out fast.
Does the DCP-J152W have fax?
No. DCP models print, scan, and copy; Brother's MFC models add fax.
Can I use LC103 cartridges if my printer came with LC101?
Yes. LC103 is the high-yield version of LC101 and fits the same slot. Most people should buy LC103 for the lower cost per page.
DCP-J152W key facts
- Type: compact wireless all-in-one (print, scan, copy)
- Ink: 4 individual Brother LC101/LC103 cartridges
- Fax: no
- Same ink as: DCP-J172W, MFC-J245, MFC-J285DW, MFC-J450DW, MFC-J470DW, MFC-J475DW, MFC-J650DW, MFC-J870DW, MFC-J875DW, MFC-J4310DW, MFC-J4510DW, MFC-J4610DW, MFC-J6520DW, MFC-J6920DW
What DCP-J152W 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.
Why did the cartridges that came with the printer run out so fast?
Brother rates the in-box starter cartridges at about 80% of a replacement LC101, so the first set always runs out sooner than the ones you buy.
How fast is it really?
Brother rates it at 11 pages per minute black and 6 color under the ISO test. The 27 and 10 ppm figures on the box are draft-mode speeds.
Can it print two-sided or scan a stack of pages?
Not automatically. Two-sided printing is manual, and scanning is on the flatbed glass one page at a time; there is no document feeder.
Why can't I find standard LC101 color cartridges?
Supply is thinning. Staples shows standard LC101 color singles out of stock while LC103 high-yield cartridges are still in stock. LC103 fits the same slots, so it is the one to buy anyway.
DCP-J152W quirks worth knowing
- In the UK and Europe the same printer takes LC121 and LC123 cartridges (300 and 600 pages) instead of LC101 and LC103.
- Its headline speed (27 ppm black, 10 color) is more than double its ISO speed (11 and 6 ppm).
- Brother USA's product page lists fax and a document feeder, but that looks like a template error. Brother UK lists print, copy and scan only, and DCP models have no fax.
More Brother ink guides: Brother MFC-J1360DW · Brother MFC-J4355DW · Brother MFC-J6555DW · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Brother MFC-T780DW — CastleScore 90
- Epson EcoTank ET-2980 (cheapest to run) — CastleScore 90
- Brother MFC-J4335DW — CastleScore 89
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 10, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Brother LC101 & LC103 Ink Cartridges – LC101, LC103 & LC103XL? Shop Brother LC101 & LC103 Ink Cartridges – LC101, LC103 & LC103XL at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.