What Ink Does the Brother MFC-465CN Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Brother MFC-465CN uses four separate LC51 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta and yellow. There's no high-yield LC51, so the standard cartridge is the one to buy. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured LC51 Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and a 5-pack.
The MFC-465CN takes the same ink as the MFC-440CN it replaced. In the UK and Europe this printer takes LC1000 cartridges, and some regions sell the same size as LC970. Brother doesn't say those work in U.S. machines, so U.S. owners should buy LC51.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Brother MFC-465CN
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 91 | About 2.5¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured LC51 cartridges (500 black / 400 color pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 70 | Most-reported problems: 'Unable to Clean 46' (ink absorber full) locking the printer; 'Unable to Clean 50' carriage errors; blank pages after new cartridges; 'Paper Jam' messages with no paper inside |
| Features (12%) | 72 | Print, copy, scan, color fax, 10-page document feeder, Ethernet, 2.0-inch color screen, memory card slots, USB drive port, PictBridge, 4x6 photo tray. No Wi-Fi, no auto two-sided printing. |
| Value (5%) | — | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Limited data: We could not find enough owner ratings or published expert scores for this printer, so those weights are spread across the other pillars. With neither owner ratings nor a published expert score, we cap this printer at 69 (Situational) until better data is available.
Discontinued. Brother launched the MFC-465CN in October 2007 at an estimated $149.99 as the replacement for the MFC-440CN. Brother USA now lists it as discontinued, with no named successor. Brother USA also marks its own LC51 black discontinued, and Staples shows LC51 black, cyan and magenta out of stock.
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 17, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
LC51 BlackLC51BK · ~500 pages
LC51 CyanLC51C · ~400 pages
LC51 MagentaLC51M · ~400 pages
LC51 YellowLC51Y · ~400 pages
LC51 5-pack2 Black + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
LC51 Black
LC51 Cyan
LC51 Magenta
LC51 Yellow
LC51 5-packOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
What Ink Cartridges Does the Brother MFC-465CN Take?
| Cartridge | Brother part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| LC51 Black | LC51BK | ~500 pages | Remanufactured LC51 Black |
| LC51 Cyan | LC51C | ~400 pages | Remanufactured LC51 Cyan |
| LC51 Magenta | LC51M | ~400 pages | Remanufactured LC51 Magenta |
| LC51 Yellow | LC51Y | ~400 pages | Remanufactured LC51 Yellow |
| LC51 5-pack (2 black + 3 colors) | — | As above | Remanufactured LC51 5-pack |
Yields are Brother's ISO figures. Brother also sold a color three-pack (LC51CL3PK) and a black two-pack (LC512PKS). Each color is a separate cartridge, so replace only the one that's empty.
Is There a High-Yield LC51?
No. LC51 comes in one size only. Original LC51 is getting hard to find, too. On October 17, 2026, Staples listed Brother's LC51 black at $31.49 (about 6.3¢ a page) and the LC51 cyan and magenta at $18.99 each (about 4.7¢ a page), all out of stock. Brother's own store listed the black at $30.99 and marked it discontinued. Our remanufactured LC51 black is $6.75 (about 1.4¢ a page) and each color is $6.75 (about 1.7¢ a page). Our 5-pack is $33.95, so buying the same five cartridges singly ($33.75) is slightly cheaper.
How Do I Replace the Ink in the Brother MFC-465CN?
- Open the ink cartridge cover on the front of the machine.
- Press the lock-release lever for the color shown on the screen and lift out the empty LC51 cartridge.
- Unpack the new LC51 cartridge and remove its protective cap.
- Insert it in the slot for its color, in the direction of the arrow on the label, and push until it clicks.
- Close the cover. When the screen asks whether you replaced that color, answer Yes only for a brand-new cartridge.
Which Other Printers Use LC51?
The MFC-440CN, plus The MFC-230C, MFC-240C, MFC-665CW, MFC-685CW, MFC-845CW, MFC-885CW, MFC-3360C, MFC-5460CN, MFC-5860CN, DCP-130C, DCP-330C, DCP-350C, FAX-1360, FAX-1860C, FAX-1960C, FAX-2480C and FAX-2580C.
What MFC-465CN owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer in repair forums like JustAnswer and iFixit, answered in our words.
It says 'Unable to Clean 46' or 'Unable to Print 46'.
On Brother inkjets of this age, code 46 means the waste-ink absorber is full, and the printer locks up. Brother service has to replace the absorber. Some owners reset the counter instead, but the pad can then overflow. On a printer this old, many repair techs say replacing it is the better buy.
It says 'Unable to Clean 50' and the carriage won't move.
The print head can't get back to its home position. Unplug the printer, lift the scanner cover, remove any paper scraps or clips around the carriage and slide the head by hand. If the error stays, it's a mechanical fault. A JustAnswer expert who saw this on a 465CN blamed a full ink absorber and advised replacing the printer.
It prints blank pages after I put in new cartridges.
The nozzles are likely clogged or have air in them, which is common when these printers sit unused. Run several head cleanings from the Ink menu and print a nozzle check between them.
Will LC1000 cartridges from the UK fit?
LC1000 is the European number for this printer. Some sellers market LC51, LC970 and LC1000 as one shape, but Brother doesn't state they're interchangeable. Buy LC51 for a U.S. unit.
MFC-465CN quirks worth knowing
- Brother rated it at up to 30 pages a minute in black and 25 in color. That's a fastest-mode figure from before ISO ratings, so real pages come out slower.
- It prints, copies, scans and faxes in color, with a 10-page document feeder for originals up to legal size. The feeder is single-sided, and there's no automatic two-sided printing.
- It connects over Ethernet or USB, with no Wi-Fi. It has a 2.0-inch flip-up color screen, memory card slots, a USB drive port and PictBridge.
- A 20-sheet 4x6 photo tray sits above the 100-sheet main tray.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the Brother MFC-465CN use?
LC51 cartridges in black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Does the MFC-465CN have Wi-Fi?
No. It connects by Ethernet or USB.
Can it print two-sided automatically?
No. Flip the pages by hand.
Other printers that use LC51
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 17, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Brother ink cartridges? Shop Brother ink cartridges at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.