What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J1360DW Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Brother MFC-J1360DW uses four individual LC501 ink cartridges, or the LC501XL high-yield versions. Standard LC501 Black is rated ~250 pages and each color ~200; every LC501XL cartridge, black and color alike, is rated ~500 pages — which makes XL a bigger jump on the color side than on black.
CastleScore · October 2026
78/100 — Recommended
Brother MFC-J1360DW
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 84 | 4.29★ average across 1,341 ratings at Staples (4.3), Best Buy (4.3) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 64 | About 10.4¢ per page blended (black + color) with Original Brother LC501XL at Brother's prices (we don't sell LC501). |
| Reliability (13%) | 89 | Most-reported problems: paper feed: pulls several sheets at once and jams repeatedly |
| Features (12%) | 77 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, touchscreen. No fax. |
| Value (5%) | 79 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against a street price of about $99 |
Limited data: We could not find enough published expert scores for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.
Still sold new for $79.99 on Brother's site and $99.98 at Best Buy when we checked.
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 7, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
We don't sell LC501 ink
We don't currently sell LC501 or LC501XL cartridges, so there is nothing from us to recommend for this printer. Buy Brother's genuine cartridges. If you print more than a little, get the LC501XL: every XL cartridge, black or color, is rated for about 500 pages. When we checked, Brother listed the LC501XLBKS black at $39.29 and the LC501XLCS cyan at $23.49. Match the full part number, and keep the starter cartridges for the first install, since the printer won't accept anything else until they have gone in.
Brother MFC-J1360DW Ink Cartridges at a Glance
| Cartridge | Color | Approx. Page Yield |
|---|---|---|
| LC501BKS Black | Black | ~250 pages |
| LC501CS Cyan | Cyan | ~200 pages |
| LC501MS Magenta | Magenta | ~200 pages |
| LC501YS Yellow | Yellow | ~200 pages |
| LC501XLBKS Black | Black | ~500 pages |
| LC501XLCS Cyan | Cyan | ~500 pages |
| LC501XLMS Magenta | Magenta | ~500 pages |
| LC501XLYS Yellow | Yellow | ~500 pages |
The Brother MFC-J1360DW takes four individual cartridges. The same LC501 / LC501XL family also fits the Brother MFC-J1260W and MFC-J1410DW.
An important trap if you shop internationally or land on a European support page: Brother sells a DCP-J1360DW in Europe that is a completely different machine from the US MFC-J1360DW, and it takes LC521 ink, not LC501. Same number, different printer, wrong cartridge. Always match the full model name including the MFC or DCP prefix.
How to Replace Ink in the Brother MFC-J1360DW
- Leave the printer switched on. Open the ink cartridge cover on the front of the machine — the carriage does not need to move on this design, because Brother mounts the cartridges in a fixed bay.
- Press the lock release lever for the cartridge you are changing and let it pop forward, then pull it straight out.
- Unwrap the new cartridge and remove the orange protective cap. Do not touch the black chip contacts or the ink port.
- Slide the new cartridge in following the arrow on the label — each color is keyed so it will only fit its own slot — and push firmly until the lever clicks.
- Close the cover. The printer primes the line automatically; on a first install after running dry this can take a couple of minutes and is normal.
- Print a test page from the control panel to confirm all four colors are laying down evenly before you send a real job.
Troubleshooting Tips
"Cannot Detect" or "Unable to Detect Ink": Power the printer off, remove the cartridge, and wipe the chip contacts with a dry lint-free cloth. Reseat until the lever clicks audibly — a cartridge that is in but not latched is the most common cause of this message. If it persists across every slot, the problem is the machine's contact block rather than the ink.
Blank pages or a missing color: Run Print Quality Check from the Ink menu, then Cleaning on any color that shows gaps. Two cleaning cycles is the sensible limit; if a channel is still missing after that, the blockage is in the head and needs a different approach.
Prints look faded straight after a cartridge change: Brother primes the line automatically but a long dry spell can leave air in it. Print ten pages of ordinary text and re-check — most cases clear themselves.
Ink levels look wrong: Brother's gauge is an estimate based on drop counts, not a measurement of what is left in the cartridge. Treat "low" as a prompt to order, not a reason to stop printing.
What MFC-J1360DW 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.
Can it scan both sides of a page automatically?
No. It prints two-sided automatically, but Brother lists two-sided scanning as "No" for the 20-sheet document feeder.
Can I keep printing after the "Ink Low" message?
Yes, until it says "Replace Ink". Brother notes that scanning still works even when a cartridge needs replacing.
Why does a brand-new printer say "Install Starter Ink"?
The first cartridges you install must be the starter cartridges that came in the box. Take out any others, put the starters in, and the message clears.
Can I connect it to my router with a cable?
No. It has dual-band Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and USB 2.0, but no Ethernet port.
Do I need Brother's Refresh EZ Print subscription?
No. It is optional. The printer works with cartridges you buy yourself.
MFC-J1360DW quirks worth knowing
- An "Ink Absorber Full" message means the internal flushing box has to be replaced by Brother service, and Brother says that is not covered by warranty. Every cleaning cycle adds to it, so don't run cleanings you don't need.
- Brother warns that taking cartridges out when you don't need to wastes ink and can confuse the printer's ink count.
- The starter cartridges in the box are rated for about 200 pages each, so the first replacement comes early.
- It has a 1.8-inch color touchscreen, 5 GHz Wi-Fi and automatic two-sided printing, which is a lot for a printer that sells for under $100. Brother rates it for up to 2,500 pages a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using compatible LC501 cartridges void my Brother MFC-J1360DW warranty?
No. Under the U.S. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a manufacturer cannot void your printer warranty solely because you use compatible or remanufactured cartridges. If a specific cartridge causes damage, that damage is not covered — but the rest of the warranty stands.
How are these page yields measured?
To the ISO/IEC standard for the cartridge type, at 5% page coverage on plain paper. That is a deliberately modest amount of coverage, so heavy graphics, photos or dense tables will always yield fewer pages than the rating. The numbers are useful for comparing cartridges against each other, not for predicting your exact month.
Is the XL worth it on this model?
On color, clearly — you go from ~200 to ~500 pages, a 2.5x jump. On black the jump is ~250 to ~500, so exactly double. If you print mostly black text, the maths is ordinary; if you print color at all, LC501XL is the obvious buy.
More Brother ink guides: Brother MFC-J4355DW · Brother MFC-J6555DW · Brother MFC-J5855DW · 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 7, 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.