What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J1365DW Use?

Quick answer: The Brother MFC-J1365DW uses four individual LC504 cartridges, or LC504XL for high yield. This is an INKvestment model, so the yields are far higher than a typical home all-in-one: standard LC504 Black is ~600 pages and each color ~500, while LC504XL Black reaches ~1,500 pages and each color ~1,000.

Why we don't sell LC504 ink

We don't stock LC504 or LC504XL cartridges. It's a new cartridge family, and compatible LC504XL only began appearing from aftermarket makers in April 2026, so there's very little track record yet. We'd rather tell you that than sell you something we can't stand behind.

For now, buy genuine Brother cartridges. Go for the XL size: LC504XLBKS black is rated at about 1,500 pages and LC504XLCS, LC504XLMS and LC504XLYS at about 1,000 pages each, against about 600 and 500 for the standard LC504.

Brother MFC-J1365DW Ink Cartridges at a Glance

The Brother MFC-J1365DW takes four individual cartridges. The same LC504 / LC504XL family also fits the Brother MFC-J1355DW.

There is no LC504XXL. The family runs standard and XL only.

How to Replace Ink in the Brother MFC-J1365DW

1. 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.
2. Press the lock release lever for the cartridge you are changing and let it pop forward, then pull it straight out.
3. Unwrap the new cartridge and remove the orange protective cap. Do not touch the black chip contacts or the ink port.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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, 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-J1365DW 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 my first black cartridge last so much longer than the replacement?

Brother rates the black cartridge in the box at about 1,200 pages, twice a standard LC504BKS (about 600). Buy LC504XL black (about 1,500) if you want to match or beat the starter.

Can it scan or copy both sides of a page automatically?

No. It prints two-sided automatically on letter paper, but Brother lists two-sided scanning and copying as "No", and the 20-page document feeder is single-sided.

Does it have fax or an Ethernet port?

Neither Brother's brochure nor Brother Canada lists one. It prints, copies and scans, and connects by Wi-Fi or USB.

A color ran out. Can I keep printing in black?

Yes, for a while. Brother's "B&W Print Only" mode lets you keep printing in black for roughly four weeks, depending on use, before the color cartridge has to be replaced.

Which other printers use LC504 ink?

The MFC-J1355DW. Brother's user guide groups the J1355DW, J1360DW, J1365DW and J1367DW together, but the J1360DW takes LC501, not LC504.

MFC-J1365DW quirks worth knowing

• Documents longer than 11.7 inches have to go through the document feeder one sheet at a time.
• Brother recommends 50 to 1,000 pages a month, with a 2,500-page duty cycle. That is much lighter duty than Brother's LC406 and LC506 business models.
• Brother says replacing a full ink absorber isn't covered by warranty, so running head cleanings you don't need has a real cost.
• A look-alike cartridge such as LC501 or LC506 gets a "Wrong Ink Cartridge" message. Check for 504 in the part number before you open the box.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does using compatible LC504 cartridges void my Brother MFC-J1365DW 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.

What does "INKvestment" actually mean on this printer?
It is Brother's name for models built around high-yield cartridges, so you replace cartridges less often than on a typical home inkjet. It does not mean refillable tanks — you still install cartridges, they just last much longer.

Is this the same as an INKvestment Tank printer?
Not quite. Brother uses "INKvestment Tank" for models with an internal ink storage tank, such as the MFC-J6955DW. Brother markets the MFC-J1365DW as "INKvestment" and doesn't describe an internal reserve. Both kinds use cartridges, not bottles.

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 9, 2026 and will change over time.

• Brother MFC-J1365DW brochure (specs, yields, starter ink)
• Brother Canada MFC-J1365DW page
• Brother support: error and maintenance messages (MFC-J1360DW series)
• Action Intell: Aster launches compatible LC504XL (April 2026)