What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J1800DW Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: the Brother MFC-J1800DW uses LC401 ink — four individual cartridges — with LC401XL as the high-yield version. There is no LC401XXL, so LC401XL is the largest size that fits.
The trap on this printer is the number next door. LC406 and LC501 get cross-listed onto it constantly, and neither fits. They are not minor revisions of LC401 either — an LC406 black holds 3,000 pages against LC401's 200. Different capacity class, different cartridge, different printer.
CastleScore · October 2026
83/100 — Highly Recommended
Brother MFC-J1800DW
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 79 | 4.07★ average across 246 ratings at Amazon (4.0), Walmart (4.2) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 80 | PCMag 4.0/5 |
| Cost per page (24%) | 86 | About 4¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured LC401XL (500 pages each). |
| Reliability (13%) | 89 | Most-reported problems: printer repeatedly drops off the Wi-Fi network |
| Features (12%) | 83 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, touchscreen. |
| Value (5%) | 77 | Running cost and owner satisfaction against a street price of about $229 |
Still sold new ($229.99 at Brother when we checked). LC401 and LC401XL ink is easy to find.
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
LC401XL 4-packBlack + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
LC401XL BlackLC401XLBKS · ~500 pages
LC401XL CyanLC401XLCS · ~500 pages
LC401XL MagentaLC401XLMS · ~500 pages
LC401XL 4-pack
LC401XL Black
LC401XL Cyan
LC401XL MagentaOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Brother MFC-J1800DW ink at a glance
| Cartridge | Family | Part Number | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black (standard) | LC401 | LC401BK | ~200 pages |
| Cyan (standard) | LC401 | LC401C | ~200 pages |
| Magenta (standard) | LC401 | LC401M | ~200 pages |
| Yellow (standard) | LC401 | LC401Y | ~200 pages |
| Black (high yield) | LC401XL | LC401XLBK | ~500 pages |
| Cyan (high yield) | LC401XL | LC401XLC | ~500 pages |
| Magenta (high yield) | LC401XL | LC401XLM | ~500 pages |
| Yellow (high yield) | LC401XL | LC401XLY | ~500 pages |
Yields are Brother's own ISO figures. You will also see the same cartridges written with an S on the end — LC401XLBKS and so on. That is a retail packaging variant of the identical cartridge, not a different product.
Buy XL, and it is not close
The standard LC401 prints about 200 pages; LC401XL prints about 500. At Brother's own prices when we checked ($17.99 vs. $38.29 for black, $11.29 vs. $21.99 for a color), XL costs less per page in every color. Standard cartridges only make sense if you print very little.
Because these are four individual cartridges rather than a tri-color block, you also only replace the color that actually ran out — no throwing away usable cyan because the magenta died. Over a year that is a real saving, and it is worth factoring in with our ink cost calculator.
Common problems on this model
"Cannot Detect" or "Wrong Ink Cartridge"
Push the cartridge in until it clicks and locks — these seat more firmly than people expect. If it still will not read, check the part number on the cartridge itself against LC401 or LC401XL. This message is where an accidentally bought LC406 or LC501 shows up.
"B&W Print Only"
A depleted color cartridge forces the printer into greyscale, and Brother allows roughly four weeks of grace before it stops. It is not a fault and there is no way around it other than replacing the empty color.
"Ink Absorber Full"
Read this one carefully. The absorber collects waste ink from head cleaning, and on this machine it is not user-replaceable and not covered by warranty — it requires Brother service. On a printer at this price that can cost a meaningful fraction of a replacement. Running fewer unnecessary cleaning cycles genuinely extends the interval.
White lines or missing colors
Print the Print Quality Check sheet, then run Clean Print Head. Brother allows up to three cycles before escalating to the special cleaning routine. Also confirm the Media Type setting matches the paper you actually loaded — a mismatch causes more quality complaints on Brother inkjets than clogging does. See faded or streaky prints.
Paper jams and misfeeds
Seat the tray fully until it locks, close the jam clear cover, fan the stack, and do not overfill. If sheets feed crooked, clean the paper pick-up rollers. Our paper jam guide covers the Brother path.
What MFC-J1800DW 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 the cutter trim sizes other than letter?
No. Brother specifies the cutter only for cutting a letter-size sheet into two half-letter (8.5 x 5.5 in) pieces. You can still print full, uncut letter pages.
Can I scan or copy a two-sided original automatically?
No. The 20-sheet document feeder scans one side only. Copying can go from one-sided originals to two-sided copies, but not from two-sided originals.
Will it join a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network?
No. Brother lists 802.11b/g/n on the 2.4 GHz band only, plus Wi-Fi Direct. There is no Ethernet port listed.
How long will the ink in the box last?
Brother says up to a year, based on about 100 pages a month at 60% black and 40% color.
Does it slow down when cutting?
Barely. Brother rates cut printing at 16.5 pages a minute in black and 16 in color, against 17 and 16.5 uncut. Trusted Reviews measured about one to two extra seconds per sheet.
MFC-J1800DW quirks worth knowing
- It shares LC401 ink with the MFC-J1010DW and MFC-J1170DW, both discontinued, so the J1800DW is now the main printer keeping LC401 on shelves.
- The print driver can either shrink a letter-size document onto the half-letter cut size or cut without scaling for documents already laid out at half-letter. Cutting also works with two-sided printing and keeps pages in order.
- It is eligible for Brother's Refresh EZ Print subscription. Subscription cartridges stop working if you cancel, so use regular cartridges after you leave the program.
- Brother recommends 50 to 1,000 pages a month against a 2,500-page maximum, and automatic two-sided printing works on letter size only.
FAQ
What ink does the Brother MFC-J1800DW use?
LC401 or LC401XL, in black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Four individual cartridges.
Is there an LC401XXL?
No. LC401XL at 500 pages is the largest size in this family.
Does the MFC-J1800DW use LC406?
No. LC406 fits the MFC-J4335DW, J4345DW XL, J4535DW, J5855DW, J5955DW, J6555DW and J6955DW. It is a much larger cartridge and will not fit this printer.
Does it use LC501?
No. LC501 fits the MFC-J1260W, J1360DW and J1410DW.
Can I use compatible LC401XL cartridges?
Yes. Brother's warranty does not cover damage it can prove was caused by third-party supplies, but using them does not void your warranty outright — see the legal answer.
Other printers that use LC401
Brother MFC-J1010DW · Brother MFC-J1170DW
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 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.