What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J285DW Use?

by Lauren Elward Last Updated: October 17, 2026

Quick answer: The Brother MFC-J285DW uses four separate cartridges: black, cyan, magenta and yellow, in either standard-yield LC101 or high-yield LC103. Brother lists both, and each color is replaced on its own. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured LC103 Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and a 4-pack.

The MFC-J285DW takes the same ink as the MFC-J470DW, MFC-J450DW, MFC-J870DW and DCP-J152W. Bigger models like the MFC-J4410DW also take LC105 and LC107 super high-yield cartridges, but those aren't listed for the J285DW, so skip them. LC101 and LC103 are North American numbers, so buy by those part numbers.

CastleScore · October 2026

69/100 — Situational

Brother MFC-J285DW

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%)	92	About 2.4¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured LC103 high-yield cartridges (about 600 pages each).
Reliability (13%)	80	Most-reported problems: 'Ink Absorber Full' stopping the printer; 'Cannot Detect' errors after a cartridge swap; 'Paper Jam' messages that stay after the paper is out; printing locked when one color runs out
Features (12%)	70	Print, copy, scan, fax, auto two-sided printing, Wi-Fi, 1.8-inch color touchscreen, USB drive port. No Ethernet. Brother lists no document feeder.
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 USA lists the MFC-J285DW as discontinued, and we found no named 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 17, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.

The cartridges, pictured

Our own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.

What Ink Cartridges Does the Brother MFC-J285DW Take?

Cartridge	Brother part no.	Approx. yield	Castle Ink option
LC103 Black (high yield)	LC103BK	~600 pages	Remanufactured LC103 Black
LC103 Cyan (high yield)	LC103C	~600 pages	Remanufactured LC103 Cyan
LC103 Magenta (high yield)	LC103M	~600 pages	Remanufactured LC103 Magenta
LC103 Yellow (high yield)	LC103Y	~600 pages	Remanufactured LC103 Yellow
LC101 Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow (standard)	LC101BK / LC101C / LC101M / LC101Y	~300 pages each	Remanufactured LC101 4-pack
LC103 4-pack (black + 3 colors)	—	As above	Remanufactured LC103 4-pack

Yields are Brother's ISO figures. Retail boxes add an S to the part number, such as LC103BKS. The starter cartridges in the box hold about 80% of a replacement LC101, so the first set runs out early.

Is LC103 Worth It?

Yes. LC103 holds twice the pages of LC101. On October 17, 2026, Staples listed Brother's LC103 black at $34.49 (about 5.7¢ a page) and the LC103 cyan at $16.99 (about 2.8¢ a page). Brother's own store listed the black at $26.49 but showed it out of stock. Our remanufactured LC103 black is $9.95 (about 1.7¢ a page), each LC103 color is $8.95 (about 1.5¢ a page), and the LC103 4-pack is $30.99.

How Do I Replace the Ink in the Brother MFC-J285DW?

Open the ink cartridge cover. The screen shows which color is empty.
Press the lock-release lever for that color and remove the old cartridge.
Unpack the new LC101 or LC103 cartridge and remove the protective cap.
Insert it in the direction of the arrow on the label, then push the back of the cartridge, marked PUSH, until it clicks.
Close the cover. If the screen asks whether you changed the cartridge, press Yes only for a new one, so the ink counter resets.

Which Other Printers Use LC101 and LC103?

Both fit the MFC-J245, DCP-J152W, MFC-J450DW, MFC-J470DW, MFC-J475DW, MFC-J650DW, MFC-J870DW and MFC-J875DW. High-yield LC103 also fits the MFC-J4310DW, MFC-J4410DW, MFC-J4510DW, MFC-J4610DW, MFC-J4710DW, MFC-J6520DW, MFC-J6720DW and MFC-J6920DW, which don't take LC101.

What MFC-J285DW owners ask

These are the questions that come up most for this printer in Brother support pages, answered in our words.

It says 'Ink Absorber Full' and won't print.

The box that catches waste ink from cleaning cycles is full. Brother's FAQ, which lists the MFC-J285DW, says Brother service has to replace it and that warranty doesn't cover it. Frequent cleanings fill it faster. 'Ink Absorber NearFull' is the early warning.

It says 'Cannot Detect' after I put in a new cartridge.

The cartridge may have gone in too fast or not seated. With the printer on, take each cartridge out and put it back in slowly until it clicks. Answer Yes on the screen only for a brand-new cartridge.

It still says 'Paper Jam' after I pulled the paper out.

A torn scrap is usually left inside. Unplug the printer, open the scanner cover and check under the print head and along the paper path, including behind the green release levers at the back of the tray area.

Will LC105 or LC107 super high-yield cartridges fit?

They aren't listed for the MFC-J285DW. Use LC103 for the lowest cost per page.

MFC-J285DW quirks worth knowing

Brother rates it at 12 ISO pages a minute in black and 10 in color.
It prints, copies, scans and faxes, with automatic two-sided printing. Brother's documents describe only the scanner glass for originals and list no document feeder, so multi-page copies and faxes go one sheet at a time.
It connects over Wi-Fi or USB, with no Ethernet. It supports AirPrint and Brother iPrint&Scan, and has a 1.8-inch color touchscreen and a USB drive port.
The 100-sheet tray takes paper up to legal size. A manual feed slot handles envelopes and custom sizes. Borderless printing doesn't work with two-sided printing or envelopes.

Frequently Asked Questions