What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J4420DW Use?

Quick answer: The Brother MFC-J4420DW uses Brother LC203 (high-yield, about 550 pages each) or LC201 (standard, about 260 pages each) ink cartridges in four colors: black, cyan, magenta and yellow. LC203 prints roughly twice as many pages as LC201. Brother also makes super-high-yield LC207 black and LC205 color cartridges for this printer, rated at about 1,200 pages each. Castle Ink's remanufactured LC203 cartridges are $9.99 each, about 1.8 cents per page, a fraction of what Brother's originals cost.

The cartridges, pictured

• LC203 4-packBlack + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
• LC203 BlackLC203BK · ~550 pages
• LC203 CyanLC203C · ~550 pages
• LC203 MagentaLC203M · ~550 pages

Our own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.

What Ink Cartridges Does the Brother MFC-J4420DW Use?

Yields are Brother's ISO/IEC 24711 estimates at 5% coverage. Castle Ink prices checked September 2026.

Which Printers Use the Same Ink as the Brother MFC-J4420DW?

The LC201/LC203 family fits a whole generation of Brother inkjets: the MFC-J460DW, J480DW, J485DW, J680DW, J880DW and J885DW; the MFC-J4320DW, J4420DW, J4620DW, J5520DW, J5620DW and J5720DW. The DCP-J152W, sometimes listed with this family, takes LC101/LC103 instead. See our guides for the MFC-J4620DW and MFC-J5720DW, or browse every model in our find ink by printer directory.

What Is the Cheapest Ink for the Brother MFC-J4420DW?

Remanufactured high-yield LC203 cartridges are the cheapest way to run the MFC-J4420DW. Brother's original LC203 cartridges typically sell for around $18–$28 each at major retailers, so a full set of four can top $80. Castle Ink's LC203 cartridges are $9.99 each, about $40 for all four colors. Because each color is a separate cartridge, replace only the one that's empty.

Should I Buy LC201 or LC203 for the MFC-J4420DW?

LC203. Both fit the same slots, but the LC203 holds roughly twice the ink of the LC201, so it costs much less per page and you'll replace cartridges half as often. The only reason to choose LC201 is if you print so rarely that ink might dry out first. Brother also sells super-high-yield LC207 black and LC205 color cartridges (about 1,200 pages each) that fit the same slots. We don't sell those, but they are worth a look if you print a lot.

How Do I Replace the Ink in the Brother MFC-J4420DW?

1. Power on the printer and open the ink cartridge cover (on the right front of the printer).
2. Press the release lever above the empty cartridge and pull it straight out.
3. Unbox the new cartridge, remove the orange protective cap, and push it firmly into the matching color slot until it locks.
4. Close the cover. The printer primes the new cartridge automatically.
5. If prompted, confirm that you replaced a cartridge, then print a quality check page from the Ink menu.

Why Does My Brother MFC-J4420DW Say "Cannot Detect" or "Unable to Print"?

"Cannot Detect": the printer can't read the cartridge. Remove it, make sure the orange cap is off, wipe the chip contacts with a dry lint-free cloth, and reinstall firmly. Check you have an LC201/LC203 cartridge, not a lookalike from another series. "Unable to Print" or "Unable to Clean" followed by a number is usually a mechanical or print-head error: turn the printer off, check for jammed paper or debris in the carriage path, and restart. More fixes in ink cartridge not recognized.

How Do I Fix Streaky or Faded Prints on the MFC-J4420DW?

Print a quality check sheet from the Ink (or Maintenance) menu. If colors show gaps, run one cleaning cycle for the affected color, then print another check. Two cycles clear most minor clogs; if not, let the printer sit a few hours and try again. Printing at least once a week helps prevent clogs. See faded or streaky prints.

Does Brother Block Third-Party Ink on the MFC-J4420DW?

We found no reports of Brother blocking non-Brother LC201/LC203 cartridges on the MFC-J4420DW, and it has no ink subscription lock. If a cartridge isn't detected, reseat it firmly and check that the orange cap is off. Using third-party ink doesn't void your warranty, though Brother won't cover damage it attributes to that ink (here's why).

What Are the Brother MFC-J4420DW's Key Features?

The MFC-J4420DW is a wireless 4-in-1 (print, scan, copy, fax) from Brother's Business Smart series with automatic two-sided printing, a 20-sheet automatic document feeder (one-sided scanning), a front-loading 150-sheet letter-size tray, a single-sheet bypass for paper up to 11x17, a color touchscreen, and Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and mobile printing through the Brother apps. It connects over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or USB; there is no Ethernet port.

Is the Brother MFC-J4420DW Still Worth Using in 2026?

Yes, if it still prints reliably. The MFC-J4420DW has been discontinued, but LC201/LC203 cartridges remain widely available and inexpensive, so running costs stay low. If it develops print-head failures, a new printer usually costs less than a repair; see our printer buying guide and the best compatible ink for current Brother printers.

For drivers and the manual, visit the Brother MFC-J4420DW support page or the Brother support portal.

Brother MFC-J4420DW Ink FAQs

What ink does the Brother MFC-J4420DW use?

Brother LC201 (standard) or LC203 (high-yield) cartridges in black, cyan, magenta and yellow.

Can I use LC203 instead of LC201?

Yes. LC203 prints about 550 pages versus about 260 for LC201, for a much lower cost per page.

Can I use LC3013 or LC3011 cartridges in the MFC-J4420DW?

No. LC3011/LC3013 cartridges are for newer Brother models and won't fit or be recognized.

Can I print with only black ink?

Brother printers generally need all four cartridges installed. When a color is empty, the printer may still print black-only for a while, but replace the empty cartridge promptly to protect the print head.

Are remanufactured LC203 cartridges safe?

We found no reports of this printer rejecting non-Brother LC203 cartridges. Buy from a seller that will replace a faulty one. See are compatible ink cartridges safe?

Does the MFC-J4420DW fax and print two-sided?

Yes. It includes a built-in fax and automatic duplex printing.

Need help? Contact us with your printer model. Orders placed by 4 PM ET Monday–Friday ship the same day, with free shipping over $50.

Same ink, other models: LC201/LC203 cartridges also fit the MFC-J480DW, MFC-J680DW, and MFC-J880DW. See those guides for model-specific tips.

What MFC-J4420DW 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 print on 11x17 paper?

Yes, one sheet at a time through the single-sheet bypass. The main tray holds 150 sheets up to letter size.

Does the document feeder scan two-sided originals?

No. Brother lists automatic two-sided printing and copying, but not two-sided scanning, for the 20-sheet feeder.

Why did the first set of cartridges run out so quickly?

Brother says the starter cartridges in the box yield about 65% of a replacement LC203, because part of the ink goes into priming the printer.

Can I connect it with an Ethernet cable?

No. Brother lists Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n), Wi-Fi Direct and USB 2.0, but no Ethernet port.

MFC-J4420DW quirks worth knowing

• It belongs to Brother's Business Smart series, not the later INKvestment line. The trick of the series is a compact body that still prints 11x17 through a bypass slot while the main tray stays letter-size.
• Brother rates it for up to 13,000 pages a month but recommends 250 to 1,000, and Brother USA backed it with a 2-year warranty.
• If it goes completely dead, the power supply is a known weak point. iFixit has power-supply and capacitor replacement guides for this exact model.

Other printers that use LC201 and LC203

Brother MFC-J480DW · Brother MFC-J680DW · Brother MFC-J880DW · Brother MFC-J4620DW · Brother MFC-J5720DW

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 11, 2026 and will change over time.

• Brother USA MFC-J4420DW product page (specs, starter cartridges)
• Brother Canada MFC-J4420DW page
• Adorama: Brother LC207 super-high-yield black
• 4inkjets: MFC-J4420DW cartridges and prices
• iFixit: Brother MFC-J4420DW repair guides