What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J5720DW Use?

Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said the MFC-J5720DW prints 11x17 only one sheet at a time through a rear slot. Both of its 250-sheet trays take 11x17.

Quick answer: The Brother MFC-J5720DW 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 LC209 black (about 2,400 pages) and LC205 color (about 1,200 pages each) cartridges for this printer. 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-J5720DW 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-J5720DW?

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-J4420DW and MFC-J4620DW, or browse every model in our find ink by printer directory.

What Is the Cheapest Ink for the Brother MFC-J5720DW?

Remanufactured high-yield LC203 cartridges are the cheapest way to run the MFC-J5720DW. 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-J5720DW?

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 LC209 black (about 2,400 pages) and LC205 color (about 1,200 pages each) cartridges 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-J5720DW?

1. Power on the printer and open the ink cartridge cover (on the 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-J5720DW 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-J5720DW?

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-J5720DW?

We found no reports of Brother blocking non-Brother LC201/LC203 cartridges on the MFC-J5720DW, 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-J5720DW's Key Features?

The MFC-J5720DW is a wireless 4-in-1 (print, scan, copy, fax) built for small offices, with automatic two-sided printing, a 50-sheet automatic document feeder that scans both sides, a 3.7-inch color touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and wired Ethernet, and tabloid (11x17) printing from either 250-sheet tray or the rear multi-purpose tray. Scanning and copying are limited to letter width.

Is the Brother MFC-J5720DW Still Worth Using in 2026?

Yes, if it still prints reliably. The MFC-J5720DW is an older model, 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-J5720DW support page or the Brother support portal.

Brother MFC-J5720DW Ink FAQs

What ink does the Brother MFC-J5720DW 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-J5720DW?

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-J5720DW have Ethernet?

Yes. It has wired Ethernet alongside 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi; Ethernet gives the most stable connection in a shared office.

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-J5720DW 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 I load a stack of 11x17 paper?

Yes. Both 250-sheet trays take 11x17, so you can keep tabloid in one and letter in the other. The rear multi-purpose tray takes up to 5 sheets of 11x17 or 80 sheets of letter.

Can it scan or copy 11x17 originals?

No. Printing goes up to 11x17, but the scanner glass and document feeder are letter width, as owners point out in reviews.

Does the document feeder scan both sides?

Yes. The 50-sheet feeder scans two-sided originals automatically.

Will cartridges bought in Europe fit?

No. The MFC-J5720DW sold in the UK and Europe takes LC223/LC225XL/LC229XL cartridges, not the LC20x cartridges the U.S. model uses.

MFC-J5720DW quirks worth knowing

• Brother's super-high-yield black for this model is the LC209 (about 2,400 pages), not the LC207 sold for the smaller MFC-J4420DW and J4620DW. Brother says the super-high-yield cartridges can save up to 40%.
• Brother's ISO speed is 22 pages per minute black and 20 color. Its marketing also quotes 35 and 27 ppm, which are not ISO figures.
• Total paper capacity is 580 sheets: two 250-sheet trays plus the 80-sheet rear tray.
• Some owners say #10 envelopes don't sit cleanly in the tray because there is no stop for them.

Other printers that use LC201 and LC203

Brother MFC-J480DW · Brother MFC-J680DW · Brother MFC-J880DW · Brother MFC-J4420DW · Brother MFC-J4620DW

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-J5720DW product page
• Brother UK MFC-J5720DW leaflet (ADF, regional cartridges)
• Walmart MFC-J5720DW owner reviews
• 4inkjets: MFC-J5720DW cartridges and prices
• LD Products: LC209 compatible printers