What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J5945DW Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all Brother LC3033 Ink Cartridges – Super High-Yield Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
Correction (September 2026): an earlier version of this guide said the MFC-J5945DW uses LC3033/LC3035 cartridges. It uses LC3037 and LC3039.
CastleScore · October 2026
86/100 — Highly Recommended
Brother MFC-J5945DW
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | 78 | 4.00★ average across 168 ratings at Amazon (4.0) |
| Expert reviews (18%) | 80 | PCMag 4.0/5 |
| Cost per page (24%) | 95 | About 1.3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured LC3039 ultra-high-yield cartridges (6,000 black / 5,000 color pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 88 | Most-reported problems: printhead blockage causing horizontal lines, fixed with a cleaning cycle that uses extra ink; occasionally drops off the wireless network and needs a power cycle |
| Features (12%) | 92 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen, fast (20+ ppm). |
| Value (5%) | 86 | Running cost and owner satisfaction |
Discontinued. Brother Canada and Brother Australia list the MFC-J5945DW as discontinued, and Brother names no successor. LC3037 and LC3039 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 10, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
LC3037 4-packBlack + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
LC3039 BlackLC3039BK · ~6,000 pages
LC3039 CyanLC3039C · ~5,000 pages
LC3037 BlackLC3037BK · ~3,000 pages
LC3037 4-pack
LC3039 Black
LC3039 Cyan
LC3037 BlackOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Quick answer: what ink does the Brother MFC-J5945DW use?
The Brother MFC-J5945DW uses 4 Brother LC3037/LC3039 INKvestment cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Super high-yield LC3037 and ultra high-yield LC3039 cartridges fit the same slots. Brother makes no standard-yield cartridge for this printer. LC3039 ultra-high-yield cartridges are rated for about 6,000 black and 5,000 color pages, double the black and more than triple the color of LC3037. Each color is a separate cartridge, so you only replace the one that runs out.
Cartridge options at a glance
| Cartridge | Part numbers | Approx. yield* |
|---|---|---|
| Brother LC3037BK (super high yield) | LC3037BK | ~3,000 pages |
| Brother LC3037 color (C/M/Y) | LC3037C / LC3037M / LC3037Y | ~1,500 pages each |
| Brother LC3039BK (ultra high yield) | LC3039BK | ~6,000 pages |
| Brother LC3039 color (C/M/Y) | LC3039C / LC3039M / LC3039Y | ~5,000 pages each |
*Approximate ISO yields from published cartridge specifications. Real-world results depend on coverage, photo printing, and cleaning cycles.
Common questions about Brother MFC-J5945DW ink
Should I buy LC3037 or LC3039 for the MFC-J5945DW?
LC3039 for most people. LC3039 ultra-high-yield cartridges are rated for about 6,000 black and 5,000 color pages, double the black and more than triple the color of LC3037. See Is XL ink actually worth it? Standard vs. XL with real numbers.
Can I mix LC3037 and LC3039 cartridges?
Yes. Each cartridge is read separately, so any mix of LC3037 and LC3039 works.
What other printers use Brother LC3037 ink?
LC3037/LC3039 also fits the MFC-J5845DW, MFC-J6545DW, MFC-J6945DW, and HL-J6000DW. If you own more than one, a single stock of cartridges covers them all.
Will other Brother cartridges fit the MFC-J5945DW?
No. Brother LC3033/LC3035 fit the MFC-J805DW, MFC-J815DW and MFC-J995DW; they look similar but aren't interchangeable with LC3037/LC3039. Always match the number on your current cartridge.
Are compatible LC3037 cartridges safe for the MFC-J5945DW?
We found no Brother statement or owner reports of this printer blocking non-Brother LC3037 or LC3039 cartridges, and using them doesn't void your printer warranty under U.S. law. Ours are remanufactured. If the printer shows “Cannot Detect” with a new cartridge, reseat it and check that the orange cap is removed. More: Compatible vs. remanufactured vs. OEM ink, Does compatible ink void your printer warranty? and The best compatible ink for Brother printers.
How do I replace the ink in the MFC-J5945DW?
Open the ink cartridge cover on the front of the printer. Push the lock-release lever for the empty color and pull the cartridge out. Unpack the new cartridge, remove the orange protective cap, and push it in until it locks. Close the cover; the printer resets that color's ink counter automatically.
Why does the MFC-J5945DW say “Cannot Detect” or “Cannot Print”?
Remove and reseat the cartridge until it locks, make sure the orange protective cap is off, and wipe the cartridge's contacts with a dry lint-free cloth. Turn the printer off for a minute. If one color is empty, most Brother inkjets stop printing until it's replaced. More fixes: Printer says ink cartridge not recognized: how to fix it.
Why are prints from my MFC-J5945DW faded or streaky?
From the control panel, run Ink (or Maintenance) > Improve Print Quality > Check Print Quality, then clean the colors that show gaps. If lines look jagged or doubled instead, run the alignment from the same menu; see our print head alignment guide. More: Why is my printer printing streaks?.
What is an INKvestment Tank printer?
It's Brother's name for printers that pair high-yield cartridges with an internal ink tank inside the printer. You still buy and replace ordinary LC3037/LC3039 cartridges, not bottles; the design mainly lowers the cost per page. See the MFC-J6945DW ink guide for its step-up model.
MFC-J5945DW key facts
- Type: business color all-in-one (print, scan, copy, fax)
- Ink: 4 individual Brother LC3037/LC3039 cartridges
- Max print size: 11 x 17 in. (scan and copy up to legal)
- Same ink as: MFC-J5845DW, MFC-J6545DW, MFC-J6945DW, HL-J6000DW
What MFC-J5945DW 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 scan or copy 11 x 17 documents?
No. It prints up to 11 x 17, but the scanner glass and document feeder stop at legal size. The sibling MFC-J6945DW scans 11 x 17.
Will it print 11 x 17 on both sides automatically?
No. Automatic two-sided printing works on Letter, A4 and A5 only. Ledger sheets print one side at a time.
Where should glossy photo paper go?
In the rear 100-sheet multipurpose tray. TechRadar found glossy paper smudged when it was fed from the front drawers.
Can it scan both sides of a stack automatically?
Yes. The 50-sheet document feeder scans and copies both sides in a single pass.
How long does the ink in the box last?
Brother rates the in-box ink at up to about 3,000 pages, which it describes as up to a year at about 300 pages a month. TechRadar puts it at about 3,000 black and 1,500 color pages.
MFC-J5945DW quirks worth knowing
- There is no standard-yield cartridge. The smallest one, LC3037, is already "super high-yield", and LC3039 is "ultra high-yield".
- The USB and Ethernet ports are inside: you reach them by lifting the top half of the printer.
- Pull out the output tray before you print, or pages can crumple or slide onto the floor.
- It has NFC for tap-to-print and tap-to-scan from a phone, and a 3.7-inch touchscreen that tilts.
Other printers that use LC3037 and LC3039
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 LC3033 Ink Cartridges – Super High-Yield Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow? Shop Brother LC3033 Ink Cartridges – Super High-Yield Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow at Castle Ink. Remanufactured, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.