What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J615W Use?
Last Updated:Quick answer: The Brother MFC-J615W uses four separate LC61 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta and yellow. There's no high-yield LC61, so the standard cartridge is the one to buy. Castle Ink stocks remanufactured LC61 Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and a 4-pack.
The MFC-J615W takes the same ink as the MFC-490CW and a long list of Brother printers from the same era. High-yield LC65 cartridges aren't listed for it on Brother's LC61 pages. In the UK and Europe the MFC-J615W takes LC1100 cartridges, which are region-coded and won't fit a U.S. model.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Brother MFC-J615W
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (18%) | — | Reviewed by Trusted Reviews, without a numeric score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (24%) | 89 | About 3.0¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured LC61 cartridges (450 black / 325 color pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 70 | Most-reported problems: 'Ink Absorber Full' stopping the printer; a color not printing or streaky copies after repeated cleanings; 'Cannot Detect' cartridge errors; photo prints coming from the main tray |
| Features (12%) | 80 | Print, copy, scan, fax, document feeder, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 3.3-inch color screen, memory card slots, USB drive port, photo tray. No auto two-sided printing, no touchscreen. |
| 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 and Brother Canada list the MFC-J615W as discontinued, with no named replacement. Staples still sells Brother's LC61 cartridges.
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 16, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
LC61 4-packBlack + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
LC61 BlackLC61BK · ~450 pages
LC61 CyanLC61C · ~325 pages
LC61 MagentaLC61M · ~325 pages
LC61 YellowLC61Y · ~325 pages
LC61 4-pack
LC61 Black
LC61 Cyan
LC61 Magenta
LC61 YellowOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
What Ink Cartridges Does the Brother MFC-J615W Take?
| Cartridge | Brother part no. | Approx. yield | Castle Ink option |
|---|---|---|---|
| LC61 Black | LC61BK | ~450 pages | Remanufactured LC61 Black |
| LC61 Cyan | LC61C | ~325 pages | Remanufactured LC61 Cyan |
| LC61 Magenta | LC61M | ~325 pages | Remanufactured LC61 Magenta |
| LC61 Yellow | LC61Y | ~325 pages | Remanufactured LC61 Yellow |
| LC61 4-pack (black + 3 colors) | — | As above | Remanufactured LC61 4-pack |
Yields are Brother's ISO figures. Retail boxes add an S to the part number, such as LC61BKS. If you print a lot, our LC61 10-pack has four blacks and two of each color.
Is There a High-Yield LC61?
No. LC61 comes in one size. On October 16, 2026, Staples listed Brother's LC61 black at $32.99 (about 7.3¢ a page), the LC61 cyan at $14.19 (about 4.4¢ a page), a black two-pack at $58.79 and the four-color pack at $75.56. Our remanufactured LC61 black is $6.95 (about 1.5¢ a page), each color is $6.95 (about 2.1¢ a page), the 4-pack is $26.99 and the 10-pack is $60.95.
How Do I Replace the Ink in the Brother MFC-J615W?
- With the machine on, open the ink cartridge cover on the front.
- Press the lock-release lever for the color shown on the screen and pull out the empty cartridge.
- Unpack the new LC61 cartridge and remove its protective cap.
- Insert the cartridge in the direction of the arrow on its label until it clicks into place.
- Close the cover. If the screen asks whether you changed that color, answer Yes so the ink counter resets.
Which Other Printers Use LC61?
Brother's LC61BK page lists the MFC-490CW, MFC-495CW, MFC-790CW, MFC-795CW, MFC-990CW, MFC-5490CN, MFC-5890CN, MFC-5895CW, MFC-6490CW, MFC-6890CDW, MFC-250C, MFC-255CW, MFC-290C, MFC-295CN, MFC-J220, MFC-J265W, MFC-J270W, MFC-J410W, MFC-J415W, MFC-J630W, DCP-165C, DCP-385C, DCP-395CN, DCP-585CW, DCP-J125 and DCP-J140W.
What MFC-J615W owners ask
These are the questions that come up most for this printer in owner reviews, repair forums and Trusted Reviews, answered in our words.
It says 'Ink Absorber Full' and won't print.
The printer's waste-ink counter has hit its limit. A technician can reset the counter in maintenance mode, but that only clears the warning. It doesn't clean or replace the pad, so Brother service is the real fix.
One color won't print, even after several cleanings.
The print head is likely clogged, which is common on printers that sat unused. Replace any dried-out cartridge and run a few cleaning cycles. If four or more cleanings don't help, the head may need service.
It says 'Cannot Detect' after I put in a new cartridge.
Push the cartridge in firmly until it clicks, and make sure the protective cap is off. Then check the part number. U.S. units need LC61, not LC1100 or LC65.
My photos print from the main tray instead of the photo tray.
The 20-sheet photo tray isn't picked automatically. Select it by hand before you print photos.
MFC-J615W quirks worth knowing
- Brother rated it at up to 35 pages a minute in black and 28 in color in its fastest mode. There's no ISO speed rating for it.
- It prints, copies, scans and faxes, with a 15-sheet document feeder. There's no automatic two-sided printing.
- It connects over Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), Ethernet or USB, and has a 3.3-inch color screen, memory card slots, a USB drive port and PictBridge.
- Trusted Reviews liked the simple control panel and wireless setup, but noted that the USB cable has to be routed inside the machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ink does the Brother MFC-J615W use?
LC61 cartridges in black, cyan, magenta and yellow.
Do I have to replace all four cartridges at once?
No. Each color is a separate cartridge, so replace only the one that's empty.
Will UK LC1100 cartridges fit?
No. LC1100 is the European version. U.S. printers take LC61.
Other printers that use LC61
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 16, 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.