What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J6730DW Use?
Last Updated:CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Brother MFC-J6730DW
| 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%) | 94 | About 1.7¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured LC3019 super-high-yield cartridges (3,000 black / 1,500 color pages). |
| Reliability (13%) | 83 | Most-reported problems: 'Ink Absorber Full' / 'Ink Absorber NearFull' lockout; 'Paper Jam' message persists after the jammed sheet has been removed; 'Unable to Print XX' hardware error codes |
| Features (12%) | 92 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen, fast (20+ ppm). |
| 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.
Status not confirmed. We couldn't confirm whether Brother still sells the MFC-J6730DW new; Brother has since moved its 11 x 17 business line to newer models. We still stock LC3017 and LC3019 cartridges for it.
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
LC3019 4-packBlack + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
LC3019 BlackLC3019BK · ~3,000 pages
LC3017 BlackLC3017BK · ~550 pages
LC3017 4-packBlack + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
LC3019 4-pack
LC3019 Black
LC3017 Black
LC3017 4-packOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Quick answer: what ink does the Brother MFC-J6730DW use?
The Brother MFC-J6730DW uses 4 Brother LC3017/LC3019 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Standard LC3017 and higher-yield LC3019 cartridges fit the same slots. LC3019 super-high-yield cartridges are rated for about 3,000 black and 1,500 color pages, several times the LC3017, so they're the better value for regular office printing. 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 LC3017 (high yield) | LC3017BK / LC3017C / LC3017M / LC3017Y | ~550 pages each |
| Brother LC3019 black (super high yield) | LC3019BK | ~3,000 pages |
| Brother LC3019 color (C/M/Y) | LC3019C / LC3019M / LC3019Y | ~1,500 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-J6730DW ink
Should I buy LC3017 or LC3019 for the MFC-J6730DW?
LC3019 for most people. LC3019 super-high-yield cartridges are rated for about 3,000 black and 1,500 color pages, several times the LC3017, so they're the better value for regular office printing. See Is XL ink actually worth it? Standard vs. XL with real numbers.
Can I mix standard and high-yield cartridges?
Yes. Each cartridge is read separately, so any mix of LC3017 and LC3019 works.
What other printers use Brother LC3017 ink?
LC3017/LC3019 also fits the MFC-J5330DW, MFC-J5335DW, MFC-J5730DW, MFC-J6530DW, and MFC-J6930DW. If you own more than one, a single stock of cartridges covers them all.
Will other Brother cartridges fit the MFC-J6730DW?
No. Brother LC3029 (MFC-J5830DW, MFC-J5930DW, MFC-J6535DW, MFC-J6935DW) and LC3037/LC3039 (MFC-J5945DW, MFC-J6945DW) look similar but won't fit. Always match the number on your current cartridge.
Can I use remanufactured LC3017 or LC3019 cartridges in the MFC-J6730DW?
Yes. We found no documented Brother lockout of non-Brother cartridges on this model, and using them doesn't void your warranty under U.S. law. 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-J6730DW?
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-J6730DW 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. More fixes: Printer says ink cartridge not recognized: how to fix it.
Why are prints from my MFC-J6730DW 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?.
Why did the first set of cartridges run out so fast?
The cartridges in the box are starter cartridges, rated at roughly 65% of a full LC3017, so the first set runs out sooner than replacements will. See why the first cartridges run out fast.
Can the MFC-J6730DW print 11x17?
Yes. It's a business all-in-one that prints up to 11 x 17 (ledger) size and can scan and copy at that size too.
What MFC-J6730DW 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.
Which tray should I use for card stock?
The upper tray or the manual feed slot. Both take paper up to 220 gsm, while the lower tray only takes 64 to 120 gsm.
It still says Paper Jam after I pulled the sheet out. What now?
Brother has a support article for exactly this on the MFC-J6730DW. Usually a scrap of paper is still in the paper path, under the scanner cover or behind the rear cover, and the message won't clear until it's out.
What does "Ink Absorber Full" mean?
The pad that soaks up ink from cleaning cycles is full, and the printer stops until it is dealt with. Brother covers the message in its FAQ for this model. Owners of Brother inkjets report it isn't something you can fix yourself; it usually means a service visit.
How fast is it, including two-sided printing?
It is rated at 22 pages per minute in black and 20 in color (ISO), and about 12 per minute printing two-sided.
Can it connect to a wired network?
Yes. It has 10/100 Ethernet, plus Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct and USB 2.0.
MFC-J6730DW quirks worth knowing
- Both 250-sheet trays, the rear manual slot and the duplexer all handle 11 x 17, so it prints two-sided ledger pages automatically.
- The scanner glass is full ledger size, and the document feeder takes long originals up to 900 mm (about 35 inches).
- Printers sold in Australia take LC3317 and LC3319, the regional versions of LC3017 and LC3019 with the same yields. If your printer came from outside the U.S., check the number on the cartridge before you order.
Other printers that use LC3017 and LC3019
Brother MFC-J6530DW · Brother MFC-J6930DW · Brother MFC-J5330DW · Brother MFC-J5730DW
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 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.