What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J880DW Use?

The Brother MFC-J880DW uses LC203 high-yield ink cartridges (Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow). It also accepts the standard-yield LC201 cartridges. LC203 yields roughly twice the pages and is the better value.

Ink Cartridges at a Glance

The LC203/LC201 family fits the Brother MFC-J460DW, MFC-J480DW, MFC-J485DW, MFC-J680DW, MFC-J880DW, MFC-J885DW and DCP-J152W — so a single cartridge set can serve multiple printers in your home.

Save on LC203 Ink

Compatible LC203 cartridges work in the MFC-J880DW at a fraction of OEM pricing. Shop LC203 cartridges at Castle Ink.

How to Replace Ink in the Brother MFC-J880DW

1. Open the front ink cartridge cover on the printer.
2. Press the release lever for the empty cartridge and remove it.
3. Unbox the new LC203 cartridge and pull off the orange seal.
4. Insert the cartridge in its matching color slot until it clicks.
5. Close the cover — the printer will run a brief priming cycle.

Troubleshooting Tips

Cartridge not detected: Wipe the gold chip with a dry cloth and reseat.

Streaks or banding: Run Maintenance > Print Quality > Cleaning.

Color missing: Confirm the orange seal was removed.

Low ink warning persists: Compatibles report estimated levels — judge by output.

Official Brother Resources

Brother MFC-J880DW product page · Brother support

Bottom Line

The Brother MFC-J880DW uses LC203 high-yield ink (or LC201 standard). LC203 is best for everyday value — shop LC203 at Castle Ink.

Frequently Asked Questions

LC203 or LC201? Both fit; LC203 prints ~2x more pages.

Pages per cartridge? About 550 pages per LC203 color.

Can I mix LC201 and LC203? Yes — any combination works.

Will compatible LC203 cartridges work? Yes — quality compatibles fit the MFC-J880DW.

Why isn't my cartridge recognized? Clean the chip and reseat firmly.

— William Elward