What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J880DW Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all Brother LC203 & LC201 Ink Cartridges – LC203XL Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
Correction: an earlier version of this article listed the DCP-J152W and MFC-J985DW as LC203 printers. The DCP-J152W uses LC101/LC103 and the MFC-J985DW uses LC20E.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Brother MFC-J880DW
| 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%) | 89 | About 3.3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured LC203 high-yield cartridges (about 550 pages each). |
| Reliability (13%) | 84 | Most-reported problems: 'Cannot Detect' or 'No Ink Cartridge' after installing a new cartridge; 'Ink Absorber Full / Near Full' service message stops printing on aging Brother inkjets |
| Features (12%) | 87 | Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, 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 lists the MFC-J880DW as discontinued. LC201 and LC203 ink is 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 11, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.
The cartridges, pictured
LC203 4-packBlack + Cyan/Magenta/Yellow
LC203 BlackLC203BK · ~550 pages
LC203 CyanLC203C · ~550 pages
LC203 MagentaLC203M · ~550 pages
LC203 4-pack
LC203 Black
LC203 Cyan
LC203 MagentaOur own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.
Quick answer: what ink does the Brother MFC-J880DW use?
The Brother MFC-J880DW uses 4 Brother LC201/LC203 cartridges: black, cyan, magenta, and yellow. Standard LC201 and higher-yield LC203 cartridges fit the same slots. LC203 high-yield cartridges print about twice as many pages as LC201. 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 LC201 (standard yield) | LC201BK / LC201C / LC201M / LC201Y | ~260 pages each |
| Brother LC203 (high yield) | LC203BK / LC203C / LC203M / LC203Y | ~550 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-J880DW ink
Should I buy LC201 or LC203 for the MFC-J880DW?
LC203 for most people. LC203 high-yield cartridges print about twice as many pages as LC201. 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 LC201 and LC203 works.
What other printers use Brother LC203 ink?
LC201/LC203 also fits the MFC-J460DW, MFC-J480DW, MFC-J485DW, MFC-J680DW, MFC-J885DW, MFC-J4320DW, MFC-J4420DW, MFC-J4620DW, MFC-J5520DW, MFC-J5620DW, and MFC-J5720DW. If you own more than one, a single stock of cartridges covers them all.
Will other Brother cartridges fit the MFC-J880DW?
No. Brother LC101/LC103 (DCP-J152W) and LC20E (MFC-J985DW) look similar but won't fit. Always match the number on your current cartridge.
Can I use non-Brother LC203 cartridges in the MFC-J880DW?
Yes. Using them doesn't void your warranty under U.S. law, and we found no Brother statement about blocking non-Brother LC201 or LC203 cartridges on this printer. 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-J880DW?
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-J880DW 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-J880DW 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?.
Can I use LC203 in place of LC201?
Yes. LC203 is the high-yield version of LC201 and fits the same slots. Most people should buy LC203 for the lower cost per page.
MFC-J880DW key facts
- Type: all-in-one (print, scan, copy, fax) with a 20-sheet single-sided document feeder, automatic two-sided printing and a 2.7-inch touchscreen
- Connections: Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet, NFC and USB 2.0
- Status: discontinued
- Ink: 4 individual Brother LC201/LC203 cartridges
- Same ink as: MFC-J460DW, J480DW, J485DW, J680DW, J885DW, J4320DW, J4420DW, J4620DW, J5520DW, J5620DW, J5720DW
What MFC-J880DW 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.
Why did the cartridges that came with the printer run out so fast?
The MFC-J880DW ships with starter cartridges, labeled L201, that hold about 80% of a standard LC201's yield. Your first replacements will last longer.
Does it fax, and can the document feeder scan both sides?
It faxes, and it has a 20-sheet document feeder, but the feeder is single-sided. It prints two-sided automatically, but it can't scan or copy two-sided originals automatically.
Can I connect it with a network cable instead of Wi-Fi?
Yes. Brother lists Ethernet as well as Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, NFC and USB 2.0.
How much can I print each month?
Brother recommends 50 to 1,000 pages a month, with a maximum of 2,500.
Is it still sold?
No. Brother lists the MFC-J880DW as discontinued. LC201 and LC203 cartridges are still easy to find, and the MFC-J885DW takes the same ones.
MFC-J880DW quirks worth knowing
- It has NFC, so you can tap a compatible phone on the printer to print or scan.
- The starter cartridges are labeled L201, not LC201. Don't hunt for that part number when you reorder.
- Automatic two-sided printing is slow, at about 3 pages a minute, so single-sided is much faster for long jobs.
- It has a 2.7-inch color touchscreen and Brother gave it a 2-year limited warranty.
Other printers that use LC201 and LC203
Brother MFC-J480DW · Brother MFC-J680DW · Brother MFC-J4420DW · Brother MFC-J4620DW · Brother MFC-J5720DW
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.
Need replacement Brother LC203 & LC201 Ink Cartridges – LC203XL Black, Cyan, Magenta, Yellow? Shop Brother LC203 & LC201 Ink Cartridges – LC203XL 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.