What Ink Does the Brother MFC-J995DW Use?

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Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide said the MFC-J995DW uses LC3037 cartridges. It uses LC3033 (super high-yield) and LC3035 (ultra high-yield). LC3037 does not fit.

The Brother MFC-J995DW INKvestment Tank uses LC3033 super high-yield ink cartridges (black ~3,000 pages; cyan, magenta and yellow ~1,500 each). It also takes LC3035 ultra high-yield cartridges (black ~6,000; colors ~5,000 each). LC3037 cartridges look similar but do not fit.

CastleScore · October 2026

86/100 — Highly Recommended

Brother MFC-J995DW

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 84 4.30★ average across 2,484 ratings at Amazon (4.3)
Expert reviews (18%) 80 PCMag 4.0/5
Cost per page (24%) 95 About 1.3¢ per page blended (black + color) with our remanufactured LC3035 ultra-high-yield cartridges (6,000 black / 5,000 color pages).
Reliability (13%) 77 Most-reported problems: clogged nozzles / frequent head cleaning needed, sometimes with no lasting fix; streaks or lines in colour output even after repeated cleaning; needs cleaning after sitting idle for a few months
Features (12%) 87 Print, copy, scan, document feeder, auto two-sided printing, fax, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, touchscreen.
Value (5%) 90 Running cost and owner satisfaction

Discontinued. Brother USA and Brother Canada both list the MFC-J995DW as discontinued and name no successor. LC3033 and LC3035 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

Our own remanufactured cartridges, photographed in-house.

Ink Cartridges at a Glance

Cartridge Color Yield
LC3033BK Black ~3,000 pages
LC3033C Cyan ~1,500 pages
LC3033M Magenta ~1,500 pages
LC3033Y Yellow ~1,500 pages
LC3035BK / C / M / Y (ultra high-yield) All colors ~6,000 black / ~5,000 each color

LC3033 and LC3035 cartridges also fit the Brother MFC-J805DW, MFC-J805DW XL and MFC-J815DW XL. We sell remanufactured LC3033 and LC3035 cartridges for all of them.

How to Replace Ink in the Brother MFC-J995DW

  1. Open the ink tank cover on the front of the printer.
  2. Press the lever for the empty color and remove the spent cartridge.
  3. Unbox the new cartridge and pull off the orange seal.
  4. Slide the new LC3033 or LC3035 cartridge into the matching slot until it locks.
  5. Close the cover — priming will run automatically.

Troubleshooting Tips

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

Streaky or banded prints: Run Maintenance > Print Quality Check > Cleaning from the touchscreen.

Slow ink delivery after install: Allow several minutes for the internal tank to refill from a new cartridge.

"Replace Ink" too soon: The first replacement often comes early because the in-box cartridges yield only about 75% of an LC3033 set. There is no standard-yield cartridge for this printer; LC3033 and LC3035 are the only ones that fit.

Have an MFC-J5945DW or MFC-J6945DW?

Those INKvestment models look similar but take LC3037/LC3039 cartridges, not LC3033/LC3035. See MFC-J5945DW ink and MFC-J6945DW ink.

What MFC-J995DW 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 first set of cartridges run out sooner than expected?

Brother says the in-box cartridges yield about 75% of a replacement LC3033 set, because part of the ink fills the internal tank system during setup. Replacement sets don't lose that ink.

My ink box shows a 6- or 12-month expiry. Is the ink expired?

Probably not. Brother says some boxes were misprinted with 6- or 12-month dates. All its cartridges carry a 3-year best-before date from manufacture.

Can it scan or copy both sides of a page automatically?

No. It prints two-sided automatically, but Brother lists duplex scanning and duplex copying as not supported.

What is the difference between the MFC-J995DW and the MFC-J995DW XL?

Same printer, same cartridges. The XL bundle launched at $299 with up to two years of ink in the box (at about 300 pages a month), against one year for the $199 standard model.

MFC-J995DW quirks worth knowing

  • There is no standard-yield cartridge for this printer. Only LC3033 (super high-yield) and LC3035 (ultra high-yield) fit.
  • Brother's "up to 1 year of ink in-box" claim assumes about 150 pages a month at 60% black and 40% color, and it refers to the starter cartridges, not to each replacement set.
  • For a $199 launch price it had unusual connections: Ethernet as well as Wi-Fi, and NFC "touch to connect" printing and scanning for Android phones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the MFC-J995DW use LC3033 or LC3035? Both. LC3033 is super high-yield; LC3035 is ultra high-yield. LC3037 does not fit.

How long does a set last? Brother's "up to one year of ink" refers to the cartridges in the box, at about 150 pages a month. A replacement LC3033 set is rated at about 3,000 black pages and 1,500 pages per color.

Can I use LC3013 in the MFC-J995DW? No — LC3013 is for the non-INKvestment Tank printers.

Will LC3037 cartridges work? No. LC3037 is for the MFC-J5845DW, MFC-J5945DW, MFC-J6545DW and MFC-J6945DW. Buy LC3033 or LC3035 for the J995DW.

Why is my new cartridge not recognized? Clean the chip contacts and reseat firmly.

More Brother ink guides: Brother MFC-J1360DW · Brother MFC-J4355DW · Brother MFC-J6555DW · find any printer

Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives

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.

Written and reviewed by — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer & imaging supplies industry.

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