What Toner Does the Brother HL-2140 Use?
Last Updated:Shopping for this printer? See all Brother TN360 Toner Cartridges – TN360 & TN330 → Ships same day by 4 PM ET, 1-year guarantee.
Correction (October 2026): an earlier version of this guide called the TN-360 the standard cartridge and gave menu steps for resetting counters. The TN-360 is the high-yield cartridge; the standard one is the TN-330. The HL-2140 has no screen or menu, so resets are done with the Go button.
The Brother HL-2140 is a monochrome laser printer that uses the standard TN-330 toner cartridge (about 1,500 pages) or the high-yield TN-360 (about 2,600 pages), plus the DR-360 drum unit. The toner produces the printed image while the drum transfers it to paper — they are two separate consumables on this model.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Brother HL-2140
| Pillar (weight) | Score | What it is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Owner ratings (28%) | — | No retailer rating with enough reviews to use. |
| Expert reviews (20%) | — | No published numeric expert score we could verify. |
| Cost per page (18%) | 92 | About 1.9¢ per page all-in with our compatible TN360 toner (2,600 pages) and DR360 drum (12,000 pages). |
| Reliability (18%) | 90 | No recurring hardware or connection complaints in owner reviews. |
| Features (11%) | 40 | Print only, over USB. No document feeder, no auto two-sided printing, no fax, 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 no longer sells the HL-2140 new, but TN-330 and TN-360 toner and the DR-360 drum are still widely 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 toner, pictured
TN360 Toner
TN330/TN360 Jumbo
DR360 DrumOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
Brother TN360 Toner & Drum at a Glance
| Consumable | Part Number | Page Yield | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Toner | TN-330 | ~1,500 pages | Standard |
| Black Toner | TN-360 | ~2,600 pages | High yield |
| Drum Unit | DR-360 | ~12,000 pages | Lasts four or more TN-360 toners |
TN-330 and TN-360 toner also fit other Brother models, including the HL-2150N, HL-2170W, DCP-7030, DCP-7040, MFC-7340, MFC-7440N, and MFC-7840W, making it a high-volume cartridge family that is widely stocked in genuine, remanufactured, and compatible versions.
How to Replace the Toner and Drum
- Power on the Brother HL-2140 and open the front cover.
- Pull out the toner/drum assembly as a single unit.
- To replace just the toner, push the green lock lever and separate the toner from the drum, then snap in the new TN360 cartridge.
- To replace the drum, install the existing toner into the new DR-360 drum unit.
- Slide the assembly back into the printer, close the cover, and reset the drum counter if you replaced the drum.
Troubleshooting Tips
Faded or streaky prints: Gently rock the toner cartridge side-to-side to redistribute toner, then reinstall. If streaks remain, clean the corona wire by sliding the green tab back and forth several times.
Drum error: After installing a new DR-360, the Drum light keeps blinking until you reset the drum counter. The HL-2140 has no menu, so use the Go button: with the front cover open, hold Go until all the lights come on, release it, then close the cover.
Paper jams or smudges: Inspect the drum surface for scratches and the pickup roller for wear. Replacing the drum at end of life prevents repeated print-quality issues.
What HL-2140 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.
Is there a cheaper cartridge than the TN-360?
Yes. The TN-330 is the standard cartridge, rated for about 1,500 pages. The TN-360 is the high-yield version at about 2,600 pages. Both fit.
How do I know when the toner is low?
Watch the Toner light. It flashes when toner is low and stays on when the cartridge needs replacing.
Why did my first toner run out so fast?
The HL-2140 ships with a lower-capacity starter cartridge, so the first replacement comes sooner than you'd expect.
HL-2140 quirks worth knowing
- There is no screen and no menu: just status lights and a single Go button. Every reset is done with the front cover open, using Go and watching the lights.
- Two toner sizes share the same slot, the TN-330 (about 1,500 pages) and the TN-360 (about 2,600). U.S. HL-2150 models use the same toner and the same DR-360 drum.
- If a cartridge is running low, gently rocking it side to side redistributes the toner, and printing in draft mode from the driver stretches it further.
- It prints sharp text, but graphics come out only average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What toner does the Brother HL-2140 use?
A: The Brother HL-2140 uses the TN-330 standard black toner cartridge (about 1,500 pages) or the TN-360 high-yield cartridge (about 2,600 pages).
Q: Does the Brother HL-2140 need a separate drum unit?
A: Yes — the DR-360 drum unit is separate from the toner and is rated for about 12,000 pages, which is four or more TN-360 cartridges.
Q: Can I use compatible TN360 cartridges?
A: Yes. We know of no chip or firmware lockout on the HL-2140, and compatible TN-330 and TN-360 cartridges are widely sold for it.
Q: Where can I buy TN360 toner?
A: We sell a compatible TN360 toner and a compatible DR-360 drum. Shipping is free on U.S. orders over $50, and orders placed by 4 PM ET ship the same day.
Other printers that use TN330 and TN360 toner
Brother MFC-7340 · Brother MFC-7840W · Brother HL-2170W · Brother HL-2150N · Brother MFC-7440N · Brother DCP-7030 · Brother DCP-7040
More Brother ink guides: Brother DCP-L2640DW · Brother MFC-L2820DW · Brother HL-L2460DW · find any printer
Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives
- Brother HL-L2460DW — CastleScore 90
- Brother MFC-L2820DW — CastleScore 90
- Brother HL-L5210DW — CastleScore 89
Sources
Ratings and prices were checked on October 10, 2026 and will change over time.
Need replacement Brother TN360 Toner Cartridges – TN360 & TN330? Shop Brother TN360 Toner Cartridges – TN360 & TN330 at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.