What Toner Does the Brother HL-2170W 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 said to reset the toner counter with a Menu > 1 > OK sequence. The HL-2170W has no screen or menu, and a new toner cartridge resets the count by itself.
The Brother HL-2170W uses Brother TN360 high-yield (or standard TN330) black toner cartridges and a DR360 drum unit that lasts roughly 12,000 pages.
CastleScore · October 2026
69/100 — Situational
Brother HL-2170W
| 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%) | 89 | Most-reported problems: resetting the drum counter without actually replacing the drum can leave a sibling HL-2140 ignoring print jobs |
| Features (11%) | 50 | Wi-Fi, Ethernet. 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.
Older model. We couldn't confirm whether Brother still sells the HL-2170W new. Genuine TN330, TN360 and DR360 were still in stock at 4inkjets in October 2026.
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 toner, pictured
TN360 Toner
TN330/TN360 Jumbo
DR360 DrumOur own compatible toner, photographed in-house.
Toner & Drum at a Glance
| Part | Type | Approx. Page Yield | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother TN330 | Black Toner | ~1,500 pages | Light printing |
| Brother TN360 | Black Toner (High Yield) | ~2,600 pages | Frequent printing |
| Brother DR360 | Drum Unit | ~12,000 pages | Replace every 4-5 toners |
TN330 / TN360 toner and the DR360 drum also fit the HL-2140, HL-2150N; MFC-7340, MFC-7345N, MFC-7440N, MFC-7840W; DCP-7030, DCP-7040 — Brother's late-2000s mono laser family.
How to Replace Toner in the Brother HL-2170W
- Power off the printer and open the front cover to access the toner/drum assembly.
- Pull the toner-and-drum assembly straight out as a single unit.
- Press down the green lock lever to release the empty toner from the drum, then lift the toner out.
- Unbox the new toner, rock it side to side 5-6 times to redistribute the powder, then snap it into the drum unit.
- Slide the toner-and-drum assembly back into the printer and close the front cover.
Troubleshooting Tips
Toner light stays on. The HL-2170W has no screen or menu, so there is no toner counter to reset. A new toner cartridge resets the count by itself when you install it. If the light stays on with a refilled cartridge, it probably wasn't fitted with a new reset gear.
Faded or streaky prints. Remove the toner-and-drum assembly and rock the toner 5-6 times. For streaks, slide the green corona-wire tab on the drum back and forth several times, then return it to its home position before you reinstall the assembly.
Paper jams. Open the back cover and check the rear paper exit path. Envelopes and heavy paper often jam there.
Wi-Fi setup issues. The HL-2170W has 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, so it works on 2.4 GHz only. Brother's Network User's Guide covers one-push wireless setup and the WPS PIN method. It also has an Ethernet port if wireless won't hold.
What HL-2170W 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.
What do the lights mean when the toner is low?
The Toner light flashes when toner is getting low and stays on when the cartridge needs replacing.
Why are my prints faint when the toner isn't empty?
Take the cartridge out and rock it, and raise the print density in the Windows driver. Owners who still got faint pages found a fresh cartridge fixed it, and one said a cheap third-party toner printed light.
Why did the first toner run out so fast?
The cartridge in the box is a starter, rated about 1,000 pages. A TN330 is rated about 1,500 and a TN360 about 2,600.
The drum light came on after I changed the toner. Should I reset the drum counter?
Only reset it when you have actually fitted a new DR360. On the related HL-2140, resetting the drum counter without a new drum left the printer ignoring print jobs. The reset is done with the Go button with the front cover open; Brother's user guide has the steps.
HL-2170W quirks worth knowing
- There is no screen or menu. The control panel is a single Go button and a row of status lights, so every reset and setting is done with the Go button.
- Wi-Fi is 802.11b/g, so it connects only on 2.4 GHz. It also has a wired Ethernet port.
- Brother rates it at up to 23 pages a minute, with a 250-sheet tray plus a manual bypass slot for envelopes and heavier paper.
- Reviewers rate its text as excellent but its graphics below average. It is a document printer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What toner does the Brother HL-2170W use?
Brother TN330 (standard) or TN360 (high-yield) black toner cartridges, plus a DR360 drum unit.
Can I use TN360 instead of TN330?
Yes — TN360 prints about 2,600 pages versus 1,500 for TN330, providing much lower cost-per-page.
Do I need to replace the drum every toner?
No — the DR360 drum lasts about 12,000 pages or roughly 4-5 toner cycles.
Does the HL-2170W print double-sided?
Manual duplex only — there is no automatic duplexer. For auto duplex look at the HL-2270DW.
Can I use compatible TN360 cartridges?
Yes. There is no chip lockout: the printer detects a new cartridge with a mechanical reset gear, so choose one that comes with a new gear. Using third-party toner doesn't void the warranty, but Brother won't cover damage it attributes to that toner.
Other printers that use TN330 and TN360 toner
Brother HL-2140 · Brother MFC-7340 · Brother MFC-7840W · 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 11, 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.