What Toner Does the Brother MFC-8480DN Use?

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Quick answer: The Brother MFC-8480DN uses the TN620 standard-yield (about 3,000 pages) or TN650 high-yield (about 8,000 pages) black toner cartridge, which clips into a separate DR620 drum unit rated at about 25,000 pages.

The newer TN720/TN750/DR720 (MFC-8710DW and HL-5450DN family) and the older TN550/TN580/DR520 do not fit. Castle Ink sells compatible TN620, TN650 and DR620.

CastleScore · October 2026

77/100 — Recommended

Brother MFC-8480DN (Scored on Brother MFC-8480DN ratings)

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 74 3.8★ average across 61 ratings: 59 on Amazon (2012 snapshot) and 2 at Best Buy (small, dated sample)
Expert reviews (20%) — No published numeric expert score we could verify.
Cost per page (18%) 96 About 0.8¢ per page all-in with our compatible TN650 toner (8,000 pages) and DR620 drum (25,000 pages).
Reliability (18%) 66 Most-reported problems: slow multi-page feeder scanning; Toner Low or Replace Drum messages that persist after a swap; clunky Windows software
Features (11%) 70 Print, copy, scan and fax, 32 ppm, 50-page document feeder, auto two-sided printing, Ethernet, USB and parallel, 250-sheet tray plus 50-sheet multipurpose tray. No Wi-Fi, no duplex scanning.
Value (5%) 74 Running cost and owner satisfaction against a last Brother USA price of $229.99

Limited data: We could not find a published numeric expert score for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars; owner ratings are a small, dated sample.

Discontinued. Brother USA and Canada list the MFC-8480DN as discontinued; TN620, TN650 and DR620 supplies 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 30, 2026. It is not a customer review. See every ranked printer or how the score works.

The toner, pictured

Our own compatible toner, photographed in-house.

What Toner Does the Brother MFC-8480DN Take?

Cartridge Brother part no. Approx. yield Castle Ink option
TN650 Black (high yield) TN650 ~8,000 pages Castle Ink TN650, $46.95
TN620 Black (standard) TN620 ~3,000 pages Castle Ink TN620, $37.95
DR620 drum unit DR620 ~25,000 pages Castle Ink DR620, $49.95

Yields are Brother's ISO 19752 figures for the TN620/TN650/DR620 family (the same supplies used by the HL-5370DW), confirmed by 4inkjets and Brother USA's 8,000-page high-yield listing. In the UK and Europe the same cartridges are sold as TN-3230, TN-3280 and DR-3200.

What Does MFC-8480DN Toner Cost per Page?

On October 30, 2026, Staples listed Brother's TN650 at $147.99 (about 1.9¢ a page), TN620 at $93.99 (about 3.1¢ a page) and DR620 drum at $182.99 (about 0.7¢ a page); 4inkjets had them at $132.99, $89.99 and $170.99. Our compatible TN650 is $46.95 (about 0.6¢ a page), our TN620 is $37.95 (about 1.3¢ a page) and our DR620 is $49.95 (about 0.2¢ a page), so the all-in cost with the TN650 is roughly 0.8¢ a page.

Will Compatible Toner Work?

Yes. The TN620 and TN650 have no chip; the printer recognizes a new cartridge from a reset gear on the cartridge, then meters toner with a counter and sensor, so compatible cartridges work without any firmware concern. If prints fade near the end of a cartridge, pull it and rock it side to side five or six times to redistribute the toner before buying a replacement.

How Do I Replace the Toner in the MFC-8480DN?

  1. With the machine on, press the front cover release button and open the front cover.
  2. Slowly lift out the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly and set it on disposable paper; do not touch the drum surface or the electrodes.
  3. Push down the blue lock lever and pull the old toner cartridge out of the drum unit.
  4. Unpack the new TN620 or TN650 just before installing it, rock it gently side to side and remove the protective cover.
  5. Push the cartridge firmly into the drum unit until it clicks; the blue lever lifts on its own.
  6. Clean the corona wire by sliding the blue tab from side to side several times, then return it to the home position.
  7. Put the assembly back in the machine and close the front cover. Do not reset the drum counter after a toner-only change.

When you fit a new DR620, leave the front cover open after reinstalling the assembly, press Clear/Back, press 1 when the LCD asks "Replace Drum? 1.Yes 2.No", and close the cover once it shows Accepted.

Which Other Printers Use TN620, TN650 and DR620?

The HL-5340D, HL-5340DL, HL-5350DN, HL-5370DW, HL-5370DWT and HL-5380DN; the DCP-8050DN, DCP-8080DN and DCP-8085DN; and the MFC-8370, MFC-8480DN, MFC-8680DN, MFC-8690DW, MFC-8880DN and MFC-8890DW all take the same toner and drum.

What MFC-8480DN owners ask

These are the questions that come up most for this printer on retailer Q&A pages, manufacturer support pages, technician forums and owner reviews, answered in our words.

How do I clear Replace Drum after installing a new DR620?

With the front cover open, press Clear/Back, then press 1 to confirm a new drum and close the cover when the LCD shows Accepted. Brother notes that resetting the counter on a drum that is still in use makes the remaining-life reading wrong, so only do it with a new drum.

I put in a new toner and it still says Toner Low. Is the cartridge bad?

Usually not. The printer learns that a cartridge is new from the reset gear on its side; if the gear was not set, the old count carries over. Reseat the cartridge first. Technicians clear stuck warnings on this family with an undocumented front-panel counter reset (front cover open, Clear, then a toner-type code), which Brother does not publish and we have not verified.

Can it copy two-sided originals?

Not automatically. It prints two-sided on its own, but the document feeder scans one side at a time, and an owner review at Best Buy notes it lacks two-sided-to-two-sided copying.

Why is scanning from the feeder slow after the first page?

Owners report the same thing, especially on multi-page jobs. Adding memory helps, but this model uses an older 144-pin SO-DIMM module that is now hard to find.

MFC-8480DN quirks worth knowing

  • The DR620 drum outlasts about three TN650 cartridges, so most changes are toner-only.
  • Connections are Ethernet, USB and a parallel port; there is no Wi-Fi.
  • Paper comes from a 250-sheet tray and a 50-sheet multipurpose tray, with an optional second 250-sheet tray for 550 sheets in all.
  • Owners describe the high-yield TN650 as bulky and expensive from Brother, which is where compatible toner saves the most.

Frequently Asked Questions

What toner does the Brother MFC-8480DN use?

TN620 (about 3,000 pages) or TN650 (about 8,000 pages) black toner, with the DR620 drum unit (about 25,000 pages).

Does the TN750 fit the MFC-8480DN?

No. The TN720, TN750 and DR720 belong to the later MFC-8710DW and HL-5450DN generation; the MFC-8480DN takes the TN620, TN650 and DR620.

Is the MFC-8480DN still sold?

No. Brother lists it as discontinued, and CDW shows it discontinued in August 2012; TN620, TN650 and DR620 supplies remain available.

Other printers that use Brother TN620, TN650 and DR620

Brother HL-5370DW

More Brother ink guides: Brother HL-5450DN · Brother MFC-L5710DW · Brother MFC-7840W · find any printer

Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives

Sources

Ratings and prices were checked on October 30, 2026 and will change over time.

Need replacement Brother toner cartridges? Shop Brother toner cartridges at Castle Ink. Compatible, up to 70% less than OEM, and shipped the same day when you order by 4 PM ET.

Written and reviewed by — Castle Ink CEO since 2005; more than 20 years of experience in the printer supplies and e-commerce industry..

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