What Toner Does the Brother MFC-L3765CDW Use?

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Quick answer: The Brother MFC-L3765CDW uses Brother TN229 toner (about 1,500 pages black, 1,200 color) or the high-yield TN229XL (about 3,000 black, 2,300 color), plus a DR229CL drum unit rated at about 20,000 pages.

It does not take the super-high-yield TN229XXL, which Brother lists only for the MFC-L3780CDW and a few other models, and it doesn't use the older DR223CL drum or TN223/TN227 toner. Castle Ink sells compatible TN229XL and TN229 toner for it, in sets or single colors.

CastleScore · October 2026

81/100 — Highly Recommended

Brother MFC-L3765CDW (Scored on Brother MFC-L3765CDW ratings)

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 80 4.1★ average across 108 ratings at Sam's Club, many syndicated from Brother's own site
Expert reviews (20%) — No published numeric expert score we could verify for the MFC-L3765CDW.
Cost per page (18%) 78 About 4.8¢ per page blended (black + color) with our compatible TN229XL toner (3,000 black / 2,300 color pages).
Reliability (18%) 82 Most-reported problems: toner reads empty while toner remains; Wi-Fi setup trouble; two-sided jams on thick card stock; Refresh subscription prompts
Features (11%) 86 Print, copy, scan, fax, 50-sheet document feeder (one-sided scanning), auto two-sided printing, 27 ppm, 3.5-inch touchscreen, dual-band Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet.
Value (5%) 75 Running cost and owner satisfaction against a club price of about $390–$500

Limited data: We could not find a published numeric expert score for this printer, so that weight is spread across the other pillars.

Still sold. Brother lists it at $499.99; it's mainly a warehouse-club model (Costco and Sam's Club), and Costco sold it for $389.99 in February 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 26, 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-L3765CDW Take?

Supply Brother part no. Approx. yield Castle Ink option
Black toner TN229BK ~1,500 pages Compatible TN229BK, $55.95
Cyan / magenta / yellow toner TN229C / TN229M / TN229Y ~1,200 pages each C / M / Y, $55.95 each
High-yield black TN229XLBK ~3,000 pages Compatible TN229XLBK, $65.95
High-yield cyan / magenta / yellow TN229XLC / TN229XLM / TN229XLY ~2,300 pages each C / M / Y, $65.95 each
Drum unit (all four colors) DR229CL ~20,000 pages Amazon
Belt unit / waste toner box BU229CL / WT229CL ~50,000 pages Belt / Waste box (Amazon)

Toner yields are Brother's ISO/IEC 19798 figures; the drum is rated at about 20,000 pages at one page per job (30,000 at three). This model ships with a bigger starter black toner than its MFC-L3720CDW sibling: about 3,000 pages black and 1,000 per color. Brother also sells a USA-only TN229V "value" cartridge (3,300 black / 2,530 color) for it. Amazon links are tagged (as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases).

TN229XL vs. Standard, and vs. Brother's Price

On October 26, 2026, Brother USA listed its TN229BK at $79.79 (about 5.3¢ a page) and the TN229XLBK at $96.29 (about 3.2¢), and Staples had the XL colors at $127.99 each (about 5.6¢ a page per color). The DR229CL drum was $187.99 at Brother USA. Our compatible TN229XLBK is $65.95 (about 2.2¢ a page) and the XL colors are $65.95 each (about 2.9¢). Buy the XL: it has twice the pages of the standard cartridge for only a little more money, at Brother's price or ours.

Will Compatible TN229 Toner Work?

Yes. Brother doesn't use HP-style dynamic security, and in March 2025 Brother USA said publicly that its "firmware updates do not block the use of third-party ink," while adding that it only guarantees print quality with Brother supplies. Brother's warranty doesn't cover damage caused by non-Brother toner. If you sign up for Brother's Refresh EZ Print subscription, those subscription cartridges stop working if you cancel.

How Do I Replace the Toner in the MFC-L3765CDW?

  1. With the machine on, open the top cover until it locks open.
  2. Lift out the toner and drum assembly for the color shown on the screen and set it on a sheet of paper.
  3. Push down the green lock lever and take the old toner cartridge out of the drum.
  4. Unpack the new cartridge, remove the protective cover and push it firmly into the drum until it locks.
  5. Clean the corona wire by sliding the green tab left and right a few times, then return it to its home position (a tab left out of place causes vertical stripes).
  6. Slide the assembly back in, matching the color label, and close the top cover. Leave the machine on until it shows Ready.

Which Other Printers Use TN229 and DR229CL?

Brother lists the same TN229, TN229XL and DR229CL supplies for the HL-L3220CDW, HL-L3280CDW, HL-L3295CDW, HL-L3300CDW, HL-L8245CDW, MFC-L3720CDW, MFC-L3780CDW and MFC-L8395CDW. Our guides to the MFC-L3780CDW, MFC-L3720CDW, HL-L3280CDW and HL-L3220CDW cover the same toner.

What MFC-L3765CDW owners ask

These are the questions that come up most for this printer in Brother's FAQs, retailer reviews and Q&A, answered in our words.

Why does it still say Replace Toner after I put in a new cartridge?

Check that you replaced the toner and not the drum, that the cartridge is new rather than part-used, and that it's clicked fully into the drum. Then clean the corona wire and reinstall.

Why does it still say Replace Drum after a new drum?

The drum counter has to be reset after a drum swap. Only reset it when you've actually installed a new drum.

I mostly print black. Why is it using color toner?

Gray areas in a document can be printed with color. Set Color/Mono to Mono in the printer driver for black-only jobs.

Does it scan both sides of a page automatically?

No. The 50-sheet document feeder scans one side only. If you need two-sided scanning, the MFC-L3780CDW has it.

Can I use TN229XXL cartridges?

Brother doesn't list them for this model. Stick with TN229, TN229XL or TN229V.

MFC-L3765CDW quirks worth knowing

  • It's sold mainly through warehouse clubs (Costco and Sam's Club), so supply listings often leave it out. Shop by the TN229 and DR229CL numbers.
  • Brother rates it at 27 pages a minute in black and color, faster than the 19–20 ppm MFC-L3720CDW.
  • It has a 3.5-inch color touchscreen, dual-band Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet, and a 250-sheet tray.
  • Two-sided printing is automatic; two-sided copying and scanning aren't.

Frequently Asked Questions

What toner does the Brother MFC-L3765CDW use?

Brother TN229 (1,500 black / 1,200 color pages) or TN229XL (3,000 black / 2,300 color pages), with a DR229CL drum unit.

What drum does the MFC-L3765CDW use?

The DR229CL, which holds all four color drums and lasts about 20,000 pages. It does not use the older DR223CL.

Does the MFC-L3765CDW take TN229XXL toner?

No. Brother lists TN229XXL for the MFC-L3780CDW and HL-L3295CDW, not the MFC-L3765CDW.

Other printers that use TN229 toner

Brother MFC-L3780CDW · Brother MFC-L3720CDW · Brother HL-L3280CDW

More Brother ink guides: Brother DCP-L2640DW · Brother MFC-L2820DW · Brother HL-L2460DW · find any printer

Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives

Sources

Ratings and prices were checked on October 26, 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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