What Toner Does the Brother MFC-L8905CDW Use?

by Last Updated:

Quick answer: The Brother MFC-L8905CDW uses the TN431, TN433, TN436 and TN437 toner family in black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Black runs about 3,000 pages (TN431), 4,500 (TN433), 6,500 (TN436) and 9,000 (TN437); colors run about 1,800, 4,000, 6,500 and 8,000 pages.

It also uses one DR431CL drum unit (about 30,000 pages), a BU330CL belt and a WT320CL waste toner box. The TN223, TN227 and TN229 toners for Brother's smaller color lasers do not fit. Castle Ink sells compatible TN433 and TN436 toner in all four colors, plus a TN436 4-pack.

CastleScore · November 2026

82/100 — Highly Recommended

Brother MFC-L8905CDW (Scored on Brother MFC-L8905CDW ratings)

Pillar (weight)ScoreWhat it is based on
Owner ratings (28%) 84 4.3★ average across 872 reviews at Lowe's
Expert reviews (20%) — No published numeric expert score we could verify (RTINGS has tested it, but we could not confirm its scores).
Cost per page (18%) 86 About 0.85¢ per black page with our compatible TN436BK (6,500 pages) and about 1.1¢ per color with our TN436 colors.
Reliability (18%) 72 Most-reported problems: wireless and scan-to-network drop-outs; occasional duplex mix-ups; curled pages and crinkled envelopes
Features (11%) 88 Print, copy, scan, fax, 33 ppm, auto duplex, 70-sheet two-sided ADF, 7" touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Gigabit Ethernet, NFC, 250 + 50-sheet trays expandable to 1,300.
Value (5%) 72 Running cost and owner satisfaction against a current price of about $770

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

CastleScore is Castle Ink’s own editorial rating, built from retailer star ratings, expert reviews, real cost per page and owner complaint patterns, checked November 2, 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-L8905CDW Take?

Cartridge Brother part no. Approx. yield Castle Ink option
TN436 Black (super high yield) TN436BK ~6,500 pages Castle Ink TN436BK, $54.95
TN436 Cyan / Magenta / Yellow (super high yield) TN436C / TN436M / TN436Y ~6,500 pages each Castle Ink TN436C, $69.95 (also M and Y)
TN436 4-color set TN436BK/C/M/Y ~6,500 pages each Castle Ink TN436 4-pack, $199.95
TN433 Black (high yield) TN433BK ~4,500 pages Castle Ink TN433BK, $49.95
TN433 Cyan / Magenta / Yellow (high yield) TN433C / TN433M / TN433Y ~4,000 pages each Castle Ink TN433C, $59.95 (also M and Y)
TN431 Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow (standard) TN431BK / C / M / Y ~3,000 black, ~1,800 color Amazon
TN437 Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow (ultra high yield) TN437BK / C / M / Y ~9,000 black, ~8,000 color Amazon
Drum unit (all four colors) DR431CL ~30,000 pages Amazon
Belt unit BU330CL ~50,000 pages Amazon
Waste toner box WT320CL ~50,000 pages Amazon

Yields are Brother's ISO/IEC 19798 figures as listed by Brother Canada, Staples, LD Products and Blue Dog Ink. Amazon links are tagged (as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases).

Wondering whether non-Brother toner is safe in this printer? Our compatible vs OEM Brother toner guide covers warranty, chips and cost per page.

What Does MFC-L8905CDW Toner Cost per Page?

On November 2, 2026, Staples and Quill both listed Brother's TN436BK at $108.29, about 1.7¢ a black page, and LD Products listed the TN436C at $199.74, about 3.1¢ a page for each color. Blue Dog Ink had the ultra-high-yield TN437BK at $145.98, about 1.6¢ a page. Our compatible TN436BK is $54.95 (about 0.85¢ a page) and our TN436 colors are $69.95 each (about 1.1¢ a page per color).

Will Compatible Toner Work?

Yes. Compatible TN433 and TN436 cartridges are widely used in the MFC-L8905CDW and its MFC-L8900CDW twin, and you can mix sizes, for example a TN436 black with TN433 colors. If the printer shows "No Toner" or "Toner Not Detected" after a swap, take the drum unit out, reseat the cartridge until it locks, and slide it back in fully. The drum and belt are separate parts, so a print-quality problem is not always the toner's fault.

How Do I Replace the Toner in the MFC-L8905CDW?

  1. With the printer on, press the front cover release and open the front cover.
  2. Hold the green handle of the drum unit and pull it out until it stops.
  3. Hold the handle of the empty toner cartridge, push it gently forward to unlock it, then lift it out of the drum unit.
  4. Unpack the new cartridge, shake it gently side to side and remove the protective cover.
  5. Lower the new cartridge into the matching color slot until it locks in place.
  6. Slide the green corona-wire tab back and forth a few times for each color, then return it to its home position.
  7. Push the drum unit back into the printer and close the front cover.

These are the standard steps for this printer family. If your model's door label shows a different order, follow the label.

Which Other Printers Use TN433 and TN436?

Staples lists TN436 for the Brother HL-L8360CDW, HL-L9310CDW, MFC-L8895CDW, MFC-L8900CDW, MFC-L8905CDW and MFC-L9570CDW. The HL-L8360CDW and MFC-L8900CDW also take the TN431 and TN433 sizes and the same DR431CL drum unit.

What MFC-L8905CDW owners ask

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

Can I use the TN437 ultra-high-yield cartridges?

Yes. Brother lists TN437 (about 9,000 black and 8,000 color pages) for the MFC-L8905CDW. It is the largest size for this model, but it is also the most expensive per cartridge, and a compatible TN436 usually costs less per page.

Which cartridges come in the box?

Brother ships it with standard-yield cartridges, about 3,000 black and 1,800 color pages, along with the drum unit, belt and waste toner box.

Why do two-sided pages come out flipped like a notepad?

That is the short-edge binding setting. In the printer driver's two-sided options, choose long-edge binding for portrait pages so the back reads like a book.

Is it the same printer as the MFC-L8900CDW?

Close to it. RTINGS reviews the MFC-L8905CDW, MFC-L8895CDW and MFC-L8900CDW as one printer, and they share the same toner, drum, belt and waste box.

MFC-L8905CDW quirks worth knowing

  • The DR431CL is a single drum unit holding all four colors, so a worn color means replacing the whole unit.
  • It weighs about 65 pounds, so plan on two people for setup.
  • Some owners report wireless and scan-to-network hiccups and the occasional duplex mix-up.
  • A few owners report curled pages and envelopes that crinkle in the paper path.

Frequently Asked Questions

What toner does the Brother MFC-L8905CDW use?

TN431 (standard), TN433 (high yield), TN436 (super high yield) or TN437 (ultra high yield) in black, cyan, magenta and yellow, with a DR431CL drum unit.

Does TN229 or TN227 toner fit the MFC-L8905CDW?

No. TN227 and TN229 are for Brother's smaller HL-L3000 and MFC-L3000 color lasers. The MFC-L8905CDW takes the TN431 family.

Can I mix TN433 and TN436 cartridges?

Yes. Each color slot accepts any size in the family, so you can run a TN436 black with TN433 colors.

Other printers that use Brother TN433 and TN436

Brother MFC-L8900CDW · Brother HL-L8360CDW

More Brother ink guides: Brother MFC-L3780CDW · Brother HL-L3290CDW · Brother MFC-9130CW · find any printer

Replacing it? Our highest-rated alternatives

Sources

Ratings and prices were checked on November 2, 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 — Founder of Castle Ink, 20+ years in the printer & imaging supplies industry.

Back to Printer Support