Brother TN229 toner comes in three sizes for Brother's current compact color lasers: TN229 standard (1,500 pages black, 1,200 per color), TN229XL high yield (3,000 / 2,300) and TN229XXL super high yield (4,500 / 4,000). All nine printers accept the standard and XL cartridges, but Brother lists the XXL for only four of them. If your printer takes XXL, it is the cheapest per page; if not, the XL is the one to buy.
Brother TN229 toner at a glance
Each size is sold as four separate cartridges: black (BK), cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y). Yields are Brother's ISO/IEC 19798 ratings at about 5% coverage per color. Black is rated higher than the colors in every size.
| Size | Black | Cyan | Magenta | Yellow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN229 (standard) | TN229BK: 1,500 pages | TN229C: 1,200 pages | TN229M: 1,200 pages | TN229Y: 1,200 pages |
| TN229XL (high yield) | TN229XLBK: 3,000 pages | TN229XLC: 2,300 pages | TN229XLM: 2,300 pages | TN229XLY: 2,300 pages |
| TN229XXL (super high yield) | TN229XXLBK: 4,500 pages | TN229XXLC: 4,000 pages | TN229XXLM: 4,000 pages | TN229XXLY: 4,000 pages |
There is also a genuine Brother TN229 CMYK 4-pack (Brother part TN2294PK), which holds one standard-yield cartridge of each color. The XL and XXL sizes are sold as single cartridges.
Which printers use Brother TN229 toner?
The TN229 family covers three groups of Brother color lasers:
- HL-L3200 series color printers: HL-L3220CDW, HL-L3280CDW, HL-L3295CDW, HL-L3300CDW
- MFC-L3700 series all-in-ones: MFC-L3720CDW, MFC-L3765CDW, MFC-L3780CDW
- Business color models: HL-L8245CDW, MFC-L8395CDW
Every model takes the standard TN229 and the TN229XL. The TN229XXL is the exception. On Brother's TN229XXL product page only four models are listed:
| Printer | TN229 | TN229XL | TN229XXL |
|---|---|---|---|
| HL-L3220CDW, HL-L3280CDW, HL-L3300CDW | Yes | Yes | No |
| MFC-L3720CDW, MFC-L3765CDW | Yes | Yes | No |
| HL-L3295CDW, MFC-L3780CDW | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HL-L8245CDW, MFC-L8395CDW | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Owners of other models should not buy XXL cartridges. If you are unsure which model you have, the name is printed on the front panel and on the rating label at the back, and our cartridge finder will match it for you.
Brother HL-L3280CDW toner: which size?
The HL-L3280CDW is the most common printer in this family, and it does not accept the TN229XXL. Its largest option is the TN229XL. For anyone printing more than a few hundred pages a month, the XL is the right buy, and the TN229 standard is only worth it for very light use or when you want a lower upfront cost.
TN229 vs TN229XL vs TN229XXL: cost per page
The cartridges are identical except for the amount of toner inside. On current prices the bigger sizes cost more per cartridge but less per page:
- Black: the TN229XLBK costs about 1.2 times as much as the TN229BK but prints twice the pages, so each page costs roughly 40% less. The TN229XXLBK costs about 1.6 times as much as the standard for three times the pages: about 46% less per page than standard and 11% less than XL.
- Cyan, magenta, yellow: an XL color costs about 1.46 times as much as a standard color and prints 1.9 times the pages, so each page costs about 24% less. An XXL color costs about 1.9 times as much as a standard color for 3.3 times the pages. That works out to about 43% less per page than standard and 25% less than XL.
| Your printing | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Under 200 pages a month, mostly text | TN229 standard, or TN229XL black with standard colors |
| 200–1,000 pages a month, some color | TN229XL in all four colors |
| Over 1,000 pages a month on an XXL-compatible model | TN229XXL, at least for black and your most-used color |
| Over 1,000 pages a month on an HL-L3280CDW or other non-XXL model | TN229XL, with a spare black on the shelf |
For more on how Brother names its yield tiers, see Brother toner yields explained.
Black runs out first: replace one color or the full set?
Each color has its own sensor, so the printer tells you which cartridge is low. Black prints all text and the dark parts of images, so in most offices it runs out well before any single color. The colors rarely empty together either: a blue logo or yellow highlighting uses one color far more than the others.
Replace only the cartridge the printer reports as empty. If one color keeps running out early, buy that color in XL or XXL; every slot takes any size your printer supports, so sizes can be mixed freely. More on this in Replace one cartridge or the full set?
The CMYK 4-pack costs about 10% less than four standard cartridges bought separately, which makes it a good buy when all four colors are low together. Even with that discount, TN229XL singles still cost less per page: about 30% less for black and 15% less for each color.
Drum, belt and waste toner box: separate parts
A TN229 cartridge contains toner only. It sits in the DR229CL drum unit, a separate part that holds the drums for all four colors. Brother rates it at about 20,000 pages at one page per job (about 30,000 at three pages per job). The series also has a BU229CL transfer belt and a WT229CL waste toner box, each rated at roughly 50,000 pages.
- Replace the drum when the printer shows a drum message, or when repeating spots or streaks survive a toner change, not because toner is low.
- After installing a new drum, reset the drum counter from the printer menu (see how to reset the drum on a Brother printer). A toner change needs no reset.
- Replace the belt and waste toner box only when the printer asks for them.
How to install a TN229 toner cartridge
- Leave the printer on. Open the front cover and pull the drum unit out by its green handle until it stops.
- Push down the green lock lever on the color the printer reported, then lift that toner cartridge out of the drum unit.
- Unpack the new cartridge, shake it gently side to side a few times and remove the protective cover. Do not touch the developer roller.
- Push the cartridge into the slot with the matching color label until it locks into place.
- Slide the green corona-wire tab for that color gently back and forth a few times, then return it to its home position.
- Push the drum unit back in and close the front cover. The printer recognizes the new cartridge on its own.
Cover and lever positions differ slightly between the HL, MFC and business models, so check the online User's Guide for your model if a part does not match these steps.
Genuine vs compatible TN229 cartridges
Genuine TN229 cartridges are designed and yield-tested together with the DR229CL drum. Compatible and remanufactured cartridges vary by supplier: some print well, others give lower yields, weak color or recognition errors. Be wary of third-party "XXL" cartridges listed for the HL-L3280CDW or MFC-L3720CDW, because Brother makes no XXL for those printers.
A genuine cartridge comes in a sealed Brother box printed with the exact part number (for example TN229XLC) and the yield; see how to tell if Brother toner is genuine. Every TN229 cartridge we sell is genuine Brother, brand new and factory sealed, backed by our right-cartridge-or-your-money-back guarantee.
Which Brother TN229 should you buy?
Check your model first. For the HL-L3295CDW, MFC-L3780CDW, HL-L8245CDW or MFC-L8395CDW, choose TN229XXL for any color you replace often. On every other model the largest option is TN229XL, and it is the best value for most offices. Buy the standard TN229 only for very light printing, or as the 4-pack when you want a full set at the lowest upfront cost. Keep one spare black cartridge, and leave the drum alone until the printer asks for a new one.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Brother HL-L3280CDW take TN229XXL toner?
No. Brother lists the TN229XXL only for the HL-L3295CDW, HL-L8245CDW, MFC-L3780CDW and MFC-L8395CDW. The HL-L3280CDW takes the TN229 standard and the TN229XL, and the XL is its highest-yield option at 3,000 pages black and 2,300 pages per color.
What is the difference between TN229, TN229XL and TN229XXL?
Only the amount of toner inside. TN229 is rated at 1,500 pages black and 1,200 per color, TN229XL at 3,000 and 2,300, and TN229XXL at 4,500 and 4,000. The larger sizes cost more per cartridge but less per page.
Can I mix TN229 and TN229XL cartridges in the same printer?
Yes. Each color slot takes any size your printer supports, so you can run an XL black with standard colors, or upgrade only the color you use most.
Is the drum included with TN229 toner?
No. The TN229 cartridges contain toner only. They work with the separate DR229CL drum unit, which Brother rates at about 20,000 pages at one page per job, so it lasts through several sets of toner.
What is the drum on a Brother printer?
The drum is the light-sensitive cylinder that transfers the toner image onto the paper. On TN229 printers it is the separate DR229CL drum unit, which holds the drums for all four colors and is replaced far less often than the toner cartridges.
Do I need to reset the printer after replacing a TN229 toner cartridge?
No. The printer detects a new toner cartridge automatically. A manual reset is needed only for the drum counter after you install a new DR229CL drum unit.
