The TN420 toner is Brother's standard-yield black cartridge (about 1,200 pages) for the HL-2270DW, HL-2240, MFC-7360N, MFC-7860DW, DCP-7065DN and related printers. The TN450 is its high-yield twin (about 2,600 pages) and fits exactly the same machines. Both cartridges sit in the separate DR420 drum unit, rated for about 12,000 pages.
Below: the complete printer list, which cartridge costs less per page, when the DR420 needs replacing, how to reset the drum light on LED and LCD models, and how to recognize a genuine box.
TN420 vs TN450 vs DR420 at a glance
| Part | Type | Page yield* | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother TN420 | Standard-yield black toner | ~1,200 pages | All 16 printers below |
| Brother TN450 | High-yield black toner | ~2,600 pages | All 16 printers below |
| Brother DR420 | Drum unit | ~12,000 pages | All 16 printers below |
*Toner yields per ISO/IEC 19752 at about 5% page coverage. Drum life is Brother's estimate and varies with how you print.
The TN420 and TN450 are the same shape and fit the same slot in the DR420, so you can switch between them at any time. There is no setting to change and no compatibility catch: every printer that takes one takes the other.
Which printers use TN420 toner?
Brother lists the TN420, TN450 and DR420 for sixteen monochrome lasers and fax machines from the HL-2200, MFC-7000 and DCP-7000 generations:
| Series | Models |
|---|---|
| HL printers | HL-2220, HL-2230, HL-2240, HL-2240D, HL-2270DW, HL-2275DW, HL-2280DW |
| MFC all-in-ones | MFC-7240, MFC-7360N, MFC-7365DN, MFC-7460DN, MFC-7860DW |
| DCP copier/scanners | DCP-7060D, DCP-7065DN |
| IntelliFax machines | IntelliFax-2840, IntelliFax-2940 |
Brother HL-2270DW toner: TN420 or TN450?
The HL-2270DW is the best-known printer in this group, and it takes both cartridges. Unless you print only a few pages a month, choose the TN450: it roughly doubles the pages per cartridge at a lower cost per page. The same advice applies to the HL-2280DW and MFC-7860DW, which tend to sit in small offices with higher volumes.
Not in the list? Later Brother models use different cartridges that do not cross over: the HL-L2340DW and MFC-L2740DW generation uses the TN630/TN660 (see our TN630 vs TN660 guide), and the HL-L2350DW and MFC-L2710DW generation uses the TN730/TN760 (see the TN730 vs TN760 vs TN770 guide).
TN420 vs TN450: which costs less per page?
At current GS TONER prices the TN450 costs about 1.3× as much as the TN420 but prints about 2.2× the pages, so each page costs roughly 39% less. Over one DR420 drum life of 12,000 pages that is about ten TN420 cartridges versus four to five TN450s.
| Cartridge | Relative toner cost per page (TN420 = 100) | Cartridges per 12,000 pages |
|---|---|---|
| TN420 | 100 | 10 |
| TN450 | about 61 | 4 to 5 |
The drum is a separate cost. Spread over its rated 12,000 pages, the DR420 adds roughly one-third on top of the TN450's toner cost per page. Budget for one drum for about every four to five TN450 cartridges.
The DR420 drum: what it does and when to replace it
In these printers the toner cartridge clicks into the DR420 drum unit, and the two go into the printer as one assembly. The cartridge only supplies toner powder; the drum is the light-sensitive cylinder that forms the image and transfers it to the paper. A TN450 and a DR420 are therefore two different parts, and you need both in the printer.
Replace the drum when:
- the display shows Drum End Soon (order a spare) or Replace Drum, or on LED-only models the Drum light comes on or flashes;
- prints show spots or marks that repeat down the page, or a gray background that a new toner cartridge did not cure.
Drum life depends on how you print: Brother's rating is approximate, and many short one- or two-page jobs wear the drum faster than long runs. When you replace the drum, move your current toner cartridge into the new one rather than throwing away usable toner.
How to reset the DR420 drum counter
Reset the counter only when you install a new drum; Brother notes that resetting it during a drum's life makes the remaining-life reading inaccurate. A toner change needs no reset.
LED models (HL-2220, HL-2230, HL-2240, HL-2240D, HL-2270DW, HL-2275DW):
- Make sure the printer is on and open the front cover.
- Press and hold Go for about four seconds, until all four LEDs light up, then release it.
- Close the front cover and confirm the Drum LED is off.
Models with a display (MFC-7240, MFC-7360N, MFC-7365DN, MFC-7460DN, MFC-7860DW, HL-2280DW, DCP-7060D, DCP-7065DN, IntelliFax):
- With the new drum and toner installed, leave the front cover open.
- Press Clear (on some models Clear/Back).
- When the display asks you to confirm a new drum, choose Yes: press 1 on models with a number keypad, or the Yes arrow key shown on screen on models without one.
- When the display shows Accepted, close the front cover.
Brother's own steps are in its HL-2270DW drum LED FAQ and MFC-7860DW Replace Drum FAQ. If the message will not clear, our Brother drum reset guide walks through the usual causes.
How to replace a TN450 or TN420 cartridge
- With the printer on, open the front cover and pull out the drum and toner assembly.
- Push down the lock lever on the drum and lift the empty toner cartridge out.
- Unpack the new cartridge, rock it gently side to side a few times to even out the toner, and remove the protective cover.
- Push the cartridge into the drum until it locks; the lever lifts by itself.
- Clean the corona wire by sliding the tab on the drum gently from side to side several times, then return the tab to its home position. A tab left out of place can cause a vertical stripe on prints.
- Slide the assembly back in and close the cover.
Genuine vs compatible TN450 cartridges
Compatible and remanufactured TN450-type cartridges are widely available, and some list yields above Brother's rated 2,600 pages. Those figures are not always measured to the ISO/IEC 19752 method, so compare like with like. Quality also varies between third-party brands. Our guide on how to tell if Brother toner is genuine covers the details; the quick checks are:
- The Brother name and the part number (TN450, also printed as TN-450) appear on the box and the cartridge label.
- The UPC on the box matches the part: TN420 012502626763, TN450 012502626770, DR420 012502626756.
- The retail box is factory sealed, and the cartridge inside is sealed with its protective cover in place.
GS TONER stocks only genuine Brother supplies, brand new and factory sealed, with free US shipping and a 30-day return window.
Which one should you buy?
- Regular printing on any of the sixteen models: the TN450, at roughly 39% less per page.
- Very light use, or a printer you plan to replace soon: the TN420, for the lowest upfront cost.
- Drum: order a DR420 when Drum End Soon appears or the Drum light comes on, and reset the counter only after the new drum is installed.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use TN450 instead of TN420?
Yes. The TN450 is the high-yield version of the TN420 and fits every printer that takes the TN420, with no setting to change. It prints about 2,600 pages instead of about 1,200, at a lower cost per page.
What toner does the Brother HL-2270DW use?
The HL-2270DW uses the Brother TN420 standard-yield or TN450 high-yield black toner, together with the DR420 drum unit. The TN450 is the better value for regular printing.
How many pages does TN420 toner print?
About 1,200 pages at roughly 5% coverage, per ISO/IEC 19752. Documents with heavy graphics, bold text or images use more toner and get fewer pages.
What is the difference between the DR420 and the TN450?
The TN450 is the toner cartridge that holds the black powder and is replaced most often. The DR420 is the drum unit the cartridge clicks into; it transfers the image to paper and is rated for about 12,000 pages, so it outlasts several toner cartridges.
How do I reset the drum light on a Brother HL-2270DW?
With the printer on and the front cover open, press and hold Go for about four seconds until all four LEDs light up, release it, then close the cover. Do this only after installing a new DR420 drum.
