Brother TN433 is the high-yield toner for Brother's HL-L8260CDW, HL-L8360CDW, MFC-L8610CDW and MFC-L8900CDW business color lasers: about 4,500 pages in black and 4,000 per color. TN431 is the standard size. TN436 (super high yield, 6,500 pages) fits the HL-L8360CDW, MFC-L8900CDW, HL-L9310CDW and MFC-L9570CDW but not the HL-L8260CDW. Brother lists TN437 only for the MFC-L8905CDW.
The TN43x family at a glance
All four sizes are sold as single cartridges in black, cyan, magenta and yellow. Yields are Brother's ISO/IEC 19798 ratings at about 5% coverage per color.
| Size | Black | Cyan | Magenta | Yellow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN431 (standard) | TN431BK: 3,000 | TN431C: 1,800 | TN431M: 1,800 | TN431Y: 1,800 |
| TN433 (high yield) | TN433BK: 4,500 | TN433C: 4,000 | TN433M: 4,000 | TN433Y: 4,000 |
| TN436 (super high yield) | TN436BK: 6,500 | TN436C: 6,500 | TN436M: 6,500 | TN436Y: 6,500 |
| TN437 (ultra high yield) | TN437BK: 9,000 | TN437C: 8,000 | TN437M: 8,000 | TN437Y: 8,000 |
Page counts are approximate. The tier names follow Brother's usual pattern, explained in Brother toner yields: standard, high, super and ultra.
Which printers use TN431, TN433, TN436 and TN437?
These cartridges look alike, but each size is listed by Brother for a different set of printers. Check this table before you order:
| Printer | TN431 | TN433 | TN436 | TN437 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HL-L8260CDW, MFC-L8610CDW | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| HL-L8360CDW, HL-L8360CDWT, MFC-L8900CDW, MFC-L8895CDW | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not listed |
| MFC-L8905CDW | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Yes |
| HL-L9310CDW, MFC-L9570CDW | No | No | Yes | No |
Two points cause most ordering mistakes:
- The HL-L8260CDW and MFC-L8610CDW stop at TN433. TN436 and TN437 are not listed for them, so TN433 is their best value.
- TN437 is a model-specific size. On Brother's TN437BK page the only printer listed is the MFC-L8905CDW. For the HL-L8360CDW and MFC-L8900CDW, the largest size Brother lists is TN436. Unless you own an MFC-L8905CDW, choose TN436.
Brother HL-L8260CDW toner
The HL-L8260CDW takes TN431 or TN433 only. At current prices the TN433BK costs only about 4% more than the TN431BK but prints 1.5 times the pages. Even for a light-use HL-L8260CDW, standard black makes little sense. For colors, TN433 is the better buy for anyone printing color every week.
TN433 vs TN431 vs TN436: cost per page
Compared with the standard TN431 at current prices:
- Black: TN433BK costs about 30% less per page. TN436BK costs about 9% more per cartridge than TN431BK but prints more than twice the pages, so each page costs roughly half as much. On the MFC-L8905CDW, TN437BK costs only a few percent less per page than TN436BK.
- Colors: a TN433 color costs about 1.7 times as much as a TN431 color for 2.2 times the pages, which saves about 25% per page. A TN436 color costs about 2.3 times as much for 3.6 times the pages, saving about 36% per page versus TN431 and 16% versus TN433. TN437 colors cost almost the same per page as TN436.
| Your situation | Recommended |
|---|---|
| HL-L8260CDW or MFC-L8610CDW, any volume | TN433 in all four colors |
| HL-L8360CDW or MFC-L8900CDW, under 1,000 pages a month | TN433, or TN436 black with TN433 colors |
| HL-L8360CDW or MFC-L8900CDW, busy office | TN436 in all four colors |
| HL-L9310CDW or MFC-L9570CDW | TN436 (the only size from this family that fits) |
| MFC-L8905CDW | TN436 or TN437; similar cost per page |
Replace one color or the full set?
The printer tracks each cartridge separately and names the color that is low. Replace that cartridge only. Black prints all text and usually runs out first. The colors drain at different rates depending on your documents, so they seldom need replacing together. Sizes can be mixed freely in any printer that accepts them. A busy office can run TN436 black and TN433 colors, for example, or upgrade only the color its logo uses. A practical stock is one spare black plus one spare of your fastest color. More in replace one cartridge or the full set?
Drum, belt and waste toner box
TN43x cartridges contain toner only. In the HL-L8260CDW, HL-L8360CDW, MFC-L8610CDW and MFC-L8900CDW groups (including the MFC-L8895CDW and MFC-L8905CDW) they sit in the DR431CL drum unit. That is one assembly holding four color drums, which Brother rates at about 30,000 pages at one page per job (about 50,000 at three pages per job). The HL-L9310CDW and MFC-L9570CDW use a different drum, the DR433CL. The HL-L8260CDW/L8360CDW series also uses a BU330CL transfer belt (Brother rating about 50,000 pages) and a WT320CL waste toner box (commonly rated around 50,000 pages).
- Replace the drum when the printer shows a drum message, or when marks repeat at the same spot after a toner change. Do not replace it just because toner is low.
- After installing a new drum, reset its counter from the printer menu. See how to reset the drum on a Brother printer. A toner change needs no reset.
How to replace a TN43x toner cartridge
- With the printer on, open the front cover.
- Hold the green handle and pull the drum unit out until it stops.
- Push down the green lock lever for the color shown on the display and lift that cartridge out.
- Unpack the new cartridge, shake it gently side to side and remove the protective cover.
- Insert it into the matching color slot until it clicks into place.
- Slide the green corona-wire tab for that slot 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.
If anything differs on your model, check the illustrated steps in its online User's Guide.
Genuine cartridges and how to spot them
Genuine Brother TN43x cartridges come in sealed Brother boxes printed with the exact part number (for example TN436C), the color and the yield. Be careful with third-party listings that claim one cartridge fits every TN43x printer. Brother itself limits TN436 and TN437 to specific models, so a "universal" claim is a warning sign. Compatible cartridges vary widely in yield and color quality. See how to tell if Brother toner is genuine for the full checklist. Everything we sell is genuine Brother, brand new and factory sealed, backed by a right-cartridge-or-your-money-back guarantee.
Bottom line
Find your printer in the table first. On an HL-L8260CDW or MFC-L8610CDW, buy TN433. On an HL-L8360CDW, MFC-L8900CDW, HL-L9310CDW or MFC-L9570CDW, buy TN436 for the lowest cost per page. Reserve TN437 for the MFC-L8905CDW. TN431 is worth buying only for colors you rarely print.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between TN431, TN433, TN436 and TN437?
They are four capacities of the same Brother toner family. TN431 is standard yield, TN433 high yield, TN436 super high yield and TN437 ultra high yield. Each size fits a different set of printers, so check your model before ordering.
Which toner does the Brother HL-L8260CDW use?
The HL-L8260CDW uses TN431 standard-yield or TN433 high-yield cartridges in black, cyan, magenta and yellow. TN436 and TN437 are not listed for it, so TN433 is its best-value option.
How many pages does TN433 toner print?
Brother rates the TN433 black at about 4,500 pages and each TN433 color at about 4,000 pages, measured to ISO/IEC 19798 at roughly 5% coverage.
Can I use TN437 toner in the HL-L8360CDW or MFC-L8900CDW?
Brother lists TN437 only for the MFC-L8905CDW. For the HL-L8360CDW and MFC-L8900CDW, the largest size Brother lists is TN436, rated at about 6,500 pages per color.
Does the Brother HL-L9310CDW use TN433?
No. Of this family, the HL-L9310CDW and MFC-L9570CDW take only TN436 super high-yield cartridges.
