TN580 toner is Brother's high-yield black cartridge (about 7,000 pages) for the HL-5240, HL-5250DN and HL-5280DW laser printers, the MFC-8460N, MFC-8660DN, MFC-8670DN, MFC-8860DN and MFC-8870DW all-in-ones and the DCP-8060/8065DN. The TN550 is the standard version (about 3,500 pages). Both use the DR520 drum, rated for about 25,000 pages.
These workhorse machines are older, but many still print every day. This guide shows which models take these parts, how the two cartridges compare in cost per page, and how to replace and reset the drum.
TN550, TN580 and DR520 at a glance
| Part | Type | Rated life | UPC on the box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother TN550 | Standard-yield black toner | ~3,500 pages | 012502614494 |
| Brother TN580 | High-yield black toner | ~7,000 pages | 012502614487 |
| Brother DR520 | Drum unit | ~25,000 pages | 012502614470 |
Toner yields are Brother ratings at about 5% coverage on letter paper. Toner and drum are sold separately. You will also see the part numbers written with a hyphen (TN-580, DR-520) in manuals and older listings.
Which printers use TN580 toner and the DR520 drum?
The TN550, TN580 and DR520 fit exactly the same machines, so any printer that takes one takes all three:
| Series | Models |
|---|---|
| HL laser printers | HL-5240, HL-5250DN, HL-5250DNT, HL-5280DW |
| MFC all-in-ones | MFC-8460N, MFC-8660DN, MFC-8670DN, MFC-8860DN, MFC-8870DW |
| DCP copier/printers | DCP-8060, DCP-8065DN |
Printer pages: HL-5250DN, HL-5240, MFC-8860DN, MFC-8460N and DCP-8060.
Do not confuse this family with the next generation. The HL-5340D, HL-5370DW, MFC-8480DN, MFC-8890DW and similar models look much alike but use TN620/TN650 toner and the DR620 drum; see our TN620 vs TN650 guide. The model number is on the front of the machine and on the rating label at the back.
TN580 vs TN550: which one should you buy?
Both cartridges hold the same Brother toner; the TN580 simply holds twice as much. Based on current GS TONER prices, the TN580 costs about 1.8 times as much as the TN550 and prints 2 times the pages, so each page costs only about 9% less.
| TN550 | TN580 | |
|---|---|---|
| Yield | ~3,500 pages | ~7,000 pages |
| Price vs TN550 | 1.0× | ~1.8× |
| Toner cost per page vs TN550 | baseline | about 9% less |
| Cartridges per DR520 drum | about 7 | about 3 to 4 |
| Cartridge changes per 14,000 pages | 4 | 2 |
That gap is smaller than in most Brother families, so the choice comes down to how you print:
- Regular office use: the TN580. You save a little on every page and change cartridges half as often, which matters in a shared office where nobody wants to be the one swapping toner.
- Light or occasional use: the TN550 is a sensible choice. The per-page difference is small, and you spend less upfront on a printer that may not be in service much longer.
- Buying spares: store sealed cartridges flat in a cool, dry place; our guide to toner storage and shelf life covers the details.
Rated yields assume about 5% coverage. Pages with logos, forms, shading or images use more toner, so both cartridges print fewer pages in heavy use, in the same proportion.
The DR520 drum: what it does and when to replace it
The drum is the light-sensitive cylinder that receives the toner image and transfers it to paper. It wears gradually as it turns, which is why the DR520 is rated at approximately 25,000 pages at 5% coverage, and why many short one-page jobs shorten its life compared with long print runs. For a deeper explanation, see what the drum on a Brother printer is.
One DR520 usually outlasts about 7 TN550s or 3 to 4 TN580s. Per page, the drum adds roughly a third to the toner cost, so it is a real part of running cost on these machines.
Signs the DR520 needs replacing:
- The printer signals that the drum is near or at the end of its life: a drum message on models with a display, or the Drum light on the HL-5240 and HL-5250DN.
- Dark dots or marks that repeat at the same spacing down the page.
- A gray background or faint streaks that remain after you install a new toner cartridge and clean the corona wire.
How to replace TN580 toner or the DR520 drum
- Leave the machine on, open the front cover and wait a few minutes for the inside to cool.
- Lift out the drum and toner assembly and set it on scrap paper; spilled toner stains.
- Push down the lock lever and lift the toner cartridge out of the drum.
- Unpack the new cartridge, remove the protective cover and rock it gently side to side five or six times.
- Push the cartridge into the drum until it locks into place.
- Clean the corona wire by sliding the tab on top of the drum gently from end to end a few times, then return it to its home position.
- Put the assembly back into the machine and close the front cover.
To replace the drum, move the toner cartridge from the old DR520 into the new one the same way, without touching the drum surface.
Resetting the DR520 drum counter
Reset the drum counter only after installing a new drum; resetting an old one hides the warning but not the wear. On the HL-5240 and HL-5250DN, which have indicator lights instead of a display, the reset is typically done with the front cover open by holding the Go button until the lights change. On the MFC and DCP models, it is typically done with the front cover open by pressing the clear key and confirming the replace-drum prompt. Key sequences vary, so confirm the steps in your model's user's guide or see our Brother drum reset guide.
Genuine vs compatible TN580
For a printer family this old, compatible and remanufactured TN580-type cartridges and DR520-type drums are widely available, and some advertise higher yields than Brother's rating. Quality and real yield vary between makers, and Brother states that its warranty may not cover damage caused by non-Brother supplies. A genuine cartridge delivers the rated yield and can go back to Brother's free recycling program. Compare realistic cost per page, not just the box price.
To recognize the genuine part, check for the Brother brand, the exact part number on both the box and cartridge label, an intact factory seal and the UPCs in the table above. Every TN550, TN580 and DR520 from GS TONER is genuine Brother OEM, brand new and factory sealed, with free US shipping and 30-day returns.
Bottom line
For an HL-5240, HL-5250DN, HL-5280DW, MFC-8460N to MFC-8870DW or DCP-8060/8065DN in regular use, buy the TN580; for light use the TN550 costs almost the same per page and less upfront. Plan on a DR520 every three or four TN580s, and reset the drum counter only after fitting a new one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between TN550 and TN580?
Only the amount of toner. The TN550 is rated at about 3,500 pages and the TN580 at about 7,000 pages. Both fit the same printers and work with the same DR520 drum.
What printers use TN580 toner?
The Brother HL-5240, HL-5250DN, HL-5250DNT and HL-5280DW; the MFC-8460N, MFC-8660DN, MFC-8670DN, MFC-8860DN and MFC-8870DW; and the DCP-8060 and DCP-8065DN.
How long does the Brother DR520 drum last?
The DR520 is rated at approximately 25,000 pages, which is about 3 to 4 TN580 cartridges. Frequent single-page jobs shorten drum life compared with longer print runs.
Does the TN580 come with a drum?
No. The TN550 and TN580 are toner-only cartridges. The DR520 drum is sold separately and replaced far less often.
Can I use TN650 toner in an HL-5250DN?
No. The TN650 belongs to the later HL-5340D, HL-5370DW and MFC-8480DN generation, which uses the DR620 drum. The HL-5250DN takes the TN550 or TN580 with the DR520 drum.
