The Brother TN630 is the standard-yield black toner (about 1,200 pages) for the HL-L2300D, HL-L2340DW, HL-L2380DW, MFC-L2700DW, MFC-L2740DW, DCP-L2540DW and other Brother monochrome lasers of the same generation. The TN660 is its high-yield version (about 2,600 pages) for exactly the same printers. Both fit into the separate DR630 drum unit, rated for about 12,000 pages.
Below: the complete printer list, the cost-per-page difference, when to replace the DR630 and how to reset it on each type of control panel, and what to check on the box.
TN630 vs TN660 vs DR630 at a glance
| Part | Type | Page yield* | Replaced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother TN630 | Standard-yield black toner | ~1,200 pages | When the toner runs out |
| Brother TN660 | High-yield black toner | ~2,600 pages | When the toner runs out |
| Brother DR630 | Drum unit | ~12,000 pages | About every 4 to 5 TN660s |
*Toner yields per ISO/IEC 19752 at about 5% page coverage. Drum life is Brother's estimate and varies with how you print.
The TN630 and TN660 have the same shape and the same slot in the DR630, so they are fully interchangeable. Your printer may have shipped with either one (or a starter cartridge), and you can switch to the other at any time without changing a setting.
Which printers use the TN630 and TN660?
Brother lists the TN630, TN660 and DR630 for sixteen models in the HL-L2300, DCP-L2500 and MFC-L2700 series:
| Series | Models |
|---|---|
| HL printers | HL-L2300D, HL-L2305W, HL-L2315DW, HL-L2320D, HL-L2340DW, HL-L2360DW, HL-L2380DW |
| DCP all-in-ones | DCP-L2520DW, DCP-L2540DW |
| MFC all-in-ones | MFC-L2680W, MFC-L2685DW, MFC-L2700DW, MFC-L2705DW, MFC-L2707DW, MFC-L2720DW, MFC-L2740DW |
Watch the model number closely, because Brother's later printers look almost identical. The HL-L2350DW, HL-L2370DW, MFC-L2710DW and MFC-L2750DW generation uses the TN730/TN760 instead (see our TN730 vs TN760 vs TN770 guide), and the older HL-2270DW generation uses the TN420/TN450 (covered in the TN420 vs TN450 guide). These cartridges and drums do not cross over between generations.
TN630 vs TN660: cost per page
At current GS TONER prices the TN660 costs about 1.75× as much as the TN630 and prints about 2.2× the pages, so each page costs roughly 20% less. Over one DR630 drum life of 12,000 pages, that is about ten TN630 cartridges versus four to five TN660s.
| Cartridge | Relative toner cost per page (TN630 = 100) | Cartridges per 12,000 pages |
|---|---|---|
| TN630 | 100 | 10 |
| TN660 | about 80 | 4 to 5 |
The saving is real but smaller than in some Brother families, so the TN660's other advantage matters too: half as many cartridge changes and fewer Toner Low interruptions. The DR630 adds roughly 30% on top of the TN660's toner cost per page when spread over its 12,000 pages.
The DR630 drum: what it does and when to replace it
The toner cartridge clicks into the DR630 drum unit, and the pair slides into the printer as one assembly. The cartridge only holds toner; the drum is the light-sensitive cylinder that picks up the image and transfers it to paper, which is why it outlasts several cartridges. Our explainer on what the drum on a Brother printer is covers the mechanics.
Replace the DR630 when:
- the display shows Drum End Soon (order a spare) or Replace Drum, or the Drum LED lights on LED-only models;
- prints show marks that repeat down the page or a gray background that a new toner cartridge did not fix.
Brother's 12,000-page rating is approximate; frequent one- or two-page jobs wear the drum faster than long runs. When you change the drum, transfer your current toner cartridge into it.
How to reset the DR630 drum counter
Reset only after installing a new drum; resetting during a drum's life makes the remaining-life reading wrong. A toner change needs no reset. Brother's procedures by panel type:
LED models (HL-L2300D, HL-L2320D):
- With the printer on, 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 check that the Drum LED is off.
One-line display printers (HL-L2305W, HL-L2315DW, HL-L2340DW, HL-L2360DW):
- With the new drum installed and the front cover open, press and hold OK for about two seconds until Drum Unit appears, then press OK.
- Press the Up arrow to select Reset.
- Close the front cover.
DCP-L2520DW, DCP-L2540DW, MFC-L2680W, MFC-L2685DW, MFC-L2700DW:
- With the printer on, open the front cover.
- Press and hold OK for about two seconds.
- Press the Up arrow or 1 to reset the drum counter, then close the cover.
Touchscreen models (HL-L2380DW, MFC-L2720DW, MFC-L2740DW):
- Press Cancel to interrupt the error.
- Go to Settings > All Settings > Machine Info. > Parts Life.
- Touch the dial pad area so it lights up, then press and hold # until the message changes.
- Press Drum, then Yes, then Home.
For the MFC-L2705DW and MFC-L2707DW, follow the steps in your printer's online User's Guide. More help, including what to do when the message will not clear, is in our Brother drum reset guide and on Brother's HL-L2340DW Replace Drum page.
How to replace a TN660 or TN630 cartridge
- With the printer on, open the front cover and remove the drum and toner assembly.
- Push down the lock lever on the drum and take the empty cartridge out.
- Unpack the new cartridge and remove the protective cover.
- Push the cartridge firmly into the drum until it locks; the lever lifts automatically.
- Clean the corona wire by sliding the tab on the drum from side to side several times, then return the tab to its home position. A tab left out of place can leave a vertical stripe on prints.
- Reinstall the assembly and close the front cover.
Genuine vs compatible, and how to check the box
Third-party TN660-type cartridges are common and often advertise yields above Brother's rated 2,600 pages; those numbers are not always measured to ISO/IEC 19752, so compare like with like. Quality varies by brand. To confirm you have the genuine Brother part:
- The Brother name and part number (TN660, also printed as TN-660) appear on the box and the cartridge label.
- The UPC on the box matches the part: TN630 012502638902, TN660 012502638919, DR630 012502638957.
- The retail box is factory sealed and the cartridge is sealed with its protective cover in place.
GS TONER sells only genuine Brother toner and drums, brand new and factory sealed, with free US shipping and same-day dispatch on orders placed before 2 PM ET.
Which one should you buy?
- Regular office or home-office printing: the TN660, about 20% cheaper per page and half the cartridge changes.
- Occasional printing, or a printer you plan to replace: the TN630, for the lowest upfront cost.
- Drum: order a DR630 at Drum End Soon, and reset the counter only after the new drum is in.
Frequently asked questions
Is TN630 the same as TN660?
They are the same size and fit the same printers, but the TN660 holds more toner. The TN630 is rated at about 1,200 pages and the TN660 at about 2,600 pages per ISO/IEC 19752, so the TN660 costs less per page.
Which printers use the TN660 toner?
Brother lists the TN660 (and TN630) for the HL-L2300D, HL-L2305W, HL-L2315DW, HL-L2320D, HL-L2340DW, HL-L2360DW, HL-L2380DW, DCP-L2520DW, DCP-L2540DW, MFC-L2680W, MFC-L2685DW, MFC-L2700DW, MFC-L2705DW, MFC-L2707DW, MFC-L2720DW and MFC-L2740DW.
How long does the DR630 drum unit last?
Brother rates the DR630 at about 12,000 pages, which is roughly four to five TN660 cartridges. Actual life depends on how you print; many short jobs shorten it.
How do I reset the drum on a Brother HL-L2340DW?
After installing a new DR630, open the front cover, press and hold OK for about two seconds until Drum Unit appears, press OK, press the Up arrow to select Reset, then close the cover.
Can I use a TN760 in a printer that takes the TN660?
No. The TN760 belongs to the newer HL-L2350DW and MFC-L2710DW generation and does not fit the HL-L2340DW, MFC-L2700DW or other TN660 printers. Order the TN630 or TN660.
