The Brother TN830 is the standard-yield black toner (about 1,200 pages) for Brother's current monochrome lasers: the HL-L2400 series printers (including the HL-L2460DW), the DCP-L2640DW and the MFC-L2800 and MFC-L2900 series all-in-ones. The TN830XL is the high-yield version (about 3,000 pages) for the same printers. Both fit the separate DR830 drum, rated for about 15,000 pages.
Below: the complete printer list, how much the XL saves per page, when to replace the DR830 and how to reset it on each control panel, and how to check you have the genuine part.
TN830 vs TN830XL vs DR830 at a glance
| Part | Type | Page yield* | Replaced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother TN830 | Standard-yield black toner | ~1,200 pages | When the toner runs out |
| Brother TN830XL | High-yield black toner | ~3,000 pages | When the toner runs out |
| Brother DR830 | Drum unit | ~15,000 pages | About every 5 TN830XLs |
*Toner yields per ISO/IEC 19752 at about 5% page coverage. Drum life is Brother's estimate based on one page per job.
The TN830 and TN830XL share the same housing and slot into the DR830 the same way, so you can switch between them freely. Brother's US product pages list two capacities for this family: standard yield and high yield.
Which printers use Brother TN830 toner?
Brother lists the TN830, TN830XL and DR830 for eighteen models:
| Series | Models |
|---|---|
| HL printers | HL-L2400D, HL-L2405W, HL-L2420DW, HL-L2460DW, HL-L2460DWXL, HL-L2465DW, HL-L2467DW, HL-L2480DW, HL-L2865DW |
| DCP all-in-ones | DCP-L2640DW, DCP-L2647DW |
| MFC all-in-ones | MFC-L2760DW, MFC-L2807DW, MFC-L2820DW, MFC-L2820DWXL, MFC-L2900DW, MFC-L2900DWXL, MFC-L2980DW |
The XL models are editions of the same printers and use the same supplies. If your printer is an HL-L2350DW, HL-L2370DW, MFC-L2710DW or MFC-L2750DW, it belongs to the previous generation and takes the TN730/TN760/TN770 with the DR730 instead; see our TN730 vs TN760 vs TN770 guide. The model numbers are close, but the cartridges and drums do not cross over.
Brother HL-L2460DW toner: TN830 or TN830XL?
The HL-L2460DW takes both. For most users the TN830XL is the better fit: it prints two and a half times as many pages per cartridge and costs less per page. The standard TN830 suits a printer that only produces a few pages a week.
TN830 vs TN830XL: cost per page
At current GS TONER prices the TN830XL costs about 1.6× as much as the TN830 but prints 2.5× the pages, so each page costs roughly 36% less. Over one DR830 drum life of 15,000 pages, that is about twelve or thirteen TN830 cartridges versus five TN830XLs.
| Cartridge | Relative toner cost per page (TN830 = 100) | Cartridges per 15,000 pages |
|---|---|---|
| TN830 | 100 | 12 to 13 |
| TN830XL | about 64 | 5 |
The drum is a separate cost. Spread over its 15,000 pages, the DR830 adds roughly one-third on top of the TN830XL's toner cost per page, so plan on one drum for about every five XL cartridges.
The DR830 drum: what it does and when to replace it
The toner cartridge locks into the DR830 drum unit, and the two go into the printer together. The cartridge only holds toner; the drum is the light-sensitive cylinder that forms the image and transfers it to paper, so it lasts through several cartridges. Our explainer on what the drum on a Brother printer is goes into more detail.
Brother rates the DR830 at about 15,000 single-sided letter pages printed one page per job, and notes that media type and size affect the real figure. Replace it when:
- the display shows Drum End Soon (order a spare) or Replace Drum, or the Drum LED lights on the HL-L2400D;
- prints show marks repeating down the page, or a gray background that a new toner cartridge did not fix.
When you replace the drum, move your current toner cartridge into it rather than discarding usable toner.
How to reset the DR830 drum counter
Brother warns: do not reset the drum counter unless you are replacing the drum unit. A toner change needs no reset. The steps depend on the control panel:
HL-L2400D (LED panel):
- 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.
HL-L2405W, HL-L2420DW, HL-L2460DW, HL-L2460DWXL, HL-L2465DW, HL-L2865DW, DCP-L2640DW, DCP-L2647DW, MFC-L2760DW (display with arrow keys):
- With the printer on, make sure the front cover is closed.
- Press OK and the Up arrow at the same time.
- Press OK to select Drum.
- Select Reset (on most of these models, press the Up arrow).
HL-L2480DW, MFC-L2807DW, MFC-L2820DW(XL), MFC-L2900DW(XL), MFC-L2980DW (touchscreen):
- With the front cover closed, clear the error message on the screen.
- Press and hold the Toner icon until the message changes.
- Press Drum, then Yes.
For the HL-L2467DW, check your printer's online User's Guide. Brother's steps are on its Reset the Drum Counter page, and our Brother drum reset guide covers what to do if the message will not clear.
How to replace a TN830XL or TN830 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 lift the empty toner cartridge out.
- Unpack the new cartridge and remove its protective packaging.
- Push the cartridge firmly into the drum until it locks; the lever lifts by itself.
- Slide the assembly back into the printer and close the front cover.
If prints show stripes or marks after the change, follow the print-quality cleaning steps in your printer's user guide. Our general guide to changing a Brother toner cartridge covers common install problems.
Genuine vs compatible, and how to check the box
Third-party TN830XL-type cartridges are already common, and some quote yields above Brother's rated 3,000 pages. Such numbers are not always measured to ISO/IEC 19752, so compare like with like, and expect quality to vary by brand. To confirm the genuine Brother part:
- The Brother name and part number (TN830XL or TN830) are printed on the box and the cartridge label.
- The UPC on the box matches the part: TN830 012502673156, TN830XL 012502673163, DR830 012502673149.
- The retail box is factory sealed, and the cartridge inside is sealed with its protective packaging in place.
GS TONER sells only genuine Brother cartridges and drums, brand new and factory sealed, with free US shipping and a right-cartridge-or-your-money-back compatibility guarantee.
Which one should you buy?
- Most offices and home offices: the TN830XL, about 36% cheaper per page with far fewer swaps.
- Very light printing: the TN830, for the lowest upfront cost.
- Drum: order a DR830 when Drum End Soon appears, and reset the counter only after installing it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between TN830 and TN830XL?
Only the toner capacity. Both are genuine Brother black cartridges for the same printers. The TN830 is rated at about 1,200 pages and the TN830XL at about 3,000 pages per ISO/IEC 19752, so the XL costs less per page.
What toner does the Brother HL-L2460DW use?
The HL-L2460DW uses the Brother TN830 standard-yield or TN830XL high-yield black toner, together with the DR830 drum unit rated for about 15,000 pages.
Can I use TN760 toner in a printer that takes the TN830?
No. The TN760 belongs to the previous HL-L2350DW and MFC-L2710DW generation and does not fit HL-L2400, DCP-L2600, MFC-L2800 or MFC-L2900 series printers. Order the TN830 or TN830XL.
How long does the Brother DR830 drum last?
Brother rates the DR830 at about 15,000 pages based on one page per job, which is roughly five TN830XL cartridges. Media type, paper size and printing habits affect the actual life.
How do I reset the drum counter on a Brother HL-L2460DW?
After installing a new DR830, make sure the printer is on and the front cover is closed, press OK and the Up arrow together, press OK to select Drum, then select Reset.
