The DR920 is the genuine Brother drum unit for the HL-L5210, HL-L6210, HL-L6310DW, MFC-L5710, MFC-L5915DW, MFC-L6810DW and DCP-L5510DN business lasers. It lasts about 45,000 pages and works with all four TN920 toner sizes: TN920 (3,000 pages), TN920XL (6,000), TN920XXL (11,000) and TN920UXXL (18,000, selected models only).
The largest toner and the drum do not fit every model in the series, so check the printer table below before ordering.
The TN920 family and DR920 drum at a glance
| Part | Type | Rated life | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother TN920 | Standard-yield toner | ~3,000 pages | All 20 TN920-series models |
| Brother TN920XL | High-yield toner | ~6,000 pages | All 20 TN920-series models |
| Brother TN920XXL | Super high-yield toner | ~11,000 pages | All 20 TN920-series models |
| Brother TN920UXXL | Ultra high-yield toner | ~18,000 pages | 12 higher-volume models only |
| Brother DR920 | Drum unit | ~45,000 pages (1 page/job) | 13 models (the other 7 use the DR925) |
Toner yields are ISO/IEC 19752 figures at about 5% coverage. Toner and drum are always sold separately.
Which printers use TN920 toner and the DR920 drum?
The TN920, TN920XL and TN920XXL fit every printer in the series. The TN920UXXL and the drum do not, so find your exact model number (front panel or rating label) in this table before you order.
| Printer | TN920 / XL / XXL | TN920UXXL | Drum |
|---|---|---|---|
| HL-L5210DN, HL-L5210DW, HL-L5210DWT | Yes | No | DR920 |
| HL-L5215DW | Yes | Yes | DR925 |
| HL-L6210DW, HL-L6210DWT | Yes | Yes | DR920 |
| HL-L6217DW | Yes | No | DR920 |
| HL-L6310DW | Yes | Yes | DR920 |
| HL-L6415DW, HL-L6415DWT, HL-EX415DW | Yes | Yes | DR925 |
| DCP-L5510DN | Yes | No | DR920 |
| MFC-L5710DN, MFC-L5710DW, MFC-L5717DW | Yes | No | DR920 |
| MFC-L5715DW | Yes | Yes | DR925 |
| MFC-L5915DW, MFC-L6810DW | Yes | Yes | DR920 |
| MFC-L6915DW, MFC-EX915DW | Yes | Yes | DR925 |
Printer-specific pages: HL-L5210DW, HL-L6210DW, MFC-L5710DW, MFC-L5915DW and HL-L6415DW.
DR920 or DR925? The detail most listings miss
Seven models, the HL-L5215DW, HL-L6415DW, HL-L6415DWT, HL-EX415DW, MFC-L5715DW, MFC-L6915DW and MFC-EX915DW, are listed by Brother for the DR925 drum, not the DR920. Brother rates both drums the same, so this is a fit question, not a quality one. The DR920 list on Brother's DR920 page matches the 13 models in the table above. If your printer is one of the seven DR925 models, check that the drum box says DR925 before you buy; a DR920 is not listed for them.
The older TN820/TN850/TN880 toner and DR820 drum belong to the previous generation (HL-L5200DW, HL-L6200DW, MFC-L5800DW and similar) and do not fit these printers; for those, see our TN820, TN850, TN880 and TN890 guide instead.
TN920 vs TN920XL vs TN920XXL vs TN920UXXL: which yield to buy
All four sizes hold the same Brother toner; only the quantity differs. Larger cartridges cost more per box but much less per page. Based on current GS TONER prices:
| Cartridge | Pages | Price vs TN920 | Pages vs TN920 | Cost per page vs TN920 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN920 | 3,000 | 1.0× | 1.0× | baseline |
| TN920XL | 6,000 | ~1.35× | 2.0× | about 33% less |
| TN920XXL | 11,000 | ~2.15× | 3.7× | about 41% less |
| TN920UXXL | 18,000 | ~2.45× | 6.0× | about 59% less |
The jump from TN920 to TN920XL is the easiest win: roughly a third more money for twice the pages. On a model that accepts it, the TN920UXXL costs about 30% less per page than the TN920XXL and about 39% less than the TN920XL.
A simple decision rule
- Light use (a few hundred pages a month): TN920XL. Buy the standard TN920 only if the printer is about to be retired or you need the lowest outlay today.
- Steady office use (roughly 500 to 1,500 pages a month): TN920XXL. At 1,000 pages a month it lasts close to a year, against about three months for a TN920.
- High volume on a UXXL-capable model: TN920UXXL. It means the fewest cartridge changes and the lowest toner cost per page in the family.
Heavy coverage (logos, shaded tables, photos) shortens every size by the same proportion, so the cost-per-page ranking does not change.
The DR920 drum: life, warnings and when to replace it
The drum is the light-sensitive cylinder that carries the toner image to the paper. It wears with rotation, not toner use, so Brother rates the DR920 at approximately 45,000 pages based on 1 page per job and 75,000 pages based on 3 pages per job. For background, see what the drum on a Brother printer does.
One DR920 outlasts about 15 TN920s, 7 to 8 TN920XLs, 4 TN920XXLs or 2 to 3 TN920UXXLs at the 1-page-per-job rating. Per page, the drum adds about one-fifth to the toner cost of a TN920 and close to half to that of a TN920UXXL.
Replace the drum when:
- The printer shows Drum End Soon: the drum is near the end of its rated life. You can keep printing, but order the replacement drum now.
- The printer shows Replace Drum: the rated life is reached. Install the new drum and reset the drum counter.
- Prints show marks that repeat at the same spacing down the page, gray background or streaks that a new toner cartridge does not cure. Our guide to repeating marks: drum or fuser? helps you rule out the fuser first.
How to replace TN920 toner or the DR920 drum
On these printers the toner cartridge sits inside the drum unit, and the two come out as one assembly.
- Let the printer cool for a few minutes, then open the front cover.
- Pull out the toner and drum assembly and set it on scrap paper.
- Push down the green 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.
- Push the new cartridge firmly into the drum until it locks and the green lever rises on its own.
- Slide the green corona-wire tab end to end a few times, then return it to its home position (a tab left mid-way prints a vertical stripe).
- Slide the assembly back into the printer and close the front cover.
To replace the drum, move the toner cartridge from the old DR920 into the new one the same way. Never touch the drum surface or leave it in direct light.
Resetting the drum counter
Brother printers track drum life with a counter that you reset after fitting a new drum. Reset it only for a new drum; on an old one it just hides the warning. The reset is done from the control panel (a menu item or a key sequence with the front cover open) and differs between display types, so follow your model's online user's guide. Our step-by-step Brother drum reset guide covers the common variations.
Genuine vs compatible TN920 and DR920
Compatible and remanufactured TN920-type cartridges and DR920-type drums usually cost less upfront, but quality and real yield vary by maker, and Brother states that its warranty may not cover damage caused by non-Brother supplies. Genuine parts give the rated ISO yield, reliable level reporting and free Brother recycling. Compare cost per page at realistic yields, not box price.
How to recognize genuine Brother parts
- The box and the cartridge label carry the exact part number (TN920, TN920XL, TN920XXL, TN920UXXL or DR920) and Brother branding.
- The barcode should match the UPCs on our product pages: TN920 012502665953, TN920XL 012502668558, TN920XXL 012502665960, TN920UXXL 012502668565, DR920 012502665984.
- The cartridge arrives factory sealed in its protective bag, and the printer reports the toner level normally once installed.
Every TN920 and DR920 we sell at GS TONER is genuine Brother OEM, brand new and factory sealed, with free US shipping and a right-cartridge-or-your-money-back compatibility guarantee.
Recycling empty TN920 cartridges and DR920 drums
Brother's US program takes back empty toner cartridges and drums free: print a prepaid USPS label from your Brother account, pack the empty part in the new one's packaging and ship it. See Brother's recycling page.
Bottom line
For any TN920-series printer, buy the largest toner your model accepts: TN920XXL for the HL-L5210, HL-L6217DW, MFC-L5710/L5717DW and DCP-L5510DN, and TN920UXXL for the higher-volume models. Keep one spare drum on the shelf, DR920 or DR925 depending on your model, and reset the drum counter only when you fit a new one.
Frequently asked questions
Which printers use the Brother DR920 drum?
Brother lists the DR920 for the HL-L5210DN/DW/DWT, HL-L6210DW/DWT, HL-L6217DW, HL-L6310DW, MFC-L5710DN/DW, MFC-L5717DW, MFC-L5915DW, MFC-L6810DW and DCP-L5510DN. The HL-L5215DW, HL-L6415DW/DWT, HL-EX415DW, MFC-L5715DW, MFC-L6915DW and MFC-EX915DW use the DR925 instead.
How long does a DR920 drum last?
Brother rates the DR920 at approximately 45,000 pages based on 1 page per job and 75,000 pages based on 3 pages per job. Offices that print longer jobs get closer to the higher figure.
Does TN920 toner come with a drum?
No. All TN920 sizes are toner-only. The DR920 drum is a separate part that lasts through several toner cartridges, so buy one only when the printer asks for it or prints show drum wear.
Can I use the TN920UXXL in my HL-L5210DW?
No. Brother does not list the TN920UXXL for the HL-L5210DN, HL-L5210DW, HL-L5210DWT, HL-L6217DW, MFC-L5710DN, MFC-L5710DW, MFC-L5717DW or DCP-L5510DN. On those models the largest cartridge is the TN920XXL at about 11,000 pages.
What does Drum End Soon mean on a Brother printer?
Drum End Soon means the drum is approaching the end of its rated life. Keep printing, but order a replacement so it is on hand when the printer shows Replace Drum.
Do I need to reset the drum after installing a new DR920?
Yes. Brother printers track drum life with a counter, so reset it from the control panel after installing the DR920, following the steps in your model's user guide. Do not reset the counter on an old drum; it only hides the warning while print quality keeps getting worse.
