Brother USA: Laser vs Inkjet Printers, Toner Costs and Sewing Machines

Brother USA sells printers, all-in-one machines, scanners, P-touch label makers, sewing and embroidery machines and the supplies for all of them. Buying direct from Brother USA gives the full range and the codes below. A good Brother order depends on matching the machine to how much you print or sew, and on counting the running costs, not just the machine price.

Laser or inkjet

Brother is especially well known for mono laser printers. A Brother mono laser prints black text quickly and cheaply per page, and toner does not dry out between uses. For a home office printing documents, it is the default choice.

Colour laser Brother printers suit offices printing charts and flyers, but colour toner sets cost more. Inkjet models handle photos and colour better, but ink can dry out if the printer sits unused for weeks.

Brother has also sold ink-tank style inkjets, marketed as INKvestment Tank, and refillable tank models that hold a lot of ink up front. They cost more to buy and far less per page, which pays off for households printing colour regularly.

All-in-one or print only

Brother model names hint at features. HL models have generally been print-only lasers, while MFC and DCP models are all-in-ones with scanning and copying, and MFC models add fax. Check the product page rather than relying on the prefix alone.

For scanning multi-page documents, look for an automatic document feeder, and for two-sided originals a duplex-scanning feeder. Automatic two-sided printing is standard on many Brother lasers but worth confirming.

Check connectivity too: wireless, Ethernet and mobile printing through the Brother app. For a shared household, wireless is the practical minimum.

Running costs: toner, drums and subscriptions

Many Brother laser printers use a separate toner cartridge and drum unit. Toner is replaced often; the drum lasts much longer but eventually needs replacing too. Budget for both.

Brother toner comes in standard and high-yield versions, rated in pages. High-yield costs more per cartridge and less per page. The starter cartridge in the box is often lower yield than a retail one, so do not judge running costs by it.

Brother runs a supply subscription, Refresh EZ Print, which ships toner or ink automatically based on usage. It suits steady printers. Compare its monthly cost against buying high-yield cartridges yourself before signing up.

Third-party cartridges are cheaper but vary in quality. Brother recommends genuine supplies; check the warranty terms before deciding.

Choosing a Brother sewing or embroidery machine

Brother sewing machines range from basic mechanical models to computerised machines with hundreds of stitches, and dedicated embroidery or combination sewing-and-embroidery machines. Beginners rarely need hundreds of stitches; a solid straight stitch, zigzag, buttonhole and an easy needle threader matter more.

For embroidery, the key specification is the maximum hoop size, which sets how large a design can be sewn in one go. Also check which file formats and design-transfer options the Brother machine supports.

Quilters should look at the throat space, the distance between needle and body, since a wider throat makes large quilts easier to manage.

P-touch label makers

Brother P-touch label makers use TZe tapes in several widths. Check which widths your model accepts before buying tape. Laminated tapes resist water and wear, which matters for cables and outdoor labels.

Handheld Brother P-touch models suit home organising. Desktop models that connect to a computer or phone are better for batches of address or shelf labels.

Warranty, registration and refurbished units

Register a new Brother machine after delivery. It makes warranty claims and driver support simpler, and Brother USA has sometimes tied promotions to registration.

Brother USA has also sold refurbished printers and sewing machines at lower prices. Check the warranty length on a refurbished unit, which can be shorter than on a new one, and whether starter supplies are included.

Keep the original box for the first weeks. Check the current Brother USA return window before opening supplies, since opened toner and ink are commonly excluded.

Where the Brother USA savings are

save30now is the biggest percentage here and the one to try first on a printer or machine. Brother USA codes often exclude refurbished products, some supplies and items already on sale.

MAGIC50 takes $50 off, which beats 30% on anything under about $167. On a high-end Brother embroidery machine the percentage wins; on a mid-range laser printer, check both.

STITCH20 reads as a sewing code. Use it on Brother sewing and embroidery machines or accessories, where it may apply when the general codes do not.

Brother USA codes do not usually stack. Try each one and keep the lower total.

Common questions

Is a Brother laser cheaper to run than an inkjet?

For black-and-white documents, usually yes. Use high-yield toner for the lowest cost per page.

Do Brother lasers need a separate drum?

Many Brother lasers do. Check the model's supplies list.

Is Refresh EZ Print worth it?

For steady printing, often. Compare it with buying Brother high-yield cartridges yourself.

Which Brother sewing machine suits a beginner?

A simple computerised model with an automatic threader. Skip the huge stitch counts.