Brother LC231, LC233 Ink Cartridges
The Brother LC231 and LC233 ink cartridges provide standard and high-yield choices for compact multi-function printers like the DCP-J562DW and MFC-J480DW. Users can lower ongoing printing expenses by selecting premium compatible replacements, available in individual tanks or multi-packs, engineered to integrate with Brother's physical alignment guides and ink level monitoring systems.
Printers Compatible with Brother LC231 & LC233 Ink Cartridges
How long these cartridges last in real use
Page yields are calculated by Brother using the international ISO/IEC 24711 standard for continuous inkjet output. Standard LC231 cartridges yield up to 260 pages across all colours, whereas high-yield LC233 variants increase fluid capacity to provide 550 pages for both monochrome and colour print processes.
| Cartridge Number | Type | Colour | Page Yield | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LC231 | Standard | Black | 260 | $0.15 |
| LC231 | Standard | Cyan | 260 | $0.087 |
| LC231 | Standard | Magenta | 260 | $0.087 |
| LC231 | Standard | Yellow | 260 | $0.087 |
| LC233BK | High Yield | Black | 550 | $0.099 |
| LC233C | High Yield | Cyan | 550 | $0.065 |
| LC233M | High Yield | Magenta | 550 | $0.065 |
| LC233Y | High Yield | Yellow | 550 | $0.065 |
Cost Per Page = Total Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield (at 5% coverage). Prices based on Genuine cartridges.
What to know about compatible cartridges
Switching to premium compatible ink alternatives directly minimises household and remote work expenses. Under Australian Consumer Law, using compatible cartridges does not void your printer warranty. Every alternative ink tank we stock features a physical microchip that registers immediately with your Brother printer monitor, letting you confidently mix genuine and compatible units across the separate physical bays. For more detailed guidance regarding consumer safety regulations, read our full genuine vs compatible cartridges report.
How most users manage replacements
Monochrome text documents heavily drain the black tank first, but those running cleaning cycles will see the cyan, magenta, and yellow levels drop simultaneously. If a compatible unit fails to deliver sharp text or causes a printhead line error, your purchase is completely protected by our 100% money-back guarantee. View processing timeframes on our dedicated Returns policy page. Free delivery applies on all orders over $99 (conditions apply), shipped quickly from our national distribution warehouses in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. Secure your office supplies by exploring our complete collection of Brother ink cartridges online.
Pro Tip
If your Brother printer sits idle for more than three weeks, capillary ink drying can occur inside the fine printhead nozzles. To save ink, avoid running consecutive heavy printhead deep-cleaning cycles back-to-back, as this processes high fluid pressure that can prematurely fill the internal waste ink absorber pad, requiring an authorised service centre replacement. Instead, print a single multi-colour block pattern test page to purge old residue gently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a high-yield LC233 cartridge in a slot that currently has a standard-yield LC231?
Yes, the external physical shell dimensions of the LC231 and LC233 cartridges are completely identical. The difference rests solely in the internal fluid volume; the high-yield LC233 simply contains more ink and slots into the same designated physical slot without any modifications.
Why does my printer show low cyan or magenta ink warnings when I only print black text documents?
Brother inkjet printers draw small measures of colour ink during automated background maintenance and printhead calibration cycles to keep the microscopic delivery nozzles from clogging with dried dust. Leaving the printer turned on at the wall helps the system schedule these short cycles efficiently, preserving overall volume.
What is the advantage of purchasing the LC233 4-pack value bundle over single tanks?
Purchasing individual genuine tanks increases your per-millilitre ink price. Bundles combine the fundamental CMYK elements into a single package, lowering your total upfront out-of-pocket investment and ensuring you have replacement colour tanks on hand before the physical lock-out chip triggers.
