Brother MFC-257CW Ink Cartridges
Your Brother MFC-257CW uses the LC38 cartridge series, a compact wireless all-in-one inkjet printer built for home office document and photo duties. Ink Depot has been supplying genuine consumables for this printer since Nov 2014. The four-ink setup relies on individual LC38BK black and LC38C, LC38M, and LC38Y colour cartridges. Our 4.8 Google rating reflects a long-standing track record of premium cartridge performance. Purchasing multi-packs like LC38CL provides an easy way to refresh all colours simultaneously when printing heavier workloads.
Expected Page Output and Replacement Cycles
Standard LC38BK black cartridges yield approximately 300 pages, while LC38 cyan, magenta, and yellow cartridges offer around 260 pages based on ISO/IEC 24711 testing standards. In home environments, printing mixed text documents gradually depletes black ink quicker than individual colours.
| Cartridge Number | Type | Colour | Page Yield | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LC38BK | Standard | Black | 300 | $0.14 |
| LC38C | Standard | Cyan | 260 | $0.094 |
| LC38M | Standard | Magenta | 260 | $0.094 |
| LC38Y | Standard | Yellow | 260 | $0.094 |
Cost Per Page = Total Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield (at 5% coverage). Prices based on Genuine cartridges.
Selecting the Right LC38 Cartridge Option
For standard document tasks, ordering standalone LC38BK black cartridges ensures your printer stays ready for daily paperwork. If you produce occasional colour graphics or photos, choosing multi-cartridge bundles ensures you have all four inks ready when replacement messages appear. All orders are backed by our returns policy. Free delivery applies on all orders over $99. We dispatch stock rapidly from warehouses in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Browse our full range of Brother ink cartridges to keep your office supplied.
Pro Tip for LC38 Ink Users
Pro Tip: If one colour cartridge runs out during a print job, replace that specific colour promptly, as Brother inkjet printers require all four LC38 cartridges to contain ink to perform routine printhead self-maintenance and print clean documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep printing in black if one of the LC38 colour cartridges is empty?
Brother inkjet printers require active ink levels across all LC38BK, LC38C, LC38M, and LC38Y cartridges to operate. Replacing an empty colour cartridge immediately ensures printing can resume without risking air entering the printhead lines.
How do individual LC38 colour cartridges compare to multi-pack bundles?
Individual LC38 cartridges allow you to replace only the specific ink colour that has run out, which is common when printing heavy text documents that deplete black ink first. Buying LC38 colour bundles provides all four inks in one order for convenient spare coverage.
What ISO standard determines the page yield for Brother LC38 ink cartridges?
Yield ratings for LC38 cartridges are measured using the ISO/IEC 24711 standard, which tests page output using standard test patterns under controlled laboratory conditions. Actual yields vary depending on page coverage, document complexity, and print frequency.
