Brother MFC-L8390CDW Toner Cartridges
Your Brother MFC-L8390CDW uses the TN258 / TN258XL / TN259 cartridge series, a four-colour laser system designed for high-speed business output. We have been supplying consumables for this printer since 2024, providing both standard and high-yield options to suit professional environments. In a small business or high-volume office setting, the black toner typically depletes at twice the rate of individual colours. Most users find that switching to the ultra-high-yield TN259 series for the black channel significantly reduces maintenance intervals while maintaining crisp text clarity.
Balancing Output and Maintenance
The Brother MFC-L8390CDW is a high-volume workhorse, and your choice of toner directly impacts how often your team has to stop for replacements. For standard office documents, the TN258XL and TN259 series are the preferred choices as they offer a higher page yield compared to the entry-level TN258 cartridges. Brother calculates these yields based on the ISO/IEC 19798 standard, which represents approximately 5% coverage per page. If your office frequently prints graphics-heavy reports or marketing materials, your actual page count will be lower than the quoted figures due to higher toner saturation.
| Cartridge Number | Type | Colour | Page Yield | Cost Per Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN258BK | Standard | Black | 1,000 | $0.13 |
| TN258C | Standard | Cyan | 1,000 | $0.15 |
| TN258M | Standard | Magenta | 1,000 | $0.15 |
| TN258Y | Standard | Yellow | 1,000 | $0.15 |
| TN258XLBK | High Yield | Black | 3,000 | $0.058 |
| TN258XLC | High Yield | Cyan | 2,300 | $0.080 |
| TN258XLM | High Yield | Magenta | 2,300 | $0.080 |
| TN258XLY | High Yield | Yellow | 2,300 | $0.080 |
| TN259BK | Extra High Yield | Black | 4,500 | $0.051 |
| TN259C | Extra High Yield | Cyan | 4,000 | $0.071 |
| TN259M | Extra High Yield | Magenta | 4,000 | $0.071 |
| TN259Y | Extra High Yield | Yellow | 4,000 | $0.071 |
Cost Per Page = Total Cartridge Price ÷ Page Yield (at 5% coverage)
Managing Drums and Maintenance Units
Unlike simple inkjet printers, this laser printer relies on a separate drum unit (DR258CL), transfer belt (BU229CL), and waste toner bottle (WT229CL) to function. The toner cartridges fit into the drum unit, which eventually wears out and requires a full replacement to prevent streaks or ghosting on your pages.
Experience Tip: When you replace the DR258CL drum unit, you must manually reset the drum counter through the printer's LCD menu (Settings > All Settings > Machine Info > Parts Life) otherwise the "Replace Drum" warning will persist.
Genuine vs Compatible Cartridges
We offer a range of premium compatible TN258XL cartridges for users looking to reduce their overheads without sacrificing reliability. Under Australian Consumer Law, using compatible cartridges does not void your printer warranty. If you are unsure about making the switch, you can read more about genuine vs compatible cartridges in our detailed guide.
Selecting the Right Supplies
If you print mainly text-based invoices and emails, we recommend stocking up on TN259BK black toners. For businesses that produce brochures or presentations, the TN258XL colour bundles offer a more balanced way to maintain all three colours. If you opt for our compatible range, they are backed by a full money-back guarantee should they not meet your expectations. You can view our returns policy for more details.
Free delivery applies on all orders over $99 (conditions apply). To ensure your office never experiences downtime, we ship daily from our local warehouses in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Browse our full range of Brother toner cartridges to find the best fit for your workflow.
Pro Tip
Always keep a spare WT229CL waste toner bottle in the cupboard. While it has a long life, the printer will completely stop once the bottle is full, and it is the one consumable most offices forget to stock until it is too late.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix a TN259BK black cartridge with standard TN258 colour cartridges?
Yes, the MFC-L8390CDW allows you to mix different yield capacities within the same series. You can use a high-yield TN259 for your high-usage black channel while keeping standard TN258 cartridges for the colours you use less frequently.
Why is my printer asking for a drum unit when I just replaced the toner?
The toner and the DR258CL drum unit are two separate parts that lock together. The toner contains the powder, while the drum transfers that powder to the paper. They have different lifecycles; you will typically replace the toner 3 to 5 times before the drum unit reaches the end of its life.
How do I know when the BU229CL transfer belt needs replacing?
The printer will provide a specific "Replace Belt" message on the display. Generally, the transfer belt lasts for approximately 50,000 pages. If you start seeing repeating colour spots at regular intervals down the page, it is often a sign that the belt or the waste toner system is failing.
