Brother LC404
Brother LC404 is the single-tier cartridge family for Brother's small INKvestment printers: 750 pages for every color, black included (ISO/IEC 24711), for three models — MFC-J1205W, MFC-J1205W XL and MFC-J1215W. Below is the Clever Supplies compatible LC404 Set of 4, chipped and covered by a lifetime warranty.
| Cartridge | Type | Color | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother LC404 Set of 4 (compatible) | Full cartridge set (single tier) | Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | 750 pages per cartridge |
| Brother LC404BK (compatible) | Single cartridge | Black | 750 pages |
| Brother LC404C (compatible) | Single cartridge | Cyan | 750 pages |
| Brother LC404M (compatible) | Single cartridge | Magenta | 750 pages |
| Brother LC404Y (compatible) | Single cartridge | Yellow | 750 pages |
| Brother LC404 Set of 9 (compatible) | Bulk set (3 Black + 2 of each color) | Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | 750 pages per cartridge |
LC404 Ink — One Tier, Three Printers, and a Boundary Sellers Get Wrong
Brother LC404 is the single-tier cartridge family for Brother’s small INKvestment printers: LC404BK, LC404C, LC404M and LC404Y, rated up to 750 pages for every color, black included (ISO/IEC 24711), for three models — MFC-J1205W, MFC-J1205W XL and MFC-J1215W. On this shelf the family comes as singles, a Set of 4 and a bulk Set of 9, each cartridge chipped and covered by a lifetime warranty.
LC404 has no XL tier: “LC404XL” is not an official Brother code. The family’s real trap is its neighbour. Brother’s own official Q&A answer states that the MFC-J4335DW and MFC-J4535DW are NOT compatible with LC404 — those INKvestment Tank models use LC406, a different cartridge body. Marketplace lists that show LC404 for them are wrong, and this page’s list stops at the three J1205W-series models for exactly that reason.
Equal ratings hide an unequal pattern of use. Every LC404 cartridge is rated the same 750 pages, yet the color that runs out first is the one your printing leans on, and only that color needs replacing — the other three keep their remaining ink. So the choice here is how far ahead to stock: a single for the empty color, the Set of 4 for a full refresh, or the Set of 9 to keep a shelf stocked. There is no higher-yield LC404 to step up to and no lower one to step down to.
Which LC404 should you buy?
- One color ran out: replace just that color — black, cyan, magenta and yellow singles are $16.49 each.
- Full refresh: the Set of 4 ($58.74) replaces all four positions in one box.
- Print every week: the Set of 9 ($119.34) stocks 3 black and 2 of each color.
Chip, ink and everyday use
Every cartridge here carries a new compatible chip. Brother’s official “Cannot Detect Ink Volume” guidance warns that non-genuine ink may or may not be detected, and we print that warning rather than promise recognition. Keep spare cartridges sealed until install day. Lifetime warranty with 1-year free returns.