MFC-255CW

The service logic for an MFC-255CW is deliberately boring: same printer, same standard tier, year after year. That tier is LC61, and this model shares the standard-only limit with 22 other models in the family. The high-yield LC65HY cartridges sold for this cassette family fit just four other printers — MFC-5890CN, MFC-5895CW, MFC-6490CW and MFC-6890CDW — and are not an upgrade for this machine, however close the family resemblance. This page therefore lists LC61 cartridges only.

The Brother MFC-255CW runs on the LC61 standard cartridges — LC61BK black up to 450 pages, colors up to 325 pages each (ISO/IEC 24711). On cost per page, the standard black works out at about 1.9 cents a page ($8.69 for up to 450 pages) and each color at about 2.7 cents (up to 325 pages). If you print mostly black, the Set of 10's four-black mix matches how these printers actually consume ink.

Which LC61 should you buy?

One color at a time: black, cyan, magenta and yellow — $8.69 each.
Full refresh: the Set of 4 ($29.94) puts one of each color in one box.
Print every week: the Set of 10 ($59.85) puts four blacks and two of each color in one box.

Chip, ink and everyday use

Keeping this machine in service asks for one careful habit: hold a fresh cartridge by the housing and keep fingers away from the chip contact. Beyond that, upkeep is minimal, because the LC61 system keeps black, cyan, magenta and yellow fully individual, each in its own slot with its own chip, replaced one at a time. Brother has discontinued the LC61 line; every Clever Supplies LC61 cartridge carries a lifetime warranty with 1-year free returns, rated at Brother's own ISO/IEC 24711 figures (black 450, colors 325).