MFC-J485DW
| Cartridge | Type | Color | Approx. Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother LC201BK (compatible) | Standard-Yield ink cartridge | Black | 260 pages |
| Brother LC201C (compatible) | Standard-Yield ink cartridge | Cyan | 260 pages |
| Brother LC201M (compatible) | Standard-Yield ink cartridge | Magenta | 260 pages |
| Brother LC201Y (compatible) | Standard-Yield ink cartridge | Yellow | 260 pages |
| Brother LC201 Set of 4 (compatible) | Full cartridge set | Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | 260 black, 260 per color |
| Brother LC203BK (compatible) | High-Yield ink cartridge | Black | 550 pages |
| Brother LC203C (compatible) | High-Yield ink cartridge | Cyan | 550 pages |
| Brother LC203M (compatible) | High-Yield ink cartridge | Magenta | 550 pages |
| Brother LC203Y (compatible) | High-Yield ink cartridge | Yellow | 550 pages |
| Brother LC203 Set of 4 (compatible) | Full cartridge set | Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | 550 black, 550 per color |
| Brother LC203 Set of 9 (compatible) | Bulk cartridge set (3 Black + 2 per color) | Black / Cyan / Magenta / Yellow | 550 black, 550 per color |
Brother MFC-J485DW Ink
MFC-J485DW Ink — LC201 Standard, LC203 High-Yield
Think of the MFC-J485DW as a machine with a short, fixed parts list. It belongs to the WorkSmart six-model group, and its ladder stops at two rungs: standard LC201 at 260 pages under high-yield LC203 at 550 pages — nothing above LC203 was ever made for it. The family sharing rule runs one way only: LC203 works everywhere LC201 works, while LC201 works only on the six WorkSmart models, and the Business Smart six never accept it. Two disclosures keep expectations honest. LC201 singles in our range are fulfilled with LC203-bodied cartridges — same case, same slot — labeled for LC201, and the product pages state that openly. And the LC203 Starter cartridges supplied with a new printer are not the retail high-yield specification; Brother's own support pages note they can produce 'Cannot Detect' messages, so do not judge this printer's retail cartridges by its setup set.
Parts logic keeps an MFC-J485DW worth feeding: no slot on it ever needs a part outside one small family. LC201 standard ink (260 pages per cartridge, ISO/IEC 24711) and LC203 high-yield ink (550 pages per cartridge) cover it — black LC203BK, cyan LC203C, magenta LC203M, yellow LC203Y. LC203 fits this printer in every slot; no super-high tier reaches this model.
Which LC201 or LC203 should you buy?
- LC201 singles, one color at a time: black, cyan, magenta and yellow — $8.24 each, the standard-yield singles for replacing a single empty color.
- LC201 full set, all four slots: the Set of 4 ($29.94) gathers one cartridge of each color for the day all four slots run low together.
- LC203 singles, one color at a time: black, cyan, magenta and yellow — $8.99 each, the high-yield singles for replacing a single empty color at 550 pages.
- LC203 full set, all four slots: the Set of 4 ($31.44) renews all four slots at high yield in one carton, rather than four separate orders.
- Print every week: the Set of 9 ($59.94) keeps three blacks and two of each color on hand for a printer that works every week.
Chip, ink and everyday use
On the MFC-J485DW, a cartridge swap is the whole repair in most cases. Each cartridge in this range carries a new compatible chip and sits in its own slot, replaced separately from the others. Handle it by the housing, keep fingers off the small green chip contacts, and if a firmware update ever causes a recognition hiccup, reseat the cartridge firmly and restart the printer. Every Clever Supplies cartridge here carries a lifetime warranty with 1-year free returns.
More printers that use LC201/LC203 ink
MFC-J4320DW · MFC-J4420DW · MFC-J460DW · MFC-J4620DW · MFC-J480DW · MFC-J5520DW · MFC-J5620DW · MFC-J5720DW · MFC-J680DW · MFC-J880DW · MFC-J885DW