SKU:

CS-Bro-New-tn221-tn225-Black

Printer Brand:

Brother

OEM Number:

TN225BK

Ink Color:

Black

Page Yield:

Black:2500

Printer Type:

Laser Cartridge

Condition:

New Compatible

Frequently Asked Questions

Only my black ran out — do I really need to buy a set?

No. If the three colors still show healthy levels, this single black cartridge is the whole fix. Sets save money when several cartridges are near empty together; when only black is gone, paying for colors you do not need yet saves nothing.

How many pages does this cartridge print?

It is rated at 2,500 pages at the standard 5% coverage. At $27.27 that is about 1.09¢ per page for black — reasonable for a single cartridge bought exactly when it is needed. For the full shelf, see our Best Brother TN221 Toner Cartridges guide: the TN221BK black cartridge, the high-yield TN225 colors, the mixed sets and the DR221 drum units are compared side by side — including how Brother's ISO/IEC 19798 ratings apply to the black, the colors and the drum.

Which printers does this black fit?

It fits the HL-3140, HL-3170, HL-3140CW, HL-3170CDW, MFC-9130, MFC-9330, MFC-9340, MFC-9130CW, MFC-9330CDW, MFC-9340CDW, DCP-9020, DCP-9020CDN, DCP-9020CDW, HL-3140CDW, HL-3150CDN, HL-3150CDW, HL-3170CDW, MFC-9140CDN, MFC-9330CW and MFC-9340CW. Those machines use this TN221BK in the black slot alongside their TN225 color cartridges.

My printer is also mentioning the drum — is that part of this cartridge?

No, the drum is a separate unit — the DR221CL — and it is not included here. This listing is the black toner cartridge only; the drum is a longer-life part that is changed on its own schedule, far less often than toner.

When would the four-pack have been the smarter buy?

When your colors are also close to empty. The TN221/TN225 four-pack brings the per-cartridge cost down sharply — but only if all four cartridges will actually go into the machine reasonably soon.

What backs this single cartridge?

A 1-year warranty and a full year of free returns under our returns terms. We ship from warehouses in IL, PA, GA and CA, and you can talk to support Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM CST.

How do I confirm this single black is the right code before ordering?

Check the label on the cartridge currently in the black slot, or the code printed beside that slot when the cover is open: it should read TN221BK. This family's colors carry the TN225 name, which is exactly why the black deserves its own check — ordering the family name alone can land you a color when only the black has run out.

How close to 2,500 pages will a text-heavy office actually get?

Usually close, and sometimes beyond. The rating assumes standard 5% coverage, and ordinary letters, invoices and reports sit near or below that. Pages with big filled graphics pull the real total down; pages of plain correspondence can push it up. For a documents-first office, this TN221BK's rated figure is an honest planning number rather than a best case.

Why keep the removed black cartridge for a few days?

It is your comparison proof. If the fresh TN221BK prints beautifully, the old one's fading is explained and it can go. If output problems survive the swap, the kept cartridge shows the fault was never toner — attention belongs on the separate DR221CL drum or the machine itself — and you have lost nothing by holding the evidence.

Which pages should I judge the new black cartridge on?

The third or fourth page of a normal document, not the first. The first sheet or two after a change can still be settling; by the third page, density should be even from top to bottom with no pale bands. Judge this TN221BK on that settled output, ideally on a document whose earlier printouts you can compare it with directly.

About This TN221BK Black Cartridge, Sold on Its Own

The straightforward purchase: one TN221BK black cartridge, rated at 2,500 pages, for $27.27 — about 1.09¢ a page. It is made for the moment the printer asks for black and black only, while the TN225 colors in the machine still have life in them. Owners who later need the colors too will find them singly and in sets across our Brother toner range.