The Brother HL-L2350DW is one of the best-selling mono laser printers in the UK — and for good reason. It's compact, reliable, Wi-Fi connected, and produces sharp text at high speeds. But toner isn't free, and after a few replacement cartridges, you start asking the obvious question: is this still good value to run?
Let's break down the actual numbers.
---
What toner does the Brother HL-L2350DW use?
The HL-L2350DW uses Brother TN2420 (standard yield) or Brother TN2425 (high yield / XL) toner cartridges.
Both are black-only — this is a mono laser printer. There is no colour cartridge.
| Cartridge | Yield | Typical UK price | Cost per page |
|---|---|---|---|
| TN2420 (standard) | ~1,200 pages | ~£18 | ~1.5p |
| TN2425 (high yield) | ~3,000 pages | ~£30 | ~1.0p |
| Compatible TN2420 | ~1,200 pages | ~£7–£10 | ~0.6–0.8p |
| Compatible TN2425 | ~3,000 pages | ~£12–£16 | ~0.4–0.5p |
Even with original toner, the Brother HL-L2350DW delivers a black cost per page that most inkjet printers can't match. At around 1.0p–1.5p per page, it's genuinely cheap to run.
---
OEM vs compatible toner
This is a mono laser — there's only one cartridge type, so the compatible market is well-developed and reliable.
Original Brother TN2420/TN2425: Made by Brother. Guaranteed reliability, no risk of warranty issues being cited. Good choice if you want zero fuss.
Compatible toner (third party): Often 40–60% cheaper than OEM. Quality is generally good for document printing. Look for ISO-certified suppliers. Several UK-based suppliers offer good-quality compatibles with money-back guarantees.
Our take: Compatible toner for the Brother HL-L2350DW is a reasonable choice if you're printing standard documents. For archive-quality or legal documents, stick with OEM.
---
Monthly running cost estimates
| Monthly volume | OEM TN2425 cost/month | Compatible cost/month |
|---|---|---|
| 50 pages | ~£0.50 | ~£0.20–0.25 |
| 100 pages | ~£1.00 | ~£0.40–0.50 |
| 200 pages | ~£2.00 | ~£0.80–1.00 |
| 500 pages | ~£5.00 | ~£2.00–2.50 |
This is one of the cheapest printers to run in its class. At 200 pages/month on compatible toner, you're spending under £1/month on printing. That's exceptional value.
---
Should you upgrade from the HL-L2350DW?
Honest verdict: keep it — unless your needs have changed.
The HL-L2350DW makes sense to keep if:
- You mainly print text documents
- You print regularly (laser suits moderate-to-high volumes)
- You're happy with black-only printing
Consider upgrading if:
- You now need colour printing (this printer can't do colour — you'd need a different model)
- You want automatic duplex or a larger paper tray (look at the HL-L2370DN or HL-L2375DW)
- Your unit is physically broken or producing faded output despite a new toner
2-year cost comparison
Assuming 150 pages/month, OEM TN2425 toner:
| Option | 2-year toner cost | Hardware | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep HL-L2350DW | ~£36 | You own it | ~£36 |
| Upgrade to HL-L2370DN | ~£36 | ~£90 | ~£126 |
There's no cost argument for replacing this printer unless it's broken or you need colour. The running costs are already excellent.
---
FAQ
What toner does the Brother HL-L2350DW use?
It uses TN2420 (standard yield, ~1,200 pages) or TN2425 (high yield, ~3,000 pages). Both are mono black cartridges.
Is the Brother HL-L2350DW expensive to run?
No — it's one of the cheapest printers to run in its class. At around 1.0p per page on OEM high-yield toner (and lower on compatible), running costs are low.
How long does a TN2425 last?
The high-yield TN2425 is rated for ~3,000 pages. At 150 pages/month, that's roughly 20 months of printing from a single cartridge.
Can I use compatible toner in the HL-L2350DW?
Yes. Compatible toner works well in this printer. Under UK and EU law, manufacturers cannot void your warranty solely because you used compatible consumables.
Is the TN2425 worth the higher price over TN2420?
Almost always yes. The TN2425 delivers more pages per pound spent. Unless you print very infrequently, the high-yield option is better value per page.
See the full HL-L2350DW printer page → Calculate your running costs → Compare all cheap-to-run printers →
For the broader home-office choice (laser vs inkjet TCO), read laser vs inkjet for home office UK. If you need a faster HP mono laser, see M404dn toner costs.
