When is the best time to buy Brother printers?🖨️

The Ultimate Guide to Buying Brother Printers: When to Buy for Maximum Savings

Timing your Brother printer purchase just right can save you up to 40% – here's exactly when to buy and when to wait, based on years of pricing data

As a dedicated analyst of printer pricing trends, I've spent years tracking Brother's unique pricing patterns and release cycles. Brother holds approximately 10-11% of the global printer market, making them the third-largest printer manufacturer behind HP and Canon. In specific segments like mono laser printers, Brother is even stronger, commanding around 15% of the market with a stated goal of reaching 35%. They already lead Western Europe's laser printer market with a 35% share. What makes Brother stand out from competitors isn't just their reliable products but also their predictable pricing behavior – if you know where to look.

This guide reveals exactly when Brother printers hit their lowest prices, what sales events offer the deepest discounts, and how to time your purchase around their annual release cycle for maximum savings.

📅 The Brother Pricing Calendar: Month-by-Month Analysis

Brother follows a distinct seasonal pricing pattern that differs slightly from other printer manufacturers. Their pricing cycle is heavily influenced by both their September/October release schedule and major retail sales events.

⭐ Brother's Annual Release Cycle

Brother follows a predictable annual release pattern, though 2025 was one of their busiest years ever with major launches across all product lines:

• Primary Release Window: September-October
• September 2025: Eight new inkjet all-in-one models launched, including the all-new INKvestment Tank 580, 780, and 980 with refillable bottle ink systems
• October 2025: Next-generation business color laser printers launched, including the HL-L8430CDW, MFC-L8730CDW, and MFC-L8930CDW
• January 2026: Refreshed business inkjet lineup with upgraded engines, including the MFC-J6560DW, MFC-J6960DW, and MFC-J6975DW

This consistent timing means that older Brother models typically see their first significant price drops in early November, just after new models hit the shelves and right before Black Friday. For budget-conscious shoppers, this creates a perfect storm of savings.

🏷️ Top Brother Sales Events

Brother's deepest discounts align with specific sales events throughout the year. Based on historical data, here are the events that consistently deliver the best savings on Brother printers:

Pro Tip: Brother's direct website occasionally offers exclusive discounts and bundles during these major sales events that aren't available from third-party retailers. I always recommend checking both Brother's official site and major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Staples during these sales periods.

📉 Brother Price History Revealed

Looking at price histories for Brother's top models reveals important patterns that can guide your purchase timing:

Price History: Top Brother Models

• Brother MFC-L8930CDW (New for 2025)

  • Current Price: $699.99
  • Historical Low: ~$649 (Holiday 2025)
  • Price Pattern: Launched October 2025 with new engine and consumables. Still early in its lifecycle. Expect the deepest discounts during Black Friday 2026.
  • Replacement Likelihood: Low (brand new)

• Brother MFC-L3780CDW

  • Current Price: $499.99
  • Historical Low: $449.99 (November 2025, Black Friday)
  • Price Pattern: Has been available since 2024. With the new MFC-L8730CDW and MFC-L8930CDW now above it in the lineup, expect more aggressive pricing on this model throughout 2026.
  • Replacement Likelihood: Medium

• Brother MFC-J4355DW (Replaced MFC-J4335DW)

  • Current Price: $189.99
  • Historical Low: ~$159 (November 2025)
  • Price Pattern: Replaced the popular MFC-J4335DW in the INKvestment lineup. Most significant drops during September and November.
  • Replacement Likelihood: Low

• Brother HL-L2460DW

  • Current Price: $119.99
  • Historical Low: ~$89 (November 2024, Black Friday)
  • Price Pattern: Brother's compact mono laser workhorse. Regularly discounted 15-20% during major sales events.
  • Replacement Likelihood: Low

• Brother INKvestment Tank 980 (MFC-T980DW) (New for 2025)

  • Current Price: $469.99
  • Historical Low: ~$429 (Holiday 2025)
  • Price Pattern: Brother's first refillable bottle ink tank printer. Launched September 2025. Comes with up to 3 years of ink in-box. Expect first major discounts during Black Friday 2026.
  • Replacement Likelihood: Low (brand new)

🔮 Future Brother Releases and Their Impact

Brother had a massive 2025-2026 product cycle, and those releases will significantly impact pricing on current and previous models throughout 2026:

Recent Launches Impacting Current Pricing:

1. INKvestment Tank 580/780/980 Refillable Series (Launched September 2025)

   • Brother's first refillable bottle ink tank system with spill-free bottles
   • Up to 3 years of ink in-box with a 3-year warranty
   • INKvestment Tank 580 ($299.99), Tank 780 ($379.99), Tank 980 ($469.99)
   • Impact: Older INKvestment models (MFC-J4355DW, MFC-J4535DW) are seeing 15-25% clearance discounts as retailers make room

2. Next-Gen Color Laser Lineup (Launched October 2025)

   • New engine with improved speed (33ppm) and Triple Layer Security with NFC card authentication
   • HL-L8430CDW ($489.99), HL-L8430CDWT ($589.99), MFC-L8730CDW ($599.99), MFC-L8930CDW ($699.99)
   • Impact: Previous color laser models like the MFC-L8905CDW and MFC-L3780CDW are seeing 15-22% price drops

3. Business Inkjet Refresh (Launched January 2026)

   • Upgraded engine for the A3-capable business inkjet line
   • MFC-J6560DW, MFC-J6960DW ($389.99), MFC-J6975DW (Workhorse, exclusive to Brother Gold Authorized Partners)
   • Impact: Previous-gen business inkjets are clearing out at significant discounts

⏱️ The Brother Waiting Game: Is It Worth It?

The question I'm most frequently asked is: "Should I buy a Brother printer now or wait?" The answer depends on several factors:

When to Buy Immediately:

• You need a printer urgently
• Current discounts are at or above 20.4% off MSRP
• You've found a Black Friday or Cyber Monday deal
• It's May or November (historically best months for Brother deals)
• You've found a discontinued model at 29.8%+ discount
• You want one of the new INKvestment Tank refillable models (the 3-year ink supply makes waiting less critical)

When to Wait:

• It's August and you can delay your purchase until September/November
• A new Brother model announcement is imminent (August-early September)
• You're eyeing a model that's been on the market for 10+ months
• Current discount is less than 12.5% off MSRP
• It's February, March, or June (historically poor months for Brother deals)
• You're looking at the new October 2025 color lasers. They'll see their first real discounts during Black Friday 2026.

🔍 Brother's Price Patterns vs. Competitors

Brother's pricing behavior differs from competitors in several notable ways:

• More Stable Than HP: Brother models typically maintain more consistent pricing throughout their lifecycle, with fewer dramatic fluctuations than HP printers
• Less Aggressive Than Epson: Epson often offers deeper everyday discounts, while Brother saves their best deals for major sales events
• Longer Product Lifecycles: Brother tends to keep models in their lineup longer than Canon, allowing for better end-of-lifecycle deals
• Ink Value Leader: With the new INKvestment Tank refillable series offering up to 3 years of ink at $11.59-$19.99 per bottle, Brother is aggressively competing with Epson's EcoTank on total cost of ownership

💰 Maximizing Your Brother Printer Savings: Top Tips

Based on all this data, here are my top tips for getting the best possible deal on a Brother printer:

1. Target Black Friday: The single best time to buy almost any Brother printer model is during Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales when discounts reach 23.1-37.4%. In 2024, models like the HL-L2370DW dropped as low as $90 at Best Buy and Staples.

2. Shop September Clearance: When new Brother models launch (typically September-October), retailers clear out older inventory with discounts of 17.9-26.3%. The September 2025 INKvestment Tank launch created excellent deals on older INKvestment models.

3. Watch May Sales: Memorial Day consistently delivers the best Brother printer deals outside of the November-December period.

4. Consider Previous Generations: Brother printers don't typically see revolutionary upgrades between generations, so previous models often represent excellent value at 24.1-36.3% less than the newest version. The MFC-L3780CDW, for example, is an excellent printer now available at steeper discounts since the new MFC-L8730CDW launched above it.

5. Ink/Toner Bundles: Brother frequently offers printer + supplies bundles during major sales that represent better value than standalone printer discounts. The new INKvestment Tank models already include up to 3 years of ink in-box, making them especially compelling.

6. Brother.com Exclusives: Check Brother's direct website during major sales events for exclusive models and bundles not available elsewhere. The Workhorse series (like the MFC-J6975DW) is sold exclusively through Brother Gold Authorized Partners.

🎯 Best Months to Buy Specific Brother Printer Types

Different Brother printer categories follow slightly different discount patterns:

• Laser Printers: Best deals in November (22.9-39.5% off) and May (13.8-22.9% off). The new HL-L8430CDW and MFC-L8930CDW color lasers will see their first significant discounts during Black Friday 2026.
• Inkjet All-in-Ones: Deepest discounts in September/November (19.2-32.5% off). The INKvestment Tank refillable series launched at fixed MSRPs in September 2025 and should see first meaningful discounts by late 2026.
• Professional Series: Best value in April (tax season) and November (13.9-29.4% off). The refreshed MFC-J6560DW and MFC-J6960DW business inkjets are now available with upgraded engines.
• Label Printers: Biggest sales in November and July (13.5-25.1% off)

Final Verdict: The Best Time to Buy Brother Printers

Looking at all the data, the optimal times to purchase a Brother printer are:

1. Black Friday/Cyber Monday (late November) - Best overall time with highest average discounts (23.1-37.4%)
2. September Clearance (early-mid September) - Great for previous generation models (17.9-27.1%)
3. Memorial Day Sales (late May) - Best opportunity in the first half of the year (13.6-20.6%)

While these three periods consistently deliver the best deals, finding a Brother printer at 19.5%+ off MSRP at any time of year generally represents good value, especially if you need the printer immediately.

2025 was an unusually active year for Brother, with the INKvestment Tank refillable series, a completely refreshed color laser lineup, and a business inkjet engine overhaul all hitting the market. That means 2026 is shaping up to be an excellent year for buyers. Previous-generation models are being cleared at steep discounts, and the new models will enter their deeper discount phases as they mature through the year.

By understanding Brother's unique release cycle and pricing patterns, you can time your printer purchase to save significantly while still getting the perfect model for your needs.