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 5 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 22% of the global printer market, making them the third-largest printer manufacturer behind HP and Canon. 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.

MonthAverage DiscountSale FrequencyKey EventsBuy Now?
January12.9%MediumPost-holiday clearance, New Year salesMaybe
February9.8%LowPresidents' Day salesNo
March8.4%MediumSpring salesNo
April17.1%LowTax season dealsNo
May23.4%HighMemorial Day salesYes
June14.4%MediumSummer salesNo
July18.2%Medium4th of July salesMaybe
August10.2%LowBack to school salesNo
September21.1%HighLabor Day sales, New model releasesYes (for older models)
October13.7%MediumHalloween sales, New model releasesMaybe
November26.2%HighBlack Friday, Cyber MondayBest Time
December22.5%HighHoliday sales, End of Year clearanceYes

⭐ Brother's Annual Release Cycle

Unlike HP which often launches products throughout the year, Brother follows a much more predictable annual release pattern:

  • Primary Release Window: September-October
  • Last Major Release: September 2023
  • Next Expected Major Release: September 2024

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:

EventTimingTypical DiscountBest For
Black Friday/Cyber MondayLate November23.1-37.4% off MSRPAll Brother models, especially current generation
Memorial DayLate May13.8-17.9% off MSRPMid-range Brother printers
Labor Day + New ReleasesEarly September16.4-27.2% off MSRPPrevious generation models
Holiday SalesDecember13.3-22.1% off MSRPCurrent generation models
Tax SeasonApril10.3-15.9% off MSRPBusiness-oriented Brother models

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 Office Depot 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-L8905CDW

    • Current Price: $699.99
    • Historical Low: $676.02 (November 2023, Black Friday)
    • Price Pattern: Holds stable most of the year with drops in November
    • Replacement Likelihood: High
  • Brother MFC-J4335DW

    • Current Price: $179.99
    • Historical Low: $152.29 (September 2023)
    • Price Pattern: Most significant drops during September and November
    • Replacement Likelihood: Medium
  • Brother MFC-L3780CDW

    • Current Price: $499.99
    • Historical Low: $493.32 (November 2023, Black Friday)
    • Price Pattern: Similar to other high-end Brother models with best deals in November
    • Replacement Likelihood: High

🔮 Future Brother Releases and Their Impact

Brother is expected to introduce several new printer models in 2024, which will significantly impact current model pricing:

Confirmed & Rumored 2024-2025 Brother Releases:

  1. New Mono Laser Printers (Expected 2024-2025)

    • Improvements: Compact design, enhanced performance metrics
    • Impact on current models: Expect 12.9-17.8% discounts on comparable current mono laser models within 2-3 months of release
  2. Brother MFC-2710DW successor (Rumored for 2024)

    • Improvements: More powerful printing capabilities, improved scanning features, faster processing
    • Impact on current models: Current MFC models likely to see 17.3-22.7% price drops when this launches

⏱️ 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

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)

🔍 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

💰 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%.

  2. Shop September Clearance: When new Brother models launch (typically September), retailers clear out older inventory with discounts of 17.9-26.3%.

  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.

  5. Ink/Toner Bundles: Brother frequently offers printer + supplies bundles during major sales that represent better value than standalone printer discounts.

  6. Brother.com Exclusives: Check Brother's direct website during major sales events for exclusive models and bundles not available elsewhere.

🎯 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)
  • Inkjet All-in-Ones: Deepest discounts in September/November (19.2-32.5% off)
  • Professional Series: Best value in April (tax season) and November (13.9-29.4% off)
  • 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.

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.

Get ShopSavvy
ShopSavvy is totally free and works on all popular phones and browsers
Download ShopSavvy App

Compare prices for anything in real-time, set price alerts, watch for deals by keyword, and much more

Install ShopSavvy Browser Extension

Compare and track prices automatically while you shop online at thousands of websites.

About "Best Time to Buy" Guides

Our "Best Time to Buy" guides analyze historical price data and deal patterns to help you save money by purchasing at the right time.

Data-driven insights from millions of price points

Monthly buying advice with visual price trends

Brand-specific insights and release schedules

Seasonal discount analysis and event recommendations

© 2025 Monolith Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved..