Brother HL-L2405W Review: Budget Wireless Laser Printer (October 2026)
The Brother HL-L2405W is a compact, wireless black and white laser printer for a small desk that mostly prints one side of each page. Skip it if you need automatic two-sided printing, Ethernet, or a copier and scanner.
On this page (19 sections)
- The Brother HL-L2405W at a glance
- Who the Brother HL-L2405W suits
- What's in the box
- Print speed and manual two-sided printing
- The 250-sheet tray and manual feed slot
- Wireless setup and USB
- Size, weight and where it fits
- Toner and drum for the HL-L2405W
- Is the Brother HL-L2405W good for home use?
- Problems to check before you buy
- Specs of the Brother HL-L2405W
- How the HL-L2405W compares with nearby models
- Setup in the first hour
- What the HL-L2405W does not do
- Who should buy the HL-L2405W over the HL-L2460DW
- Paper and envelope notes
- Who should skip the HL-L2405W
- How we scored the HL-L2405W
- Is the Brother HL-L2405W the right simple printer for home?
The Brother HL-L2405W is the simplest Brother laser printer in this guide. It prints black and white, connects over wireless or USB, and has a 250-sheet tray in a compact body.
It doesn't copy, scan or print two-sided automatically, so it's built for a smaller set of jobs. This review covers who it suits, how it prints and what to check before you buy.
The Brother HL-L2405W at a glance
The card below sums up the printer. The sections that follow explain what each number means at a small desk.
Brother HL-L2405W
- 30 pages a minute in black and white
- Manual two-sided printing
- 250-sheet tray with a manual feed slot
- Dual-band Wi-Fi and USB
- Brother Mobile Connect app
A simple Brother with the same tray and body size as the HL-L2460DW. It suits a small desk that prints mostly one-sided pages.
Pros
- Same 250-sheet tray as the HL-L2460DW
- Compact body, 14 inches wide
- Brother backs it with a 1-year limited warranty
Cons
- Two-sided printing is manual
- 30 pages a minute, slower than the HL-L2460DW's 36
Most buyers of this model care about three things: the one-sided speed, the tray and the wireless setup. The rest of this review covers those in order.
Who the Brother HL-L2405W suits
It suits a small desk, a student or a home that mostly prints one-sided pages. It's a practical first laser for a home that has never owned one.
It's the wrong pick if you print many two-sided reports, or if you need a copier or scanner. The HL-L2460DW and the DCP-L2640DW cover those needs.
How the Brother HL-L2405W fits a light printing week
A light printing week means a few letters, forms and school pages. The HL-L2405W handles that without a fuss.
A heavy week of reports is a different job. For that, the HL-L2460DW's automatic duplex saves real time.
What's in the box
The HL-L2405W ships with a drum unit and toner cartridges, along with the AC power cord. Keep the packaging until you're sure the printer works.
Set up the drum and toner before the first test page. Then connect the printer to Wi-Fi or USB.
Print speed and manual two-sided printing
Brother rates the HL-L2405W at 30 pages a minute in black and white. That's slower than the HL-L2460DW's 36 pages a minute, but it's quick enough for a desk that prints a few pages at a time.
How the Brother HL-L2405W prints two sides
The duplex setting is manual. The printer prints one side, then asks you to turn the stack over and feed it again for the second side.
It works, but a long two-sided report takes more of your time. For a few two-sided pages a week, the manual method is fine.
The 250-sheet tray and manual feed slot
The main tray holds 250 sheets, the same as the HL-L2460DW. That means fewer refills, even on a busy week.
The manual feed slot handles envelopes and specialty paper. Use it for one sheet at a time, and keep the tray for everyday paper.
The paper size limit is 8.5 by 14 inches, so legal-size paper is supported.
Wireless setup and USB
Dual-band Wi-Fi covers the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The USB port connects the printer to one computer when you don't want to use Wi-Fi.
There's no Ethernet port on this model. A wired office network won't connect to it directly, so plan on Wi-Fi or USB.
Brother's Mobile Connect app lets you print from a phone, so you don't have to be at the desk to send a page.
Size, weight and where it fits
The HL-L2405W is 14 inches wide, 14.2 inches deep and 7.2 inches tall. It weighs 15.1 pounds.
That's a compact body, but it's still heavy enough that a stable shelf or desk is a good idea. Leave room at the back for the cables and the paper tray.
Toner and drum for the HL-L2405W
It uses Brother's TN830, TN830XL and TN830XL 2-pack toner cartridges. The DR830 drum unit is a separate part, so it's replaced on its own schedule.
Brother offers an optional Refresh EZ Print plan, a monthly subscription for toner. You can skip it and buy cartridges when you need them.
For the replacement steps, read the Brother toner guide and the drum replacement guide.
Is the Brother HL-L2405W good for home use?
Yes, for a small desk that prints mostly one-sided pages. It's compact, wireless and easy to place.
Brother backs it with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call and live chat support for the life of the printer. We can't judge long-term reliability from specs alone, so use this review as a guide to fit and features.
For what wears out first and when, read how long a Brother laser printer lasts.
Problems to check before you buy
Check three things before you buy: the toner message, the Wi-Fi setup and the paper path. Each one takes a few minutes to check when the printer arrives.
If the printer says it's out of toner, follow the no toner error guide before you reorder.
Keep the Wi-Fi name and password ready during setup. That avoids a common stop in the middle of connecting the printer.
Specs of the Brother HL-L2405W
The table below sets out the main numbers for this model.
| Spec | Brother HL-L2405W |
|---|---|
| Print speed | 30 pages a minute, black and white |
| Duplex | Manual |
| Paper tray | 250 sheets, with a manual feed slot |
| Maximum paper size | 8.5 by 14 inches |
| Connectivity | Dual-band Wi-Fi, USB |
| Mobile printing | Brother Mobile Connect app |
| Toner | TN830, TN830XL, TN830XL 2-pack |
| Drum | DR830 (a replacement is sold separately) |
| Display | LCD panel |
| Size (W x D x H) | 14 x 14.2 x 7.2 in |
| Weight | 15.1 lb |
| Warranty | 1-year limited, with free online, call and live chat support |
How the HL-L2405W compares with nearby models
The HL-L2460DW has the same body and tray, with automatic two-sided printing and 36 pages a minute.
The HP LaserJet MFP M140w is a small all-in-one for a desk that doesn't need two-sided printing. It adds copy and scan, at 21 pages a minute.
For the head-to-head with the HL-L2460DW, read the HL-L2460DW vs HL-L2405W comparison. For a compact all-in-one from another brand, see the HP LaserJet MFP M140w review.
Setup in the first hour
Unbox the printer, remove the packing tape and install the drum and toner. Then connect over Wi-Fi with the Brother app, or use USB if you'd rather connect one computer by cable.
Print a test page before you send a real document. That confirms the connection and the paper path in one step.
What the HL-L2405W does not do
It doesn't copy or scan, so you need another machine for those jobs. It doesn't print two-sided pages automatically, and it has no Ethernet port.
Those three limits decide most of the choice. If none of them matter to you, the HL-L2405W is a sensible pick for a small desk.
A home that prints a few reports a month can work around the manual duplex. A home that prints many two-sided pages should choose a different model.
Who should buy the HL-L2405W over the HL-L2460DW
Buy the HL-L2405W if one-sided printing covers your week and you want the simpler Brother. The body and tray match the HL-L2460DW, so you give up the automatic duplex and a little speed.
It's also a fit for a first printer in a small corner. The setup steps are the same basics as the other Brothers.
Paper and envelope notes
The main tray holds 250 sheets, and the manual feed slot handles envelopes one at a time. Load envelopes into the slot the way the printer's guide shows.
Specialty paper, such as card stock, goes through the same slot. Feed one sheet at a time when you use it.
Who should skip the HL-L2405W
Skip it if two-sided printing is a daily need. The HL-L2460DW does it automatically, in the same body.
Skip it if you need Ethernet, a copier or a scanner. The DCP-L2640DW covers those jobs with a feeder.
How we scored the HL-L2405W
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for.
We scored it 8.2, because its compact body, 250-sheet tray and warranty suit a small desk. Manual two-sided printing and the slower 30 pages a minute hold the score back.
Is the Brother HL-L2405W the right simple printer for home?
The Brother HL-L2405W is the right simple printer for a small home desk that prints mostly one-sided pages. If two-sided printing is a must, step up to the HL-L2460DW.
If you copy or scan, choose the DCP-L2640DW instead. The pillar guide to the best laser printer for home use puts all three side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Brother HL-L2405W a good printer for a small home desk?
Yes, for a desk that prints mostly one-sided pages. It's compact, wireless and has a 250-sheet tray.
Does the HL-L2405W have Ethernet?
No. Its connections are dual-band Wi-Fi and USB, so a wired office network won't connect to it directly.
What toner does the HL-L2405W use?
It uses Brother TN830, TN830XL and TN830XL 2-pack toner cartridges. The DR830 drum unit is sold separately, so plan to buy it on its own schedule.
Can the HL-L2405W print two-sided pages automatically?
No, its two-sided printing is manual, so you turn the stack over and feed it again. For automatic two-sided printing, choose the HL-L2460DW.
