Brother MFC-L3720CDW: The Questions Everyone Asks (and a Few You Should)
If you're shopping for a color laser printer for your small business or home office, the Brother MFC-L3720CDW is probably on your shortlist. I get it—it's a popular model. But popularity doesn't mean it's right for everyone. Based on my experience setting these up and troubleshooting them for clients over the last few years (especially the chaos of Q4 2024), here are the questions I hear most. And a couple I wish people asked before buying.
1. Is the MFC-L3720CDW a good printer for a small business?
Short answer: yes, for the right kind of small business. I'd say it's ideal for teams of 2-10 people who print a mix of documents—proposals, invoices, marketing materials—in moderate volumes. We're talking maybe 500-3,000 pages a month. I'm not a production print specialist, so I can't speak to a print shop running 10,000 pages a week. What I can tell you from an office integration perspective is that it handles that mid-volume range reliably. The auto-duplexing (printing on both sides) is a must-have for saving paper, and the 250-sheet paper tray is fine for a small team, though you'll refill it more often if you're on the higher end of that volume.
2. How do I connect the Brother MFC-L3720CDW to my iPhone?
This is probably the #1 question I get. The printer supports Apple AirPrint, which means you don't need any special app for most tasks. Make sure the printer is on your Wi-Fi network (connected via the printer's touchscreen to your 2.4GHz band—it's more stable). Then, on your iPhone, just open the document or photo you want to print, tap the share icon (the square with the arrow), scroll down, and tap 'Print.' Your iPhone should find the printer automatically if they're on the same network.
If AirPrint isn't finding it, the Brother iPrint&Scan app (free on the App Store) is a solid fallback. It also lets you scan to your phone, which is handy. Note to self: tell people to check if the printer's Wi-Fi is actually connected. You'd be surprised how often the fix is just re-entering the Wi-Fi password.
3. Can the MFC-L3720CDW print on legal or 11x17 paper?
This is a great example of what I call an 'outsider blindspot.' Most buyers focus on the 'MFC' (multi-function) and 'color laser' parts, but they miss the paper size limitation. The MFC-L3720CDW has a standard paper tray that handles up to legal size (8.5 x 14 inches). It cannot print on 11x17 (tabloid) paper. If you need to print 11x17, you're looking at a different class of printer, like the Brother MFC-L8900CDW or a dedicated wide-format model. For most small businesses printing standard invoices and forms, legal size is enough.
Paper size check: US Legal is 8.5 x 14 inches. Tabloid (11x17) requires a printer with a wider paper path. Don't buy the MFC-L3720CDW if you need 11x17.
4. Is the Brother MFC-L3720CDW expensive to run? (What about toner?)
Here's where the 'total cost of thinking' kicks in. The upfront price of the printer is reasonable, but the real cost is in the consumables. The MFC-L3720CDW uses a separate toner and drum system. The standard toner cartridges (TN-261) yield about 1,400 pages for black and 1,300 for each color (cyan, magenta, yellow). High-yield cartridges (TN-267) are available and are almost always a better value—about 3,000 pages for black and 2,200 per color.
A quick TCO breakdown based on pricing as of January 2025:
- Standard yield black toner (TN-261BK): ~$55 (approx. 3.9 cents per page)
- High yield black toner (TN-267BK): ~$85 (approx. 2.8 cents per page)
- Standard color toner (TN-261C/M/Y): ~$65 each (approx. 5.0 cents per page)
- Drum unit (DR-261): ~$70 (lasts about 15,000 pages, or ~0.5 cents per page)
So, a color page can cost you around 5-6 cents for toner alone, plus paper and electricity. Is that expensive? Not compared to a print shop, but it's not 'cheap.' The 'INKvestment' line of Brother inkjets (like the MFC-J1010DW) has a lower per-page cost for color, but it's ink, not toner. Trade-offs everywhere.
5. What is 'Peoria Manual' and why is it in my search results?
I see this come up—'Peoria manual' is a classic search query mix-up. People often search for the manual for a specific product, like a 'Stearns Sospenders manual inflatable jacket,' and the search engine might associate 'Peoria' (a location) with the general concept of a manual. It's a search engine artifact. If you're looking for the manual for the MFC-L3720CDW, go directly to Brother's support site (support.brother.com) and type your model number. Don't trust random sites. As of my last check in late 2024, the official user guide is a free PDF download.
6. What about scanning and faxing? Does it work well?
The scanner is a 50-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) with a flatbed. For a small office, it's great. Duplex scanning (scanning both sides) is supported, which is a massive time saver. The fax function—well, fax is a legacy technology that won't die. It works. It's standard. You'll need a phone line, or you can use a VoIP service if your provider supports fax. My experience is based on about 50 installations, and the fax setup is usually straightforward, but if you're using VoIP, you might hit compatibility issues. The 'legacy myth' here is that fax is essential for security. For most businesses, secure email is sufficient. But if a client insists on fax, this printer does it.
7. Should I buy this or a cheaper model?
This is the last question, and it's the most important. Before you buy the cheapest color laser printer you can find from any brand, remember the TCO lesson. A cheaper printer often means more expensive toner, a shorter warranty, or slower print speeds. The MFC-L3720CDW is a workhorse. I've seen them running for years without major issues. The satisfaction of a device that just works, without jams or driver headaches, is real. There's something satisfying about a printer that doesn't make you want to throw it out a window. After the stress of a failed print job before a client meeting, finally having a reliable unit—that's the payoff.
If your budget is tight, consider the monochrome version (the MFC-L2750DW) and outsource color prints. That's often the smartest TCO move for a lot of SMBs.
