Our take
Brother's DCP-8045D is a monochrome laser document center combining print, copy and color scan functions. The U.S./Canada guide distinguishes it from the DCP-8040: this DCP-8045D has automatic duplex, a 50-sheet multipurpose tray and a 50-page ADF. Its main paper tray holds 250 sheets. The documented connections are USB and parallel, with a network LAN card listed as an option. Brother rates printing up to 21 pages per minute on Letter paper; the reviewed source does not give a recommended monthly range.
A wired monochrome document workflow needing print, copy, color scan and automatic two-sided output, with USB or parallel setup acceptable..
Skip it if you require color printing, fax, built-in Wi-Fi or standard Ethernet, or a documented monthly workload recommendation for sizing a shared queue.
Pros & cons
What could work for you, and what to consider before buying.
What works in its favor
- Automatic duplex is included on the exact DCP-8045D rather than inferred from another model in the family.
- A 50-page ADF and separate 250-sheet tray support batches of originals and ordinary paper jobs.
- The guide explicitly documents a color scanner while keeping the printer and copier output monochrome.
What to weigh up
- USB and parallel are the documented standard interfaces; a network LAN board is optional and wireless is not documented.
- The exact guide gives no recommended monthly page range, so routine workload fit cannot be compared from that measure.
- The ADF is specified by capacity but the reviewed source does not establish one-pass duplex scanning.
Specifications and exact model details
The key details
| Model covered | DCP-8045D (U.S./Canada 120 V) |
|---|---|
| Main functions | Monochrome laser print/copy and color scanning |
| Print output | Up to 21 ppm Letter; 250-sheet tray, 50-sheet MP tray and 50-page ADF |
| Two-sided printing | Automatic duplex; USB and parallel; network card optional; monthly recommendation unknown |
Performance figures are manufacturer claims. Source checked October 14, 2026. Regional models and included accessories can differ.
Full review: how the features affect your choice
What the features mean for you
How do you distinguish the DCP-8045D?
Brother's U.S./Canada guide names both the DCP-8040 and DCP-8045D, then marks several features by model. The DCP-8045D is the one with automatic duplex printing, the 50-sheet multipurpose tray and the model-specific duplex controls. The shared family name is not enough to establish which hardware a seller has. Check the rear label and the installed trays on a particular unit, and do not transfer facts from the network-suffixed DCP-8045DN or from the related DCP-8040.
What does the color scanner mean here?
Brother describes the DCP-8045D as a three-function machine: printer, copier and color scanner. The copier section specifies monochrome copies, while the scanner section specifies color and monochrome capture. That makes the device useful when a small office wants to digitize color originals but mainly produces black documents. It is not a color printer, and the source does not describe fax. Buyers who need color hard copies or fax at the same workstation should choose a different workflow rather than reading those functions into the word multifunction.
Can its duplex path reduce paper handling?
The exact DCP-8045D includes automatic duplex for print jobs and duplex copying. Brother lists Letter, A4 and Legal paper for duplex operations and rates the duplex path up to nine printed sides per minute. Two-sided output can simplify recurring reports, but it is a slower path than the headline simplex rating and still depends on paper, settings and the condition of an individual machine. The guide does not establish duplex scanning through the ADF, so two-sided originals should not be assumed to feed and scan in one pass.
Will the trays and feeder suit your documents?
The main tray holds 250 sheets and the DCP-8045D multipurpose tray accepts up to 50. A separate optional lower tray is documented, but it is not part of the stated standard capacity. Brother specifies an ADF capacity of up to 50 Letter originals, which can reduce repeated placement when copying or scanning a stack. The guide also gives a 150-sheet face-down output capacity. Confirm that the exact seller's machine includes the expected tray and that the feeder path is in working condition; the model specification cannot describe a used unit's wear.
How does it connect to a computer or office?
Brother lists a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface and an IEEE 1284 parallel connection. The guide also refers to the optional NC-9100h network LAN board, so standard Ethernet should not be assumed from the product family name. Built-in wireless is not documented. This setup can suit an older direct workstation or a compatible wired environment if the optional board is present, but it is a poor fit for a buyer who requires an out-of-box Wi-Fi join. Verify the actual port panel and any installed accessory before choosing it for a shared queue.
What workload can the sources support?
Brother gives an up-to-21-ppm Letter print rating and a 250-sheet standard input tray, but the reviewed guide does not state a recommended monthly page range. Those figures help describe job speed and reload intervals; they do not substitute for a maker's routine workload guidance. The guide's maximum or peak electrical ratings are not monthly print recommendations. If expected use is a hard purchasing condition, compare a model with a published recommended range instead of converting a speed or capacity figure into a volume promise.
Who should keep it on a shortlist?
The DCP-8045D is a fit for a mono document workflow that benefits from copying, color scanning, automatic duplex and an ADF, and can accommodate USB, parallel or a verified optional network board. Its model-specific tray and duplex details are meaningful advantages over assuming every DCP-8040-series machine is configured alike. Choose another model if color output, fax, built-in wireless or a stated workload recommendation is essential. Before purchase, confirm the unit's exact suffix, installed options, supplies, operating condition and host compatibility.
Compare for your needs
Choose a more recent model with confirmed network support if wireless setup, current host compatibility or readily documented workload guidance is central to the purchase.
Find the undefined that fits you.
Tell us what matters. We’ll help you weigh the options.
Before you buy
Does the DCP-8045D print automatically on both sides?
Yes. Brother's guide identifies automatic duplex printing on the DCP-8045D specifically; do not transfer this feature to a different family model.
Can it scan in color while printing only in black?
Yes. Brother lists the scanner as color/monochrome and describes printer and copier output as monochrome.
Is Ethernet included as standard?
The guide lists USB and parallel interfaces and describes a network LAN board as optional, so confirm the board is installed before relying on Ethernet.
Does the ADF scan both sides of an original in one pass?
The reviewed guide gives the ADF capacity but does not document one-pass duplex scanning for the DCP-8045D.
What monthly page range does Brother recommend?
The reviewed DCP-8045D guide does not state a recommended monthly print-volume range; its speed rating is not a substitute for that guidance.
Where can I check the current price?
Use the Amazon link for current offers. Check the exact model, seller, product condition, delivery, and return terms. This page does not display a live price or confirm stock.
Sources and review basis
Sources & review basis
We use the linked product documentation for the features above. Our suitability notes and buying advice are editorial judgments based on those features, not measured performance results.
- Brother U.S./Canada DCP-8040 and DCP-8045D User's Guide ↗ — checked October 14, 2026.
- Brother U.S./Canada DCP-8040 and DCP-8045D User's Guide: model functions, paper, speed, duplex and interfaces ↗ — checked October 14, 2026.
The decision
The DCP-8045D is a document-focused mono MFP with automatic duplex, a 50-page ADF and color scanning. Its main trade-offs are older USB/parallel-oriented connectivity, an optional network card and no published monthly recommendation.
Is it the right fit?
Check the exact model and today’s offers on Amazon.