Our take
The Brother DCP-9045CDN is a color laser multifunction machine for a wired office that needs printing, copying, and scanning. Brother's U.S. specifications list up to 21 pages per minute on Letter paper, automatic duplex printing and copying, duplex scanning, a 50-sheet automatic document feeder, and USB 2.0 plus 10/100 Ethernet. It has a 250-sheet main tray and a 50-sheet multipurpose feed. Fax is not listed for this DCP model, and the exact-model specification gives no recommended monthly volume. Its size and age make room, software, and unit condition part of the buying decision.
A wired office that needs color copy and scan functions and automatic duplex handling but does not require fax or built-in Wi-Fi..
Choose another model if you need fax, built-in wireless, a published monthly workload range, or a compact machine that can be placed on a light desk.
Pros & cons
What could work for you, and what to consider before buying.
What works in its favor
- Brother documents color print, copy, and scan functions for the exact DCP-9045CDN model.
- Automatic duplex is documented for printed output, copies, and scans, reducing manual page turning across several workflows.
- USB and 10/100 Ethernet provide both direct-computer and wired shared-office connections.
What to weigh up
- The reviewed U.S. function list does not include fax, so an MFC model is a better fit when faxing is required.
- Wi-Fi and a recommended monthly page range are not established by the exact-model specifications.
- At 83.2 pounds with a roughly 21-inch-wide footprint, this is a large legacy unit that needs a sturdy, accessible location.
Specifications and exact model details
The key details
| Model covered | DCP-9045CDN |
|---|---|
| Main functions | Color print, copy, and scan; fax is not listed |
| Print output | Up to 21 ppm Letter; 50-sheet ADF |
| Two-sided printing | Automatic duplex printing, copying, and scanning; USB and Ethernet |
Performance figures are manufacturer claims. Source checked October 12, 2026. Regional models and included accessories can differ.
Full review: how the features affect your choice
What the features mean for you
Will it cover the document tasks you actually use?
Brother lists printing, copying, and scanning for the DCP-9045CDN. That makes it more useful than a print-only color device when staff digitize paper or need walk-up copies, while the omission of fax from the function list is a real boundary. The model should not be confused with the related MFC-9840CDW, whose suffix and feature set differ. If fax is part of the daily process, verify that the alternative model includes it rather than treating all Brother color multifunction machines as interchangeable. The DCP can serve a shared paper workflow, but it does not replace every office function.
Does automatic duplex extend to scanning as well as printing?
The exact-model specification marks automatic duplex printing and duplex scanning as supported, and it also lists automatic duplex copying. That combination matters for offices that handle double-sided originals: it avoids treating print-side page turning as proof of two-sided document capture. Brother specifies a 50-sheet ADF, so a stack of originals can be fed without placing each page individually on the glass. Confirm the feeder, duplex path, and scanning operation on any used unit. The specification establishes what the design supports, not whether a particular machine's rollers and mechanisms remain in working condition.
Can it join your office network without wireless?
Brother lists Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and 10/100BaseTX Ethernet as the PC interfaces, and the network section identifies wired Ethernet. The Ethernet port gives a small office a shared printer and scanner connection through its local network; USB remains available for a direct computer. The reviewed exact-model feature list does not establish built-in Wi-Fi, so plan for a cable run or a different model if the printer must connect wirelessly. Do not infer wireless from another DCP or MFC product in the same color laser family. Check the actual ports before purchasing a used device.
Will the standard trays fit your paper routine?
The standard setup includes a 250-sheet main tray and a 50-sheet multipurpose tray, while the output bin holds 150 sheets. The multipurpose feed can keep alternate media separate from the everyday paper supply, and the main tray supports routine Letter and Legal office jobs. Brother also lists an optional 500-sheet tray, but that accessory is not part of the standard configuration unless the offer says it is included. A 50-sheet ADF handles originals separately from the print trays. Consider where both paper loading and service access will fit before choosing this substantial machine.
What workload can Brother recommend for it?
The specification gives a maximum print speed and paper capacities but does not state a recommended monthly page range for the DCP-9045CDN. Those figures cannot be converted into a routine workload recommendation: speed describes output under stated conditions, and a tray measures paper on hand rather than durability. Leave monthly matching open and compare other supported features instead of borrowing a duty-cycle number from a related model. For a used unit, request its service history and inspect the scanner, ADF, duplexer, and color output. The product identity alone cannot establish how much life remains in an individual machine.
Is the physical size and exact suffix right for your space?
Brother lists the unit at 20.9 by 21.2 by 20.5 inches and 83.2 pounds with the process unit. This is not a small personal printer; it needs a stable surface with room for the trays, scanner lid, and service access. The exact DCP-9045CDN suffix is also important because nearby color models can differ in duplex, network, or fax features. Match the identification label to the model before ordering supplies or relying on a seller's abbreviated title. Confirm local driver support for the computer operating systems you use, since an old specification table is not a current compatibility guarantee.
Compare for your needs
Compare the Brother MFC-9840CDW if fax and wireless networking are required, while checking its separate model suffix and scanning features.
Find the undefined that fits you.
Tell us what matters. We’ll help you weigh the options.
Before you buy
Does the DCP-9045CDN include fax?
Brother's exact U.S. specifications list print, copy, and scan functions, with no fax function listed for this DCP model.
Does it scan both sides automatically?
Yes. Brother's exact-model specification lists duplex scanning as supported, in addition to automatic duplex printing and copying.
Does it have Wi-Fi?
The reviewed exact-model specification lists USB and wired Ethernet, but does not establish built-in wireless networking.
What monthly volume does Brother recommend?
The exact-model specification does not publish a recommended monthly page range, so workload suitability remains unranked.
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. DCP-9045CDN exact-model specifications ↗ — checked October 12, 2026.
- Brother U.S. exact-model specifications for functions, speed, duplex, interfaces, trays, ADF, dimensions, and weight ↗ — checked October 12, 2026.
- Brother U.S. exact DCP-9045CDN product identity and duplex capability ↗ — checked October 12, 2026.
The decision
The DCP-9045CDN fits a wired color office that benefits from automatic duplex scanning and does not need fax or a documented monthly range.
Is it the right fit?
Check the exact model and today’s offers on Amazon.