Main trade-off
Brother HL-L2480DW
No document feeder, so stacks need one sheet placed at a time.
Head-to-head
Brother HL-L2480DW vs DCP-L2640DW: DCP feeds stacks, HL keeps the body lower
The short answer
Choose the DCP-L2640DW when you scan several loose pages at a time. The HL-L2480DW fits occasional book and ID copies in a lower body, with the same rated 36-ppm print speed.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
You save height, not worktop area
Both use a 16.1-by 15.7-inch closed footprint. The HL-L2480DW is 1.8 inches lower, so the practical difference is vertical space rather than a smaller desk outline.
What this is based on
12.5 minus 10.7 =1.8 inches. Width and depth match.
Main trade-off
Brother DCP-L2640DW
The feeder scans one side at a time and there is no fax.
Brother HL-L2480DW
- Choose it for
- Copies are usually a book page or ID card
- A lower body is useful on your worktop
- Main trade-off
- No document feeder, so stacks need one sheet placed at a time.
Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Choose it for
- You scan loose documents in batches
- You want a feeder for recurring paperwork
- Main trade-off
- The feeder scans one side at a time and there is no fax.
About this comparison
Choose around your originals. Compare a flatbed-only scanner with a 50-sheet feeder, equal print speed and the height each Brother needs.
Choose the DCP-L2640DW when you scan several loose pages at a time. The HL-L2480DW fits occasional book and ID copies in a lower body, with the same rated 36-ppm print speed.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
Monthly thirty-page invoice packet
The feeder removes repeated placement on the glass.
- Brother HL-L2480DW
- Caution
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Better fit
Occasional ID-card copying
Both provide a flatbed.
- Brother HL-L2480DW
- Good
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Good
Worktop below an open shelf
HL is lower closed, but lid clearance still needs checking.
- Brother HL-L2480DW
- Better fit
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Depends
Automatic scanning of both faces
Neither has duplex scanning.
- Brother HL-L2480DW
- Not suitable
- Brother DCP-L2640DW
- Not suitable
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
You save height, not worktop area
Both use a 16.1-by 15.7-inch closed footprint. The HL-L2480DW is 1.8 inches lower, so the practical difference is vertical space rather than a smaller desk outline.
How we reached this conclusion
12.5 minus 10.7 =1.8 inches. Width and depth match.
A thirty-page packet changes the choice
Thirty supported single-sided pages fit within the DCP 50-sheet feeder. On the HL-L2480DW, you place each page on the flatbed. This changes the number of manual placements without promising a particular scan time.
How we reached this conclusion
DCP 50-sheet ADF versus HL flatbed only.
Books keep both models in contention
Both have a flatbed, and an ADF does not remove the need to turn bound book pages yourself. The DCP is worth the extra height for loose stacks, not because it automates copying a book.
How we reached this conclusion
Both have flatbed scanners. Only DCP has ADF.
Choice A
Brother, HL-L2480DW
HL-L2480DW
Occasional book-page copies alongside routine two-sided printing.
- Best matched use
- Copies are usually a book page or ID card
Checked facts
- Document feeder: None
- Closed height: 10.7 inches
- Width and depth: 16.1 x 15.7 inches
- Letter print speed: Up to 36 ppm
Choice B
Brother, DCP-L2640DW
DCP-L2640DW
A sensible starting point for printing and scanning everyday office forms.
- Best matched use
- You scan loose documents in batches
Checked facts
- Document feeder: 50 sheets
- Closed height: 12.5 inches
- Width and depth: 16.1 x 15.7 inches
- Letter print speed: Up to 36 ppm
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | Brother HL-L2480DW | Brother DCP-L2640DW | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Document feeder | None | 50 sheets | Stacks are the key reason to buy the DCP. |
| Closed height | 10.7 inches | 12.5 inches | The HL is 1.8 inches lower before either lid opens. |
| Width and depth | 16.1 x 15.7 inches | 16.1 x 15.7 inches | There is no listed closed-footprint saving. |
| Letter print speed | Up to 36 ppm | Up to 36 ppm | The feeder upgrade does not add printing speed. |
| Automatic two-sided scan | No | No | Neither is a hands-off solution for double-sided originals. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose Brother HL-L2480DW
- It cannot print charts or handouts in color.
If you choose Brother DCP-L2640DW
- The one-sheet manual feed means supported special-media batches need repeated loading.
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
Your scanning regularly involves loose stacks
Choose Brother DCP-L2640DW. The 50-sheet feeder is useful for this exact job.
Copies are isolated pages from books or cards
Choose Brother HL-L2480DW. The flatbed covers this without the taller feeder assembly.
Most incoming forms are double-sided
Choose neither. Consider a duplex-scanning model to avoid turning the stack.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Count the originals, not the copies
One book page copied thirty times is different from thirty separate pages scanned once. Both can repeat a copy. Only the DCP can feed a loose stack, which is why the nature of your originals should decide the purchase.
Do not expect the feeder to double as duplex scanning
The DCP scans one face at a time. For two-sided forms, the feeder saves placement work on each pass, but you still need a correct workflow for the reverse side and page order.
A shelf measurement needs the lid open
The HL is shorter when closed. A scanner still needs room above it to place a book and lift the cover. Test that motion in your intended location rather than buying from the closed height alone.
Printing is largely a tie here
Both offer 36-ppm rated monochrome output, automatic two-sided printing and wired or wireless networking. There is little reason to choose by the printing headline when the feeder is the real workflow difference.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- Rated print speeds are manufacturer figures, not matched hands-on tests.
- Toner yields use standardized test documents and vary with content.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current laser printers comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
See the checked facts and calculation notes
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brother HL-L2480DW |
|
| |
| Brother DCP-L2640DW |
|
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Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Brother HL-L2480DW
Copies are usually a book page or ID card
See price & reviews on AmazonBrother DCP-L2640DW
You scan loose documents in batches
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.