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Are you on the hunt for the best label maker to up your organization’s game? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
Although not considered office essentials, label makers can be extremely useful to classify and organize your home and office workspaces. Whether it’s the freezer, the pantry, or a messy filing cabinet that needs organizing, label makers are handy devices that can help you feel on top of your game.
Traditional label makers could only print in a single font and most often required you to type each label out individually. Today, these devices come packed with a lot more features and have a lot more variation among each other. So, how do you choose the right label maker for your needs?
To help narrow your search, we have examined the market and come up with the top 10 label makers of 2022. So, what are we waiting for? Let’s jump right into it!
Best Label Makers
DYMO is a dynamic brand that offers a range of desktop products, industrial portables, computer-connected products, and so on for home, office, and classroom use. It aims to simplify your tasks and provide you a more professional feeling. Since its inception as an embossing company in 1958, DYMO has scaled great heights and is now a brand with a global reach.
Sale
DYMO Label Maker LabelManager 160 Portable Label Maker,...
- Form Factor: Print Only
- Printer Output: Monochrome
Why Did We Like It?
Dymo has presented us with an easy-to-use label maker and manager that has a large display and a QWERTY keypad. The structure of this device and the familiar keypad format make it comfortable to use even with a single hand. Apart from that, the last label memory allows you to reprint the previous label’s custom content without needing to re-type and reformat it.
This battery-operated machine runs on 6 AAA batteries and can even be run on an AC adaptor that the company sells separately. This label maker’s inbuilt automatic shut-off system actively prevents it from draining too much battery when not in use.
Furthermore, this device is equipped to provide you with various font sizes, text styles, and clip art images to choose from. The label widths that it is compatible with are ¼, ⅜, and ½ inches, respectively, and are provided by DYMO in different color options.
What Could’ve Been Better?
This label maker consumes copious amounts of battery and hence is better to use with the separately bought AC adaptor. However, some users have also complained about their device failing to recognize the AC adapter just a couple of weeks after the purchase.
Pros
- Portable and battery-operated
- Big LCD screen
- Varied font, text style, and size customization options
- Has inbuilt last-label memory
Cons
- Power supply and charging issues
Brother is a well-renowned home and office brand that manufactures some of the most top-quality household and office organization equipment. This reputation transfers onto the Brother P-touch PTD210 label maker that we are reviewing today. This company is also popular for its high-quality TZe label tapes, which many customers prefer over all other brands.
Brother P-Touch, PTD210, Easy-to-Use Label Maker, One-Touch...
- Quick access to fonts, frames, symbols and more
- Back-lighting: No, Built-In Handle: No
Why Did We Like It?
The P-touch is a small and portable device that weighs just under one pound, making it highly portable and ideal for use around the house or office. Equipped with a convenient one-touch QWERTY keypad and a large display, this device makes label-making extremely easy.
Furthermore, this label maker has one of the largest customization options, with over 10 unique styles, 97 frames, 12 fonts, and over 600 symbols. It also has 27 pre-installed templates to choose from and can print up to 2 lines on tapes that are about 12 millimeters wide.
All you need to do is type out what you want it to say and press print! So, whether you need labels for inventory, gift-wrapping, or art-and-craft, this device provides you a unique set of patterns and, therefore, a fun way to create personalized labels.
If that wasn’t enough, this label maker is compatible with Brother’s high-quality TZe laminated tapes that are not only durable and fade-resistant but also microwave, freezer, and dishwasher-friendly.
What Could’ve Been Better?
This label maker tends to waste a lot of tape by leaving wide margins on either side of the text. Customers have noted that this device uses about thrice as much tape as is required to print a simple label which ultimately leads to wastage of tape.
Pros
- Wide/ double line printing mechanism
- Has a large variety of frames, fronts, and symbols
- Portable device
- Sturdy and durable structure
- Device memory remembers up to 30 labels
Cons
- Large margins of waste tape
As we mentioned earlier, DYMO is one of the leading manufacturers of home, office, warehouse, worksite, and classroom equipment around the globe. Their varied range of label makers aims to simplify everyday tasks and improve organization. The 1955663 label maker from their range is one of their oldest yet most effective label makers.
Sale
DYMO Label Maker, LetraTag 100H Handheld Label Maker,...
- PORTABLE LABEL MAKER: Compact and lightweight for...
- PRINTS CUSTOM LABELS: Choose from 5 font sizes, 7 print...
Why Did We Like It?
This is a highly portable label-maker that is explicitly designed for hand-held usage. Weighing just about 1 pound, this device is very easy to carry around the house and office while working and will cause little to no hand exhaustion.
The label maker has varied customization settings to choose from, with about 5 font sizes, 8 box styles, and 7 different print styles. This, along with features such as bolding, underlining, etc., enables you to print a wide array of perfect labels for any situation or purpose. It further allows you to preview your label text on its graphical display LCD screen, making it easy to use.
Equipped with an ABCD keypad, this label maker is ideal for children to use. The 9-label internal memory and magnetic holder that it comes packaged with make it further easy to use and store around the house. If that wasn’t enough, the device comes with a 2+1 year manufacturer’s warranty.
What Could’ve Been Better?
Although most users have no complaints about the device itself, many have faced issues with the tapes that DYMO provided with the label maker. These labels either don’t stick or fall off very easily, especially from smooth surfaces such as glass or plastic.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight structure
- Includes 3 label tapes
- Easy to use and store
- Internal memory remembers up to 9 labels
- Has a 2+1 year warranty
Cons
- Faulty tapes provided
As we discussed above, the company Brother is a widely popular manufacturer of home and office equipment. This brand specializes in producing label makers and even has its superior quality patent label tape design that all its devices are compatible with.
Brother P-Touch, PTH110, Easy Portable Label Maker,...
- Lightweight and portable: Brother makes printing labels at...
- Easy type keyboard: To make typing text simple, the PT H110...
Why Did We Like It?
The P-Touch label maker in the model PTH110 is a portable hand-held label maker that is extremely lightweight and hence convenient to use around your home or office. Weighing only a pound, this device causes little to no hand exhaustion during usage.
Coming to the build, this label maker is equipped with a QWERTY keypad and one-touch keys that make it very straightforward and convenient to use. It’s further furnished with multiple inbuilt features such as 14 frames, 3 fonts, and over 250 characters to choose from. These will enable the customization of text according to your preferences while allowing you to review the text on the small display screen provided.
Furthermore, this device has a 15-label memory for quick re-printing tasks and can print two lines per label, making it compatible with Brothers’ high-functioning laminated tapes. Lastly, it comes with a 1-year limited warranty to ensure its users’ durable and long-lasting usage.
What Could’ve Been Better?
Much like the other label maker by Brother, this one also has a tendency to waste tape. This one mandatorily leaves a 2.5 cm margin on the left side of the tape, no matter what setting or alignment of text you choose. This ultimately leads to the wastage of tape in the long run.
Pros
- It has a 1-year limited warranty
- Easy type keypad
- Lightweight and portable structure
- Multiple font and style options
Cons
- Leaves mandatory 2.5cm margin on the left side
This label maker by DYMO is part of their industrial range of label makers for professional usage on onsite work purposes. It has a tough and durable structure and is loaded with loads of convenient features that help save time and effort on the job.
DYMO Rhino 4200 Label Maker (1801611)
- FAST TYPING: Easily enter text with a familiar...
- TIME-SAVING FEATURES: Uses convenient one-touch “Hot...
Why Did We Like It?
This Rhino 4200 label maker, as we mentioned above, is specifically engineered for industrial usage purposes. Constructed with a handy, durable structure and integrated with rubber bumpers, this device is incredibly hardy and can withstand multiple on-the-job drops or falls.
This label maker is further job-site tested and meets all ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-A standards, thereby making it considerably more long-lasting than its home-use counterparts. The device is compatible with DYMO’s industrial labels that are both moisture and extreme temperature-resistant and which stay stuck on all surfaces with no exception.
Moreover, this label maker is jam-packed with very high-end time-saving customization features, including a “Hot Key” and a “Custom” key to access shortcuts and save settings. The computer-style QWERTY keypad facilitates fast typing while the convenient memory recalls via the “Favorites” key allows you to access commonly used labels, symbols, and terms.
Last but not least, this device can print on labels up to ¾ inches made of a variety of materials. Some such materials are nylon, polyester, and vinyl, however, the device can also directly print onto heat shrink tubes.
What Could’ve Been Better?
This device utilizes a tremendous amount of battery power, leading to it getting over after only 2 days of use. Hence, you will need to be prepared for frequent battery changes. This label maker also tends to feed the label into the label cutter and then proceeds to jam, which can be a source of annoyance at work.
Pros
- Extremely durable and long-lasting build
- Includes an array of shortcuts and customization features
- Can print on a wide variety of surfaces
- Easy-to-use keypad
- A handy and portable device
Cons
- High battery consumption
- Labels tend to jam
Brother P-touch in model number PTD600 is a PC connectible printer/ label maker that is ideal for small and large business owners. This device offers a quick and easy way to create a wide range of professional and durable labels for office organization and product labeling.
Brother P-Touch Label Maker, PC-Connectable Labeler, PTD600,...
- Smart compact design with large keyboard and convenient top...
- Full color, high resolution display with backlight
Why Did We Like It?
This P-touch model has a compact and sturdy design that makes it ideal to be kept on desks and other flat surfaces during usage. Equipped with a considerably large QWERTY keypad, a backlit graphic display, and an angled design, it is very comfortable to use, especially when working for extended periods of time.
Furthermore, this label maker can be connected to your Windows or MAC computer via the USB cable provided by the company. This connection enables you to operate the device and print labels from your computer by downloading the free P-touch Editor Label Design software(1) as instructed. The fast printing speed of this label maker coupled with its automatic tape cutter makes it highly well-suited for large business-oriented labeling jobs.
What’s more? This device can print onto labels up to 0.94 inches wide and has one of the widest selections of customizable fonts, styles, frames, and symbols to choose from. Lastly, it also features a large internal memory that can remember 99 of the most commonly used labels for quick and easy reprinting.
What Could’ve Been Better?
A few users noted that the screen on their label maker was displaying shifting Moire rainbow patterns. This can be nausea-inducing and overall compromise your vision and the user-friendliness of the device. Apart from that, the free-download software required to operate this device via your computer has an overly complicated interface making it challenging for most people to use.
Pros
- User-friendly design
- Includes a wide assortment of customization features
- 2-year limited warranty and lifetime free phone support
- Can be operated through your computer
- Can print up to 7 lines
Cons
- Moire rainbow patterns on display
- PC software has a complicated interface
The Brady handheld label printer in the model BMP21-PLUS is the ultimate labeling tool for onsite industrial jobs. The durable build and smart design of this device aim to simplify your jobs in an array of varied and fluctuating working environments.
Brady BMP21-PLUS Handheld Color Label Printer with Rubber...
- Handheld printer with keyboard creates multi line labels for...
- Keyboard contains letters A to Z and numbers 0 to 9, and the...
Why Did We Like It?
This label printer by Brady is one of the toughest devices on our guide and has molded rubber bumpers to ensure impact resistance. Specifically geared for industrial use, it is both portable and durable, allowing you to take it along for the toughest jobs on the field with minimal exhaustion.
Equipped with an ABCD keypad and number pad, this label maker is easy to use and allows you to view the text on its LCD display. It can print texts in 6 different font sizes from 6 to 40 points, while its smart automatic formatting ensures minimal printing errors on the job. Furthermore, this device can create labels with multiple lines and varying widths making it ideal for all industrial identification needs.
But that’s not all! This device is also built with superior chemical resistance and unique drop-lock-and-print technology that provides it with high-performing durability for up to 8-10 years. It is, therefore, the ideal labeling device for most industrial-level jobs.
What Could’ve Been Better?
This label has no power-off button or inbuilt power-shutting mechanism and hence tends to consume a lot of battery power. Some users even reported that this device doesn’t last for more than 4 days of extensive usage.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact structure
- Tough and sturdy design
- Has smart automatic formatting
- Can print multi-line labels of varying widths
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- Consumes too much battery power
Phomemo has developed an innovative Bluetooth thermal label maker that can be paired with your phone for direct and efficient printing. It is compatible with Android and iOS and is perfect for printing barcode labels, price tags, tag labels, or cable labels for your jewelry, retail, and clothing.
Sale
Phomemo M110 Label Makers - Portable Bluetooth Thermal Label...
- Easy Use Label Maker Printer- Mini Bluetooth wireless...
- Powerful APP- Phomemo-M110 Bluetooth label maker machine...
Why Did We Like It?
This mobile label maker has an incredibly compact structure that weighs only 13.6 ounces and fits in the palm of your hand. It is meant to be operated through your phone which you need to connect to the device via Bluetooth. Moreover, this printer is compatible with Android and iOS systems and has a range of 33-feet from where you can print labels in a matter of seconds.
The app you need to download in order to run this device is very powerful and has an array of customization settings and free templates to choose from. It supports Excel batch printing for increased efficacy while also enabling editing and typesetting individual labels for creating your own templates.
The inbuilt adjustable paper holder and inbuilt Automatic Label Identification prevent all chances of paper jams and increase printing speed. Last but not least, the OCR-Optical Character Recognition function of this device effectively recognizes text on an image and converts it into editable text.
What Could’ve Been Better?
Some users have noted that at times, this label maker stops printing midway or prints only half the label due to the app or device malfunctions. In certain other cases, it also spits out blank labels, which causes a waste of paper.
Pros
- Powerful app interface
- Functions by connecting to your phone via Bluetooth
- Longer working time continuously
- Compact, lightweight, and portable
- Customizable options for designing labels
Cons
- App and printing malfunctions
This device by NIIMBOT is the ultimate home and office organization label maker and, therefore, a convenient device to have around. Not only is this Bluetooth device immensely user-friendly, but it’s also extremely affordable for the features and flexibility it provides.
NIIMBOT D11 Label Maker Machine All-in-One Handheld...
- 【New Technology】Lighter, quicker and smater. The machine...
- 【Rechargeable built-in battery】With 1200 mAh capacity,...
Why Did We Like It?
If you’re looking for a handy label maker that is portable and offers Bluetooth connectivity to pair a phone or tablet with, then let us stop you right here. Because this product is the ideal purchase for you! This compact and lightweight device comes with a USB rechargeable option and can continuously work for 4 to 5 hours without interruption once fully charged.
Equipped with a wide variety of customization options such as font style, text size, label paper style, this label printer enables you to create your custom labels. What’s more? It can also recognize text in a picture and convert it into editable text for printing. But that’s not all because the device app further supports voice input and even allows you to create and print your custom QR codes!
Hence you can print not just text but also symbols, QR codes, and graphics with ease. The device can print labels with a label width of 15mm, and the effective printing width of printing is 12mm. Additionally, it comes packaged with a single roll of label tape so that you don’t need to purchase one separately.
What Could’ve Been Better?
A few customers have found this device a little complicated to use. Others had an issue with the fact that this label maker required your location to be turned on to effectively print your labels. However, the only real problem faced by users while using the device itself was the paper jamming it caused from time to time.
Pros
- Lets you custom-design your labels
- Bluetooth connects to your phone/tablet for operation
- Turns picture text into editable text
- Lightweight and portable structure
Cons
- Label paper jams sometimes
This label maker is particularly designed for professional and commercial usage, even more specifically for shipping packages for Amazon, FedEx, Shopify, Etsy, and so on. It’s a large printer that is required to be placed on a table and connected to your laptop or desktop to operate.
Why Did We Like It?
This high-speed printer by Phomemo is meant strictly for commercial usage and can print at a rate of 150mm/sec. It functions by thermal printing technology and hence requires no ink or toner to print the labels on thermal paper, thereby effectively saving hundreds on label costs.
This device is twice as fast as traditional printing mechanisms and can print a single sheet of paper in just one second. Hence, it is an incredibly suitable option for printing ID labels, barcodes, ID labels, bulk mailing labels, and so on.
Furthermore, this label printer is relatively straightforward to set up, especially if you watch their informational How-To video while doing so. Apart from that, this device is compatible with both Windows and iOS operating systems and allows you to print on a wide range of label sizes.
What Could’ve Been Better?
Some users may face poor printing quality at the beginning. If that is the case, follow the steps provided on the box by the company to improve it. Most commonly, cleaning the Printhead and Platen Roller with a 70% alcohol pad should do the trick.
Pros
- Easy to set up and use
- Comes with 10 sheets of 4” by 6” test labels
- Quick, fast, and efficient printing
- Thermal printer hence saves money on ink and toner
Cons
- Not portable due to its size and weight
Label Makers Buyer’s Guide
With all the varied types of label makers available on the market and listed on our guide, it might get confusing to find the one that is just right for you. For this reason, we have compiled a comprehensive buyer’s guide detailing all the various factors you must consider before buying your device. So, without much ado, let’s jump right into it, shall we?
Keyboard Comfort
In most cases, a computer-based QWERTY keyboard is the ideal keypad to have and offers the most optimal comfort. This is because we are used to the structure and functionality of this arrangement on our phones and laptops alike. However, if you are looking for a label maker that a child will operate, you might want to consider purchasing one with an ABCD keyboard.
Ultimately, the letter sequence of your keyboard should be as per your personal comfort and requirements. Additionally, if you’re planning to purchase a desk-kept label maker, you might want to look for one with a slanted keyboard for more efficient typing.
Memory Capacity
Internal memory capacity is a rather crucial aspect to consider while purchasing a label maker. This is especially true when using the label maker for a small business where one might need to print the same texts in the same format repetitively.
The internal memory in these cases comes in handy because it can save the text and settings of your most-used or more recently created labels. This alternatively facilitates quicker reprinting of the same labels at a later date.
Moreover, different label printing devices have different memory capacities that can range from 1 to 99 text saves. So, it is always recommended you buy a device depending on how many text settings you want to save for future use.
Battery Vs. Adaptor
Label printing devices are either powered by a set of batteries or by AC adaptors and in some other cases by both. Depending on where and how one is planning to use this device, you need to decide which of these options works better for you.
For example, if you’re planning to use the label maker at home or at a desk job, you won’t need it to be portable. Hence, in that case, you can invest in a device with an AC adapter instead. Alternatively, if your job requires you to move from one place to another with the device, then a battery-powered device is the better option to invest in.
Customization Options
One last factor to consider before buying a label maker is the variety of text and label customization options it provides. Take a moment to see if you want or need a device that provides varied tape sizes, font styles, font sizes, color options, frame choices, etc. Different devices will have different variations of these options available. So, you can buy a device that suits your needs accordingly.
Verdict
Label makers are, therefore, incredibly handy devices to have around your home and office for all your labeling and identification needs. They’re available in a wide array of choices and are built to fulfill varied home, commercial, and industrial needs.
Before we take our leave, we wanted to mention some of our top recommendations for you. NiiMbot D11 is the most affordable Bluetooth label printer that can easily be operated via your phone or computer.
DYMO Rhino 4200 1801611, on the other hand, is the ideal label maker for industrial purposes and is built to withstand a variety of varied working conditions.
Finally, we have the Brother P-touch PTD600 and Phomemo which are best for commercial/ business-based label printing purposes. Both these devices can be connected and operated via a computer.
With that, we come to the end of our comprehensive guide for label makers available. See you next time!
