A label maker is an extremely useful piece of equipment for the home and the office. It is so satisfying to stick a perfect label onto an item and there is no doubt that a printed label looks so much better than a handwritten equivalent. With so many labelmakers to choose from, the following reviews and buyers guide will help you narrow down the selection.
1. DYMO LM420P Label Maker (Top Pick)
The Dymno LM420P is a portable, rechargeable label maker that is the best option for all-purpose label making.
This model has a large, bright display that clearly shows how the label will look before you print it. The keyboard is easy to use and you can create levels with barcodes, logos and graphics using your computer.
This unit uses a rechargeable battery so you just plug it in via USB when it needs to charge. You can store up to 15 frequently-used labels for easy access and quick printing.
What We Like:
- Intuitive design
- Large display
- Ideal for all-purpose including barcodes
What We Don’t Like:
- Keyboard is alphabetic rather than QWERTY
2. Brother P-touch PT-D450 Label Printer
The PT-D450 allows you to create high quality labels of various sizes with ease.
The labels can be of widths up to 18mm and there are 14 fonts and 4 print sizes so you can adjust the settings to suit your requirements. The Qwerty style keyboard is quick and easy to use and the backlit display ensures your design is clear to see before printing.
For convenience, you can save up to 30 labels in the memory and there are also built-in templates too. This label maker produces durable, laminated labels and you can connect the printer to a computer to give you even more control over your designs.
What We Like:
- Print various label sizes
- Qwerty style keyboard
- Save 30 labels in the memory
What We Don’t Like:
- No option to reduce margin size (causes wasted label tape)
3. DYMO 450 Label Printer
The DYMO Labelwriter 450 is an attractive entry level label printer that is best for individuals or small businesses.
The ergonomic shape is comfortable and secure to hold. This is user-friendly and offers simplicity in printing standard label sizes. It cannot handle custom sizes but that can be expected with a low-level printer.
This unit offers fast printing with the ability to produce up to 51 labels a minute. The DYMO Labelwriter 450 is compatible with all DYMO labels aside from the high capacity labels.
What We Like:
- Looks great
- Fast printing speeds
- User-friendly
What We Don’t Like:
- Does not offer custom label sizes
4. DYMO LM280 Label Maker
The DYMO LM280 is one of the best label makers for use on the go. It has a rechargeable battery which offers a long usage time.
The maker comes with a cable that allows you to connect it to a computer which gives you easy access to any fonts, graphics and barcodes that are loaded onto your desktop. The labelmaker has a Qwerty keyboard for quick typing as well as easy editing and formating.
There are over 20 ways to format the text and you can include symbols and clip art too for customised labels. The large display shows you the design before you print it onto a label so you can produce perfect prints every time.
What We Like:
- Portable
- Charges via USB
- Lots of formatting options
What We Don’t Like:
- The keyboard does not have individual punctuation keys
5. Brother QL-800 Label Maker
The Brother QL-800 is one of the best professional-level options on the market. It offers print speeds of up to 93 labels a minute so can handle higher volumes of printing with ease.
This model offers good printing quality and offers different sizes and types of label to suit your needs. You can connect this label maker to your PC or Mac for easy label designing without the need for software or driver installation.
Although you can’t use this label printer wirelessly it does offer some great features and allows you to print a range of labels using your computer.
What We Like:
- Fast print speed
- Good quality
- Customisable options
What We Don’t Like:
- No wireless capabilities
Label Maker Buyer’s Guide
Label makers are a compact, convenient way to make professional labels at home or in the office. There are lots of choices from small handheld makers to larger desktop options and each has different features to consider. This buyers guide will help you find the best label maker for your needs.
Brand
There are two brands that dominate the label making industry; Dymo and Brother. These companies are the most popular as they have been innovating these products for a long time and they create high quality, user-friendly label makers that suit a variety of needs.
Price
The price of label makers varies a lot depending on the use and features. For professional use, you will probably be looking for an option that offers a variety of features and therefore will cost more. There are budget options that cost $20+ but these are best suited to casual home use as they usually offer very limited customisation features.
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Key Features to Consider
There’s a wide range of features found in label makers, below we have listed the most important ones. The best model will be able to create the type of labels you need in the design you want with little effort. Making sure the model meets your feature requirements is key to finding the right option to suit you.
- Screen – the display should be a good size so you can clearly preview the text and details of the label before printing.
- Connectivity – different label makers offer different connectivity options. The most common ways for data to be transferred are via USB, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The majority offer USB connections while newer models tend to offer Wi-Fi as a connection option. It is very useful to be able to connect the label maker to a computer so check the option you are looking at can easily sync to a Mac or PC.
- Battery – if you are looking for a portable label maker, ensure it has a rechargeable battery as this is more cost-efficient and will make it easier to charge when on the go.
- Label size – some printers are able to print different sizes of label while others only offer one standard size.
- Keyboard – A Qwerty keyboard tends to be more familiar to us so they make typing quicker and easier.
- Print speed – if you have lots of labels to print then print speed will matter to you. The print speed is usually indicated in the product description as labels per minute so take a look at this before you buy to make sure the label maker can handle your requirements.
- Fonts/ Styles – if you’re looking to make creative labels choose a label maker that offers multiple fonts and symbols.
- Print resolution – the dots per inch (DPI) number indicates the print resolution. This is more important for business use as you will want the label to have a higher resolution and a more professional finish.
- Line number – if you intend to print addresses then you will need a printer that can print labels with multiple lines.
