Label makers—or label printers, labeling techniques, barcode printers, or no matter every producer calls its wares—are available in a bunch of types. They vary from cheap fashions for labeling images or containers and different articles round the home, to the mission-critical workplace and industrial printers used for transport labels, warnings (“Cease!” and “Warning!” stickers), barcodes, product labels, and extra. PCMag has been testing printers of all types for many years, and we check all label printers for output velocity, usability, worth, design, and extra. Here is a rundown of the best way to navigate the label-printer market, together with our high picks. Our high label-printer choose total for paper labels is the Brother QL-800, and that suggestion, together with our extra specialised picks right here, are backed by our intensive expertise and rigorous hands-on testing. You possibly can belief that considered one of these label makers is the very best one on your wants.
Deeper Dive: Our High Examined Picks
EDITORS’ NOTE
July 12, 2025: With this replace, our record of beneficial label makers stays unchanged. Since our final replace, we examined and evaluated three printers for inclusion on this roundup and our different printer roundups.
Professionals & Cons
Quick output.
Good print high quality.
Wonderful label design, print software program, and cell apps.
Prints two-color, black/crimson labels.
Good collection of label sorts.
Good worth for the value.
Per-label media value is considerably excessive.
Capability to print in crimson restricted to at least one label kind.
Why We Picked It
The Brother QL-800 is a strong worth for a printer that may spit out tackle labels, folder labels, barcode labels and the like at a velocity we clocked at 95.2 tackle labels per minute. Consider its skill to print each crimson and black on the identical label, and it is a standout cut price. Extra essential, even for those who by no means want the two-color printing, the QL-800 is a succesful printer, and worth, for workplace and warehouse labeling. It connects by USB, has an computerized cutter, accepts label rolls as much as 2.4 inches broad, and works with each Home windows and macOS computer systems.
Who It is For
The utmost 2.4-inch-wide roll measurement means you’ll be able to’t use the QL-800 for 4-by-6-inch transport labels. Nonetheless, you should utilize it for nearly some other widespread want for paper labels in an workplace or transport division: small barcode labels, customer badges, even banners as much as 3 ft lengthy. In case you want a printer for paper label rolls as much as 2.4 inches broad and need to hook up with a single PC, it’ll do the job. And for those who additionally need to print in crimson and black, it is the one low-cost label printer that can.
Specs & Configurations
Kind
Printer Solely
Coloration or Monochrome
Monochrome
Printing Know-how
Thermal (Paper Labels)
Connection Kind
USB
Most Commonplace Paper Dimension
2.4″ roll
Variety of Ink Colours
2
Variety of Ink Cartridges/Tanks
0
Direct Printing From Media Playing cards
Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Coloration)
93 labels per minute
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Mono)
93 labels per minute
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Advisable)
Not rated
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Most)
Not rated
Printer Enter Capability
Roll feed
Price Per Web page (Monochrome)
N/A
Price Per Web page (Coloration)
N/A
Computerized Doc Feeder
Scanner Kind
N/A
Most Scan Space
N/A
Scanner Optical Decision
N/A
Standalone Copier and Fax
N/A
Study Extra
Brother QL-800 Assessment
Professionals & Cons
Wi-Fi connection for printing from PC, telephone, or pill
Makes use of non-proprietary labels and hundreds simply, with no waste
Shortly prints labels from 1.57 to 4.1 inches broad
Choice to make use of Rollo Ship Supervisor to generate labels with transport reductions
Would not include an app for designing or printing labels
Ship Supervisor at present reductions solely USPS and UPS (no FedEx but)
Why We Picked It
The Rollo Wi-fi Printer X1040 can use label rolls from 1.57 to 4.1 inches broad, however its focus is on 4-by-6-inch transport labels, and that focus is enhanced by the Rollo Ship Supervisor on Rollo’s web site. The Ship Supervisor costs 5 cents per printed label. In return, it offers you a single transport interface for UPS and USPS (with FedEx nonetheless within the works, in line with Rollo), in addition to for on-line procuring platforms, together with Amazon and Shopify. Even higher, it presents transport reductions that Rollo says might be as excessive as 90% for USPS or 75% for UPS. Once we examined it, we noticed a spread of financial savings from 25% to 67%.
The printer itself is a stylized field measuring 3 by 7.7 by 3.3 inches (HWD) and designed to look good sitting on a desk. It will possibly join by both USB or Wi-Fi, which helps you to print from a PC, a telephone, or a pill. Labels feed (by way of a slot within the again) at suitably quick velocity, even when utilizing Wi-Fi. We measured the X1040 at 7.1 seconds for a single 4-by-6-inch label and 91 seconds for 50 labels (3.4ips). A pleasant contact is that it’ll work with labels from most producers, not simply Rollo’s labels.
Who It is For
The emphasis on transport labels makes the Rollo X1040 properly suited to small companies that have to print 4-by-6-inch transport labels, significantly in the event that they promote merchandise by way of a number of of the platforms that Ship Supervisor helps. Nonetheless, word that Rollo additionally presents a web-based label app for creating any label you want, so anybody who must print paper labels at sizes as much as 4 inches broad ought to discover the X1040 value a glance.
Specs & Configurations
Kind
Printer Solely
Coloration or Monochrome
Monochrome
Printing Know-how
Thermal (Paper Labels)
Connection Kind
Wi-Fi, USB
Most Commonplace Paper Dimension
4.1″ broad
Variety of Ink Colours
1
Variety of Ink Cartridges/Tanks
0
Direct Printing From Media Playing cards
Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Coloration)
N/A
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Mono)
5.9 inches per second
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Advisable)
N/A
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Most)
N/A
Printer Enter Capability
Folded stack or, if utilizing non-compulsory roll holder, 6-inch diameter roll
Price Per Web page (Monochrome)
3 cents
Price Per Web page (Coloration)
NA
Computerized Doc Feeder
Scanner Kind
N/A
Most Scan Space
N/A
Scanner Optical Decision
N/A
Standalone Copier and Fax
N/A
Study Extra
Rollo Wi-fi Printer X1040 Assessment
Professionals & Cons
Prints stamps
Works with the PitneyShip internet app to print and handle labels
PitneyShip presents transport reductions as much as 89%
Wi-Fi assist
Constructed-in digital scale
Tough-to-find documentation
Solely integrates with Amazon, eBay, and Shopify
Why We Picked It
Although it lacks strong capabilities for normal label printing, the PitneyShip Dice is the one printer we have seen that is designed to each work with a web-based transport app and print labels the postal service will deal with as stamps. The Dice comes with a 30-day free subscription to both of two variations of the PitneyShip app, which helps you to create labels and handle transport on-line. PitneyShip claims a reduction of three cents on First Class stamps, as much as 89% on USPS Precedence Mail, and as much as 82% off UPS customary charges, although the precise financial savings varies primarily based on transport location, vacation spot, and sort of service.
Who It is For
In case you want a printer for 4-by-6-inch transport labels, can profit from a web-based app like PitneyShip, and in addition need to print stamps, the PitneyShip Dice is an apparent alternative. In case you want a printer for labels to ship merchandise you promote by way of Amazon, eBay, and Shopify, it may be a virtually excellent match, because it has the flexibility to hyperlink to your accounts with every of those three websites to allow you to print all of your labels and observe all of your shipments in a single place.
Specs & Configurations
Kind
Printer Solely
Coloration or Monochrome
Monochrome
Printing Know-how
Thermal (Paper Labels)
Connection Kind
USB, Wi-Fi
Most Commonplace Paper Dimension
4.1 inches broad
Variety of Ink Colours
1
Variety of Ink Cartridges/Tanks
1
Direct Printing From Media Playing cards
Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Coloration)
N/A
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Mono)
N/A
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Advisable)
N/A
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Most)
N/A
Printer Enter Capability
4.5-inch diameter roll internally
Price Per Web page (Monochrome)
9.1 cents (4-by-6-inch label); 1.8 cents (stamp)
Price Per Web page (Coloration)
N/A
Computerized Doc Feeder
Scanner Kind
N/A
Most Scan Space
N/A
Scanner Optical Decision
N/A
Standalone Copier and Fax
N/A
Study Extra
Pitney Bowes PitneyShip Dice Assessment
Professionals & Cons
Prints high-quality shade labels in various sizes.
Alternative of 4 label widths.
Affordable print speeds.
Comparatively excessive working prices.
Not fitted to printing tons of or hundreds of labels month-to-month.
Why We Picked It
If you wish to print full-color labels with an inexpensive label printer, the Brother VC-500W Compact Coloration Printer is the one mannequin we have seen anyplace close to its value. It is primarily based on the identical Zink expertise (quick for “zero ink”) as some small photograph printers, utilizing paper inventory infused with dye crystals that change shade when heated. That interprets to having the ability to print labels with shade textual content, graphics, and images, or perhaps a strip of images much like what you’d get from a photograph sales space.
The VC-500W can print from Home windows PCs and each Android and iOS telephones and tablets. Picture high quality for graphics and textual content was glorious in our checks, providing vibrant shade, minimal graininess, and respectable element, the final because of the 313dpi decision. Pictures have been additionally acceptable, although not a match for the very best Zink photograph printers. The label tapes are available in 4 widths from 9mm to 50mm (0.37 to 1.97 inches) broad, at steady lengths of 16.4 ft.
Who It is For
In case you want a desktop printer for full-color labels and do not print sufficient of them to justify spending 4 figures for the printer, you want the VC-500W. Nonetheless, remember the fact that for those who additionally have to print labels that aren’t in full shade, you may need one other label printer, too. That is as a result of Zink rolls are much more costly per inch than both paper or plastic tapes.
Specs & Configurations
Kind
Printer Solely
Coloration or Monochrome
Coloration
Printing Know-how
Zero Ink (ZINK)
Connection Kind
Wi-fi
Most Commonplace Paper Dimension
2″ broad
Variety of Ink Colours
4
Variety of Ink Cartridges/Tanks
0
Direct Printing From Media Playing cards
Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Coloration)
N/A
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Mono)
N/A
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Advisable)
Not rated
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Most)
Not rated
Printer Enter Capability
Roll feed
Price Per Web page (Monochrome)
N/A
Price Per Web page (Coloration)
32 to 61 cents
Computerized Doc Feeder
Scanner Kind
N/A
Most Scan Space
N/A
Scanner Optical Decision
N/A
Standalone Copier and Fax
N/A
Study Extra
Brother VC-500W Compact Coloration Printer Assessment
Professionals & Cons
Reasonably priced, industrial-style labeling
Straightforward-to-use handheld design with QWERTY keyboard
Tape selections embody plastic, vinyl, magnetic, and fluorescent as much as 18mm
Saves as much as 50 labels in reminiscence for straightforward reprinting
Lifetime guarantee
Noticeably gradual print velocity
Would not hook up with a PC or cell machine for printing
Batteries not included
Why We Picked It
For strictly standalone printing of labels as much as 0.71 inch broad, the LW-PX300 is our high choose. It weighs simply 1.8 kilos with batteries and its QWERTY keyboard is comfy to make use of whether or not the printer is sitting on a desk or held in each fingers for thumb typing. Even higher, its LCD is backlit for straightforward readability, and its firmware presents plenty of options, together with barcode assist, choices to regulate font measurement and elegance, and the flexibility to retailer 50 labels to print as wanted.
Epson presents 81 steady tapes for the printer in seven differing kinds, together with customary plastic (polyester), vinyl, fluorescent, and magnetic (suppose: fridge magnets). Choices for widths and colours differ from one kind to a different, however widths total vary from 6 millimeters (mm) to 18mm (0.24 to 0.71 inch). Additionally essential for those who do not print a whole lot of labels is that the printer would not value a lot. It lists for $59 for the printer itself, and is a fair higher purchase as a part of Epson’s $80 LW-PX300VP package. The package model provides a rubber cowl that may assist shield the case, an AC adapter as an alternative choice to utilizing six AA batteries, and a hard-shell case to hold or retailer all of it. Each variations include a lifetime guarantee.
Who It is For
The LW-PX300 will likely be most interesting to small companies, hobbyists, and residential customers. As a standalone printer for a most 0.71-inch-wide tape, it is mild responsibility by definition, whereas providing an unusually lengthy record of tapes and a large alternative of sorts for a light-duty printer. Together with the inexpensive value and lifelong guarantee, that is sufficient to make it a standout choose.
Specs & Configurations
Kind
Printer Solely
Coloration or Monochrome
Monochrome
Printing Know-how
Thermal (Plastic Labels)
Connection Kind
None
Most Commonplace Paper Dimension
18mm roll
Variety of Ink Colours
1
Variety of Ink Cartridges/Tanks
0
Direct Printing From Media Playing cards
Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Coloration)
N/A
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Mono)
6 mm / 0.24 inches per second
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Advisable)
Not rated
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Most)
Not rated
Printer Enter Capability
1 cartridge roll; sizes as much as 30 ft
Price Per Web page (Monochrome)
varies with width and label size
Price Per Web page (Coloration)
N/A
Computerized Doc Feeder
Scanner Kind
N/A
Most Scan Space
N/A
Scanner Optical Decision
N/A
Standalone Copier and Fax
N/A
Study Extra
Epson LabelWorks LW-PX300 Assessment
Professionals & Cons
Cheap
Prints from cell units by way of Bluetooth
QWERTY keyboard with quantity and Shift keys
No backlight on LCD
Just one width and sort of label supported
Requires AAA batteries and/or AC adapter, each bought individually
Why We Picked It
The Brother P-touch PT-N25BT is a strong contender for light-duty labeling. It’s restricted to utilizing half-inch-wide tapes—12mm broad, to be exact—as a substitute of a spread of sizes. Nonetheless, it is some of the cheap label makers available on the market. Even higher, it’s sooner than a lot of its opponents, in line with our checks, and together with providing standalone printing, it provides the flexibility to print out of your telephone or pill by way of Bluetooth. So, though the PT-N25BT would not supply selections in tape width or kind, it does job at a terrific value for the labels it could actually print.
Who It is For
If a 12mm-wide customary tape with no choices past shade selections is what you want for all of the labels you print, the PT-N25BT is probably going the printer you need.
Specs & Configurations
Kind
Printer Solely
Coloration or Monochrome
Coloration
Printing Know-how
Thermal Switch
Connection Kind
Bluetooth
Most Commonplace Paper Dimension
12mm roll
Variety of Ink Colours
1
Variety of Ink Cartridges/Tanks
1
Direct Printing From Media Playing cards
Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Coloration)
NA
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Mono)
0.47ips
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Advisable)
Not rated
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Most)
Not rated
Printer Enter Capability
1 Cartridge roll; 13.1 ft
Price Per Web page (Monochrome)
Varies with label size
Price Per Web page (Coloration)
N/A
Computerized Doc Feeder
Scanner Kind
N/A
Most Scan Space
N/A
Scanner Optical Decision
N/A
Standalone Copier and Fax
N/A
Study Extra
Brother P-touch PT-N25BT Assessment
Professionals & Cons
Prints from Home windows PCs, Macs, and iOS and Android handhelds
Connects by way of USB cable or Bluetooth
Tape sorts embody customary plastic, vinyl, magnetic, fluorescent, and extra as much as 24mm broad
Comes with AC adapter or can use six AA batteries
Lifetime guarantee
Why We Picked It
The LabelWorks LW-PX400 is equally able to work at your house, work desk, or work website. For desktop use, it comes with an AC adapter, would not take up a lot room (it is 5.6 by 2 by 5.6 inches, HWD), and presents a USB port for connecting to a Home windows PC or macOS system (with the best adapter). For printing on the job, it weighs only one.3 kilos, can use six AA batteries as a substitute of AC energy, and might print from Android or iOS units by way of Bluetooth.
Epson presents a staggering 113 tape cartridges in 9 differing kinds at this writing: customary plastic (polyester), robust adhesive, fluorescent, silver and translucent matte, vinyl, detachable adhesive, magnetic, and two selections for cables. The tapes vary in width from 4mm to 24mm (0.16 to 0.94 inch), and most sorts can be found in an assortment of widths and colours.
Who It is For
The LW-PX400 is a robust contender for small companies that have to print labels as much as almost an inch broad, or that want one of many less-common sorts of label sorts Epson presents for it. Simply know: Its velocity is on the gradual facet. In our checks, a single 4.4-inch label took 16.6 seconds (0.27 inch per second, or ips), whereas a strip of 4 took 42 seconds (0.41ips) with computerized slicing on. That provides as much as the LW-PX400 being robust on worth and suppleness, particularly contemplating its lifetime guarantee, and finest fitted to companies that want as much as medium-duty label printing.
Specs & Configurations
Kind
Printer Solely
Coloration or Monochrome
Monochrome
Printing Know-how
Thermal Switch (Plastic Labels)
Connection Kind
Bluetooth, USB
Most Commonplace Paper Dimension
24mm roll
Variety of Ink Colours
1
Variety of Ink Cartridges/Tanks
0
Direct Printing From Media Playing cards
Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Coloration)
N/A
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Mono)
15 mm / 0.59 inches per second
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Advisable)
Not rated
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Most)
Not rated
Printer Enter Capability
1 cartridge roll; sizes as much as 30 ft
Price Per Web page (Monochrome)
varies with width and size
Price Per Web page (Coloration)
N/A
Computerized Doc Feeder
Scanner Kind
N/A
Most Scan Space
N/A
Scanner Optical Decision
N/A
Standalone Copier and Fax
N/A
Study Extra
Epson LabelWorks LW-PX400 Assessment
Greatest Label Printer Various to a Rubber Stamp
Colop e-mark
Professionals & Cons
Prints on plenty of completely different supplies.
Modern, miniature physique.
Straightforward-to-use design and print apps for PC and cell.
Good print high quality.
Low working prices.
Costly.
Quirky Android software program.
Why We Picked It
The Colop e-mark and different “rubber stamp”-style printers are digital substitutes for rubber stamps. However they’re additionally a specialised handheld class of label printer. To make use of one, you drag it over the fabric you need to “stamp” (print on, truly). However no matter materials or object you print on, the output continues to be an acceptable measurement and form for a label, which implies you may have simply slapped on a label as a substitute. Colop even presents label sheets for the e-mark, in addition to steady tapes that Colop calls “infinite labels,” and several other equipment—the e-mark ruler, e-mark Ribbon Information Set, and e-mark Multiline Printing Instrument—to make it straightforward to maneuver the e-mark in a straight line when printing labels.
The e-mark is mainly an inkjet printhead you management by hand. You possibly can retailer three imprint designs as much as 5.9 inches lengthy in its reminiscence, change amongst them, and create new designs in your Android or iOS machine or PC to ship to the printer. Two key benefits it has over most paper label printers for house and small places of work are that it could actually print in shade, utilizing a tricolor cartridge, and print on something that may settle for ink. Its onboard battery is nice for tons of of prints per cost.
Who It is For
If it’s essential to print shade labels, whether or not with small graphics, images, shade frames, or simply shade textual content, the e-mark is without doubt one of the few label printers that may do this. And since it could actually print immediately on any floor that may settle for ink, it additionally helps you to print the equal of a label immediately on many objects, so you do not have to stay a label on them. Whether or not you want full four-color labels, or clean-looking imprints with out label edges exhibiting, the e-mark could be the specialty printer you want.
Specs & Configurations
Kind
Printer Solely
Coloration or Monochrome
Coloration
Printing Know-how
Inkjet
Connection Kind
Wi-fi, USB
Most Commonplace Paper Dimension
0.55″ x 6″
Variety of Ink Colours
3
Variety of Ink Cartridges/Tanks
1
Direct Printing From Media Playing cards
Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Coloration)
N/A
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Mono)
Not rated
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Advisable)
Not rated
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Most)
Not rated
Printer Enter Capability
N/A
Price Per Web page (Monochrome)
Not rated
Price Per Web page (Coloration)
Not rated
Computerized Doc Feeder
Scanner Kind
N/A
Most Scan Space
N/A
Scanner Optical Decision
N/A
Standalone Copier and Fax
N/A
Study Extra
Colop e-mark Assessment
Professionals & Cons
Prints on all kinds of tape sorts, at widths as much as 36mm
Downloadable apps for Home windows, macOS, Android, and iOS
Can lower labels and spherical corners with out slicing the backing strip
Lifetime guarantee
Nook rounding have to be completed manually, which takes further time
Why We Picked It
The Epson LabelWorks LW-PX800 delivers strong efficiency as a heavy-duty standalone label printer. It is a desktop mannequin meant for the workplace, with the flexibility to share the printer over a community and hook up with cell units. Plus, it is lined by a lifetime guarantee, and it comes with each Mac and PC label-printing apps.
At this writing, Epson presents greater than 200 selections in tape cartridges for the LW-PX800 in an assortment of sizes, colours, and kinds. About 140 are industrial tapes; the remainder are house and pastime provides, just lately launched for Epson’s house label printers, however appropriate with the LW-PX800, too. The printer can carry out each label slicing and nook rounding, too.
Who It is For
Epson’s LW-Z5010PX is a pricier choose that gives a wealth of options for excessive heavy-duty desktop printing, together with the flexibility to print on labels as much as 50mm (1.97 inches) broad. It additionally helps bulk rolls which are so large they’ve to take a seat behind the printer, with far longer tapes than you’d get in customary cartridges (and thus a decrease value per inch).
In case your label-printing wants aren’t fairly that strong, the LW-PX800 could possibly be your Goldilocks mannequin, particularly if it’s essential to share the printer amongst a number of customers in your workplace community, and you do not want particularly broad labels, however you do want an unlimited number of colours and kinds at your disposal.
Specs & Configurations
Kind
Printer Solely
Coloration or Monochrome
Monochrome
Printing Know-how
Thermal Switch (Plastic Labels)
Connection Kind
USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct
Most Commonplace Paper Dimension
36mm (1.42 inches) width
Variety of Ink Colours
1
Variety of Ink Cartridges/Tanks
1
Direct Printing From Media Playing cards
Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Coloration)
N/A
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Mono)
35mm / 1.38 inches per second
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Advisable)
Not rated
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Most)
Not rated
Printer Enter Capability
1 cartridge roll; sizes as much as 30 ft
Price Per Web page (Monochrome)
varies with width and size
Price Per Web page (Coloration)
N/A
Computerized Doc Feeder
Scanner Kind
N/A
Most Scan Space
N/A
Scanner Optical Decision
N/A
Standalone Copier and Fax
N/A
Study Extra
Epson LabelWorks LW-PX800 Assessment
Professionals & Cons
Large QWERTY keypad for standalone printing
Reminiscence for storing labels
High-tier apps for Home windows, iOS, and Android
A number of tape measurement and materials choices, together with warmth shrink tube for cables
Half-cut choice cuts labels solely, leaving them on a steady strip of backing
Firmware for standalone printing skips some helpful choices included within the Home windows program
No printer app for macOS
Why We Picked It
The Epson LabelWorks LW-Z5010PX cannot print from macOS techniques, however that is nearly the one function this compact (6-by-7.6-by-7.8-inch) printer is lacking. It will possibly print from Home windows PCs, in addition to from iOS and Android units. It will possibly additionally work as a standalone printer, utilizing an unusually massive QWERTY keyboard for a label printer and a 4.25-inch touch-screen show. It additionally prints on any of roughly 150 tape cartridges that mount contained in the printer, plus 35 sorts of bulk rolls that mount externally. A lot of the bulk rolls are 147.6-foot-long steady tapes. In line with Epson, these rolls save about 30% in working value in contrast with its inside tape cartridges.
One notable comfort is computerized half-cutting. This mannequin cuts the labels whereas leaving them on the service strip, making them straightforward to deal with and letting you take away particular person labels as you employ them. The printer additionally works with an non-compulsory computerized rewinder that rewinds the completed labels as you print, which is a serious enchancment over rewinding an extended strip by hand. Most essential, the LW-Z5010PX can print on tapes starting from 4mm (0.16 inch) to 50mm (which rounds to 2 inches broad, though it is truly 1.97 inches). The tapes at every measurement are available in assorted colours and kinds, together with customary plastic (polyester), robust adhesive, detachable adhesive, fluorescent, reflective, vinyl, magnetic, and two selections for cables: heat-shrink tubes and self-laminating overwrap tape.
Who It is For
The LW-Z5010PX is clearly meant for excessive heavy-duty printing for a desktop label printer, and it is geared toward laboratories, knowledge facilities, and related functions. Nonetheless, it is a good match for any enterprise that should print 2-inch-wide labels, or print sufficient labels for the financial savings on bulk rolls to make up for its excessive preliminary value versus a lighter-duty mannequin. It additionally helps that with the LW-Z5010PX, the financial savings on working prices will proceed to build up over your complete lifetime of its lifetime guarantee.
Specs & Configurations
Kind
Printer Solely
Coloration or Monochrome
Monochrome
Printing Know-how
Thermal Switch (Plastic Labels)
Connection Kind
Ethernet, USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct
Most Commonplace Paper Dimension
50mm (1.97 inch) broad; as much as 147.6 ft lengthy
Variety of Ink Colours
1
Variety of Ink Cartridges/Tanks
1
Direct Printing From Media Playing cards
Direct Printing From USB Thumb Drives
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Coloration)
N/A
Rated Pace at Default Settings (Mono)
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Advisable)
Not rated
Month-to-month Responsibility Cycle (Most)
Not rated
Printer Enter Capability
Bulk roll as much as 147.6 ft
Price Per Web page (Monochrome)
varies with width and size
Price Per Web page (Coloration)
NA
Computerized Doc Feeder
Scanner Kind
N/A
Most Scan Space
N/A
Scanner Optical Decision
N/A
Standalone Copier and Fax
N/A
Study Extra
Epson LabelWorks LW-Z5010PX Assessment
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The Greatest Label Makers for 2025
Examine Specs
Shopping for Information: The Greatest Label Makers for 2025
Most consumer-grade—and lower-end small-business—labelers print just one shade, often black on white, though many fashions supply different shade mixtures akin to white on black or yellow on black. Some even supply a variety of monochrome-color selections, together with, say, white on darkish inexperienced, or yellow on pink.
You will discover commercial-grade label printers that print labels in all sizes and styles in full shade, however they’re costly, making them properly past the scope of this roundup. For the overwhelming majority of label printers included right here, the paper, plastic, or different inventory determines the background shade, whereas the printed shade, which is added in an assortment of the way, relying on the expertise, is proscribed to a single shade as properly. Nonetheless, a number of printers from Brother supply cartridges that may print in each black and crimson, and one Brother mannequin relies on the identical Zink expertise as some photograph printers—with dye crystals embedded within the paper—that lets it print labels in full shade. There are additionally a number of handheld “digital rubber stamp” printers which are mainly handheld inkjets that print utilizing a tricolor cartridge.
(Credit score: M. David Stone)
We primarily evaluate consumer-grade and professional-grade small-business label printers that vary in value from lower than $100 to only greater than $700. Imagine it or not, in contrast with the variety of commercial- and enterprise-grade labelers on the market, there simply aren’t that many lower-end client and small-business fashions accessible, and the fashions keep available on the market a lengthy time. (A few of our favorites have been accessible for years.) The excellent news? For essentially the most half, what’s accessible is a set of confirmed, strong performers. And plenty of printers that use plastic and different non-paper inventory are significantly versatile, able to printing many several types of labels in a variety of sizes.
Label Inventory, Cutters, and Print Tech: What You Must Know
Maybe all it’s essential to tag are some file folders, or it’s essential to print mailing labels from a database, or print separately as wanted. It is simple to search out printers for paper labels specializing in these duties. Equally, if it’s essential to print what you’ll be able to consider as plastic labels or industrial-style labels—although both time period is a little bit of an oversimplification—there are many choices to selected from.
Most industrial-style printers assist a various set of clean label tapes, or rolls, usually with a alternative of supplies moreover customary plastic. These usually come within the type of continuous-length rolls you could lower to no matter measurement label you want, although some printers additionally assist rolls of fixed-length die-cut labels that peel off the roll separately. Each varieties of label printers—whether or not you consider them paper vs. plastic or workplace vs. industrial—can print on rolls with completely different widths, too, so ensure any printer you choose presents all of the label widths you want.
(Credit score: M. David Stone)
As well as, all labelers have cutters of 1 kind or one other, starting from easy serrated-edge blades the place you tear your labels from the roll manually, as you’ll tinfoil or Scotch tape, to handbook guillotine-like blades that you just deploy with a lever, to computerized blades that lower every label because it comes out of the printer. Some additionally include built-in batteries that will let you use the printer on the go. A couple of assist non-compulsory attachable batteries.
Almost all label printers designed for customers and small companies are thermal printers. Which means, with the notable exception of the digital rubber stamp printers talked about earlier, there isn’t any ink within the printer. In some instances, the clean label materials itself accommodates the colour, and the warmth of the printhead prompts a shade change within the label. In others, there is a ribbon within the cartridge together with the label materials, and the printhead heats the ribbon to switch the colour to the label.
As a result of as we speak’s labelers assist greater than only one width or size of roll, it will increase the range of label sorts you’ll be able to create. In case you plan to make use of your label printer for a variety of initiatives—mailing labels, file folders, product barcodes, banners, and extra—it’s best to discover a machine that helps a number of widths and different various configurations of label rolls.
How Will You Print From, and Connect with, Your Label Printer?
An essential consider selecting a labeler is deciding how and the place you are going to use it. Some label printers as we speak work strictly as standalone units, requiring that you just enter label textual content and instructions on a tiny connected keyboard. However most up-to-date fashions both add the choice to print from some kind of computing machine (whether or not a PC or a cell machine), or are restricted to solely printing that approach. Including a PC to the combination gives the simplest and most versatile platform for creating labels, thanks partially to label-printing apps and partially to having the ability to use a full-size keyboard.
Cellular units can supply equally good versatility for print options, however with out the keyboard. That stated, printing utilizing a cell machine or standalone printer might be extra handy for printing labels as you want them, whether or not labeling cables, say, in a knowledge communications middle or simply in your loved ones room. So you’ll want to choose a printer that gives the mixture of standalone printing and printing from a PC or cell machine that most closely fits your wants.
In most cases when utilizing a label printer app, the printer tells the software program what kind of label roll is loaded within the printer. In flip, the software program shows predesigned templates for a number of completely different label sorts. You possibly can then fill within the blanks as-is, redesign the template, or begin contemporary and create your individual customized labels.
In lots of instances, along with utilizing the symbols, borders, and different design choices constructed into the software program, you may also import clip artwork and generally even images (which print in monochrome on monochrome printers, in fact) into your label layouts. Take a look at authoritative critiques of label printers for extra particulars on the efficacy of their bundled software program, if any. (Trace: We now have plenty of them.)
(Credit score: Brother/M. David Stone)
One other essential consider selecting a labeler is deciding how and the place you are going to use it, which helps decide what kind of connection(s) you want. Many label printers assist a couple of connection kind, however some assist just one, with USB being the commonest. Not solely is it used for connecting to your pc, however for the numerous labelers that include inside batteries, it is one of many extra widespread methods to recharge them.
The issue with USB is that the labeler should all the time be tethered to a different machine, making it tougher to maneuver the printer round. As well as, printing units that join solely by way of USB typically restrict you to printing from solely the one PC they’re linked to, until you’re taking the time to arrange one thing to behave as a print server. (You possibly can set Home windows, for instance, to share any USB-connected printer, so different PCs on the community can use it.)
Bluetooth can be supported by many label printers, as is Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi Direct. Ethernet and Wi-Fi, in fact, make the printer accessible in your community, so any pc or cell units on the community can ship it a print job—assuming the correct software program is put in. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct create peer-to-peer connections between the printer and a cell machine or PC.
How Ought to You Gauge Price of Possession for a Label Printer?
In case you plan to print a lot of labels, one other vital issue is the full value of possession, which is the preliminary value of the printer plus the working value, or the price of all of the labels you may use over the printer’s lifetime. That is laborious to calculate with plastic-label printers, as a result of a lot of them assist a number of dozens of label sorts, encompassing completely different widths, roll lengths, colours, and materials sorts. And the pricing of this inventory can vary simply as wildly.
The important thing to evaluating working value between completely different printers is to pick the label sorts you need to use, and examine costs for simply these rolls. For die-cut labels (like tackle labels), you’ll be able to calculate the price per label by dividing the price of the roll by the variety of labels within the roll. For steady rolls, you’ll be able to calculate a value per inch by dividing the price by the variety of inches. If in case you have a way of how lengthy your labels will likely be on common, you may also divide the end in inches by the typical inches per label, to transform the variety of inches into the variety of labels.
In both case, as soon as you’ve got calculated the price per label or per inch for every of two printers, you’ll be able to instantly see which has the decrease working value. If that mannequin additionally has the decrease preliminary value, it’ll clearly have the decrease whole value of possession. If the decrease working value is for the dearer printer, you’ll be able to subtract its value per inch or label from the opposite printer’s value per inch or label, then divide that financial savings (per inch or label) into the distinction in value between the 2 printers. The outcome will inform you what number of inches or labels you may have to print earlier than the dearer printer offers you the decrease whole value of possession.
In case you want a couple of kind of label, you may have to additionally guess how a lot of every kind you may use. However the fundamental strategy stays the identical.
Able to Purchase the Proper Label Printer for You?
We belief that this information, which outlines the very best label printers that we have examined lately that stay available on the market, has helped clear up your shopping for determination. Keep in mind, although, that general-use printers can even print sheets of labels, and are a viable different for infrequent printing of paper labels, significantly if it’s essential to print a stack of tackle labels for a mass mailing. For a have a look at our high printer picks total, try our total finest printer roundup, in addition to the very best inkjet and laser printers you should purchase proper now.
