When you’re looking for the best label printer, speed, resolution, and ease of use are three of the most important factors in the decision-making process. There are a lot of different options out there to find the top printer for you and your needs, but not all of them make the cut in these departments. We know searching for the best label printers can be time-consuming, so we did a lot of the hard work for you by narrowing down your options to the top seven black and white label printers out there. Each label printer that made the list uses thermal technology, which means there’s no need for ink or toner. After the initial investment, you’ll only be spending about one-third of a cent per label, so your cost of use will depend largely on your printing volume.
Of these best ten label printers, the Zebra GK420d Direct Thermal Desktop printer came is our #1 pick. It can handle high volumes at a lightning-fast speed without the need for ink or toner. The setup is also quick and easy, so you can get to work right away. To learn more about why we chose the Zebra for our top pick, and the other six viable options that made the list, keep reading.
Top 10 Label Printers Compared
#1 Zebra GK420d Direct Thermal Desktop Printer
Award: Top Pick/Best Overall
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Zebra GK420d Thermal Printer is a workhorse that spits out a high volume of labels with lightning speed. Printing at a resolution of 203 dpi, the Zebra can handle shipping, barcode, and binder labels, as well as name tags and receipts.
- Quick, simple setup
- Fast printing speed
- Can handle high volume
- Has some trouble with Safari on iOS
- Higher price point
If you’re looking for a label printer that can handle high volume with speed, you’ll find it with the Zebra GK420d. Not only does the Zebra print crystal clear labels at a high definition resolution of 203 dpi, it also tackles them at a speed of 5 seconds per inch.
With a max diameter of 5 inches and a max media width of 4.25 inches, you can print on most standard labels, from shipping to barcode to name tags. Because it uses direct thermal technology, there’s never a need to spend extra money on ink or toner and, according to the manufacturer, the Zebra works with any thermal labels with a 1-inch core.
The Zebra is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, and Linux hardware, so it’s easy to set up no matter which operating system you use; however, some users have experienced some issues when trying to print from the Safari browser on a Mac system. These problems are easily alleviated when using Chrome, instead. Or are you wondering instead about what printer works with Safari or what printer is best for a Mac? If so, you can opt for a Mac-compatible printer.
#2 Nelko Label Maker Machine with Tape, P21 Bluetooth Label Printer
Award: Honorable Mention
WHY WE LIKE IT: This pocket-sized Nelko Label Maker offers quick, wireless label printing with a surprisingly robust app, making it ideal for labeling tasks at home, in the office, or on the go.
- Compact and highly portable design
- Wireless Bluetooth connectivity
- User-friendly app with customizable templates
- Labels may fade over time
- Fixed label sizes
The Nelko P21 Bluetooth Label Maker packs an impressive feature set for a device that can easily slip into a pocket. It uses BPA-free thermal technology and works seamlessly with the Nelko app, which offers more than 90 fonts, 450 materials, and various templates for creating customized labels. This flexibility means it can handle everything from pantry labels to office organization with ease.
The monochrome print quality is clean and suitable for general use, although users should note that label durability may vary over time. For best results, Nelko recommends using their thermal paper, and the app does not support printing on continuous tapes. A simple yet versatile tool, this label maker is a great fit for light-duty organizing projects.
#3 Rollo Commerical Grade Label Printer
Award: Best Label Printer for Mac
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Rollo Commercial Grade Label Printer handles printing at speeds that are almost twice as fast (150mm/s) as some of the others on this list. It also works seamlessly with both Windows and iOS, so you don’t have to worry about losing functionality if you switch operating systems.
- 2x faster than its competitors; 150mm a second
- Compatible with most major shipping platforms
- Seamless performance with Windows and Mac
- Limited support for FedEx Ship Manager
- Some users report crooked labels
- Has trouble reading some thermal labels`
If you’re looking for speed, the Rollo Commercial Grade Label Printer has you covered. It is a handy label maker. Faster than its competitors, at a rate of 150mm per second, the Rollo printer is your best bet for high-volume commercial printing.
Although it’s compact, taking up just 7.7 x 3 x 3.3” of counter space, don’t let its small size fool you. It can handle any label that’s under 4.1 inches wide with no restriction on height.
Some users have reported inconsistent printing, with labels coming out crooked, but taking extra care to properly load the thermal labels before printing should rectify this problem.
#4 Nelko Bluetooth Thermal Shipping Label Printer
Award: Best for Small Businesses
WHY WE LIKE IT: The Nelko Bluetooth Shipping Label Printer makes shipping preparation fast and efficient with wireless and USB connectivity, supporting multiple shipping platforms.
- High-speed printing up to 150mm/s
- Compatible with most major shipping platforms
- Supports both Bluetooth and USB connectivity
- Bluetooth setup can be complex for Mac users
- Limited to single-label printing on mobile apps
For anyone managing an e-commerce side hustle or a growing small business, the Nelko Bluetooth Thermal Printer simplifies label printing with compatibility across platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Shopify. Its 203 dpi resolution provides clear, easy-to-read labels, and the printing speed of up to 72 labels per minute ensures efficiency when fulfilling orders.
This device offers both wireless and USB printing options, making it adaptable across different operating systems. Mac users should note that setup may require additional app integration for Bluetooth functionality. Despite minor connectivity quirks, the Nelko Bluetooth Shipping Label Printer is a reliable, versatile option to streamline shipping tasks for business owners.
#5 POLONO P31S Label Maker Machine with Tape
Award: Best for Everyday Use
WHY WE LIKE IT: Compact yet versatile, the POLONO P31S Label Maker offers easy Bluetooth connectivity and a wide selection of templates, making it ideal for organizing home, school, or office spaces.
- Lightweight, portable design
- Wide range of templates available
- Long-lasting rechargeable battery
- Only prints in black and white
- Limited to fixed label sizes
Perfect for quick labeling tasks, the POLONO P31S Label Maker can be used with just one hand and works with both iOS and Android devices. Its app, Labelnize, provides plenty of templates and icons, allowing users to create labels with QR codes, barcodes, and custom symbols. The setup process is straightforward: download the app, install the tape, connect via Bluetooth, and you’re ready to print.
While the P31S is limited to black-and-white printing and set label sizes, its portable design and user-friendly app make it a solid option for general organizing needs. A small but powerful device, it’s perfect for anyone looking to bring a bit of structure to their space.
#6 Arkscan 2054A Shipping Label Printer
Award: Best Label Printer for Shipping
WHY WE LIKE IT: Like others on this list, the Arkscan 205A Label Printer prints at a high resolution of 203 dpi and a rate of 5 seconds per inch. As an added bonus, Arkscan offers outstanding tech support, so if you have trouble, someone’s there to help, even on the weekends.
- High resolution
- Easy to set up
- Outstanding tech support
- The included software is Windows-based only
- Difficult to configure with a Mac
- Larger body than others on the list
Like others on this list, the Arkscan 2054A is a high-resolution, high-speed label printer that produces high-quality labels at a rate of 5 seconds per inch. But, unlike some other more popular brands, the Arkscan supports any kind of thermal labels, including the free shipping labels that you can get from UPS and FedEx.
Although it does take up more desk space than other, similar models, the trade-off is worth it, especially if you’re using the printer for several different applications. The Arkscan works seamlessly with several different shipping and point-of-sale systems.
As an added bonus for Windows users, Arkscan comes with a free label-maker software that provides templates and the most frequently used label print features for text and graphics. You can also check out the best all in one printer.
#7 DYMO 450 Twin Turbo Label Writer
Award: Best Value/Best For Address Labels
WHY WE LIKE IT: The DYMO 450 Twin Turbo Label Writer can handle 71 four-line address labels per minute at a crystal clear resolution of 600 x 300 dpi. You can also print directly from Microsoft Word.
- The Dymo Labelwriter can print labels directly from Microsoft Office programs
- Prints two labels at a time at a speed of 71 address labels per minute
- Has a high resolution of 600 x 300 dpi
- Does best with brand-name thermal labels
- Runs into software problems more than others on the list
Perhaps the most well-known of the bunch, the 450 Twin Turbo Label Writer lives up to its DYMO name. If you need a label printer that multi-tasks as well as you do, the DYMO has you covered. Equipped with two printing houses, the Twin Turbo can print up to 71 four-line standard address labels per minute, which makes it one of the fastest on the list.
And even at that high speed, with a resolution of 600 x 300 dpi, these labels come out sharper than others on the list. Keep in mind that DYMO recommends using only brand name labels with their printers for the best results. If you use off-brand thermal labels with the Dymo Labelwriter 450 turbo instead, you may lose some of that clarity.
To make things even easier, there’s no fancy software required as with other label makers; you can print labels directly from some of the most popular Microsoft Office programs, like Word and Excel. The DYMO is also compatible with Quickbooks and iOS systems.
#8 MUNBYN Label Printer
Award: Best Label Printer for Crafters
WHY WE LIKE IT: The MUNBYN Label Printer makes things easy, even for someone who isn’t that technologically savvy. With an innate ability to detect label size and an automatic pause function, it’s one of the most user-friendly options on the list.
- Has an automatic pause function to prevent overheating
- Automatically detects label size
- Compatible with Mac and Windows
- Font is small
- Occasionally prints blank labels
- User guide can be confusing
The thing that makes the MUNBYN Label Printer stand out the most for us is its ability to automatically detect label size. Once you insert a label into the printer, there’s no need to change any settings, since the printer will do that work for you. The label printer also has an automatic pause function that helps prevent overheating when you’re using it for big jobs.
With a resolution of 203 dpi, the MUNBYN Label Printer is on par with others on this list, but the 150mm per second printing speed puts it on top as one of the fastest printers in the group.
#9 Brother QL-820NWB Professional, Ultra Flexible Label Printer
Award: Best for Standalone Use
WHY WE LIKE IT: With a 300 dpi resolution, the Brother QL-820NWB prints the sharpest labels of the bunch. It also has a monochrome LCD screen that allows you to design your labels directly from the device.
- Equipped with LCD screen designed for standalone use
- Has a high resolution of 300 dpi
- Bluetooth, wireless, and ethernet connectivity
- Available for Windows, Mac, and Android systems
- Print head is only 2.75 inches
- Doesn’t accommodate standard 4 x 6” shipping labels
- Only prints directly from Brother app on wireless
The Brother QL-820NWB has the highest resolution of the bunch, so if you’re looking for labels that are crystal clear, your search ends here. Unlike the others on this list, it also comes equipped with an LCD screen that you can use to print labels directly from the device, without the need for a computer.
With Bluetooth, wireless, and ethernet compatibility, the Brother label printer offers several connectivity options; but if you want to utilize the wireless features, you’ll have to download the free Brother app. There’s an added benefit to the app, though, as it provides print label templates that you can take advantage of, if you want.
However, one of the most important things to pay attention to here is the size of the printer. The print head is only 2.75 inches, so this label printer can’t accommodate the standard 4 x 6-inch shipping labels. This is from the company that innovated the market with the Brother P-Touch.
#10 NETUM Portable Bluetooth Label Printer
Award: Best Budget/Best for Bluetooth
WHY WE LIKE IT: The NETUM Portable Label Printer puts printing right at your fingertips. Because it’s fully portable, you don’t have to wait until you get back home or to your office, you can print your label right from your phone.
- Lightweight and portable
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Can print from your smartphone (both iOS and Android)
- Smartphone app can be faulty
- Slower than other printers
- Only prints labels up to 1.97” wide
If you’re looking for something that you can take with you on the go, the Netum Portable Bluetooth Label Printer has got you covered. The printer is lightweight and fits right into the palm of your hand, so you can make labels in a snap.
And if that wasn’t convenient enough, you can connect your smartphone to the label printer using its Bluetooth technology, so you can literally print labels on the go.
Keep in mind, though, that you’ll have to sacrifice some speed for portability. The NETUM prints at a rate of 30mm per second, which is five times slower than other printers on this list. Don’t forget to buy the best printer ink.
How We Decided
When choosing a label printer, it can be difficult to cut through all the noise to find one that’s fast, clear, and compatible with your devices. Because we know readers have different preferences when it comes to operating systems, we included label printers that work with all kinds of different software (and some that work with several). We narrowed it down by only including options that could perform several different printing tasks at a minimum resolution of 203 dpi. Each label printer on our list also comes equipped with advanced technology and utilizes thermal printing, which eliminates the need for ink and toner. Bonus points were given for iOS/Android compatibility and label printers that offer Bluetooth and WiFi printing.
How Label Printers Compare to Standard Printers
Label Printer Buying Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
When choosing a label printer, most people want the ideal combination of speed, clarity, and compatibility.
- Connectivity and compatibility
With all the different types of printers available, it can be tough to know which one will work best for you. The performance of a label printer relies heavily on its compatibility with your operating system and shipping or shopping platform. Printing labels should be easy and fast, especially if you’re using a thermal printer. When choosing a label printer (or even a barcode printer), check to make sure it works with your hardware and that you can print easily from your preferred platform (i.e. Shopify, eBay, Quickbooks). You also want to consider how the printer connects to the printing device. Is it wireless or Bluetooth compatible, or does it need a wired connection, like USB or ethernet? The best choice for you depends on your preferences. And does it have an AC adapter? - Resolution
A label is only as good as its clarity. If you can’t read it, it’s useless—and that’s where resolution comes in. The higher the resolution, the sharper your labels will be. The average consumer can get away with lower resolutions, but if you’re using your label printer for professional use, you may want to consider a higher dpi. If you’ll regularly use the printer to print shipping labels on packages for business, pair it with the best shipping scale to make sure your packages are labelled clearly. - Printing Speed
If you’re only printing the occasional label, printing speed might not be your most important factor. But for those using your label printer for commercial or high-volume shipping, every second counts. While some label printers operate at a speed of 30mm per second, others pump out labels five times faster, so keep that in mind when making your choice and look at the 10 best available. Also, read about the best photo printer.
