The easiest way to print shipping labels.

Ultra-small printer with wide range of functions

This economical option is as fast as many competitors' printing speeds.

Until a brilliant scientist invented a machine that could immediately send packages to all parts of the world, we were still stuck in the age of shipping labels. Whether you are running a high-volume online store or just want to track the location of everything, the best label printers can make the process easier. 

Label printers are usually more effective than trying to fight unreliable all-in-one inkjet printers, which try to do everything but with little success. These specially manufactured printers can make the transportation process easier, and the price is much cheaper. Before you try to use the printer, make sure you know what you are looking for. 

At PopSci headquarters, we always have gadgets and other products coming in and out. Combined with years of online sales experience, it has made some writers and editors become certified shipping label experts. I can check a shipping box and tell you the correct size at this time. Our regular delivery service staff gave us a holiday gift last year. We do a lot of transportation. At the same time, we have also done a lot of organizational work. If we keep categorizing the same boxes, it can be cumbersome to keep track of everything. Labels can have a huge impact. 

In this guide, we investigated dozens of models, but focused on the most reliable and respected brands with the best reputations. We considered ease of use and even design, which is important when you have to stare at these things all day.

This will save you a lot of time if you ship in large quantities. Rollo

Reason for success: This multifunctional printer can automatically identify the type of label inserted and output completed jobs at a rate of one sheet per second. 

Place a stack or roll of labels behind the Rollo label printer, and it can begin to draw out the labels that are ready to roll at a rate of one per second. It uses thermal printing technology, which means it can print heat onto a thermally compatible label by heating, which means there is no need to buy ink or toner like using an inkjet printer. 

Rollo has a built-in sensor that can automatically detect the type of label it is printing, so it can keep everything in the correct position without the user having to delve into its settings. 

In many cases, you can get the Thermal Direct label from the shipper for free, which means that the cost of the printer and the small amount of electricity required to run it are all your expenses on the label. 

As the best label printer on the whole, it can be used with USPS, UPS and FedEx, and the whole device is durable and easy to carry, so if you want to do some work in a different location, you can take it with you. 

If you do not ship daily, you can save some cash. Leo

Reason for listing: Despite its low price, this printer is fast and versatile, and can print almost any type of shipping label. 

If you don't want to build an eBay or Etsy empire, then you may not need a top-notch label printer that can quickly print hundreds of labels. This reliable option costs about half of its competitors, but it offers many of the same features. At a printing speed of 150 millimeters per second, it is comparable to more expensive equipment. It is also directly compatible with the labels of popular shippers such as USP, FedEx and USPS.

The software that comes with the Leoity label printer may be a bit weird and requires some configuration, but this is a small obstacle. Its function is also a bit big. If space is an issue, you'd better choose something more compact. 

However, in general, this is the most reliable cheap shipping label printer that can handle almost any shipping label you need.

This multifunction printer can print labels and more. brother

Reason for selection: This powerful label printer can handle normal organization and label work, but its full-color technology can also handle stickers and photos.

This printer can produce full-color print jobs, but does not require ink. Instead, it relies on zero ink technology (sometimes called ZINK). Before entering the printer, the required color exists in special paper or sticker refills. Heat activates them to create images.

These labels are not as large as typical shipping labels-they are up to two inches wide. However, it can print images up to 17 inches long. 

The built-in wireless connection function can easily connect via WiFi or even the wireless connection of a smart phone. Although this is not ideal for most people in business environments, it may be the best color label printer for teachers or other professionals who can benefit from occasional color splashes. 

Companies sometimes need more than simple shipping labels. Dai Mo

Reason for listing: This ultra-efficient printer can print a variety of barcodes and labels for a variety of professional jobs. 

Small business label printing is more than just transportation. This 300 dpi printer can print super clear barcodes, QR codes and other company-specific labels, which are easy to read with a machine or your eyes. If you are mainly shipping, this printer can use labels from major shippers such as FedEx, USPS, and UPS. With 60 built-in printing templates, Dymo can automatically print labels from popular services such as eBay and Etsy to simplify the shipping process. 

Like other label printers, its maximum print size is 4 inches x 6 inches, which should be large enough for the most common tasks. Dymo offers a range of different first party papers and substrates to meet your exact printing requirements. 

Like other thermal printers, it does not require replacement of ink or toner cartridges, which makes the cost much lower than inkjet printers, making it the best label printer for small businesses. 

A convenient portable label printer for placing items where they belong. brother

Reason for selection: This highly portable label printer allows you to use the QWERTY keyboard to directly enter text in it, and then spit out a half-inch tape to quickly mark items. 

If you don't need to print barcodes or transport labels, but only need the best label printer to organize, this portable device will be very convenient. Load a roll of half-inch tape inside and choose one of three fonts. Then enter the onboard QWERTY keyboard, and the machine will spit out your label within a few seconds. If you want to point out that something is flammable, it allows the use of borders and special characters, such as fire. 

This model can save 15 labels to its built-in memory, so if you often make the same label, you don’t have to create it every time you turn on the machine. Brother sells a full range of compatible printing tapes, including a variety of colors and types. The printing process is fast and quiet, so you can quickly complete the work of the entire room or space.

The major shipping companies have standardized their label sizes, so it is easy to know if the label you need to use is appropriate. Anything that can pull out a 4 inch x 6 inch label is enough to cover USP, USPS, FedEx and any other big names. 

Smaller label manufacturers and quirky label printers generally use smaller materials, which are not suitable for transportation purposes.

Most shipping label printers use True Thermal technology. No ink is involved. Instead, the printer uses heat to display the black substrate from behind the top white layer. This process requires special paper or labels to work, but does not require ink cartridges or toner, which is usually much more expensive.​​​ 

If you want color, it is best to use something like inkjet or ZINK, which use the same thermal printing technology but include color in the paper.

You will sometimes see that this depends on the different expressions of the model. Some thermal printers use the number of millimeters they can print per second to describe their speed. For example, you might see 150 mm/sec in the product description. The larger the number means the faster the printing speed. Other printers will tell you exactly how many labels can be printed per second or minute. Expect 0.5 to 2 labels per second, depending on content and printer.

Thermal printers like Dymo do not rely on ink for printing. Instead, they use special paper or labels, which react with heat to reveal the black material that makes up the print itself. Therefore, there is no need to replace ink or toner cartridges. However, if you use a more traditional printer to print labels, you will need to replace these ink cartridges.

As with any electronic product, I recommend figuring out what is the most important aspect of the device for you and focusing on that. For label printers, if you are dealing with high-volume printing, speed may be an issue. You want something that can make a large number of labels in a short amount of time. Size is also a consideration. If you only need labels to mark trash cans, boxes, binders, or other things that need to be organized, choose something that provides you with more text options and a portable form factor.

Heat and gadgets usually don't get along. Most label manufacturers use heat in their thermal printing process. A good model has a powerful cooling solution that can blow out hot air to prevent overheating of precision electronic equipment. Nevertheless, when the labels become inconsistent and jagged, you will know that your label printer is up and running.

Transportation is an important part of starting many small businesses, and the best label printers can shorten working hours. Of course, they have other uses besides transportation. They can print barcodes, stickers and other things that can make your life easier and more organized. Just make sure you get the model that suits you.

He is the senior equipment editor of popular science and popular photography. His past signatures include Rolling Stone, Engadget, Men's Journal, GQ, and almost any other publication on gadgets. For a while, he even wrote a widget page for "Every Day with Rachel Ray" magazine. He collects vintage cameras, eats pizza, and hopes that even if the link is there, you won't read his tweets.

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