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Every office needs at least one label manufacturer to maintain efficient operations. Being able to quickly find correctly marked documents and goods is the key.

In addition to the expected single-color thermal label manufacturers, the innovation of label manufacturers has also exploded. In addition to a wide range of professional labels that can be used for printing, you can now print labels with high-quality photos and images, even in color. 

In fact, with so many label manufacturers nowadays, it is difficult to distinguish between them for different users. This buyer’s guide will help by breaking them down into categories that suit your work style and lifestyle. In other words, to help you get the best label for you, we compared dozens of labels and selected 10 best label manufacturers.

It may look like other hand-held label printers, but DYMO's LabelManager 420P can provide many things. The size is 2.2 × 8.5 × 4.4 inches, and the weight is only over 1 pound. It has an excellent hand feeling and can be printed on a variety of labels. It can choose from eight fonts and seven sizes, and it has more than 200 symbols and clip art pictures.

The internal memory is sufficient to store up to 15 commonly used labels, and its 180 dots per inch (dpi) thermal printing ensures that all contents are readable. The 420P uses 1/4 to 3/4 inch wide tapes, which are fixed in DYMO's easy-to-replace D1 tapes.

The beauty of LabelManager 420P is that it has dual functions. It can be used from a handheld label maker with an ABC-style keyboard for improvised labeling in the basement, or from a printer connected to a Windows or Mac computer, from a spreadsheet or database file in the kitchen to make address labels. Its four-line backlit display can preview what is about to be printed, but the labels need to be cut from the roll manually. Considering all the labeling tasks that LabelManager 420P can accomplish, this is a small inconvenience.

It may be one of the most expensive label manufacturers on the market, but the Brother QL-1100 is a leader in making wide-format labels that are ideal for addressing boxes and envelopes. The thermal printing engine of QL-1100 can create various creative labels up to 4.1 inches wide, can process sticker rolls, print with ultra-clear 300 × 300 dpi resolution and automatically cut the labels to a certain length. It makes it easy to design a variety of labels by choosing the largest font suitable for the label and combining it with digital postage, putting everything on one printed label.

QL-1100 can produce up to 69 labels per minute, which is also useful for making shipping labels for small businesses and processing PTA newsletters. It comes with a USB cable to connect directly to Windows, Linux and Mac computers, but this is just the beginning. With Brother's free iPrint&Label app and a simple On The Go (OTG) USB data cable that you must purchase separately, the QL-1100 can print from many Android tablets and mobile phones.

When speed is the most important, Brother's QL-800 labeler delivers at an impressive speed of 93 labels per minute, but with a colorful twist. It can print shipping labels, folders and even name tags, which is very suitable for people in a hurry. The QL-800's 300 dpi thermal print engine can produce precise and clear labels. If you use Brother's DK-2251 professional sticker, the QL-800 can print black and red. This two-color printing can provide additional design flexibility, making things like "no smoking" signs or custom name tags really stand out. On the downside, the label width of QL-800 is 2.4 inches.

Nevertheless, the size of the printer (4.9 × 8.4 × 5.6 inches) should be easy to place on or next to the desk. The included Brother P-touch label design software makes creating and extracting labels simple and straightforward. It is suitable for Windows and Macintosh computers and allows printing from Word, Excel and Outlook. With the iPrint&Label app and OTG USB cable included with Brother, it can print from many Android tablets and mobile phones, making QL-800 one of the most versatile printers.

Brother's P-touch CUBE Plus shows that good things can indeed be packed in small packages. The pitch-black CUBE Plus measures 7.8 × 8.2 × 0.4 inches and 14 ounces, and fits easily into a kitchen drawer, backpack or jacket pocket. It can be connected to a Windows or Mac computer with a tablet or mobile phone via a Bluetooth wireless link using the supplied USB cable or using the iPrint&Label application.

It is powered by a built-in lithium-ion battery and can be charged with the included USB cable and computer or AC adapter. Thanks to the ability to use TrueType, Google or Apple fonts, it has unlimited design possibilities, and the device’s 180 × 360 dpi print resolution is clearer than most competitors. CUBE Plus is small, but it can be printed on laminated tape up to 1 inch wide, with thousands of symbols and more than 300 pre-designed templates for making, scrapbooking, light switch labels, and creative container labels.

The Brother P-touch Embellish PT-D215e is a tape printer that makes a big difference for those looking for creative label outlets. Not only does it come with 14 fonts, 90 borders, 400 symbols and 25 background patterns, it can also help you unleash your label imagination.

Able to print on half-inch wide tape, it is not only suitable for marking drawers and boxes, but also can give a scrapbook style and style, or make birthday gifts look more special. PT-D215e has dozens of ribbon styles to choose from, covering the color gamut from mint or silver lace to golden geometric patterns or pink hearts and purple flowers. The hardest part is choosing which one to use.

Its 180 dpi resolution printing process should be sufficient to mark circuit breaker panels or mark inventory shelves. The printer’s QWERTY keyboard is effortless to use and has dedicated keys for selecting fonts or previewing labels on the device’s 15-character display. It is powered by AC adapter or six AAA batteries, PT-D215e does not include these two batteries.

Although most label printers insist on using the black type, and a few can produce two-color output, the Brother VC-500W can create a variety of full-color labels and labels. Based on Zink technology, there is no need to purchase and replace messy inks or ribbons because the color chemistry is embedded in the label. The output color is bright, lifelike, and will not be smudged, torn and faded over time, providing a colorful alternative to boring labels.

It is suitable for artistic labels from identifying famous brands to homemade kimchi cans. It can be printed on 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, 1 or 2 inch wide labels. Its plug-in cassette can be quickly and easily changed from one tape to another.

VC-500W can not only automatically cut labels to a certain length, but can also produce color banners up to 17 inches long. After designing the paste masterpiece in the Brother Color Label Editor application, the VC-500W will do the rest by wireless printing directly from a Windows or Mac computer, tablet or mobile phone.

DYMO LabelWriter 450 Turbo is able to draw labels up to 3.5 inches wide, achieving a good balance between economy and ease of use when printing various classroom labels. In addition to marking documents, scientific supplies, and cabinet doors, it can also make readable name tags and address tags, and even help to personalize folders.

It may not be the fastest, but LabelWriter 450 Turbo can print at an ultra-clear 300 dpi resolution, providing up to 51 labels per minute. It comes with a variety of include templates.

LabelWriter 450 Turbo can incorporate logos and barcodes into labels, and can be printed from Windows and Mac computers and directly from Microsoft Office applications or Google Address Book. This means that you can save a lot of time when sending mass emails or sending forms.

DYMO’s LetraTag 100H Plus may be one of the cheapest label manufacturers available, but it does not skimp on features, capabilities, and label possibilities. The device can be held comfortably in the hand, but can produce various labels up to half an inch wide at a resolution of 180 dpi. In addition to ironing and embossing labels, LetraTag 100H Plus also has a unique heat shrinkable tube material for hobbyists to mark and insulate wires.

It comes with seven built-in printing styles and nearly 200 symbols, as well as eight border styles, making budget printers look high-end. Not only does it allow two-line printing, but its 13-character LCD display also makes it easy to use LetraTag 100H Plus by accurately displaying what will be printed before the thermal print head starts working. The best part is that the ABC-style keyboard of LetraTag 100H Plus allows quick input and has shortcuts for formatting, changing fonts, and printing labels.

It is powered by an AC adapter or four AA batteries, neither of which is provided by the label manufacturer.

The Epson LabelWorks LW-400 label printer is small enough to fit in a pocket, but powerful enough to meet most label needs. It is a powerful machine with a weight of 6.7 × 4.3 × 2.2 inches and 14 ounces. The LW-400 can print on a variety of ¾-inch wide labels, from ironing and glowing in the dark to clear and reflective printing materials. The LW-400 works at a resolution of 180 dpi.

The 16-character screen of LW-400 displays two lines at a time, so your design will always be perfect. It can style monotonous labels with 14 fonts, 10 styles and more than 300 symbols. The LW-400 can also handle logos, graphics, and barcodes, and store up to 50 custom designs in its internal memory.

The QWERTY keyboard of the LW-400 is powered by six AA batteries (not included), which can quickly complete everything from organizing the warehouse to marking the computer connection cable, but you need to manually cut the label after printing. The best part is that the LW-400 claims to be very quiet, making it the first choice for libraries or video production studios.

In any case, LW-400 is a heavyweight and lightweight product. 

If combining text and images is your idea for quality labels, then Phomemo M03 is your label printer. M03 has five colors to choose from. Using a finely calibrated 203 dpi thermal print engine, it can generate realistic black and white images and stand out from the competition. It connects to computers, mobile phones or tablets via Bluetooth, and provides applications for iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets. 

Phomemo M03 can print labels up to 3.2 inches wide and can automatically cut labels. It is suitable for a wide variety of materials, including transparent films and paper with golden or silver glitter, as well as adhesive labels or paper that can be stuck in place. This is the perfect way to mark boxes and shelves, create sticky daily reminders and to-do lists, and visually mark the whereabouts of tools. A big advantage is that it has a built-in 2,200 mAh battery pack that can print without an AC power outlet.

DYMO LabelManager 420P combines a variety of fonts, designs and images with the ability to print on labels from ¼ to ¾ inches and is the most versatile label manufacturer (see Amazon). It can be used alone or connected to a computer by typing on the keyboard, providing additional flexibility. Either way, labels can be previewed on the four-line LCD display of LabelManager 420P, so that typos and spelling errors will be a thing of the past. Unlike competitors, label manufacturers need to cut labels manually. Whether it is organizing shelves, libraries, or stacks of storage boxes in the warehouse, it is our first choice for elegantly and easily completing various labeling tasks.

There are two basic designs to choose from, and your first decision should be to get a handheld label manufacturer with its own keyboard or a desktop model connected to your computer. The former is usually more portable, but the latter can produce a wider variety of output. Why settle down? Some people have both.

Many label manufacturers offer the ability to use battery power, which allows you to flexibly print where you want, whether it's in the kitchen or the back of the classroom. Some printers are designed around disposable batteries that are easy to replace, while others have rechargeable battery packs that need to be inserted regularly to fully charge. Before purchasing, please check whether the battery and/or AC adapter are included.

Whether it's a handheld standalone model or a computer-based label manufacturer, the best printers come with a variety of fonts, pre-made designs, and symbols. Many can even print postage and barcodes, making addressing easier.

The beauty of the thermal printing process used by most label manufacturers is that there is no need to purchase and replace messy ink, ribbon or toner cartridges. This extends to color printing using Zink technology, where printing chemicals are embedded in the paper.

According to data from Mordor Intelligence, by 2026, label manufacturers' sales are expected to grow by 4.2% annually.

The beauty of the thermal print engine is that there is no need to replace messy ink, toner or ribbon, because all the printing chemicals are inside the paper. The heat generated by the print engine activates the chemicals and makes them stand out from the background. 

Yes. Printers with lower resolutions may produce labels that are fuzzy or cannot be fully read from a long distance. Look for a label printer with a resolution of at least 180 dpi. 

It depends on what you will use it for. If you need labels such as folders and mark breakers, the keyboard can help you print labels quickly. On the other hand, connecting a label printer to a computer provides greater creative flexibility for homemade jam labels, etc. 

Yes, because when you press the print button and the label maker starts without a cable anywhere, nothing can compare to the feeling of freedom. Whether label manufacturers use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, wireless printing is becoming more and more popular. 

The choice of these label manufacturers is largely based on the author’s expertise and more than 40 years of label printing experience, from handling envelopes to marking the contents of storage boxes. As a freelance writer and critic outside of New York City, Brian Nadel covered all aspects of the printer business—and had to replace his old label printer halfway through the story.

To compile this list, he first divided the label manufacturer categories into 10 main parts based on the use, price, speed, and materials that the label manufacturer can print. Together they cover all uses today. After that, he explored the technical and operational details of dozens of label printers, compared major manufacturers with some minor manufacturers, and reduced the list to the 10 best label manufacturers available.

Mordor Intelligence. "North American Printed Label Market-Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact and Forecast (2021-2026)." Visited June 14, 2021.