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Our team of home office experts researched the best label makers on the market before purchasing the top 14 models to compare side-by-side. We carefully unpackaged, set up, installed, and printed with each of these label makers until we thoroughly understood each device's strengths and weaknesses. Our product testers broke the assessment down into three key metrics — ease of setup, ease of use, and features and settings. Our in-depth testing and analysis helped us determine which ones are best for different applications, and to pass that buying advice onto you with this comprehensive review.
Whether it's labeling the storage bins in your garage, some mason jars in your pantry, or printing shipping labels, having the right tools at hand helps you better run your home or small business. Our tech experts have reviewed tons of products to help you dial in your office gear. Whether you're looking for a new photo printer or something as simple as a pencil sharpener, our in-depth reviews have you covered.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on May 9, 2024, to add information about our testing and provide readers with a section on buying advice.
The DYMO Label Manager 420P is impressively versatile. At face value, it works similarly to other models with integrated keyboards — once it's powered up and turned on, you simply type what you'd like and press “print.” With an internal lithium-ion battery, this model is ideal for stores, laboratories, warehouses, and offices where you need to be mobile while creating labels. Where the 420P stands apart from the other transportable versions is that it is also designed to connect to a computer as the printer for DYMO Connect label-making software. Once linked via the desktop software, this seemingly generic label maker can print labels using any font on your computer. It can print other essentials, too, including shipping labels, barcodes, and QR codes.
The DYMO Label Manager 420P does have a few small drawbacks. Many models — like the equally powerful Brother P-Touch Cube Plus — use Bluetooth connectivity, which allows you to create labels on a smartphone or tablet and wirelessly print them with your device. But with the DYMO 420P, you will either need to use the keyboard or connect it directly to your computer with the included USB cable. The label width is limited to ¾", so you'll need to choose a different model if you want to print larger labels, like name tags, badges, or larger shipping labels. Minor flaws aside, the 420P is still the best choice for folks looking for a great all-around label maker.
The DYMO Label Manager 420P works on its own, or it can be connected to unlock a plethora of extra functions.
The Brother P-Touch Cube Plus is easily our favorite Bluetooth label maker. This device wirelessly links to a smartphone or tablet using the Brother P-touch Design&Print 2 app. The newly revamped version of the app is vibrant, easy to use, and offers a ton of templates. But what if you'd like to connect your label maker to a computer? In that case, the Brother P-touch Editor provides even more features and templates than the smartphone app, ranging from retail to hobby applications, to health warnings and kitchen organization.
The downside to Bluetooth technology is that it requires a third-party device to interface with the label maker. If you want a model with a keyboard on the maker itself, you're better suited to the DYMO 420P. Unfortunately, the P-Touch Cube Plus is also not designed to print wider label types, such as shipping labels for larger packages or nutritional information stickers. Despite these small shortcomings, this model is still a great choice if you're in the market for a Bluetooth label maker with a huge variety of tape colors and templates.
The Brother P-Touch Cube Plus can use an array of tapes with virtually endless fonts.
We recommend the Brother P-touch PT70BM if you're shopping for a digital label maker on a budget. This device is preprogrammed and ready to print right out of the package — slap some batteries in, and it's ready to go. We've noticed that qwerty keyboards, such as the one on this model, are more natural to use than those with buttons in alphabetical order. The PT70BM has a button dedicated to a time and date stamp, which can be very handy for keeping things organized.
The PT70BM has a few shortcomings. There are very few options for letter sizing, fonts, and symbols, and it can't print barcodes. If you're after greater functionality at an affordable price point, consider the Bluetooth-capable Phomemo D30. We also weren't thrilled that you need to press a shift key on the P-Touch PT70BM to switch between letters and numbers — other models have buttons dedicated to numbers that make typing faster and easier. There is also a slight lag between when characters are entered and when they appear on the screen. Lastly, when it comes to printing, this device is outright slow. However, the PT70BM handles most tasks at a fraction of the cost of many other label makers.
If you want a digital label maker and you're shopping on a budget, the Brother P-touch PT70BM is a great choice.
The simple yet powerful Phomemo D30 label maker is jam-packed with advanced features, all for a price that's hard to beat. This machine connects to the Print Master mobile app through Bluetooth, where you'll find loads of templates, icons, fonts, and more. The menu also has a large selection of quick-print labels that include commonly used items like spices, medications, and cleaning supplies. The labels are straightforward to create, with the option to view and resize the label prior to printing. The D30 is one of the few price point models that print QR codes, barcodes, and data tables. For casual use around the house or office, this minimalist label maker is a breeze to use. And once you've run out of labels, you can easily order more through the app.
Of course, the Phomemo isn't without its faults. The machine only accepts one label size, so don't expect to create shipping labels. Fortunately, the app keeps track of your previous prints, so it's no trouble to reprint labels. But it doesn't feature a cutter, so you'll need to rip the label off when you want to remove it — we definitely tore a few labels before we got the hang of this. If that sounds annoying, consider the MakeID Label Maker, another reasonably priced Bluetooth model that comes with a cut button. Although the Phomemo includes a unique feature to print photos, we found this capability practically useless. The photos are so small and washed out that you can't distinguish the original picture. However, for the casual user, this label maker is an excellent choice and is offered at a price that will keep your wallet happy.
The one-click print feature of the Phomemo D30 label maker makes it easy to quickly print commonly used items.
If you're looking for a desktop label maker that prints incredibly quickly, it's hard to top the Brother QL-800. This model prints a ridiculous 97 standard address labels per minute, so if you've got a lot of parcels to send, you will not be waiting on this machine. Brother's newest version of their P-touch software is nothing short of awesome. It has templates for all kinds of labels, including ID badges, barcodes, hobby uses, and even wine bottles. If you can't find a template you like, the software also allows you to import files or create labels from scratch. One of our favorite features that sets this label maker apart from similar models is that it automatically senses the size of label tape you have loaded into the machine. The QL-800 is also postage-ready — just pay for your postage online, download the file, print a sticker, and you're ready to send.
Unlike mobile models or hybrids, like the Brother P-Touch Cub Plus, the QL-800 is meant to stay in place. It needs to be connected to a computer via USB and an AC power source to function. It lacks a keyboard and does not offer Bluetooth connectivity, so the only way to create a label is with Brother's desktop software. However, for those in the market for a professional desktop label maker, it's tough to beat the speed and capabilities of the QL-800.
The Brother QL-800 can crank out nearly 100 shipping labels per minute.
New Version Available — June 2023
This specific model has been discontinued and replaced by the Brady M210, which Brady states has very similar performance. The M210 has nearly identical specs and features, but there are almost double the characters available on the updated version. We're linking to the updated model in our review, but be aware that our review text only pertains to our experience with the BMP21-PLUS.
We recommend the Brady BMP21-PLUS if you're looking for a label maker built to survive the everyday conditions of a job site. This device has passed military standard shock and vibration testing to 810G standards, so it can take some physical abuse. The BMP21-PLUS has several presets for applications in the fields of video and communications, sound, and electrical, and it can print barcodes. If you want to print extra large lettering, then this label maker is the way to go — it can print up to a size 40 font.
The BMP21-PLUS isn't exactly compact. This model weighs 1.6 pounds and measures more than 9 inches long, 4 inches wide, and 3 inches thick. If you're looking for a label maker that can easily slip into a desk drawer, we recommend looking at a smaller, lighter model, like the DYMO Label Manager 160. The BMP21-PLUS is also a bit on the pricey side for the capabilities that it offers. Despite its flaws, it's the perfect option for outdoor job sites and industrial applications.
Despite its equal aptitude for the office, we really recommend the Brady BMP21-PLUS for trade workers, electricians, and others who will create labels in the field.
Credit: Laura Casner
Compare Products
We purchase every product from the same retailers as our readers for hands-on, side-by-side analysis.
Credit: Laura Casner
How We Test Label Makers
Over the past few years, we have made it our mission to find the best label makers available. During our extended testing period, we printed hundreds of labels, and noted how simple it was to create and use them. Additionally, we assessed the features and setup, including the user-friendliness of mobile apps. We tallied the scores after our intensive test cycle to determine the best models for particular applications.
Our label maker testing is divided into three rating metrics:
Ease of Use (45% of overall score weighting)
Settings and Features (35% weighting)
Ease of Setup (20% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
To tackle the task of comparing label makers, we called upon review editor Alex Glades. Alex has a formal background in the sciences as a Physical Therapist. He brings his analytical eye and passion for exploration to thoroughly test every product that crosses his path. With the support of his team's extensive experience and knowledge about these products, you can rest assured that they put these label makers through the wringer.
Senior review editor Ross Patton laid the groundwork for this review. Ross has a long list of technical, electronic product reviews under his belt, including deep dives into products as varied as WiFi extenders, battery-powered chainsaws, and the best trail cameras on the market.
We printed piles of labels in order to inspect their quality.
The Phomemo D30 is an easy-to-use, Bluetooth-powered label maker at an affordable price point.
Some models, like the DYMO 420P, are able to print any font that you have on your computer.
How to Pick the Best Label Maker
Between the connection type, label widths, and the different functions, finding the right label maker can feel overwhelming. To make the process a bit easier, we've come up with four key buying considerations to help narrow down your selection process.
How Often Do You Make Labels?
While some people are looking for a label maker to operate in a fast-paced work setting to help create shipping and product labels, others may need a label maker for occasional use and for at-home projects. Looking for label makers that are meant to excel in professional/office use is important for those who need the extra performance, while folks who only need occasional use out of their label maker can find cheaper and simpler options.
Choosing the right label maker is largely dependent on the setting you plan to use it in, whether that's at home, in the office, or at a warehouse.
Credit: Laura Casner
Do You Need Custom Labels?
If you have complex labels and more sophisticated text or numbers, you'll want to seek a label maker with a wide range of templates, presets, and fonts. Models that offer desktop connection will allow for more customization, such as importing fonts and files. Consider the complexity of your labels and decide if spending a bit more for a label maker with the option for customization is worth it.
Smartphone-oriented label makers excel in home settings where customization is key.
Credit: Alex Glades
Keyboard vs Digital?
While most people are familiar with the traditional interface of a label maker with a built-in keyboard, digital models with smartphone connectivity are also fantastic options. These are great for operating in home and office settings where you might prioritize features and portability over speed and having a dedicated space for a larger label maker. If you prefer the feeling and setup of a physical keyboard, there are plenty of options, but if you don't mind the digital interface on a smartphone or computer and want to utilize more functions and features, then a digital maker is the right choice.
What About Label Width?
Label makers offer different widths and sizes, from small single-size labels to industrial-size labels meant for packaging and shipping. If you need to print larger labels, consider options with the ability to adjust label width and those that can accommodate bigger widths.
Label makers come in a wide range of widths, so it's important to consider options that will work best for your intended use.
Credit: Alex Glades
Analysis and Test Results
To kick off our search for the best label makers, we thoroughly researched the market to narrow our options down to only the top models. We then purchased these products for hands-on, side-by-side evaluation. Our testing procedure breaks the total score down into three weighted performance metrics: Ease of Use, Settings and Features, and Ease of Setup. In the following sections, we discuss each of these metrics in detail and highlight the top scorers within the context of these key buying considerations.
What's the Best Value?
The application for which you plan to use your label maker will largely affect how much you'll need to spend. If you're looking for a basic label maker, in many instances, the Brother PT70BM will get the job done — though it doesn't offer wireless connectivity. For those looking to organize a workshop, a kitchen, or a home office, and nothing more, there's no reason to buy anything pricier than the Phomemo D30, which is our first choice for an affordable Bluetooth label maker.
The Brother P-Touch Cube Plus is another Bluetooth model that costs significantly more than the Phomemo D30, but offers substantially more functions for professional applications, including shipping label printing. For tradespeople who need a label maker for industrial applications such as labeling wire panels and circuit boards, the Brady BMP21-PLUS is well worth the investment. If you want a handheld label maker with an integrated keyboard that also connects to a computer for creating shipping labels, barcodes, QR codes, and more, then we recommend the dynamic DYMO 420P.
For everyday labeling tasks, the Phomemo D30 presents and incredible value.
Credit: Alex Glades
Ease of Use
For this section, we subjectively judged how difficult each device was to use for everyday applications. We also carefully examined the tape cartridges and assessed how difficult they were to install or remove. It is important to note that this metric covers user-friendliness only once a label maker is unboxed and powered on, and all necessary Bluetooth connections, drivers, and applications are installed — we will cover Ease of Setup in a later discussion.
For the models that require a phone app, the Brother Cube Plus stands out as incredibly intuitive. The tape cartridges are simple to install, and the freshly updated Brother Design&Print 2 app offers a seamless user interface for iOS and Android devices. If you're looking for a more affordable Bluetooth model that is still relatively easy to use, the apps featured on the MakeID Label Maker and Phomemo D30 are the way to go.
The various smartphone apps have drastic variations in their approach to user-interface.
Credit: Ross Patton
The P-Touch Cube Plus and the Brother QL-800 both use the Brother computer app called P-touch Editor, which is our favorite label editing software that we've seen to date. This program is incredibly user-friendly and offers a ton of templates, from laboratory and industrial labels to office and craft uses.
The Brother QL-800 requires you to install the P-touch Editor in order to print labels.
Credit: Ross Patton
The Brother PT70BM and DYMO 420P both have qwerty keyboards that are intuitively designed. We love the extra-large buttons with elementary symbols on the 420P, while the PT70BM has a time and date shortcut button for keeping tabs on those details. The label cartridges for both models only require a moderate amount of know-how and effort to install.
Qwerty keyboards are a bit easier to use than those that have letters in alphabetical order.
Credit: Ross Patton
If you choose to connect the DYMO 420P to a computer to get the most functionality out of the device, you'll need to download the DYMO Connect software and a driver. But once installed, this program was one of our favorite desktop applications.
DYMO Connect is a computer program that allows you to print barcodes, price tags, or customize labels for the LabelManager 420P.
Credit: Ross Patton
The Brady BMP21-PLUS tape cartridge snaps right into place on the front of the device, which makes the process of changing tape super simple. We found that the rubber jacketing surrounding this device's body, combined with its handy lanyard, makes it incredibly easy to transport and hold onto — traits that make it ideal for use in a warehouse or on a job site.
The lanyard on the BMP21-Plus helps ensure you don't drop your investment.
Credit: Laura Casner
The Brother PT-M95 doesn't offer the same software bells and whistles, but that might be a nice reprieve for those who prefer a minimalistic take. With this model, simply pop in some batteries, and you're ready to go. The large keyboard is easy to use, and a cutter button creates clean labels. The machine does include font modifications and decorations, so you can still get creative with your labels.
The Brother PT-M95 prints a clean-looking label with its easy-cut button.
Credit: Alex Glades
Settings and Features
If you're looking for a simple label maker to keep things organized in the garage, you may only need a very basic label maker. On the flip side, if you're looking for a label maker for arts and crafts or to use at the office, it might make sense to get a model that offers a variety of fonts or Bluetooth connectivity. If you're looking to organize products or a warehouse, it'd be wise to get an industrial model with barcode printing capabilities. For this section, we examined each model's features and settings, and how those features make some models preferable to others for specific applications.
As top-of-the-line professional options, the Dymo 420P, Brother Cube Plus, and Brother QL-800 all offer an unprecedented array of settings and options for label types and fonts. These devices are compatible with most Google and Apple font libraries, there are tons of templates, and they print several types of barcodes. Thanks to the ability to use various types of tape — including bright colors and even glitter — they're also great for crafts or creating labels for gift packs, wedding seating placements, or point-of-purchase retail.
The Phomemo D30 is one of the few that create QR codes. Simply type in the URL and click print.
Credit: Alex Glades
Alternatively, the Phomemo D30 and Make ID offer some of the best features around at a budget-friendly price. Neither of these machines has a screen, so you'll be doing most of the work on your smartphone. The Phomemo's preloaded content library makes printing easy with just a few clicks.
The Phomemo mobile app has a large selection of fonts that can be resized prior to printing.
The Phomemo D30 has a one-click print menu option that has commonly used items for a quick label.
For those in the trade industries, the Brady BMP21-PLUS offers several attractive features, including many presets for electricians, scientists, and AV specialists. This device can also print barcodes for those working in a warehouse or retail setting.
The Brady BMP21-PLUS is great for the workplace, office or otherwise.
Credit: Laura Casner
Ease of Setup
For this section, we considered how long it takes for each model to go from unboxing to print-ready. Surprisingly, we discovered large differences in the setup process for each label maker. Some require software installation on a desktop or a laptop computer, others require a smartphone app, some require charging or installing batteries, while others are ready to go right out of the box. Keep in mind — a model that takes longer for initial setup may ultimately save time and increase efficiency in the long run.
We recommend the DYMO Organizer Xpress Pro if you are looking for a model that is ready to go directly out of the package — this fully manual option doesn't even require batteries. The label maker even comes with preloaded tape, so you can start creating tags in a matter of seconds.
The DYMO Organizer Xpress Pro prints labels in seconds without the use of batteries or software.
Credit: Laura Casner
A few of our favorite models come pre-programmed and only require you to put in batteries and take a glance through the instruction booklet before they are ready to go. The top options in this class include the DYMOLabel Manager 160 and LetraTag LT-100H, the Brother PT70BM, and the industrial Brady BMP21-PLUS.
The DYMO Label Manager 420P is ready to print as soon as you install a printer cartridge and turn it on.
Credit: Ross Patton
Bluetooth models — like the Brother Cube Plus and Phomemo D30 — require installing an app on a smartphone, tablet, or computer before you can print labels. You'll also need to pair the device to the label maker, which can be a bit of a pain sometimes, and don't forget that the lithium-ion battery needs to be charged before using most Bluetooth models.
The MakeID Label Maker requires a Bluetooth connection to a smartphone or tablet in order to operate.
Credit: Ross Patton
The models that were the most difficult to set up are those that require you to download and install software on a computer. Unlike smartphone apps, computer apps are larger files that take longer to download. These types of label makers also require a USB connection to print, and some require plug-in AC power. Out of all of the desktop models we tested, setting up the Brother QL-800 was the easiest, thanks to the seamless integration of the Brother P-Touch software. If you'd like to utilize the DYMO Connect app for the Label Manager 420P, be sure to download the appropriate driver to unlock the desktop capabilities of this model.
The Brother QL-800 need to be plugged into the wall as well as your computer in order to print labels.
Credit: Ross Patton
Conclusion
The primary goal at GearLab is to guide our readers to the perfect products for their needs and budget. During our in-depth assessment, we thoughtfully examined each label maker to provide you with the most accurate information. After reading this article, we hope you now have the knowledge and information you need to buy the ideal label maker for yourself or your business.
