Using pre-sized, self-adhesive labels makes printing your own labels at home faster and more economical. You can print out these labels yourself using regular printers or specialized thermal printers. Direct Thermal Label 4" x 2" SHOP NOW Direct Thermal Label 3" x 1" SHOP NOW There are multiple benefits to learning how to print labels on your own at home. Saving on costs is one of the biggest benefits of printing your own labels by being resourceful. With this skill, you have the option to choose cheap and readily available materials at home and work with what available budget you intend to use. Acquiring the skill and knowledge of label printing would be a wise investment. Printing your own labels also affords you convenience. You can significantly reduce time and effort if you learn how to print labels on your own at home with a printer instead of finding a reliable label maker. Professional label makers usually service several clients, so it would be easier and faster to DIY your label printing without dealing with a third party. This DIY method would be beneficial if you only need to print a small volume of labels. Dymo 30336 Multipurpose Labels Labels Per Roll : 500 Labels/Roll Size (inch) : 1″ x 2-1/8″ Printer Technology : Dymo Printers AS LOW AS $3.01 / ROLL CONTENT Is it cheaper to print your own labels? Can you print labels with a regular printer, or do you need a Label Printer? Can sticker paperwork on any printer? How to Print Labels Your Own Labels at Home Is it cheaper to print your own labels? Yes, its cheaper to print your own labels. Common materials for this small DIY project are affordable and readily available online and in supermarkets. Printing your own labels also saves you costs on hiring a professional label printing service. Can you print labels with a regular printer, or do you need a Label Printer? You can print them using regular printers such as inkjet, laser, or label printers. Depending on the application of your labels, you can choose one of two options or both options. Here are some applications on how to print your labels using regular options (a) Regular printers Labels that you can print in regular printers include letter size labels (8.5”x11”) and half sheet labels (8.5”x5.5”). These printers are ideal for printing labels in color, such as product branding, package markings or warning signs, company logos, and special mailing labels for invitations. (b) Specialized Label Printers Labels that you can print using direct thermal and thermal transfer label printers are in black and white. These printers are suitable for printing barcodes, shipping labels, address labels, QR codes, and other labels generally used in logistics and inventory. Using label printers such as direct thermal and thermal transfer printers is always cheaper. These printers use labels packaged as rolls or stacks for faster and cheaper printing and do not require expensive ink or toners. 2" × 4" Labels – 10 Labels Per Sheet SHOP NOW 3-1/3″ x 4″ – 6 Labels Per Sheet SHOP NOW Can sticker paperwork on any printer? Part of the steps on how to print your own labels at home is knowing the appropriate paper for the specific printer you are using. Most sticker papers work on printers. However, some manufacturers apply a waterproof coating or finish over the paper media making it difficult to print on the surface using an inkjet or laser printer. Inkjet printers use water-based inks, while laser printers use pigments. Before printing, check if your sticker paper is printable on inkjet only or laser only or both. How to Print Labels Your Own Labels at Home Step 1. Purchase the appropriate labels. Learning how to print your own labels requires the basic knowledge of the varieties of size, shape, coating, and adhesives available for purchase. (a) Label Size The size of your labels and label sheets can vary depending on their application. Here are standard sizes of labels that you can purchase for regular and specialized label printers. Full Letter Size, 8.5” x 11” Half Sheet, 8.5” x 5.5” Shipping Labels, 4” x 6” Address Labels, 2”x2” or 2” x 3.5” in pre-sized rolls for specialized printers, 2.685” x 1” or 30 labels in a sheet for regular printers. Return Address Labels 1.75” x 0.5” Barcode Labels, 1.46” x 1.02” Compatible Brother DK1241 Label Type : Shipping Labels Size (inch) : 4″ x 6″ Printer Technology : Brother DK Printers AS LOW AS $8.55 (b) Label Shape Labels also come in various shapes such as round, oval, square, and rectangle. Labels that come in various shapes are perfect for product branding or logo printing. Compatible Brother DK1219 Labels 1/2” Compatible Direct Thermal Labels 3″ x 3″ Source: Enko (c) Coating Knowing how to print your own labels requires choosing the appropriate finish and will depend on your label’s application and environmental exposure. Metallic. Metallic labels are durable, highly reflective, and more commonly waterproof. These labels offer a stand-out look to prints due to their appealing luster. Examples include silver and gold foil, and silver and gold matte polyester labels. Laminate finish. Laminate finishes provide extra layers of protection to a base media such as paper-based labels. Lamination prevents scratching and fading of prints and provides waterproofing on your labels. Laminate finishes come in glossy and matte. Varnish finish. Varnish finishes, like laminate finishes, provide extra layers of protection to base media such as paper-based labels. They are cheaper than UV and laminate coatings and are liquid in form. Varnish finishes include glossy and matte. (d) Adhesives Another important step on how to print your own labels at home is to match your label adhesive with the type of surface and environmental exposure of your label. Here are the types of label adhesives and their common applications. Rubber-based adhesives. Rubber adhesives have high adhesion to most surfaces under service temperatures. But they have poor durability when exposed to solvents, oil, plasticizers, and UV. These adhesives are economical and ideal for short-term label use. Acrylic adhesives. Acrylic adhesives have low to high adhesion to most surfaces under service temperatures. They also have high durability when exposed to solvents, oil, plasticizers, and UV. These adhesives are excellent for long-term label use but are also expensive. Freezer adhesive labels. Freezer adhesive labels can withstand low temperatures and are ideal for labeling frozen products or surfaces exposed to cold environments. Permanent adhesive labels. Permanent adhesive labels strongly stick on surfaces protecting the labels from wear and tear for long-term use. These adhesive labels also work perfectly indoors and outdoors – great when you want to print shipping labels. Removable and repositionable adhesive labels. Removable adhesive labels secure the material to surfaces but are also removable without damaging the surface. In particular, repositionable adhesive labels are removable but can be replaced on the surface securely, such as adhesives used in sticky notes. Our guide on how to print your own labels at home is useful in determining the perfect type of label for your specific needs. It is important to read through the specifications of labels before purchasing them. Tips: Some online shops have search options that allow you to key in specific label features such as label size, shape, coating and adhesive. This search option filters through hundreds of label types and results in a short list of available labels in the shop closest to what you want to purchase. Use the customer service chat box or contact option to get specific recommendations for your label needs. If you want to customize your label size and shapes for your product branding or company logo printing, we recommend using full-size sticker paper and a cutter (Cricut or standard paper cutter. Step 2. Design your label using Word or Label Creator Source: Enko Using Word Open your Word. Select New > Blank Document. Click Mailings > Labels. Enter the information and elements you want to incorporate into your label. When printing a single label, select Single Label and choose the row and column where the label prints on the label sheet. Click Options. In Label Options, select the type of label sheet that you are going to use when printing your address. Click OK once you have chosen your Label Options. Click Print. Source: Dymo Labels Using a Label Creator Open your label creator. If you have no label creator in your system, you can open your web browser and search for a label creator software or app such as Canva. Design your labels. Some label software or apps also provide customized label printing templates that you can use to design labels fast and easily. Download and print your label. Step 3. Print your Label. After clicking print, a dialog box will open. Enter the appropriate paper size, layout, and printer into the corresponding fields in the box. Preview the final layout of your document. Click OK/Print once you have finalized all the details. Watch how to print labels on hp printers and other inkjet and laser printers and how to print labels on specialized printers for more information on this type of way to print them. Summing Up Our guide on how to print your own labels at home covers essential information necessary to get you kickstarted on your DIY project without sacrificing quality or cost. We recommend using Enko Products best-selling pre-sized labels suitable for specialized printers and regular printers. Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Like & follow our social media pages to see more updates and promotions ! Gene Paul Lim
