Are you looking for the best direct thermal label printer that can help you create crisp and long-lasting labels? Here is a guide that will list the top shipping label printers you can choose from! Source: Pinterest If you are running a business where you are selling physical products, among the key tasks that you need to do is to deliver them to your customers. You don’t just stop after a customer confirms a purchase because the sale is only completed once the customer receives the product. And when delivering products, you would need to label them to guarantee that your customers will receive what they ordered and ensure customer satisfaction. You might think that creating shipping labels is a simple process, but having the right tools can make a big difference. Shipping label printers are no exception. So, which printer is best for shipping labels? This is what we are going to discuss in this blog. Since direct thermal label printers are mainly used for printing shipping labels, we have listed the top 7 label printers under this category here: List of the Top Direct Thermal Label Printers for Shipping Below is an overview of the top-reviewed direct thermal label printers on our list: Rollo Label Printer Brother QL-800 DYMO LabelWriter 4XL Arkscan 2054A Zebra GK420d Phomemo PM-246 Brother QL-1110NWB CONTENT Overview of Direct Thermal Label Printers What Are Shipping Labels And Their Uses Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Direct Thermal Shipping Label Printer Review of the Top 7 Shipping Label Printers (Direct Thermal Label Printers) Overview of Direct Thermal Label Printers Direct thermal label printers work by applying heat on a heat-sensitive material that blackens once it passes under the device’s printhead. They are ribbon-free and compact devices that are commonly used to print labels that can last up to six months. These include shipping labels, tickets, receipts, and other labels for short-term use. Take note, though, that direct thermal labels can fade and are sensitive to strong sunlight, chemicals, water, and abrasion. Therefore, they are not ideal for long-term applications. They are recommended for labels that can last up to six months only. 4″ x 6″ Direct Thermal Labels SHOP NOW 4″ x 6″ Direct Thermal Fanfold Labels SHOP NOW What Are Shipping Labels And Their Uses Shipping labels help in making the identification and tracking of shipped goods easier. They allow shipping companies to locate your parcel easily from among the millions of packages being processed daily. They are also used to notify you about your parcel’s location or progress. Most importantly, shipping labels contain important details that are required by the customs officials to prevent the smuggling or trafficking of goods. This information includes the following depending on the country of origin and destination: The sender’s and receiver’s names and contact details Shipping date from the origin The name and contact details of the service provider, shipping agent, or courier service The package’s weight Reference number, transaction ID, and the invoice number for shipping Barcode to identify the package Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Direct Thermal Shipping Label Printer Label printers seem to be simple office appliances, but there are many factors that you need to take into consideration before making a final purchase. This ensures that you get a shipping label printer that would meet your specific requirements. These factors include the following: Supported Labels Ease of Installation Speed Connectivity Compatibility Print Color Other Features Customer Service & Available Support 1. Supported Labels First of all, find a printer that supports all of the label sizes you want to use. Most printers today can support die-cut and roll labels in different materials, widths, and lengths. Although one-size printers would suffice if you are only focused on printing shipping labels, buying a versatile printer can help you save money. There are shipping label printers that you can also use to print Amazon FBA labels, barcode labels, file folder labels, mailing labels, and others. Regardless of whether you swap label sizes or not, we still recommend choosing a printer that can print various label sizes. 2. Ease of Installation You would not want a printer that is hard to set up and often encounters connectivity issues. A plug-and-play printer would get extra points. It is better if you get a printer that you can easily connect to your devices just like any regular printer. 3. Speed Make sure that the speed of the printer can catch up with your required daily output. But, always find a balance between quality and speed because most fast printers can’t guarantee quality. 4. Connectivity How are you going to connect your label printer to your devices? There are two common options you can choose from: through USB or Wifi connection. If you are printing labels often, a Wifi printer would be more convenient. Otherwise, a USB connection would suffice. Some even support a Bluetooth connection. Many label printers also come with batteries that allow you to print labels wire-free. 5. Compatibility When considering compatibility, take a look at both shipping and device compatibility. For instance, if your business is using Apple devices, you need to buy a label printer that works seamlessly with what you are using. Also, label printers work with different platforms and distribution services such as Etsy, Shopify, Amazon, UPS, USPS, and others. You should know the platforms and services you will be using and make sure that you choose a label printer that supports them. 6. Print Color The majority of shipping labels come in black and white colors. But if you want to make other items such as banners, logo stickers, or custom tags aside from shipping labels, you might want to invest in a color printer. 7. Other Features Other features you can check are cutters to cut your labels, especially if you are using label rolls for bulk printing. These can either be manual or automatic blades that cut the labels as they come out of your printer. Modern direct thermal label printers can also automatically detect when label widths have been adjusted. Thus, ensuring that prints fall within the label’s borders. 8. Customer Service and Available Support Lastly, it is better to consider the support you will get for your printer just in case problems arise in the future. Extremely popular printers will surely have a lot of information online that can answer any question you have. But if you are buying a new printer, customer service will matter. Review of the Top 7 Shipping Label Printers (Direct Thermal Label Printers) Now, let us proceed to the review of the top 7 direct thermal label printers for shipping that you can choose from for your shipping needs. Here, we will give the key technical specifications as well as the pros and cons of each label printer. Rollo Label Printer Brother QL-800 DYMO LabelWriter 4XL Arkscan 2054A Zebra GK420d Phomemo PM-246 Brother QL-1110NWB #1 Rollo Label Printer Source: Rollo Technical Specifications Print Resolution: 203 dpi Print Speed: 150mm/s Supported Labels: Any direct thermal label including free UPS labels 4×6 shipping labels Flat and roll labels Width: 1.57” to 4.1” labels No label height limitations Cons Nothing to mention Pros A commercial-grade high-speed label printer It is compatible with major marketplaces and shipping platforms such as ShippingEasy, eBay, Amazon, Shopify, and more It uses affordable labels, unlike its competitors that require overpriced proprietary labels It includes an automatic label identification feature It can produce crystal clear labels fast Their customer service can be reached through remote desktop, email, or phone #2 Brother QL-800 Source: Amazon Technical Specifications Print Resolution: 300 dpi Print Speed: Up to 93 standard address labels/minute Supported Labels: Brother labels Continuous and die-cut labels Sheet Size: 2.44 Width: Up to 2.4 inches Cons If you want to print from your Android device, you need to buy a USBtoGo cable Pros It can print red and black labels Best for office use It does not require you to install any software in your system It can print customized labels from your Mac or PC It allows you to print labels from Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, etc. It supports printing from mobile devices through its iPrint & Label app (this free app can help you design labels on your Android phone) Changing the rolls is simple and easy by dropping them in the device (they will fit in easily) Also ideal for printing postage for envelopes and packages #3 DYMO LabelWriter 4XL Source: Amazon Technical Specifications Print Resolution: 300 dpi Print Speed: 51 labels/minute Supported Labels: Sheet Size: 2.35 DYMO labels that are available in various sizes Label rolls and die-cut labels Pros Ideal for printing customized labels containing barcodes, addresses, graphics, etc. You can use the DYMO software to make customizing and printing shipping labels easier and faster It allows you to print directly from Google Contacts, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, etc. It can print different label sizes It has a fast label printing speed It can produce crystal clear graphics and barcodes Cons You can’t use it to print IND and D1 Plastic Industrial Labels It doesn’t come with a Dual-roll feature Dymo 4XL Shipping Labels Labels Per Roll : 220 Labels/Roll Size (inch) : 4″ x 6″ Printer Technology : Dymo Printers AS LOW AS $5.86 / ROLL #4 Arkscan 2054A Technical Specifications Print Resolution: 203 dpi Print Speed: 5 inches/second Supported Labels: Fanfold and roll labels Zebra compatible labels, Arckscan labels, etc. Label Sizes: 4×6, 4×8.25, 4×6.75 Width: 0.75” to 4.25” FedEx and UPS free shipping labels Dymo compatible labels Zebra compatible labels Arkscan labels Pros It is a multifunctional label printer that you can use to print barcode labels, product labels, and shipping labels It is packed with features for designing labels with barcodes, graphics, texts, etc. It supports printing from different platforms such as FedEx, Amazon Seller Merchant Fulfillment, Etsy, eBay, Stams.com, Shopify ShipStation, PayPal, etc. It offers real-time support that is available through Remote Access, Live Chat, and Phone Cons You can’t use it with your mobile devices #5 Zebra GK420d Source: Amazon Technical Specifications Print Resolution: 203 dpi Print Speed: 5 inches/second Supported Labels: It requires media rolls Core size: 1 inch Maximum Width: 4.25 inches Maximum Diameter: 5 inches Cons Nothing to mention Pros Ideal for distribute-printing and mid-volume applications It is an easy-to-use wireless shipping label printer that allows you to save time and money It is specifically designed for bulk printing of labels You can use it to print binder labels, address labels, shipping labels, and others Initial set up is easy It is an Energy Star-certified product You can connect it through a parallel, serial, or USB port #6 Phomemo PM-246 Source: Amazon Technical Specifications Print Resolution: 203 dpi Print Speed: 150mm/s Supported Labels: 4×6 shipping labels Any direct thermal label as well as free UPS labels Width: 1.49 to 4.1 inches Length: Up to 11.8 inches Cons Nothing to mention Pros Designed for printing large volumes of mailing, ID, barcode, warehouse, and 4×6 shipping labels among others It can prevent paper jams through its wear-resistant and durable paper head User-friendly interface Easy to install Ready-to-set-up printing drivers It is compatible with macOS and Windows It uses advanced cooling and ventilation systems to maintain the printer’s optimal operating condition It can print more than 40,000 labels within 12 hours It is compatible with common marketplaces and shipping platforms such as Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, DHL, FedEx, USPS, Ship Works, Ship Station, Stamps, and more #7 Brother QL-1110NWB Source: Amazon Technical Specifications Print Resolution: 300 dpi Print Speed: 69 labels/minute (110mm/sec) Supported Labels: Brother DK drop-in rolls Width: 12 – 103.6mm Up to 4″ wide shipping labels Cons Nothing to mention Pros It supports Bluetooth, USB, and Ethernet connectivity It comes with an automatic cutter that allows you to print multiple labels simultaneously It has a Plug & Label feature that does not require any software installation for quick printing of basic labels It is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux You can print from Microsoft Outlook, Excel, or Word It supports wireless mobile printing via the Brother iPrint&Label or AirPrint app Its P-touch Editor comes with complete features for designing your labels including clip-art collections, borders, and fonts Brother DK-1241 Labels Label Per Roll : 200 Size (inches) : 4″ x 6″ Printer Technology : Brother DK Printers AS LOW AS $8.55 Buy Cheap But High-Quality Direct Thermal Labels From enKo Products Are you looking for high-quality direct thermal labels but want to save money? Check our enKo Products’ compatible direct thermal labels! We supply different label sizes to cater to any of your shipping label needs. We offer affordable thermal direct labels for creating durable shipping, mailing, postage, address, barcode, UPC, and Amazon FBA labels. Feel free to contact us and let us help you find the right labels for your application. Wrapping Up With billions of packages being shipped every month, you need to be able to label your shipments properly to allow for easy tracking. Making accurate and long-lasting labels can help ensure that your package will reach its desired destination. So hopefully, our guide for direct thermal shipping label printers was able to help you find a printer that suits your application. For more guides, you can also check out our other blogs below: How to use direct thermal labels in my Zebra printer? Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Like & follow our social media pages to see more updates and promotions ! Tags: Direct Thermal Labels Gene Paul Lim
