Photo Credit: DYMO Labels Youtube Looking for a thermal printer to equip yourself for the coming holidays? Worry not as we will bring you the best thermal printer for shipping labels! We will provide you with a guide to the most reliable thermal printers that you can count on. With dependable equipment, you can print most efficiently on the busy days to come. CONTENT What Type of Printer Is Best for Shipping Labels? Can All Thermal Printers Print Shipping Labels? Best Thermal Printer for Shipping Labels How to Find the Ideal Thermal Printer for Shipping? What Type of Printer Is Best for Shipping Labels? Direct thermal printers are the best for printing shipping labels. The dedicated utility of thermal printers for label printing brings several advantages: Direct thermal labels are durable and can last long in various weather conditions. Label printers create labels easily: no cutting, no ink refills, quick printing Label printers are very convenient as you can print even on the go! You can print out of the office just with the use of a label roll and your printer. Some label printers even provide wireless connectivity between devices so you can print through your smartphone or laptop without the hassle of wiring them up. On the other hand, office printers, namely inkjet, and laser printers can also print labels, but not as effective as thermal printers. Here are some issues in using these printers to create your shipping labels: Inkjet printers are prone to ink smudging from exposure to moisture Laser printers may not be optimized for adhesive-backed media. The high laser temperature can melt the adhesive and then, in turn, can cause printer jams. Both inkjet and laser printers are optimized for office use: They need ink/ toner refills, are bulky, and need manual cutting when printing shipping labels. 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 Can All Thermal Printers Print Labels for Shipping? Yes, almost all thermal printers can print shipping labels. Except of course for label printers that are small enough and cannot be loaded with shipping labels. Shipping labels have a standard size of 4 x 6 in, with other standards such as 4 x 4 in or 6 x 3 inches. As stated earlier, you can also print shipping labels with any office printer you have. However, we recommend having a label printer for shipping labels, as this can speed up your label printing process to remove the downtime with common issues on desktop printers. Save up to 60% on these Direct Thermal Shipping Labels! Direct Thermal Labels 4″ x 6″ [1″ Core] SHOP NOW Direct Thermal Fanfold Labels 4″ x 6″ [1 Label/Fold] SHOP NOW Best Thermal Shipping Label Printer Thermal Label Printer Compatible Labels Label Features Brother QL-800 Price (Amazon): $94.50- $168.88 Compatible Brother DK-1202 Shipping Labels 2-3/7″ x 4″ 300 labels/roll As low as $3.33 each for 600+ rolls Brother DK-1241 Compatible Die-Cut White 4”x 6” Shipping Labels 200 labels/ roll As low as $7.95 each for 600+ rolls Compatible with Android, PC, and Mac Printing speed: 93 labels/min (standard address labels) Two-color printing (black and red) Multiple label types and sizes Print resolution: 300 x 600 dpi Auto-cut functionality Brother QL-1100NWB Price (Amazon): $319.99- $333.16 Brother DK-1241 Compatible Die-Cut White 4”x 6” Shipping Labels 200 labels/ roll As low as $7.95 each for 600+ rolls Compatible Brother DK-1202 Shipping Labels 2-3/7″ x 4″ 300 labels/roll As low as $3.33 each for 600+ rolls Wireless connectivity: Bluetooth, Ethernet, Wi-Fi Printing speed: 69 labels/ min (standard address labels) Windows, Linux, Mac compatible Print resolution: 300 dpi Available USB interface for peripheral devices (e.g. scanner) Plug and Print: no installation required (Windows) Dymo Labelwriter 4XL Price (Amazon): $208.09- $559.00 Compatible Dymo 30256 Labels 2-5/16″ x 4″ White Shipping Label 300 labels/ roll As low as $3.33 each for 600+ rolls Compatible Dymo 30256 Yellow Labels 2-5/16″ x 4″ 300 labels/roll As low as $5.95 each for 600+ rolls XL Print: can print 4 x 6 in shipping labels Print speed: 127 labels/ min (standard address labels) Print directly from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, etc. (USPS, FedEx, UPS) Compatible with Windows, Mac Print resolution: 300 dpi Plug n’ Play for PC Compatible with multiple labels Rollo X1038 Price (Amazon): $189.99 4″ x 6″ Direct Thermal Fanfold Labels – 1 Label / Fold 500 labels/ pack As low as $12.99 each for 600+ stacks 4″ x 6″ Fanfold Labels – 2 Labels / Fold – Direct Thermal Labels 2000 labels/pack As low as $21.95 each for 600+ stacks Compatible with Windows and Mac Ideal for 4 x 6 in shipping label printing Printing speed: 150 mm/s (one 4 x 6 shipping label/ second) Compatible with couriers (UPS, USPS, etc.0 Compatible with flat and roll labels Zebra ZD420 Price (Amazon): $550.00-$665.00 4 x 6 Direct Thermal Labels with 1″ Core for Shipping & Postage – Zebra Compatible 450 labels/ roll As low as $8.50 each for 600+ rolls 4″ x 2.25″ Direct Thermal Labels – 1″ Core 350 labels/roll As low as $6.47 each for 600+ roll Up to 4.65 in print width Print speed: 4 in/ second Printer resolution: max 300 dpi (changeable to 203 dpi) Multiple connectivity options: USB, USB Host, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Print Touch tag (NFC) Optional removable battery How to Find the Ideal Thermal Label Printer for Shipping? To find the perfect thermal printer for you, you need to look at several factors in selecting your thermal printer: Label Size Compatibility Speed Connection 1. Label Size The versatility in changing label types and sizes can bring advantages for your business. Although you may just print shipping labels most of the time, having the option to print other labels such as name tags, address labels, etc. serves as a solution for other printing needs. 2. Printer Compatibility Before purchasing a label printer, make sure you’ve checked that it works with the devices you have. Choose a label printer that works with the operating system of your devices. This makes new and updated label printers a better choice. 3. Printing Speed A notable factor that most printer manufacturers advertise is printing speed. Make sure that you consider this, especially for printing large labels for your business, where you need to print hundreds of labels every time. 4. Printer Connection The convenience of connection is also a factor to consider, especially for your printing circumstances. For home and office printing, a label printer with a wired connection can do just fine. However, for printing on the go, you may need cloud and wireless printing. For a busy business, you should opt for wireless label printers to enable printing without the trouble of wired connections. The Best Shipping Label Printer With this guide, we hope we’ve helped you come up with the label printer of your choice. But, no matter what you choose from our recommendations, make sure you also purchase the best shipping labels for your printer. Whether it be standard die-cut labels or continuous labels, opt for high-quality rolls that provide you durability and consistency, all within your budget. Related articles: Best Direct Thermal Printers for Small Businesses Best Brother QL Label Makers in 2021 Best Dymo LabelWriter Printers for Small Business & Home Use for 2021 Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Like & follow our social media pages to see more updates and promotions ! Tags: Shipping Labels Gene Paul Lim