What is the Best Printer for Making Labels?

11th Mar 2025
Simon Cross

The best label printer for you will of course depend on your use case, but there are some key features of each model that will make a big difference depending on preference too. I’ll take you through the pros and cons of direct thermal printing vs thermal transfer, print speed, label width and resolution of the top label printers for 2025. 

Shopping for a label printer can get confusing because you can’t apply all the same knowledge as regular printers to labels. Let me help you break it down in this guide which, by the end, I really hope you can work out what label printer is best for you! 

Brother QL700

The Specs 

Why I'd recommend it

Okay, so the Brother QL 700 is a fantastic printer for the price. At under 100 quid, you get a high-speed printer with some awesome features and a 3 year warranty. Seriously, 93 labels per minute is insanely quick.  

You’ll find that the standard max label width for most label printers is 24mm, so the QL700 stands out for having capability for up to 59mm! This makes it ideal for printing labels that need information over multiple lines, like address labels.

I also love that the set-up for this printer is made very simple and user-friendly with the P-touch Editor Lite because the software is built into the label printer itself. This means you don't need to download or install any software on your computer. You simply connect the printer via USB, and the software launches automatically. 

This no-installation functionality is a huge plus for users who may have restrictions on installing software (e.g. in a work environment) or who want to avoid the hassle of downloads and installations. 

But, of course, there are some restrictions when using the Lite software because it’s designed for simple label creation, so if you need advanced features like barcode installation or want to import designs from other software, this version may not work for you. 

What is direct thermal printing?

Unlike other types of printers, like laser printers or inkjet printers, direct thermal label printers don’t require any ink or toner to print. Even with thermal transfer label printers, you’ll need to buy ribbons which contain the ink. So, buying a direct thermal label printer will be cheaper to run long-term because all you have to purchase is the labels!

Cons to keep in mind

One of the biggest cons from my point of view is that the QL700 uses direct thermal printing which prints less durable labels. Unlike glossy thermal transfer printing, direct thermal is very sensitive to environmental conditions such as heat, light and abrasiveness.  

So, direct thermal labels have a high risk of fading and smudging in certain areas. Basically, if you want the labels to last for many years, I recommend splashing out a bit more on a thermal transfer printer. 

Who I recommend it for

This printer is an awesome choice for budget-conscious shoppers who want something quick and easy to print labels for home or the office. 

Dymo LabelManager 500TS

The Specs 

Why I recommend it

First off, this thing is so easy to use. Seriously, even my tech-challenged grandma could figure it out. One of my favourite features is that you can store a bunch of your frequently used labels right in the machine's memory. So, if you're constantly printing the same address label or product label, you just select it from the saved list – boom, done! 

It also lets you create different profiles, which is super handy if multiple people are using the same label maker (no more messing with each other's settings!). You can play around with different fonts, sizes, symbols, all right there on the machine itself, no computer needed. 

The in-built keyboard is a big plus for me. Sometimes I just need a quick label, and I don't want to fire up my laptop and mess around with software. With the 500TS, I can whip up a label in 30 seconds flat, which makes it really convenient to use for simple label printing.

Lastly, unlike the QL700, the LabelManager 500TS is a thermal transfer printer. That means it prints labels that are incredibly resistant to heat and light. Because who wants to be re-printing faded labels, right?

Cons to keep in mind

Now, the 500TS is not perfect. There are a couple of downsides you should know about. For instance, the label width is a bit limited at just 24mm. If you really need to print wider labels, I’d recommend the QL700 instead. 

Another big con is that it is rather slow when printing at just 20mm/second. Compared to the Brother QL700, which prints at 150mm/second, you’ll definitely start to notice the difference if you’re printing a lot of labels. In my experience, Brother label printers tend to be much faster compared to DYMO label printers, so consider that when shopping around. 

Lastly, with a thermal transfer label printer like this, you're not just buying labels, you'll also need to buy ribbons. These ribbons, which contain the ink, are a consumable item that needs to be replaced regularly. The cost of ribbons adds to the overall cost of thermal transfer printing.

But overall, for everyday home or office use, the LabelManager 500TS is a solid choice. It's easy to use, offers plenty of design options, and produces durable labels. Just keep those few limitations in mind, and you should be good to go!

Who I recommend it for

Home or office users that need long-lasting labels and a quick, easy user experience. The thermal transfer printing and in-built keyboard delivers on both these requirements. 

Brother QL1100

The Specs 

Why I recommend it

I included the QL1100 mostly for the fact that it has one of the largest maximum label widths on the market, 103mm. For some users, this is the most important factor when selecting a printer because they need to print shipping labels. 

So, let me tell you, this printer is definitely optimised for small businesses that need to ship packages. With Fulfilled by Amazon support and an automatic cutter for custom-made label sizes, the process is much more seamless to print shipping labels compared to other models.

Other than those features, the model is very similar to the QL700. The main difference between the two is that you pay slightly more for the QL1100 owing to the label width and shipping label features. Plus, the QL700 is slightly faster than the QL1100, but only by 40mm/sec. The QL1100 still has plenty of go in it!

Cons to keep in mind

In my opinion, the cost of this model is a little bit high. Yes, it does have those special shipping label features that I just discussed, but it is almost double the price of the QL700, which seems a bit much to me.  

Plus, the QL700 is actually slightly faster than the QL1100 by about 40mm/sec. So yeah, just keep in mind that you are paying a lot more for this model for similar features of the QL700, but if you need large width labels they kind of have you over a barrel because not a lot of label printers offer this. 

Who I recommend it for

Small businesses that need to print large width labels like shipping labels. 

By the way, if you need advice for which document printer is best for small businesses, check out my comprehensive guide. 

Dymo LabelWriter 450 Twin Turbo

The Specs 

Why I recommend it

Okay, so let's talk about why I'm a fan of the Dymo LabelWriter 450 Twin Turbo. 

First off, the print quality is much better than most label printers. It has a 600x300 resolution, which means your labels will look sharp and crisp, even if you're printing logos or small graphics. This is a definite plus if you’re printing colour or graphic-heavy labels.

But the real star of the show here is the "Twin Turbo" part. This thing has a dual roll design, which is a game changer for efficiency if you regularly print different sized labels. For example, you could have a roll of 58mm address labels in one slot and a roll of smaller 24mm labels in the other. No more swapping rolls constantly! 

And here's another thing I love: you don't have to mess around with any special printer software because it connects to Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. So, you can print labels directly from those applications, which is super convenient and saves you the hassle of learning a new program. 

Overall, this label printer is more optimised for office use compared to the LabelManager or QL series because it has higher resolution, direct connectivity to Microsoft suite and dual-roll capability.

Who I recommend it for

Small to medium offices who need efficient dual size printing. Ideal for printing address labels at a reception or general office organisation. 

Key Takeaways

As always, the best label printer for you will depend on your scenario and use case. I recommend deciding the type of label printer you’re after (thermal transfer or direct thermal) and from there, choose the best model in terms of label width, speed and ease of use.

And if you’re shopping for a new printer, make sure to check out my guide on the best inkjet printers. 

Blog Author: Simon Cross is the engaging and knowledgeable voice behind the insightful articles on printers and printer consumables at IJT Direct, an ecommerce store renowned for its comprehensive selection of printers, printer consumables, and hardware. View Simons author page to find out more about him.