Tape label makers
Handheld and desktop label makers print on cassettes of tape, typically 6 to 24 mm wide. Laminated tape (Brother TZe is the best-known) has the print sealed under a clear layer and survives cleaning, handling and years on a shelf edge. Paper tapes are cheaper and fade. The tape, not the machine, is the ongoing cost: check the cassette price before choosing a model.
Thermal label printers
For shipping labels, barcodes and product labels you want a thermal printer that takes rolls or fan-fold stacks. They print with heat, so there is no ink or toner. There are two kinds:
- Direct thermal prints on heat-sensitive labels. No ribbon, so it is the cheapest to run, but the print fades with heat and sunlight over months. Right for shipping labels, which only need to last the trip.
- Thermal transfer melts ink from a ribbon onto the label. It lasts for years and prints on synthetic labels that survive water and chemicals. Right for asset tags, product labels and anything in a warehouse or freezer.
Most carrier shipping labels are 4 x 6 inches. At 203 dpi a printer handles shipping labels and ordinary barcodes; small barcodes and fine text need 300 dpi.
The label printer register lists all 438 ENERGY STAR certified label and receipt printers sold in the US, with speed and marking technology for each.
Handheld and desktop label makers
Affiliate linksTape label makers for shelves, cables and files. Laminated tape outlasts paper labels by years.
Brother
Brother P-Touch PTD220 Home/Office Everyday Label Maker | Prints TZe Label Tapes up to ~1/2 inch White
SUPVAN
SUPVAN E11 Keyboard & Bluetooth Label Maker Machine with 4 Tapes
Brother
Brother PT-M95 P-Touch Monochrome Label Maker Bundle (4 Label Tapes Included),White
Brother
Brother P-Touch, PTD210, Easy-to-Use Label Maker Bundle (4 Label Tapes Included), White, Small
Prices retrieved from Amazon on 2026-09-29 and may since have changed; the price on Amazon at the time of purchase is the one that applies. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. No manufacturer pays for a place in this list.
Shipping label printers
Affiliate links4 x 6 inch direct thermal printers that print carrier labels without ink or toner.
NULLTONEX
Thermal Shipping Label Printer 4x6 Bluetooth Label Maker for Small Business
Labeer
Labeer Bluetooth Thermal Shipping Label Printer, Wireless 4x6 Label Printer
PKMHLXS
PKMHLXS Bluetooth Thermal Shipping Label Printer, 4x6, Black
ETIKEZ
ETIKEZ Bluetooth Thermal Shipping Label Printer, 4x6 Thermal Label Printer
Prices retrieved from Amazon on 2026-09-29 and may since have changed; the price on Amazon at the time of purchase is the one that applies. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. No manufacturer pays for a place in this list.