Label printers are a necessity for shipping companies and e-commerce stores. But nobody wants to waste money on a product that doesn’t provide the required results. With the help of our buying guide, you will be able to choose a functional shipping label printer for your business.
Keep these factors in mind when you’re looking for a shipping label printer for your home, office, or business:
Small businesses and e-commerce stores depend on efficiency and time- management. Having a fast-label printer can significantly impact the productivity levels of a business. Most shipping label printers can print multiple labels per minute, saving your time and energy.
There is no standard label width for businesses. If a business prints a lot of information, they need a wider label, while businesses printing fewer details need smaller labels. So, having a label printer with adjustable width can be handy for most businesses.
Having a label printer that doesn’t print visible labels is useless. Make sure you invest in a printer that prints label with clearly visible details. Go for a resolution higher than 203 DPI to get a high printing quality.
Unlike conventional printers, shipping label printers have a different mechanism. Make sure you get the one that is easy to operate and doesn’t require a high level of technical skills to install and use.
Shipping label printers are of two types, and they both differ in the following terms:
This type of printer uses heat to create a print on the paper. Although it doesn’t use ink, toner, or ribbons, it requires a particular heat-sensitive substance to work. Upon heating, this substance turns black, making it appear like ink on paper.
This type of printer uses resin or wax-based ink ribbons to work. The ink melts into the printing substrate, generating a high-quality and long-lasting print. These are durable printers that offer high-resolution prints for maximum readability.
Connecting and printing from shipping label printers varies from model to model. Most printers support wireless and wired connections, while some only offer one.
The most common type of connector is a USB one. The USB helps connect your printing device with an operating system. It also helps charge some printers that come with rechargeable batteries. While USB-operated printers have their benefits, they make mobility limited.
Some printers also support Bluetooth connectivity for printing labels. However, this type of printer is only compatible with devices that support Bluetooth.
This is the most advanced type of connection for printing through a label printer. You connect the printer to your network and send it a command to print via your smartphone or laptop.
The ZEBRA Shipping Label Printer is a wireless printer that supports mobile-Bluetooth functionality without any physical connectivity. This printer operates with its patented ZSB Series label cartridges that are recyclable and “virtually unjammable.” With its desktop and mobile app, you can check the number of labels left in the cartridge to refill timely.
You can print a default label template or create your own using the Label Designer with this printer. It is compatible with a variety of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Its eco-friendly approach, optimum compatibility, and array of features make it top our list.
The JADENS Shipping Label Printer uses thermal printing technology to print labels without ink. It is an energy-saving and economical printer that doesn’t require replacing the toner every few weeks. With its one-click installation, you can set it up and connect it with a device of your choice. The product also includes a disk full of drivers, user manuals, and a troubleshooting guide.
The product operates with both roll label and fanfold, enhancing its functionality and making it useful for various platforms. With an application, you can operate this printer remotely on different operating systems to print quickly. This device also allows printing via USB cable with some compatible versions of operating systems.
The Jiose Shipping Label Printer can print up to 86 labels per minute at 203 DPI resolution. With its automatic label detection feature, this printer detects the dimensions and characteristics of your label. You can print labels of different widths from 1.57-inches to 4.25-inches. Being an eco-friendly printer, it does not waste any labels accidentally.
The installation of this printer is quick and easy on a variety of operating systems. It is compatible with the most popular shipping and e-commerce platforms and produces thermal fan-fold and roll labels. Since it is compact, you can carry it wherever you want, and it won’t take up a lot of space on your work desk.
The MUNBYN Shipping Label Printer is a handy printer compatible with Windows, macOS, and Chromebook. You can install its driver easily with a one-click installation or use it via the Chrome extension. This machine can print different labels, like product and barcode descriptions, and has label widths from 1.57-inches to 4.3-inches. It offers high-speed printing by printing about 72 labels per minute with great quality. This printer supports all major shipping and sales platforms label.
This printer does not use ink or toner, making it environment-friendly. You can use it at your home, office, or any work-related place to create and print labels. It does not support wireless printing technology, and the connection is only possible through a USB cable.
The POLONO Shipping Label Printer works with Mac, Windows, and Chrome OS. Its installation and use are easy as it automatically detects the label and makes it ready for printing. This printer supports label printing widths ranging from 1.57 inches to 4.65 inches, making it compatible with all popular sales and shipping platforms.
This printer has a high printing speed, allowing it to print up to 72 labels per minute. Since it doesn’t use any cartridges or ink, it is an eco-friendly product. Despite being inkless, this printer produces clearly visible prints and labels due to its 203 DPI resolution.
A: Laser printers can also be used as shipping label printers. But they use standard printer paper that doesn’t have adhesion. So, to make laser printer print shipping labels, you will have to buy labels made for laser printers.
A: Thermal shipping label printers require thermal papers to print. It is slightly more expensive than standard paper, but a thermal printer needs these papers to work correctly.
A: It depends on your usage, but typically, a direct thermal printer may last for about six months and is suitable for short-term use. If you want a printer to last more than six months, you should invest in a thermal transfer shipping label printer.