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Shipping label printers are handy devices for small business owners or anyone who sends a lot of packages. They streamline the entire printing and shipping process and conveniently work with a broad range of distribution services and platforms to make the task even easier.
Yet despite their modest sizes, these dynamos—some capable of turning out nearly 100 labels per minute—are far more sophisticated than you might think and have much more in common with small printers than label makers. As such, there’s a lot to know about device and shipping compatibility before you decide which model would work best with your needs and budget.
To help in your search for the best shipping label printer, we’ve put together our research-backed recommendations, along with expert shopping advice to consider before you buy.
The Best Shipping Label Printers
- Best Overall: Rollo Wireless Label Printer
- Best Budget: Nelko PL70e Bluetooth Thermal Shipping Label Printer
- Best for Customization: Dymo LabelWriter 450 Label Printer
- Best Upgrade: Brother QL-820NWBC Ultra-Fast Label Printer
- Best Dual Printer: Dymo 450 Twin Turbo Direct Thermal Label Printer
What to Consider
While a seemingly simple office machine, a shipping label printer has several variables to take into consideration before you decide which one to purchase. Here’s what you should know.
Compatibility
There are two types of compatibility to be aware of: device compatibility and shipping compatibility. If your whole small business setup works with Apple devices, you’ll need to purchase a printer that easily connects to all things Apple. Each shipping label printer works with different distribution services and platforms, i.e. USPS, UPS, Amazon, Shopify, Etsy, etc. It’s important to know what shipping service and platforms you plan to use and choose a compatible printer. We noted which shipping companies each printer works with in the reviews below, and they’re often clearly listed in the details on the retailer pages.
Speed
You’ll want to take note of the printer’s speed and output, especially if you own a small business. Certain models can produce up to 93 labels per minute, which you might need if you print hundreds at a time.
Connection
Say you print labels while walking around a warehouse through aisles of stock (or your basem*nt, for that matter). You’ll likely want to choose a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth printer. If your shipments are infrequent, a less convenient USB connection should suffice—and cost you less.
Print Color
Most shipping labels are printed in black and white. But if you want to use the printer to create other items like custom tags, logo stickers, or banners, a color-label printer can eliminate the need to purchase a completely separate device.
Label Size
Again, if you’re only printing shipping labels, a one-size printer will do just fine. But if you need some variety, maybe to print barcode labels for your Amazon business or file folder labels, look for a machine that can print multiple templates and sizes.
How We Selected
During our research for the best label printers, we drew from our experience covering other types of printers to help inform our selections. Shipping label printers have many of the same features and specs as their larger counterparts, and we considered those that were applicable, including print speed, print quality, pre-loaded software, and device compatibility. It was also important to consider each printer’s compatibility with shipping services and ability to print different label sizes. We used these metrics to compare models in our selection and weighed collective attributes against the price. Our final list represents the best in each category.
Pros
Works with most selling and shipping platforms- Easy to use
Cons
- Print quality could be better
The selling point of this Rollo is its intelligent label detection, which makes the monochrome shipping label printer compatible with any thermal direct label. However, it works best on 4 x 6-inch labels, as well as with warehouse, barcode, and bulk mailing labels, which is appropriate given that it’s geared toward online sellers.
It is compatible with all major shipping platforms, including Amazon, Etsy, eBay, and Shopify, and prints at the quality required for major courier companies, including USPS and FedEx.
Another plus: The shipping label printer is equipped with AirPrint so you can effortlessly send it files to churn out via Wi-Fi from your PC, Mac, tablet, or smartphone.
Key Specs
| Size | 8 × 4 × 4 in. |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3 lb |
| Maximum dpi | 203 |
Pros
- Uses thermal print technology
- Very portable
- Comes in different colors
Cons
- App could be better
The Nelko PL70e is an inexpensive model that’s a simple solution to shipping needs. It utilizes thermal print technology to produce up to 72 4 x 6-inch labels per minute. And with thermal labels, there’s no need to worry about ink or toner running out.
You can print using your mobile device or a Windows PC using Bluetooth and its Shipping Printer Pro app, which, coupled with its small size, makes it a very portable option. (You need to connect via USB if you’re using a Mac, however.) It’s compatible with most shipping platforms (USPS, UPS, Amazon, eBay, etc.). And if that isn’t enough, it comes in a range of colors to suit your taste.
Key Specs
| Size | 5 x 9 x 6 in. |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3.1 lb |
| Maximum dpi | 203 |
Pros
- Compatible with most platforms
- Fast
Cons
- Customers online have reported buggy software
The Dymo LabelWriter 450 Label Printer creates black and grey labels that are up to 4 inches wide, is highly customizable with more than 60 different templates, and gives you the ability to import text and graphics. It’s also considerably speedy, with the ability to print up to 90 standard four-line address labels per minute.
Plus, it’s compatible with popular online selling platforms and shipping carriers and is ideal for large shipping and warehouse labels. But it also works for file folders, name badges, and standard shipping and mailing needs.
The printer connects directly to your PC or laptop via USB, or you can connect it via Ethernet to your network so more than one other machine can access it.
Key Specs
| Size | 7.38 x 5.33 x 8.5 in. |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2.8 lb |
| Maximum dpi | 300 |
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Pros
- Supports mobile devices
- Fast output
- Compatible with third-party labels for cost savings
Cons
- Some features only work with Windows
The monochrome Arkscan 2054A Ethernet Shipping Label Printer features a large selection of label designs from which to choose, and it works with multiple shipping software programs and platforms. It can connect directly to your PC or laptop via USB, or to your network via Ethernet, which means it’s also able to print from smartphones and tablets.
The printer is ideal for shipping but also creates labels for other uses, like file folders, signs, and content tags. One of its greatest selling points is that it’s compatible with third-party labels, which helps keep running costs low.
Key Specs
| Size | 6.5 x 8.3 x 9.4 in. |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.8 lb |
| Maximum dpi | 203 |
5
Best Dual Printer
Dymo 450 Twin Turbo Direct Thermal Shipping Label Printer
Pros
- Doesn’t require switching rolls for different sizes
- Quick printing
Cons
- Users have reported software issues
The Dymo 450 Twin Turbo is a highly efficient shipping label printer, featuring two label rolls of different sizes so you can print multiple address labels, barcodes, file folder labels, name tags, or postage without switching. This powerhouse is capable of printing 71 four-line addresses a minute. It’s compatible with both Macs and PCs, though it only connects via USB.
Key Specs
| Size | 16 x 10 x 8 in. |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2.47 lb |
| Maximum dpi | 203 |
Pros
- High-resolution printing
- Speedy
Cons
- Supplies can be expensive
The flagship model in Brother’s QL shipping label printer line, the QL-820NWB offers a great combination of value and versatility. It’s able to print labels up to 2.4 inches wide and up to 3 feet long in combinations of black and red. (Brother sells a number of sizes of both die-cut and continuous compatible label formats.)
You can connect your laptop or PC via USB, Ethernet, or wirelessly via Wi-Fi. And the printer is also equipped with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct for connecting to mobile devices.
The QL-820NWB comes with Brother’s P-Touch Editor software in both Mac and PC versions for designing labels. There’s a built-in address book, plus more helpful features you can access through the app.
You can also use this printer on its own by downloading templates from your computer or mobile device and storing them in the printer’s memory to edit as needed and print.
With the ability to print at resolutions ranging from 100 to 600 dpi and up to 110 labels per minute, this well-priced printer should meet most people’s needs.
Key Specs
| Size | 5 x 9.2 x 5.7 in. |
|---|---|
| Weight | 2.5 lb |
| Maximum dpi | 600 |
Stephen Slaybaugh
Stephen Slaybaugh is a writer and editor with more than 25 years of experience. He specializes in covering consumer tech, and in addition to Popular Mechanics, has written for such publications as Digital Trends, DealNews, and TechRadar. He is also a published music writer and has contributed to Paste, The Village Voice, and The Big Takeover, among others. Stephen holds an MA in Digital Media from London Metropolitan University and in his free time publishes a music webzine, The Agit Reader.
