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Take Your Business to the Next Level With the Best Shipping Label Printers

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Take Your Business to the Next Level With the Best Shipping Label Printers

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Buying Guide: Shipping Label Printers

Commercial and retail businesses require hundreds of printed labels for various purposes. Hiring a third party to do this task can be costly and wastes your precious time. A shipping label printer can prove to be a life changer if you run a small to large-sized business. It is pretty straightforward to operate this type of printer. A shipping label printer can produce several labels in a minute, which can boost the economic value of your business. This direct thermal type is far better than a traditional printer, which uses ink to print. You don’t have to spend money on toners, inks, cartridges, and ribbons anymore. Printing in-house labels have multiple benefits. To avail of them, buy the most effective shipping label printers of 2023. We have also curated a buying guide and FAQ section for your convenience.

Choosing an ideal shipping label printer for a commercial purpose from the multiple available options can get complex. Our comprehensive guide can help you buy a functional printer for shipping labels. 

Things To Look For in a Shipping Label Printer

Volume of labels 

You should consider the number of labels you want the printer to print daily. Every printer has a different range, which also influences its price. For example, a desktop range can give you 500 labels per day. An industrial printer is ideal for printing at least 3,000 labels daily.

Printing method 

There are two types of label printers regarding the printing method. You can choose either a direct thermal or thermal transfer. Thermal transfer technology is a perfect choice if you want the words on the label to last for more than six months. You can save a few bucks by buying direct thermal printers, however, they aren’t suitable for long-term applications. 

Resolution 

The dots per inch or the resolution of a shipping printer matters a lot if you want the words on the label to come out sharp and clear. You can choose from 200 DPI, 300 DPI, or 600 DPI, depending on your shipping needs. Printers with high-resolution capacity are expensive. The mid-range of 300 DPI works well in most cases. 

Benefits of Thermal Shipping Label Printers

Quick functionality 

With the thermal printer’s lightning-fast speed, you can print hundreds of labels in a few minutes. You can serve more customers, leading to a considerable boost in sales. It’s much better than manual writing, which takes extra time and adds to the labor costs. 

High-resolution image 

Traditional printers aren’t effective, as low ink can ruin the print results. A thermal shipping label printer is highly practical in creating HD images with clear and crisp results. It proves valuable in avoiding labels with fading or smudged ink. 

Versatile use 

A thermal printer can print several other useful documents besides shipping labels. You can use it to print high-quality vouchers, receipts, and invoices. With a thermal printer, you can also print desirable content on plastic and fiberglass. 

Types of Shipping Label Printers 

Usually, thermal printers are prevalent in commercial environments for printing labels and other receipts. They have two primary types, including desktop and industrial printers. 

Desktop shipping label printer 

Are you running a small-scale business? The desktop printer is ideal for this purpose. Its compact structure doesn’t require extra storage space. This type of thermal printer won’t be too loud while in use. You can’t use a desktop printer for large-scale warehouses, as it can only print a few hundred labels per day. The desktop shipping printing device is perfect for widespread use. 

Industrial shipping label printer 

It can conveniently handle the heavy workload of producing thousands of labels daily. Most factories and huge enterprises use this printer for effective label printing in seconds. No labor or manual engraving is required with this printer type. It can do the work of 4 desktop label printers in an hour. 

How To Connect a Shipping Label Printer

Setting up a shipping label printer is a quick and straightforward task. Following the below steps can help you set up your printer without hassle. 
  • The first step is to connect your new label printer with its connectivity type. You can use an ethernet, USB, or serial port to do this.  
  • Download the drivers, if any. This varies according to the brand. 
  • Now, activate the printer in your computer’s operating system. Select it as your default printer. 
  • The system will prompt you to select your preferences depending on the label’s layout. 
  • Now, generate the shipping label on the computer and print it. You can print several copies at once.

01 MUNBYN Shipping Label Printer

The MUNBYN Shipping Label Printer, with a high resolution and premium print quality, can print HD labels for your brand. You can set it up in a straightforward process following the easy-to-understand manual. You can use it with multiple systems, including Windows and Mac. Even the operating systems of Chromebook are compatible with this printer. 

It can produce labels for almost all sales platforms, including Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. This thermal power printer requires no ink or toners to print high-quality, long-lasting labels. It is an eco-friendly choice as carbon cartridges are not used, like other traditional printers. This printer tops our list for its ability to generate at least 5000 labels in a day.

Pros

  • Prints are high quality 
  • Easy to set up 
  • Adjustable darkness and font thickness

Cons

  • A bit pricey 
MUNBYN Shipping Label Printer

02 Rollo Shipping Label Printer

This Rollo Shipping Label Printer is a USB-powered device that functions at an exceptional speed that’s equal to printing one label every second. You won’t need professional help to connect it to your computer. It’s simple to do so, and the short and well-explained tutorials can help immensely. This printer can produce several label types without any height restrictions. 

You can conveniently use it to print shipping labels, IDs, mailings, or barcode labels. This printer is the most economical option, considering its ink-free function. It has a compact and lightweight structure which is easily portable. Pressing a single button reveals an extraordinary feature of this printer, as it can quickly detect the size and features of the label to process things quickly. 

Pros

  • It is highly cost-efficient 
  • Simple to operate 
  • Works very quickly

Cons

  • Labels get stuck to the printer’s top
Rollo Shipping Label Printer

03 K COMER Shipping Label Printer

With the K COMER Shipping Label Printer’s high-speed functionality, you can double your business’s overall economical performance. It can print labels faster than most other models in this price point. Using this modern tech printer, you can produce up to 86 tags in a minute. Although the resolution power is a bit on the low side, it still functions ideally to generate labels with sharp content.

This printer can easily print labels of several different widths. Be it Linux, Windows XP, or MAC X10; this printer has equally smooth compatibility with all. You should buy this printer to save a massive amount from your business’s shipping budget. It requires no toner, ribbon, or ink to print the labels.

Pros

  • Single click setup 
  • Broad support for multiple shipping platforms 
  • Auto label detection 

Cons

  • Driver installing issues on MAC
K COMER Shipping Label Printer

04 JIOSE Shipping Label Printer

If you’re looking to get your labels printed faster, consider the JIOSE Shipping Label Printer. It can print very quickly at a very high resolution, so it’s perfect for small businesses. You can use it to print labels of different widths for multiple purposes. It can print various label types easily, from barcodes, to addresses and shipping labels. 

The direct thermal technology won’t require you to spend money on ink, making it an affordable choice. You don’t have to feed the printing preferences into this printer. With a sample label, it can automatically set everything and print according to the particular settings. You can quickly start by connecting it with your shipping e-commerce platform. 

Pros

  • Compatible with Chromebook OS 
  • It has a multi-purpose use 
  • Easy to carry 

Cons

  • Average quality cord 
JIOSE Shipping Label Printer

05 LabelRange Shipping Label Printer

You can save a lot of money and effort by purchasing the LabelRange Shipping Label Printer. With thermal technology, it can quickly print labels for your e-commerce business. You can use it to print high-resolution labels by following a simple process. Take one label from a pack and place it on the device. It will do the rest of the work automatically. 

It has a resolution capacity that’s ideal for developing labels that are clear and last longer. You can use this printer to produce different label types. Integrating it with multiple shipping platforms, including Shippo and USPS, is easier with this shipping label printer. You can also use it to print name and binder tags. 

Pros

  • Portable and lightweight structure 
  • Value for money 
  • Clear image quality 

Cons

  • The connectivity cable could be longer
LabelRange Shipping Label Printer

People Also Asked

How often does a shipping label printer require maintenance?

You should stay updated with the printer’s maintenance at least once a year. It’s important to keep this check, even if the printer works fine. There might be some underlying issues that can grow over time. Correcting it beforehand can save you from wasting money on a replacement printer. If you have a larger printer that you use more often, make sure to maintain it even more regularly. A single problem in the machine can interrupt your entire manufacturing process. 

How long do shipping label printers last?

A shipping label printer can stay functional for 10 years with proper maintenance. It also depends upon the brand you use. The cost of the printer also influences this criterion. The printer itself may last a long time, but the components may need to be replaced every so often. If a problem occurs in a component piece, you can quickly get them serviced without replacing the entire device. 

What is the difference between a conventional and direct thermal shipping label printer?

Most industries prefer direct thermal printers for their cost-effectiveness and durability. Since it doesn’t use ink or ribbons, you can save a lot of money. The main difference between these two types is in their printing method. A standard printer uses ink to produce labels, while a direct thermal machine completes the job through heat. 

Denise McNamara

Oct 20, 2022

85 Articles Published

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