Are you tired of never being able to find things in your storage closet or always pulling out the wrong charging cable for your family’s electronics? If this sounds familiar, it may be time to invest in one of the best label makers. These inexpensive devices are a must-have if you’re trying to organize your home or business—so much so that professional organizers swear by them. “The biggest benefit to owning your own label maker is the convenience of creating custom labels when you want them at a minimal cost,” explains Raychel Klein, Seattle-based professional organizer and founder of Raybaybay Home Organizing. “One of my favorite uses is to label cables and cords for electronics, so I know what device or tool it belongs to.” Our top pick is the Brother P-Touch PTD210 Label Maker, a popular option that’s versatile and easy to use for everyday applications.
Label makers aren’t just useful at home, either. For those who work in trades, professional-grade units are handy for storeroom labeling, wire wraps, cable flagging, warning labels and much more.
There are two types of label makers available today: keyboard models that allow you to type out labels, and Bluetooth units that you control via your smartphone. Other things to consider as you shop for a label maker include its font and styling options, tape size and power source.
Whether you’re planning to organize your home or looking for a heavy-duty tool for work applications, these are the best label makers out there today.
Type: Keyboard | Dimensions: 6.2 x 2.7 x 5.9 inches | Weight: 1.1 pounds | Storage capacity: 30 labels | Power source: AAA batteries | Max label width: 0.5 inch | Fonts: 14
The Brother P-Touch line of label makers comes highly recommended by professional organizers, and the PTD210 model is a mid-priced option with just the right amount of features. It has a full keyboard, allowing you to type out your labels quickly, and you can choose from 14 fonts, 10 unique styles, 97 frames and more than 600 symbols. It also comes programmed with 27 templates that make it easy to format your designs.
This label maker runs on AAA batteries, and it uses the brand’s P-Touch TZe tape, which is 0.5-inch thick and available in a wide range of colors. It can store up to 30 different designs, in case you want to reprint certain labels. Overall, it’s a versatile and easy-to-use option for everyday applications—you can use it for files, jars and containers, electrical cords and much more.
Pros:
Easy to operate thanks to a full keyboard
Templates allow you to make labels quickly
Able to store up to 30 label designs
Cons:
Leaves large margins on each side of labels
Best Large Label Maker
A Heavy-Duty Unit For Professional Applications
Brady M211 Portable Bluetooth Label Printer
Type: Bluetooth | Dimensions: 4 x 5.4 x 2.6 inches | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Storage capacity: Unlimited | Power source: Rechargeable battery | Max label width: 0.75-inch | Fonts: 85
The Brady M211 Label Maker is a heavy-duty unit that’s designed for electricians, IT professionals and other working professionals. The tool itself is more durable than most label makers—it’s crush-resistant and can withstand being dropped up to 6 feet. It connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth, allowing you to design labels through the brand’s app, and it can print up to 300 labels on a full battery charge.
The M211 is more versatile than other label makers, as well. It can print on tape up to 0.75 inches thick, and there are 11 label design guides, 85 fonts, 31 languages and over 1,400 symbols, including industry-specific options for electricians and more. Plus, it works with a wide range of label materials, including nylon, polyester, polypropylene, vinyl and more.
Pros:
Works with a wide range of label materials
Includes industry-specific symbols
Able to print up to 300 labels per charge
Drop-resistant up to 6 feet
Cons:
Bulkier than many other products
Best Label Maker On Amazon
A Basic Model That Comes With Extra Tape
DYMO LetraTag 100H Handheld Label Maker with 3 Labeling Tapes
Type: Keyboard | Dimensions: 3.25 x 4.75 x 10.5 inches | Weight: 2.4 ounces | Storage capacity: 9 labels | Power source: AA batteries | Max label width: 0.5-inch | Fonts: 5
The DYMO LetraTag 100H Label Maker is a best-selling product on Amazon thanks to its simple, easy-to-use design that’s ideal for home organization. It features a full keyboard to type out your designs (though, it’s not a QWERTY-style layout), and it allows you to choose from five font sizes, seven print styles and eight frames. You can also preview your text on the unit’s LCD screen before you print, double-checking to make sure the design is the way you want.
Not only is this label maker reasonably priced, but it comes with three rolls of 0.5-inch tape, so you don’t have to buy it separately. It can also be used with several types of tape, including plastic, paper and even iron-on material. When you’re done creating, the label maker will automatically shut off after a period of inactivity, helping to conserve batteries.
Pros:
Able to preview text effects on display
Automatically shuts off after inactivity
Includes three rolls of tape
Cons:
Keyboard isn’t QWERTY-style
No special characters
Best Label Maker For Home Organization
A Cute, Compact Unit To Label All Your Belongings
Brother P-Touch PTM95 Label Maker
Type: Keyboard | Dimensions: 6.1 x 4.4 x 2.4 inches | Weight: 0.57 pounds | Storage capacity: 3 labels | Power source: AAA batteries | Max label width: 0.5-inch | Fonts: 9
If you’re looking to create labels for your pantry, storage closet, charging cables, or children’s items, the Brother P-Touch is a budget-friendly way to create basic labels. The compact unit has a full QWERTY keyboard, and you can design your labels using nine fonts, 10 frames and over 200 symbols, including hearts and decorative flourishes—they’re sure to be a hit with kids! It even has eight decorative templates that you can play around with. The label maker prints on the brand’s 0.5-inch tape, and it can save up to three labels for re-printing if desired.
Pros:
Inexpensive price point
QWERTY keyboard for easy typing
Decorative templates for fun designs
Cons:
Short battery life
Best Portable Label Maker
A Lightweight Label Maker With Lots Of Design Options
Jadens D110 Label Maker
Type: Bluetooth | Dimensions: 4.2 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches | Weight: 0.3 pounds | Storage capacity: Not listed | Power source: Rechargeable battery | Max label width: 0.6-inch | Fonts: 60+
The Jadens Label Maker is notably smaller than many other models—it’s roughly 4 x 3 inches in size, making it easy to tuck into your purse or even a pocket. This, plus its lightweight, makes it a top choice for taking on the go. It has a Bluetooth design that connects to your smartphone, and it also comes in several pretty colors.
Using the brand’s app, you can design labels using more than 60 fonts in 12 languages. There are also hundreds of templates and borders to choose from, but some do require a subscription fee to access. You’ll also want to keep in mind that this unit uses pre-cut labels, so you have a fixed width to work with.
Pros:
Very compact and lightweight
Inexpensive price
Wide range of fonts and design options
Cons:
Certain features require an app subscription
Pre-cut label width
Best Small Label Maker
A Pocket-Sized Design To Take Anywhere
Nelko P21 Label Maker
Type: Bluetooth | Dimensions: 6.65 x 4.5 x 1.9 inches | Weight: 11.3 ounces | Storage capacity: Not listed | Power source: Rechargeable battery | Max label width: 0.5-inch | Fonts: 90+
Some label makers can be quite bulky, but the Nelko P21 is a compact option that can easily be stored in a drawer, suitcase or handbag. It’s just 6.65 x 4.5 inches, and the small label maker weighs less than 1 pound. However, this unit uses fixed-size labels, so you’re limited to how much text you can include per print.
This unit connects to your phone via Bluetooth, and its app offers a wide range of customization options. You can choose from 90+ fonts, more than 30 templates and hundreds of borders. Plus, when the battery runs low, you can recharge it via a USB-C cable, saving you from buying disposable batteries.
Pros:
Small and portable design
Built-in carrying strap
Hundreds of design options
Cons:
Labels are a fixed-size
Best Label Maker For Small Businesses
A High-Tech Model For Larger Labels
Brother P-Touch PT-D610BT Business Connected Label Maker
Type: Combination | Dimensions: 8 x 7.7 x 3.4 inches | Weight: 2.2 pounds | Storage capacity: 99 labels | Power source: AA batteries | Max label width: 1- inch | Fonts: 17
You’ll be able to print bigger labels with the Brother P-Touch PTD610BT, which is one of the more advanced options from the well-known brand. The desktop label maker has a full QWERTY keyboard, but it can also be connected to your smartphone or computer for digital designs. The unit can also print on tape up to 1 inch wide, including a maximum of eight lines of text for more detailed labels.
Small businesses are sure to get lots of use from this label maker, as it offers 17 fonts, 17 font styles, 160 premium frames and 900 symbols. It also has more memory than other label makers, allowing you to store up to 90 designs—handy if you want to save frequently used labels or even barcodes for your products.
Pros:
Includes both keyboard and Bluetooth connectivity
Able to print labels up to 1 inch thick
Saves up to 90 designs
Cons:
Leaves large margins on each side of labels
Best Label Maker With Fonts
A Bluetooth Unit That Lets You Create Fun Designs
Phomemo D30 Label Maker
Type: Bluetooth | Dimensions: 6.1 x 3.5 x 1.61 inches | Weight: 5.6 ounces | Storage capacity: Not listed | Power source: Rechargeable battery | Max label width: 0.6-inch | Fonts: 30+
The Phomemo D30 Label Maker is another best-selling product on Amazon, and you can create all sorts of fun designs on it, thanks to its 30+ font options. The Bluetooth label maker also offers more than 60 frames and 1,000 symbols through its app, and you can put up to three lines of text on each label.
This model can be used with the brand’s pre-cut labels or continuous-roll tape, and there are colored and patterned tape options available to brighten up your designs. The label maker is small enough to take on the go, and you can’t beat the versatility, especially for such a low price.
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