The 9 Best Label Makers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Dymo LabelManager 280

$80 $67 at Amazon $11 at Walmart $76 at Staples

We think the Dymo LabelManager 280 is the best label maker we've used. We were impressed with it across the board, including how easy it is to set up (with very clear instructions), how portable it is, and how much functionality it packs into such a compact package. It includes a full QWERTY keyboard for fast and accurate typing, a large display that lets you preview your label before you commit to printing, easy one-touch formatting to quickly change the font, size, and alignment of your text, and you can even connect it to your computer for additional design options.

Our favorite thing about this handheld label maker is the large screen that displays two rows of text, allowing you to choose six font sizes, six preloaded styles, and a built-in library with upwards of 220 clip art images and symbols. The cartridges cost extra, but we appreciated the crisp lettering of the thermal-printed tags.

We like that this label maker is handheld and works so well as a standalone device, but also lets you connect it to a Mac or PC via Bluetooth to import your own fonts and graphics. We felt like it already had plenty of options, but it's much more customizable and flexible when you add connectivity into the mix.

We were also seriously impressed with the easy setup process of this label maker. The instructions were simple to follow, but you might not even have to read them, because the machine is so intuitive. Just insert the battery and tape cartridge, power it up, and you're ready to start organizing.

Measuring 8 x 4 x 2 inches and weighing only 1.4 pounds, the LabelManager 280 is conveniently compact, but it's also an excellent choice for at-home use. It runs on a rechargeable battery and can print labels 0.25, 0.375, or 0.5 inches wide. If you're looking for a label maker that is easy to use and offers all of the features you need to tackle any organization project in your home, this is a great pick.

_{Type: Handheld | Storage Capacity: Not listed | Power Source: Rechargeable battery | Max Label Width: 0.5 inches}

Best Value

Dymo Organizer Xpress Pro

$16 $15 at Amazon $19 at Walmart $14 at Target

If you are getting organized on a tight budget, we recommend the Dymo Organizer Xpress Pro Embossing Label Maker. It doesn't have any advanced design options, but it's typically priced at about a third of the Dymo LabelManager 280 (our best overall recommendation), so we think it's a solid pick if you can get by with basic embossed labels.

We found it exceptionally compact, lightweight, and easy to use. To start, it comes preloaded with tape, so no setup is required on your part. This plug-and-play functionality is particularly helpful, since it doesn't come with written instructions. (You can access the instructions on the company's website if you need them, but we thought it was pretty straightforward.) The Xpress Pro also works without any power source, since it's a rotary-style label maker that embosses tape instead of printing.

One thing to keep in mind with this type of label maker is that you can't backspace or delete, so you'll need to be very careful that you don't make spelling errors when you're working. However, this style of label maker is also extremely portable and good for anyone who's taking their product to different project sites. While it's very functional, it's not a great pick for larger projects. In our test, we found that the rotary keyboard isn't very efficient. But, for smaller projects, it's quite the companion, as it can stand upright on a desk and is generally compact.

_{Type: Handheld | Storage Capacity: None | Power Source: None | Max Label Width: 0.38 inches}

Best Wireless Printer

Brother P-Touch Cube Plus

$100 $85 at Amazon $85 at Walmart $100 at The Container Store

The Brother P-Touch Cube Plus is a wireless label printer that requires a phone or computer to print labels. We think that the phone or computer requirement makes it a little less convenient than models that have a built-in keyboard, but it’s worth it if you want to print anything beyond basic labels. It works with three different Brother apps (P-Touch Design & Print, iPrint & Label, and P-Touch Editor), so you have a ton of options and flexibility in terms of the labels you can design and print.

This label printer isn’t quite as portable as we’d like, but it is small enough to pack up and take with you (or just carry around your home), and the fact that it works with your phone via Bluetooth means you aren’t tethered to a computer. It’s bigger and more expensive than the NiiMbot D11 (our best portable pick), but it can also print bigger labels (one inch versus half an inch) with higher print resolution options (180 to 360 dpi compared to 203 dpi) for especially crisp text and graphics.

We found this label printer to be more difficult and time-consuming to set up than others we’ve tested and used, especially getting it connected to a phone or computer and inserting the battery and tape. After you get it set up and have the battery and tape installed, it works quite well with a lot of label design options.

This printer is somewhat limited by the fact that multiple users can’t use it to design labels (only the person who has the app installed on their phone or computer), so it’s more difficult to share than an option like the Dymo LabelManager 280 (our best overall pick) that has a display and keyboard built right in, but it also provides a lot more design options.

_{Type: Handheld | Storage Capacity: 1 GB | Power Source: Battery | Max Label Width: 1 inch}

Best Handheld

Brother P-Touch

$30 at Amazon $30 at Walmart View on Shop.com

If you are looking for a handheld label maker that you can use every day, or take with you to complete projects on the go, we think that the Brother P-Touch Handheld Label Maker is a good option. It weighs just one pound, even with the batteries installed, and is straightforward to set up.

We were impressed with how easy this label printer was to set up and use, and we had it up and running in just a few minutes (with no need to even read the instructions). Although it doesn't have as many features as pricier picks like the Brother P-Touch Cube Plus (our best wireless printer prick), it does include three fonts, 14 frames, and more than 250 preloaded symbols. We also appreciated the soft, comfy buttons on the full QWERTY keyboard.

While the storage capacity is decent (it stores up to 15 labels), we found it to be a bit limited compared to something like the Epson Labelworks LW-PX300 that holds up to 50. We also found that it can feel a bit big to hold and use with one hand. For a portable model that you may take with you, that's not necessarily convenient. It also takes six AA batteries, which is a lot. We still feel that it's a good value though, with an acceptable level of portability and a good price for the features.

_{Type: Handheld | Storage Capacity: 15 labels | Power Source: Six AA batteries | Max Label Width: 0.5 inches}

Best for Home Organization

LabelWorks Epson LW-PX300

$58 $44 at Amazon $152 at Walmart View on Epson.com

If you are specifically hoping to organize your living space, the Epson LabelWorks PX 300 Label Maker is a superb choice. We like that it comes with several preloaded fonts, and that it also allows you to add customizable text styles, icons, and banners.

Notably, the label maker can also store up to 50 labels, which can save you time as you organize your space, since you won't have to re-design the labels every time you organize your spice containers or tidy your office supplies. We especially appreciated the lightweight, user-friendly design and full QWERTY keyboard that landed the label maker with a perfect rating for functionality.

We did note that the tape works best on smooth surfaces, so keep that in mind when figuring out where to stick all your labels (we recommend picking up some label clips in that case). You'll also need to have six AA batteries on-hand. Overall, this pick would ultimately be great for making labels for personal projects or even a small business.

_{Type: Desktop | Storage Capacity: 50 labels | Power Source: Six AA batteries | Max Label Width: 0.75 inches}

Best Portable

NiiMbot D11 Cloud Print

$19 $17 at Amazon $36 at Walmart View on Niimbotd11.com

If you're looking for an extremely compact label printer that you can slip in your pocket and take just about anywhere, we think the NiiMbot D11 is an excellent option. It isn't much bigger or heavier than a smartphone, and it's only about an inch thick, which easily makes it the most portable option on this list.

We think this label printer is perfect for carrying in a purse or satchel, or even in your pocket in a pinch, and it even has a wrist strap for hands-free convenience. Though no assembly is required, you do need to download the NiiMbot mobile app and enable Bluetooth on your phone for setup and use. Since it only works with the app, you can't pass the Cloud Print label maker between users like standard labelers, so we think it's best for personal use.

The labels used by this printer are a preset sticker size (which is the main feature we would change), so you may want to check out the Brother P-Touch Cube Plus if you need to print wider stickers in different configurations. It comes with tons of templates and customization options on the app though, and it's super compact, so we think it's a great option if you need something portable.

_{Type: Handheld | Storage Capacity: Not applicable | Power Source: Rechargeable battery | Max Label Width: 0.5 inches}

Best for Small Businesses

Dymo LabelManager 500TS

$209 at Amazon $304 at Office Depot $245 at Staples

The Dymo LabelManager 500TS Touch Screen Label Maker is the perfect label-making tool for small businesses. With a large color display and full QWERTY keyboard, it offers plenty of options to customize your labels with fonts and graphics and hundreds of built-in clip art images and symbols.

We think this top-of-the-line label maker is a great splurge option if your label printing needs go significantly beyond the basic. It's more than three times the price of the Dymo LabelManager 280 (our best overall recommendation), but it has a powerful feature set to match with extensive font and style options, a barcode generation feature, and fast thermal printing that's ideal for a small business setting where bulk labeling tasks come up often.

Despite its advanced feature set, we found this label maker to be quite easy to set up and use, with intuitive operation. We also liked that it props up on a built-in stand as opposed to laying flat for more comfortable tabletop use. That sets it apart from a lot of other label makers, and we think you'll really appreciate it when prepping bulk labels.

This label maker is technically portable, with a built-in rechargeable battery, and huge storage for 500 labels, but it's bulky enough that we prefer to use it on a table or desk. It also features connectivity for use with your computer for setting up more complicated designs, so you aren't limited to what you can do right on the device.

_{Type: Desktop | Storage Capacity: 500 labels | Power Source: Rechargeable battery | Max Label Width: 1 inch}

Best Desktop

Brother P-Touch Business Professional Connected Label Maker

$100 at Amazon $100 at Walmart $100 at Newegg.com

If you are specifically looking for a desktop labeler, the Brother P-Touch PT- D610BTVP Business Professional Connected Label Maker is our top choice. We want to be clear that we tested an older model, the Brother PTD600 PC-Connectable Labeler. That model has since been discontinued, but this newer replacement is similar enough that we feel confident recommending it.

The biggest difference between the model we tested and this one is that the latest version offers Bluetooth capabilities, along with a USB cable that gives you the option to print from a computer or mobile device like your phone. It still has a full QWERTY keyboard for on-the-spot printing, too, as well as a full-color screen and full QWERTY keyboard, plus an impressive selection of fonts and customizable lettering options. One of our favorite features from testing the Brother PTD600 was the ability to power it with an adapter or wirelessly with batteries, and we're happy to report that this is also available in the newer model.

When we tested the previous version, we were impressed with how it went above and beyond the basic functionality of its competitors, and we're glad to see that Brother has offered even more in its next iteration. While this is one of the pricier label makers on the market, we think the abundance of features makes it a reasonable value. However, if you want to protect your investment with the brand's hard-shell case, note that it's sold separately.

_{Type: Desktop | Storage Capacity: 90 labels | Power Source: Plug or 4 C batteries | Max Label Width: 1 inch}

Best for Worksites

Brother P-Touch Edge

$128 at Amazon View on Brother-usa.com View on Shop.com

The Brother P-Touch Edge Industrial Handheld Labeling Tool is ideal for construction job sites, workbenches, or garage organization projects. With a compact design, rechargeable battery, backup battery power source, and hard-shell carrying case, we were thoroughly impressed with this label maker right across the board. We also love the durability of the polyester labels it prints, which helps set it apart from the competition.

One potential downside to this label maker is that it is a bit too large to hold with one hand. It comes with a strap that makes it a little easier to carry around while keeping one or both hands free, but keep in mind you'll probably need to use both hands to actually design and print labels.

We like that this label maker features a QWERTY-style keyboard, which we found easy and comfortable to use. Creating labels with this label maker is very fast and easy, and you can also connect it to a desktop computer when needed if you ever want to create anything especially complicated. Even without leveraging that connectivity, we love that it includes a preview button that lets you check your work before printing.

_{Type: Handheld | Storage Capacity: Not listed | Power Source: Rechargeable battery or six AA batteries | Max Label Width: 0.62 inches}