12 Best Rated Label Makers – In-Depth Reviews

I f you hate clutter and wish you had your stuff more organized, then you clearly need a label maker in your life. Labeled items are easier to store, organize, and find. Many people choose to brand everything because they want to keep their things in order and easily reachable at all times. Label printers allow you to put tags on boxes and containers to make it less cumbersome to find specific objects, but you can also use them to enhance and decorate crafts and gifts.

The best units can also be used for industrial purposes, being greatly efficient in branding all sorts of items at the workplace. If you are still not convinced of the utility of these small yet convenient devices, you will surely have a different perspective after you take a look at our chart.

Top 12 Label Makers Compared

Photo	Product Name	Printing Technology	Label Width	Fonts and Styles	Printer Output	Memory	Max Print Lines	Price
Best Overall	1. Epson LabelWorks LW-300	Thermal Printing	0.5”	14 fonts, 10 styles, 300+ symbols	Multicolor	30 Labels	2	Check Price
Our Choice	2. Brother QL-700	Thermal Printing	2.5”	N/A	Monochrome	0 Labels	3	Check Price
Best for Home Organization	3. DYMO LabelManager 280	Dot Matrix	1/4″, 3/8″ and 1/2”	6 font sizes, 7 text styles, 4 boxes, 200+ symbols	Multicolor	9 Labels	2	Check Price
	4. Brother PT-D400	Thermal Printing	0.7”	14 fonts, 10 font styles, 600+ symbols	Monochrome	50 Labels	3	Check Price
	5. DYMO LabelWriter 450 Turbo	Thermal Printing	2.2”	N/A	Monochrome	20 Labels	4	Check Price
Best for Electricians	6. Brady BMP21-PLUS	Thermal Printing	0.75”	6 fonts, 100+ symbols	Monochrome	16 Mb	4	Check Price
Best for Crafters	7. Brother P-Touch PT-D210	Thermal Printing	0.5”	14 fonts, 97 frames, 600+ symbols	Monochrome	30 Labels	2	Check Price
	8. DYMO LabelManager 160	Thermal Printing	1/4″, 3/8″ and 1/2”	1 font,8 styles, 200+ symbols	Monochrome	Last Label	2	Check Price
Best for Teachers	9. DYMO LetraTag LT-100H Plus	Thermal Printing	0.5”	5 font sizes, 7 print styles, 8 box styles	Monochrome	9 Labels	2	Check Price
	10. Brother P-Touch PTH110	Thermal Printing	0.5”	3 Fonts, 14 Frames, 250+ Symbols	Monochrome	12 Labels	2	Check Price
	11. PUQU Wireless Printer	Thermal Printing	2”	N/A	Black and White	N/A	3	Check Price
	12. Casio KL-60	Dye Sublimation	0.5″ 0.35″, and 0.23″	151 Alpha characters, 10 Numbers, 46 Symbols	Monochrome	N/A	1	Check Price

1. Epson LabelWorks LW-300

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Epson is a reputable brand that delivers some of the best and most durable electronics, including a series of labeling machines. The LW-300 is a model that really knows how to combine functionality and variety. It’s small in size but hides many features under that compact housing.

Freedom in movement

It works on batteries, which is great if you want a portable device that you can take anywhere you want without needing a power outlet nearby. Moreover, you can buy the power adapter separately to make it a plug-powered device without having to change batteries. The double power source is a true advantage that will offer you increased freedom in using it. Also, keep in mind that it can’t be linked to a computer because it doesn’t offer any type of connectivity.

Put a label on anything

It uses thermal transfer that eliminates the need to buy ink cartridges and offers fast results. Simply insert the desired words or text from the wide choice of fonts ad styles contained. It offers 14 fonts, 10 styles, and over 300 symbols so you can brand anything you want. The maximum width is not the biggest, only half an inch, but you can print 2 lines on your tags, like with most devices.

The specialty prints include glow-in-the-dark tags, reflective tags, decorative and iron-on tapes so you can extend the use of your tagging to decorating and crafting, not only organizing. Unfortunately, it doesn’t brand barcodes or pipes, which would have been useful. However, it can memorize 30 tags so you can keep records of the most used ones.

The keyboard is very large so you can easily press the desired keys and make your writing selections that will be shown on the large screen. The menu is available in seven languages, like English, French, Spanish, so the printer can be used by anyone. You will find it extremely simple to maneuver even if it’s your first time using a machine like this. It is covered by a 1-year limited warranty and comes with a set of sample tape cassettes to start branding at any time.

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2. Brother QL-700

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A small yet powerful machine that enables you to produce up to 93 tags per minute, the QL-700 stands among our favorite for all the right reasons. First off, it enables you to produce cost-effective tags for packages, banners, wrappers, envelopes, CDs, and more. It doesn’t just make plain rectangular tags, but also rounded, easy-peel, and pre-sized tags.

As it is a future-forward product, it includes an automatic cutter that ensures precise cuts when you print multiple tags at a time. As the resolution it offers is 300 by 600 dpi, the prints you do with it will feature crisp graphics and text. It makes continuous-length paper printing so much easier, on tapes up to 3’ long. You just have to insert the roll and wait for the machine to automatically adjust the tag template to its specifications, which ensures utter ease of use.

You can connect it to a PC using the included USB cable and import designs or elements you have created using Microsoft Word, Excel, or Outlook. Best of all, there’s no software required to use it for importing from the computer.

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3. DYMO LabelManager 280

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If you like to stay neat and organized, you need to brand your belongings, that is a given. With this device, you will easily print out durable tags that are water-resistant. Over 200 signs and 6 font sizes, 7 text styles, and 4 boxes are included in the list of options. It can print 2 lines and you can memorize 9 of your most-common tag so you can have quick access to them.
You can use the accompanying USB cable to connect the machine to your computer, thus being granted access to its powerful editing capabilities which include barcodes, graphics, and fonts.

It features a computer-style key panel which makes it easy to enter and edit any test you want. Furthermore, its fast-formatting keys ensure that it will be a speedy process altogether.
To make sure that the tag coming out will suit your expectations, there is a large screen where you can preview it before printing. Seeing how the machine is actually powered by a rechargeable battery, you get to save money in the long run as no battery replacement is required.

Best of all, you can even power and charge it directly using an AC power adapter that you can buy separately. Additionally, the manufacturing company backs it with a pretty lengthy 1-year warranty, so you need not worry about repairs or an eventual replacement costing you a cent.

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4. Brother PT-D400

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Another Brother entry we confidently recommend you try out as it comes at a reasonable price while delivering the quality performance this brand has accustomed us all with by this point, it is an acquisition worth every cent. It measures 12.2 inches in width by 3.8 inches in depth by 8.8 inches in height and weighs only 1.61 pounds, which means that maneuvering, as well as storing it won’t be problematic at all. It is compatible with tapes measuring 3.5, 6, 9, 12, or 18 millimeters in width, and the maximum print resolution it supports is 180 DPI.

It can print at a maximum speed of 20 mm per second to output your tags as fast as possible and not waste any of your precious time. It can print on a maximum of 2 lines and provides a whopping 99 text frame types to pick from.

It puts 14 fonts at your disposal, as well as 11 font styles. There are 4 font sizes that you can pick between, including small, medium, large, extra-large, and 10 built-in designs to make your tags unique. Besides, its memory can stock 50 labels. The horizontal alignment settings include left, right, center, and justified. When it comes to backing, Brother supports the product and warrants it on parts and labor during the first 2 years after you acquire it.

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5. DYMO LabelWriter 450 Turbo

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If you need a compact machine that you can use at home or work, you can go with the DYMO 450 Turbo that is one of the fastest and most accessible units out there. It can brand anything from customized graphics to address tags and barcodes. Unlike other printers that use toner or ink cartridges, this one uses thermal printing that eliminates the costs and mess of dealing with cartridges. This is a very compact device that can be easily moved and used whenever needed, provided that there is a computer nearby because the 450 Turbo only works when connected to a PC. After all, it doesn’t have a screen or a keyboard incorporated.

When hooked to a computer, you can print directly from any program like Word or Excel and it’s compatible with all the newest operating systems from iOS or Windows. The printer releases 71 tags per minute, at a dizzying speed and it can write 4 lines on each tag, which is something you hardly see in other printers. For the most stress-free operating, a DYMO Stamps software has been included so you can obtain USPS-approved postage tags so you can cut on your postage expenses. In the box, you will find a roll of address tags, a USB cable, a power cable, and a useful guide to using it with any PC or Mac device.

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6. Brady BMP21-PLUS

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This handheld printer has been crafted to provide you with versatility. It can create 4-line tags that can be used for wires, circuit boards, or other industrial work-related needs. You can use this machine in tough outdoors or construction sites because it has been crafted with rubber edges to resist high-impact falls. Also, there are no gaps for dust or debris to fall between the keys, so you can trust it to work flawlessly even after a long time.

The keyboard has letters from A to Z and numbers between 0 and 9, as well as numerous signs. The LCD will display a preview of the tag before printing so you don’t waste paper. Furthermore, 6 font sizes are varying from 6 to 40 points and 100 symbols to pick from. Hence, you can create numerous personalized tags that will help you become more organized. The print resolution is 203 dpi and the maximum width of the label can be 0.75-inch or a minimum of 0.25-inch.

Since this product offers you versatility, you can make it operate through 6 AA batteries or by plugging it in. Whatever you choose depends on the environment you find yourself in. Unlike the other models, this one can implement the time and date on the label and print barcodes.

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7. Brother P-Touch PT-D210

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You’ve probably heard about Brother sewing machines but what you most likely didn’t know is that you can also find a tagging machine designed by this popular manufacturer. The P-Touch model is one of the most appreciated for its intuitive interface and wide range of features. It’s a standalone thermal transfer printer with a generous LCD and a QWERTY key panel that offers 14 fonts, 10 writing styles, 97 frames, and over 600 symbols for the most varied tags. You can also choose one of the 27 patterns and just press print to have a tag ready.

Thanks to the very compact size, you can always take it with you to the office, use it at home, or borrow it to a friend. It works on batteries but if you wish, you can buy a power cord and plug it in to make it more versatile. A carrying case is also available for purchase and it helps you keep all your tools and accessories at hand.

The resulted tags are water-resistant and can even be placed at extreme temperatures and they won’t fade away. An impressive number of features is at your service to help you design any label, tag, iron-on tape, or ID you might need. If you wish, you can choose the vertical printing that is very useful for tagging folders, mirror printing, or color printing. You can make up to 9 copies and the printer will memorize a generous number of 30 tags in its built-in memory. We end the list of advantages with the 1-year warranty and the prompt customer support.

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8. DYMO LabelManager 160

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This model helps you leave a mark on the world as it provides a fast and easy manner to produce labels. As it features ingenious one-touch fast-formatting keys for commands like bold, italics, boxed, underline, and vertical, you can print and edit perfect labels that look as professional as it can get conveniently.

Regardless of your organizational needs, the DYMO LabelManager 160 is sure to do the trick for you as it puts at your disposal 8 text styles, 6 font sizes, 228 symbols, and clip-art images, as well as 4 boxed plus underline. One of its most convenient features is the last-label memory that automatically uses the last design so that you won’t have to re-type or re-edit text and graphics. It is compatible with tags that measure 1/4”, 3/8”, or 1/2” in width and you should use water-resistant DYMO D1 and IND labels.

Due to the large-size LCD featured, you get a clear preview of how the label looks so that you more easily decide if the design satisfies you or not. What adds to convenience in use is the portable design it boasts as you can take it with you anywhere you go without much hassle. It requires 6 AAA batteries to run or an optional AC adapter that you must acquire separately and to help extend battery life, it automatically shuts off if it hasn’t been used in a while. Thus, even if you tend to be neglectful, it has you covered when it comes to battery power. Furthermore, DYMO backs it with a 1-year warranty against defects.

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9. DYMO LetraTag LT-100H Plus

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Handheld models have the advantage of being easily portable so they can be used for instant labeling. This one from DYMO is very compact, lightweight, and easy to use. Despite the small dimensions, it has a 13-characters screen and a complete ABC keyboard so you can write using up to 195 symbols, 5 fonts, and 15 different styles on tags measuring 0.5” wide. 3 pieces of white paper, transparent plastic and white plastic tapes are included with the device so you can use it immediately as you buy it.

You can either power it with batteries if you need to take it with you or you can plug it into a standard outlet, just remember that it can’t be connected to a PC. You will know when the batteries need to be replaced thanks to the Low Battery indicator.

To save energy, there is an Auto Shut-off feature that turns it off after a few minutes of standby. It can be used to brand white paper, white plastic, and transparent plastic, and it comes with a roll of each so you will have everything you need to start tagging. Therefore, you can use it to create customized tags and to organize things in your house fast and easy. Thanks to the generous 3-year warranty, you will know that it is designed to last and to work impeccably no matter how many tags you plan to create with it.

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10. Brother P-Touch PTH110

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As it features a simplistic QWERTY keyboard, you will have an easy time using it to brand your belongings. It even includes one-touch keys that offer you fast and easy access to size, style, frames, and font, so that you may more conveniently select the settings you need. It is compatible with TZe tapes that measure up to 0.5 inches or 12 millimeters, the 4 width it offers including 3.5 millimeters, 6 millimeters, 9 millimeters, and 12 millimeters. It allows you to enter up to 15 characters as this is the maximum allowed by its LCD.

The maximum print resolution it provides is 180px, while it is capable of printing out with a high speed of 20 millimeters per second. In terms of tape type compatibility, it works with extra-strength adhesive, non-laminated iron-on fabric, standard laminated and flexible ID. It measures 4.3 inches in width, 2.2 inches in height, and 8 inches in length, so you will conveniently walk around with it to brand everything you need. To properly personalize the tags, you have 3 fonts, 14 frames, and over 250 symbols to pick between. Furthermore, there is a 1-year warranty provided for it by the manufacturing company.

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11. PUQU Wireless Printer

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You will be happy to know that you can forget about the flimsy models that are full of glitches and get frequently stuck. You will be able to get neat, clear price labels, cable levels, jewelry labels, and much more. You will get easy, fast, and consistent printing of all your tags up to 2.0” x 3.2”. The thermal printing technology will eliminate the costs of replacement inks and cartridge repairs. Also, there’s no need to purchase batteries because this model use a rechargeable type.

It’s small and easily transportable, so it can be used at home or at work. Even more, it can assist your business by designing price tags or ingredients labels, as it can write a maximum of three lines. Unlike previous models working on AC or using a PC, this one needs to be linked to your phone. While it doesn’t look like the most reliable product, know the fact that it connects easily and fast. All you will need is your smartphone and a good internet connection. The superior Bluetooth connectivity will allow you to control the unit through the app that accompanies it.

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12. Casio KL-60

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This 4-digit per line model is quite popular as it is available for a reasonable price. On the large LCD, you can check out the typed text to make sure the label will turn out alright. As there is only one font available with it, you are a bit limited when it comes to the style of the prints produced with it. However, it makes up for this flaw in other departments as it features 46 symbols, 10 numbers, and 151 alpha characters that you can choose between to customize labels as you like. The print head boasts a maximum 5-millimeter height and a 160 DPI resolution.

When you use 9-millimeter or 12-millimeter paper with it, the Casio KL-60 can even print on 2 lines, which is an impressive feat considering the cheap asking price it comes at that might initially have you thinking it is limited and simplistic. Besides these two paper size formats, it can print 6-millimeter labels as well. Of course, it features the QWERTY keyboard you are surely accustomed to by this point so that you type the text quickly and familiarly. Moreover, because it prints at a high speed of 5 millimeters per second, you are sure to produce as many labels as you need in record time. Furthermore, it handles a total of 14 international languages and features an English message function.

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Special Entry – For Industrial Use

Brady BBP31

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Without a doubt, the most reliable is this model from Brady that is designed to print on over 16 types of materials, including polyester, magnetic polyester, reflective tape, photoluminescent tape, or vinyl.

It can create glow-in-the-dark tags, pipe tags, signs, tags, or even Ids since it can print barcodes. Although it doesn’t print in colors, it can be used with colored tags. This is a desk machine that is slightly bigger than other models, the reason for which it’s hardly portable.

Comprehensible

It incorporates a touchscreen display and a large QWERTY key panel that helps you easily choose between 5 font styles and over 240 signs and symbols. It can work for 8 hours per day and it delivers around 600 small or 300 large tags.

One of its biggest advantages is that it’s very easy to use, despite the numerous features that might seem cumbersome. Changing the material takes around 20 seconds and it offers the possibility to print multiple copies at a time.

It also memorizes several tags so you can create a list of the most popular ones. The tags resulted can vary in size, starting with 0.5 inches and all the way to 4 inches in width and it can write 2 lines on each tag.

Practical

Before actually printing the writing, you can choose to preview the tags and make sure it is perfect, with no errors, so you won’t waste any material. You can either connect it to a computer and use the integrated apps or operate it as a standalone printer in case you don’t have a computer at hand.

It comes with a full set of accessories including a cutter cleaning tool, the required cables, a cleaning kit, a stylus, and a user guide. The warranty for this high-end device is 5 years and you will enjoy all the customer support you need.

The Utility of Labeling Things

While some devices are considered indispensable, others are used less often so they aren’t considered exactly useful without looking deeper into their advantages. They might seem useless at some point if you don’t realize their functionality. Believe it or not, this small gadget can make your life easier and more organized. What mainly makes tags useful is the way they help you sort, arrange, and find things when you need them. Clutter is awful and once it takes over the pantry, the office, or the closet, it’s hard to get rid of it. Children tend to misplace their things and adults can also make a mess while trying to organize their stuff.

• Branded boxes can help you put all your things in order so that you will always know what’s inside a box without having to take a look inside of it. You can sort your clothes, your paperwork, your personal items, things you rarely use and put them in boxes that will say what each of them contains.
• Things that don’t go in boxes can also be branded so you won’t have a hard time finding them. For instance, you can put a tag on a switch so you won’t press the wrong one again, or you can brand the phone chargers to make sure you use the right charger with each device you own. Power cables can also be tagged to make it easier for you to plug and unplug the right one.
• In the kitchen, you will probably use it very often to sort your spices and all your ingredients. Most machines use paper but some can write on plastic so you can make water-proof and non-fading tags that you can store in the cabinets or in the freezer to prevent clutter. If you brand jars and casseroles, you can even wash them and the tags won’t be damaged.
• You can use the machine for fun projects as well. It can be used for scrapbooks, gift tags, crafts, and message cards that you can use in many ways. A lot of DIY projects include a labeling machine. Another great thing about a good machine is that it can tag addresses that you can use for your mail. The best ones also brand barcodes that can be very helpful at work.

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Buying Guide

Now that you discovered how useful tagging can be, it’s time you get a tag maker so you can create as many as you need. To make sure you buy the right one, there are some things you ough to know about how they work and the features they offer.

Writing options

• The more styles, signs, and fonts a device has, the better because you will be able to write anything you want on your tags. As such, look for models with a generous keyboard and plenty of symbols, frames, and patterns that will help you decorate your tags.

Printing speed

• You wouldn’t want to wait forever for a tag to be ready so it’s important to find a printer that is fast and prompt. The ones we have studied have a very quick response to commands and can print at high speeds, like 3” per second. Also, it’s best to look for a model that can make multiple copies and can memorize a certain tag, thus making it easier for you to print at a future time.

Number of lines

• You might need to print larger tags at some point so it’s best to look for a model that can write more than one line per tag. The best models can print even 4 lines so you can make more detailed tags, but most of the models you will find can print 2 lines per tag, which should do it.

Power source

• This can also be an important feature because it will allow you to use the machine in any situation. Those that only work with a power cord are not portable so you won’t be able to use them anywhere you need, while printers that work solely on batteries could run out of power at any time. Therefore, the best choice is a combination of the two power sources that will guarantee you will be able to take your printer anywhere.

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Rating Our Picks

• Printing technology

  Usually, printers use ink or toner to print writing or an image on a piece of paper. The printers nowadays use a thermal transfer printing method that is a digital technology that involves melting a ribbon coating on a piece of material so that it will stay glued to it.
  It’s a very resistant method that ensures the resulted tags will not fade away in time. For added durability, they use the thermal transfer to laminate the material, be it paper or plastic, so that the printed image will last even more.

• PC connection

  Although not essential for the proper operating of the printer, the possibility to connect it to a computer extends its range of use. First of all, you can use it faster and in a much easier manner. Secondly, you can print tags directly from PC programs like Word or Excel. The best machines are the ones that can be connected to a computer but also work as standalone units so they are easily portable.

• Printing variety

  We looked for devices with a wide range of writing options, starting with a variety of materials to print on. For example, the Brady BBP31 can print on over 16 different materials, including paper, plastic, reflective tape, or iron-on tape. The extended range of materials followed by a plethora of signs and styles are what make the printer truly useful and functional.

• Accessories

  Aside from the printer itself, you will also need some additional equipment and it’s always best to get it in the package so you won’t have to spend any more money afterward. This is why we looked for printers that come with all the necessary accessories like printing tapes, software CDs, cables, and user manuals.

• Warranty

  The more money you pay for a device, the longer you wish to be protected by the warranty so it’s vital to look for a product designed by a manufacturer that stands behind it. We chose products that come with warranties ranging from 1 year to 5 years. This way, we could be certain that the purchase was warranted by prompt customer service for a very long time.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Conclusion

You probably are convinced by now that you need a device to help you create tags for items at home or at the workplace. In case you need some extra assistance in picking a model, we made a short chart of the most popular items based on their main particularities. This will make it simpler for you to decide which one you need, considering what it can be used for.

Best Overall: Epson LabelWorks LW-300

Costlier but worth every cent, it boasts a more modern design and functionality. As it can memorize up to 30 tags, you can call your favorite designs that you use most often at the simple touch of a button. Its key highlight is versatility as it includes specialty prints so that you can use it to make iron-on tapes, reflective tags, and more. It provides numerous writing styles and symbols, so there isn’t anything that you won’t be able to write with it.

Editor’s Choice: Brother QL-700

It’s no wonder that this product is our favorite, considering it’s a forward-thinking device that can be connected to a computer, thus making your tagging much easier. It can write on three lines so you can create tags as wide as 2.5”, being the largest width we have encountered in the models analyzed. Its versatility extends to the point where it can make barcodes using the personalized editing program compatible with Windows.

Best Label Maker for Home Organization: DYMO LabelManager 280

This small-size tag maker is the perfect pick for use at home as you can store it in a drawer and take it out whenever you need it. It can instantly print labels of various widths so you won’t have trouble labeling the kitchen, the pantry, the office, or the kids’ room. It can memorize the top 9 labels you use most often so you can access them at the touch of a button. Moreover, if you want more complex tags, it can be connected to a PC and you can get creative.

Best Label Maker for Electricians: Brady BMP21-PLUS

This small-size tag maker is the perfect pick for use at home as you can store it in a drawer and take it out whenever you need it. It can instantly print labels of various widths so you won’t have trouble labeling the kitchen, the pantry, the office, or the kids’ room. It can memorize the top 9 labels you use most often so you can access them at the touch of a button. Moreover, if you want more complex tags, it can be connected to a PC and you can get creative.

Best Label Maker for Crafters: Brother P-Touch PT-D210

A fan favorite by definition, this model provides a staggering 27 templates, over 600 signs, 14 font sizes, 97 frames, and 10 writing styles to let you customize each tag the way you like to. You can design gift cards, appreciation notes, clothes tags, and it will be much easier for you to organize your props and supplies by clearly labeling boxes and containers. Best of all, it’s one of the most affordable options, so there’s no denying its worthiness.

Best Label Maker for Teachers: DYMO LetraTag LT-100H Plus

If you work with kids and you need a tag making machine for use at school, this is an excellent option mainly due to its affordable price and the diversity of fonts, signs, and styles it can offer. It’s small, so it will be comfortable to take to class, and it will help you create games and educational activities for all your pupils. It can memorize 9 of your most commonly-printed tags and it can print on white or transparent tape.