The biggest difference? 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. These look great on homemade produce in glass jars or bottles. They’re easy to peel and have a quality adhesive that is also water resistant. Portability: While using it, we also took note of its portability: how heavy the label maker is and how much space it actually takes up.

The alphabetical keyboard makes it easy to type what you want the label to say and you can see, at a glance, exactly how the font you’ve chosen will look. You can then change the size of the font, make it emboldened, italicise it, add one of 195 symbols, and more. The VC-500W can print from Windows PCs and both Android and iOS phones and tablets. Image quality for graphics and text was excellent in our tests, offering vibrant color, minimal graininess, and respectable detail, the last thanks to the 313dpi resolution. Photos were also acceptable, though not a match for the best Zink photo printers. The label tapes come in four widths from 9mm to 50mm (0.37 to 1.97 inches) wide, at continuous lengths of 16.4 feet. Who It's For Rechargeable batteries are typically the most convenient and sustainable power source for your label maker—particularly portable ones. Rather than separately purchasing and replacing the batteries, you can recharge your label maker as needed. While overall we prefer rechargeable models, battery-powered label makers like the Brother P-Touch Easy Handheld Label Maker are compact and portable, giving you the flexibility to label without wondering where the nearest outlet is for recharging.

Best for cute design: Bunnyboo mini thermal printer

If you are specifically hoping to organize your living space, the Epson LabelWorks PX 300 Label Maker is a superb choice. As we tested, we noticed there are several preloaded fonts, and it also allows you to add customizable text styles, icons, and banners. (Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty!) Different label printers support different tapes and rolls, as well as various width ranges and materials. Rotary-style keyboard: This type of keyboard is not as time-efficient, but typically costs less and condenses the label maker's keyboard into a rotating wheel. For example, our best budget recommendation, the Dymo Organizer Xpress Pro Embossing Label Maker, has a rotary-style design.

When we tested the previous version, we gave it high marks for going above and beyond the basic functionality of some of its peers, 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. Some label printers print using ink and toner, while others use embossing to make their mark - and both can be pretty cheap. In addition to handheld options with standard QWERTY keyboards, you can also opt for a Bluetooth model that connects directly to the keyboard on your phone or computer for convenient typing. While this allows for more creative flexibility, some people prefer to use just one device—in that case, an integrated keyboard is preferable.

With hundreds of designer-made templates, we have taken the guesswork out of spacing, formatting and font pairing—so you can focus on growing your business.

Brother's tapes (up to 12mm) can be used with this P-touch model and are available in up to 60 colour and size combinations.If you want a straightforward label maker that will get the job done, opt for the Dymo Embossing Label Maker. This retro machine is reliable and relatively easy to maneuver once you get the hang of it. Though there’s a bit of a learning curve with manual typing, it still won out over the other affordable options we considered. The best part is that it can print up to three lines and comes with over 30 preloaded fonts and 1,600 symbols. The Bluetooth-compatible app is also capable of batch printing, making this a great choice for small businesses as well. The parts that you do not require metallic we have to create a white base layer on the artwork, this is achieved by creating a separate layer on your artwork, named “white” and anywhere our press finds this colour it will print white toner beneath the CMYK artwork. A personal favourite of Mrs Hinch, if it’s a simple, fuss-free label maker you’re after, the Dymo Omega home embossing label maker is cheap, cheerful and perfect for basic labelling. If you've got grand plans to declutter your home and streamline your storage system in the months ahead, a labelling machine is an essential bit of kit.