How much does a label printer cost? Recommended Models
After seeing all the good and bad of a label printer, it is time to get down to work and specify which models are recommended, and at what approximate prices tend to move. In addition, in each case we will leave compatible and recommended consumables, that is, thermal labels.
As we will see, label printers have a price of between 50 and 500 euros, and obviously, we have to determine what are the best options for different uses and budgets.
Consumables are usually more expensive than A4 paper.
Phomemo PM-246 Pro, the cheap option for large labels
We start with a label printer that is within the affordable price range, as we are talking about one of the cheapest with support for 4 × 6 inches (101 × 152 mm) labels, which are simply the most used labels in the parcel.
It is capable of printing one per second and includes support to hold the label packages. To get them, there are many options on Amazon, and we can buy folding packages or rolls. Its price is around 15-20 euros for 500 labels, which would translate to approximately 8 cents per unit.
Keep in mind that this printer can not only handle 4 × 6 labels but also practically any size (smaller than 4 × 6, of course) that we can find on the market. Its versatility is a great strength, so we can label products and objects without any problem, not just packages.
Brother QL1110NWB, wireless connectivity to power
This is another printer that has the ability to print standard size shipping labels, and obviously smaller sizes. But what matters most to us here is its built-in WiFi connectivity, something almost no other thermal printer on the market has.
So, if you have to move around a lot with a laptop so that you can’t have a fixed computer connected to the printer, or if you want to print quickly from your mobile, this is your solution.
As for the consumables, this is a big point against this and other Brother thermal printers, and it is that they are prepared to accept their own rolls, something very bad considering their price. So, to get a 4 × 6 we have to pay € 33 for 180 pieces, that is, € 0.19 per label, which is more than double what we saw above.
NETUM NT-G5, ideal for labeling
Let’s continue with the NETUM NT-G5, a label printer whose differential characteristic is its portability, since it is quite small. In this case, it is ideal for product labeling. For example, the manufacturer proposes uses such as the following: labeling the information of a complete product, prices, barcodes and QR codes, identifying cables, etc.
This portability is accompanied by a lithium-ion battery that lasts from 3 to 5 hours, and compatibility with laptops and computers (Android or iOS, including connection by NFC).
Ideally, we will use this printer whenever we need to use relatively small labels, and where agility is paramount. Supported label sizes go up to 58mm wide. Rolls should be used, and this is a supported example:
Dymo LetraTag LT-100H, the cheap printer for mini-labels
We finish this list of label printers with the cheapest and smallest model, which helps us to label products as quickly and simply as possible, as it has a full keyboard on which we can write what we want to print.
As for its consumables, we find very cheap thermal paper packages, with several batches, like this one:
Of course, this printer (like almost all of the above) already comes with a thermal roll in the box.
Finally, it should be noted that Dymo is a leading company when it comes to label printers, the 4XL being one of its best models:
Final words and conclusion about label printers
Label printers are a staple for many businesses, but they can actually also be an excellent investment for many individuals who ship a lot on a monthly basis, or who have a great need to better organize their things at home.
And, as we have seen, thermal printers give us a series of very important advantages:
- Its printing speed is very high, which is combined with a totally silent operation, thanks to the lack of any mechanical head.
- If we use one of these printers for parcel or organization, it is much more comfortable to print on a paper with adhesive, than to have to cut out normal sheets and glue them.
- The non – dependence of the ink is something that can go very profitable.
- The results that a label printer gives us are infinitely more professional than a normal A4 print.
