Best Shipping Label Printer for Shipping Packages in 2021
Are you ready to invest in a shipping label printer for your online business? Whether you’re reselling items on marketplaces like Ebay, Poshmark, or Mercari, or you started a shopify store, have an etsy shop for your handmade products, etc. having a shipping label printer can be a huge time saver. But which is the best shipping label printer for shipping packages?
As someone who has been selling online for over 10 years, I can say that having a shipping label printer isn’t a MUST have when you’re just starting. But once you’re at the point where you can start to invest some money into your business, spending a little money on a shipping label printer is totally worth it. Plus it’s tax deductible!
In this post, I’m going to quickly go over three different thermal shipping label printers. There are plenty more out there which you can easily find on places like Amazon, but in my opinion these are the ones you need to know about. But first…
What is a thermal shipping label printer?
Thermal printers use thermal heat to transfer ink pigment to the label. This means that you don’t have to use any ink or toner, saving you the cost and hassle of having to buy and replace cartridges. Because of this, you need to make sure you’re using thermal labels with your thermal printer, but it’s totally worth it to not have to deal with the hassle of ink or toner.
Top 3 Best Shipping Label Printers
FreeX Wifi Termal Label Printer
I just recently switched over to the FreeX Wifi Thermal Label Printer after they sent me one to try out and I could not love it more! The most impressive feature is that you can print over WiFi. That means you don’t have to plug your computer into your label printer each time you want to print a label. If you work from a laptop, this can be a wonderful feature! I personally work from a desktop so the WiFI feature isn’t important to me personally, but I have a lot of people who ask me about a wifi label printer so here it is!
PROS
- Wireless via Wifi
- Great for those who want to run their business from phone or tablet
- Thermal (no need to ink or toner)
- Super roll label holder holds a roll of 600 4×6 labels (available on their website)
CONS
- Takes a bit more time to set up via wifi
- It is a bit bigger than the other label printers I’ve had, but nothing crazy
Dymo 4XL
I used the Dymo 4XL for close to 5 years and it did it’s job just great! It’s been one of the most popular label printers for shipping labels for a long time. The only reason I made the switch is because FreeX sent me one of their label printers to try out and I loved the wifi option so after testing it out for a bit, I decided to stick with it. Plus, one of the cons with the Dymo is sometimes I get errors when installing a new roll so I’m excited to leave that behind. Overall, though, it did a good job!
PROS
- Thermal (no need to buy ink or toner)
- Works with windows and mac
- Labels sit inside printer (compact)
- You can use off-brand labels
CONS
- First time set up is a bit more complicated (not quite plug and play)
- Dymo says you need to use their labels (you don’t)
- Occasional errors when installing a new roll (here’s a video on how to fix it)
DYMO 1755120 LabelWriter 4XL Thermal Label Printer
DYMO LabelWriter 4XL Thermal Label Printer (1755120) plus 1 bonus Shipping Roll 1755120Dasher Products Shipping Labels Compatible with Dymo LabelWriter 4XL 1744907 4×6 Thermal Postage Labels, Water & Grease Resistant, Ultra Strong Adhesive, Perforated, BPA Free, 220 Labels/Roll (4 Pack)
ROLLO Label Printer
The ROLLO label printer seems to be one of the most popular options among resellers right now. Why? I think it’s because it’s simple to use, the labels are cheap, and it prints fast. It’s really all you need.
PROS
- Thermal printer (no buying ink or toner)
- Can use any brand thermal labels
- Self-installs when plugged in
- Works with both windows and mac
CONS
- Labels sit behind the printer, not inside
- If you want to use roll labels, you’ll need a dispenser
- No wifi capabilities
ROLLO Label Printer – Commercial Grade Direct Thermal High Speed Printer – Compatible with Etsy, eBay, Amazon – Barcode Printer – 4×6 PrinterROLLO Thermal Direct Shipping Label (Pack of 500 4×6 Fan-Fold Labels) – Commercial GradeROLLO Label Holder for Rolls and Fan-Fold Labels
What is the best shipping label printer?
It’s truly going to depend on what your needs are, to be honest. If you want wifi capabilities and the option of a 600 roll of labels (so you don’t have to switch them out as much), then the FreeX Wifi Label Printer will be your best bet. If that’s not important, then you can go with the Rollo. I don’t dislike the Dymo, but I don’t necessarily think it’s better than the other two at this point.
Frequently Asked Questions: Shipping Label Printers
Before making a big purchase for your business, like a shipping label printer, it’s natural to want to do all the research and ask questions. Below are some common questions that I get asked about label printers as someone who ships packages regularly.
Can you use a regular printer for shipping labels?
Of course! Most resellers and online sellers start with just printing with a regular printer. You can get half sheet labels from Amazon and print them from a regular printer. However, when you get to the point where you’re printing several labels a day, or if you don’t already have a printer, a label printer is a wise investment.
How much does it cost to print a shipping label?
It depends on the thermal shipping label printer that you use. You have to factor in the cost of the labels themselves, and if you want to be even more accurate, you can factor in the cost of the shipping label printer over time.
Is it cheaper to print your own shipping label?
In most cases, it’s much cheaper to print your own shipping label than to go to the post office, FedEx, or UPS store to ship your packages. Not only do you generally get better rates from Ebay, Poshmark, Mercari, Etsy, etc., but you can save a lot of time just printing your labels at home and dropping packages off or scheduling a pick up.
Where to buy shipping labels
The best place to buy shipping labels is usually Amazon. If you’re in a pickle and need labels fast because you ran out (this has happened to me a few times), you can also check with local office supply stores like Office Depot or Staples. Make sure you check their price match policy, because sometimes they will price match to Amazon prices which will provide pretty good savings on your shipping labels.
Buying a shipping label printer for your reselling or other online business is a great idea if you have the funds to do so! Not only do shipping label printers
I really like this review! What would you recommend for a wireless thermal printer option?
I learned much from this article. It was cut off however, mid-sentence, and so I hadn’t been able to read it in its entirety. Thank you for all the great information! I am brand new to this. I have to minimize as I will be moving from a house, to a smaller-sized apartment. I’ve got so very many good items to sell. I figured online would be my best platform. As far as Poshmark, I’d thought that they are primarily a clothing resale site.
I love how you give pros and cons for each printer! Having a good reliable printer is one of the most important things for a reseller. I have found that it is a lot cheaper to print my labels from home, and it saves me a ton of time. Thank you for this great information!