Five best desktop shipping label printers for small business in 2024

Online shopping has become increasingly popular, and customers now expect fast and reliable delivery services. In fact, ensuring timely and accurate delivery has become a crucial aspect of online retail. Using a professional label printer to create your labels is the best way to make sure that your parcels are delivered quickly to the correct address. Professional thermal label printers are designed to produce labels that are easy to read and scan and are resistant to damage. A scannable barcode allows for the parcel to be tracked and monitored throughout its journey, reducing the risk of delay or mis-delivery.

Does your small business need a shipping label printer? 

A label printer can be a useful investment for small businesses that need to organise inventory, improve efficiency, enhance branding and ship products:

1. Small businesses that sell products can use a label printer to organise their inventory. By printing labels with product information such as item number, description and price, it’s easier to keep track of what’s in stock and where it’s located. 
2. Printing labels with a label printer is faster and more efficient than handwriting them. This can save time and reduce the likelihood of errors, which can be especially important if your business is dealing with a large volume of products or shipments.
3. A label printer can help small businesses create professional-looking labels that showcase their branding. This can help products stand out and reinforce the business’s brand identity.
4. A shipping label printer for small businesses can help streamline the shipping process and ensure that orders are delivered accurately and on time. 

Is investing in a thermal label printer worth it? 

Well yes in short. Investing in a thermal label printer can actually save you money in the long run by eliminating the need for ink cartridges and third-party printing services. 

Additionally, if you opt for a thermal label printer that’s compatible with Royal Mail labels, you can apply for a free supply of Royal Mail thermal labels. To learn more about how switching to thermal printing can boost your brand, check out our blog post.

Can you print address labels on any printer?  

It is possible to print labels on a standard printer. However, it does come with its challenges and can slow down processes due to the effort required to cut the labels and secure them to the package. 

Many e-commerce businesses choose to use a specialised address label printer because they look more professional and there is less risk of printing the labels incorrectly. Opting for an address label printer can ultimately save time and effort too, removing the need for guesswork. 

How to choose the best label printers for shipping packages

Before investing in a shipping label printer, it’s important to evaluate your requirements and ensure that the printer can meet them. Here are the key specifications you should consider: 

• Print resolution. The print resolution of a label printer is measured in dots per inch (DPI), with higher DPI resulting in better print quality. The most common DPI values for label printers are 203 and 300 DPI.  
• Connectivity. Label printers can connect to your network via cable (USB, serial, Ethernet) or wireless options such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. To print labels from your mobile device, choose a printer with wireless connectivity. 
• Label size. Label printers are designed for various purposes, including printing shipping labels. These printers typically print labels at a width of 4 inches, which fits a standard 6x4 inch label. 

• Print method. Thermal printers use either the direct thermal or thermal transfer method to print labels. Direct thermal printers print labels using heat alone, while thermal transfer printers require heat-sensitive ribbons with ink. Thermal transfer printers are more durable and larger, making them a better option for businesses that whip high volumes of packages. 

Which thermal printer should I choose for my shipping labels? 

With so many options available, finding the right label printer can be overwhelming, even if you know what you’re looking for. At The Barcode Warehouse, we sell thousands of label and postage printers each year and have consulted with our product experts to identify the top five shipping label printers for small businesses. Let us help you make an informed decision and find the perfect printer for your needs. 

1. Zebra ZSB

The Zebra ZSB is a compact, affordable and easy-to-use label printer, which makes it a great option for your micro or small business. Here are some of the reasons why we love it: 

• It integrates seamlessly with popular e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Shopify and Etsy, making it easy to print shipping labels for your orders. 
• The ZSB printer is compatible with all major shipping carriers like Royal Mail (including Click and Drop), FedEx, UPS, Evri and DPD. 
• Make sure to choose the 4-inch model if you need to print shipping labels that integrate with platforms. The 2-inch printer is best for creating address labels. 
• The Zebra ZSB comes with free web-based label design software so you can create custom labels that reflect your brand. 
• The eco-friendly cartridges can be recycled or composted, reducing your environmental impact. 
• With wireless connectivity you can print labels directly from your phone. 

The Zebra ZSB printer does have a downside, however: it’s not the fastest label printer out there, with a maximum printing speed of 4 inches per second. If you need to print a large number of labels quickly, this printer might not be the best choice for you. 

2. Brother VC-500W

If you’re looking for a cost-effective label printer that can produce high-quality, full-colour labels, the Brother VC-500W is definitely worth considering. Here are some of the advantages of this printer: 

• It allows you to create full-colour labels up to 2 inches wide, making it perfect for branding, product labelling and printing address labels. 
• The VC-500W can be used wirelessly, meaning you can print labels from your smartphone, tablet or computer without having to connect to the printer directly.  
• The printer uses ZINK (zero ink) technology, which means that you don’t need to buy and replace cartridges. Instead, you simply buy ZINK paper, which contains everything needed for printing. 
• The printer is compact and lightweight, making it easy to move around and store.

The downside to the VC-500W is the print width – it will only print the smaller 2-inch labels, not compatible with platforms like Amazon or eBay.  

3. Zebra ZD230d 

The Zebra ZD230d is a good choice if you’re looking to print labels at a higher volume. This compact and versatile printer will suit the requirements of your small to medium business. The ZD230d printer is a replacement for the now discontinued bestseller GK420d, offering some advanced features: 

• Compatibility with any Windows, Android or iOS device makes it easy to connect and start printing. 
• The ZD230d produces high-quality, professional-looking labels that can help your business stand out. 
• Compatible with a wide range of label materials and sizes, allows you to create labels for a variety of applications within your business. 
• It is easy to set up and use, with a low cost of ownership, which is another reason why it’s a great choice for small businesses without an IT department. 

This well-engineered and user-friendly printer is incredibly reliable, although it might be prone to printhead damage, if not properly maintained. 

4. Epson TM-L100 

The Epson TM-L100 is a compact and affordable label printer that can handle a variety of label types and sizes. Here are some of the pros of this printer: 

• The TM-L100 is an affordable option for small businesses that need to print labels but don’t want to break the bank. 
• With a simple interface and easy-to-load label cartridges, this printer is a breeze to operate. 
• The TM-L100 can print on a variety of label sizes and types, including standard labels and wristbands. 
• This printer uses very little power, making it an eco-friendly option for your business. 

The disadvantage of the TM-L100 is connectivity is limited to USB and serial connections. Also, the printer comes with a resolution of 203 dpi only, which might not be sufficient for high-quality graphics or images. 

5. Toshiba B-EV4D 

The Toshiba B-EV4D is a direct thermal printer designed to be easy to use and maintain, making it a great option for small businesses that want a reliable and efficient printer that doesn’t take up much space. Here’s why we like it: 

• Compact and lightweight, fitting easily into small spaces. 
• Fast printing speeds of up to 5 inches per second, which can help improve efficiency and productivity. 
• The B-EV4D supports a variety of label sizes and types which makes it a versatile printer for a wide range of applications. 
• Multiple connectivity options, including USB, Ethernet and Serial provide flexibility. 

Did we find any cons to the B-EV4D? No wireless connectivity options mean that you won’t be able to print labels from your mobile device. 

We hope that this guide has helped you on your journey to finding the perfect printer for your needs! If you have any questions or would like some personalised, no-obligation advice, on the right printer for you, don’t hesitate to contact our team today. They can help you decide on the right printer based on your business size, shipping quantity, growth plans, and even technological preferences! Don’t forget that you can browse our full range of label printers online, too!