Editor
Label makers are the most efficient, fastest and best value way to keep your business organised. With the right label printer, you can organise files, label product prices and even ship products for eCommerce or mail order sales. This versatility makes labels essential for a range of businesses, from retail to admin. You can make labels with a conventional inkjet or laser printer, however this can quickly become costly and time consuming; you will need to cut the labels down to size, and pay for pricey ink cartridges. That’s why most businesses opt for thermal transfer printing. In this method, material is applied to paper by melting a coating of ribbon, creating monochrome text or images. Yet, with so many types of thermal transfer printer on the market, it can be hard to know which is best for your business. We’ve reviewed thousands of printers – against the key criteria of speed, value, quality and versatility – to find you the best label maker on the market. Here are our recommendations.
Product Comparison Table: Best Thermal Transfer Label Printer
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | QYYBO Portable Thermal Transfer Label Maker | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best Value | Amazon |
 | Zebra ZT411 Industrial Label Printer | $$$$$ | 5 stars | Best Industrial | Amazon |
 | Zebra GK420T Thermal Transfer Printer | $$$ | 4.5 stars | Best for Shipping Labels | Amazon |
 | Brother P-Touch Edge PT-P750WVP Thermal Transfer Printer | $ | 4.5 stars | Best for Tradespeople | Amazon |
 | Brother TD-4750TWNB Thermal Transfer Printer | $$$ | 5 stars | Best Overall | Amazon |
QYYBO Portable Thermal Transfer Label Maker
The QYYBO Portable Thermal Transfer Label Maker is compact and portable, weighing as little as 16 grams. It supports connection via Bluetooth, so you can link up your smartphone or tablet through the Print Master app and print straight away. The built-in 1500mAh rechargeable battery can print up to 158 metres from just one full charge, in sizes ranging from 6mm to 12mm. The printhead has a long life too, with precise temperature control to avoid wear and tear. After it’s done working and gone idle, the printer will even switch itself off automatically to save battery. Lastly, the resolution goes up to a maximum of 180dpi, making sure prints come out clear and precise.
Pros
- Portable and compact
- Long lasting battery power
- Auto shutoff and temperature control
Cons
- Only prints up to 12mm wide
- No auto-cutter
Verdict
If administrative and organisational labels are what you need, the QYYBO Portable Thermal Transfer Label Maker will do the job. Although it only prints up to 12mm wide, this should be enough for all your file-labelling or storage tasks – you will need a different machine for 4×6 shipping labels. That said, you won’t get a better value portable option than this.
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Zebra ZT411 Industrial Label Printer
The Zebra ZT411 may be extremely costly compared to others on this list, but this price belies some serious industrial-grade printing capabilities. This machine uses a wax ribbon to achieve a superfast speed of 14 inches per second, at a high resolution of 203dpi. This is relatively high for a thermal transfer printer, and should certainly be capable of producing clear, smudge-free labels. Plus, on-demand printing means you can produce exact quantities of labels, so you don’t have to waste a whole 8.5 x 11 inch sheet. Best of all, it’s compatible with any generic thermal transfer label roll with a 3 inch core and 8 inch diameter. Connection is available via USB, serial or ethernet too, so your whole business can be connected at once from practically any device.
Pros
- Fast efficient printing speed
- High resolution for clear prints
- Compatible with generic labels
- Wide range of connection options
Cons
- Large, bulky build
- Expensive to buy
Verdict
For larger businesses with the capital to spare, the Zebra ZT411 Industrial Label Printer is an excellent investment. It provides industrial-scale label printing, using cheaper generic labels and no ink to keep long-term running costs down. The price is somewhat exclusive, and the large bulky build might not be right for small spaces. However, this is definitely our best industrial model.
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Zebra GK420T Thermal Transfer Printer
The Zebra GK420T Thermal Transfer Printer shares some features with its cousin the ZT411, but is much smaller in size. It also connects via USB, Serial and Parallel, and supports generic thermal media rolls. However, the GK420T differs in supporting both thermal transfer, and thermal direct printing. This allows you to take advantage of the benefits of both methods, such as the greater durability of thermal direct labels when touched, and not needing a ribbon. It has a max print speed of 5 inches per second, and a high resolution of 203dpi. Lastly, it is compatible with all major shipping and eCommerce platforms (including eBay, Shopify, USPS, UPS, Evri and Amazon FBA), and Energy Star approved.
Pros
- Prints both thermal transfer and thermal direct
- Supports generic media rolls
- Compatible with shipping and eCommerce platforms
- Fast printing speed and high resolution
Cons
- Labels printed with ribbon tend to smudge
- Expensive compared to other model
Verdict
The Zebra GK420T Thermal Transfer Printer is famous among eCommerce sellers, and for good reason. This model consistently tops lists of the best thermal label printers for shipping, with sellers loving its versatility, speed, high quality prints and solid construction. Although it is relatively costly compared to other thermal shipping label printers, the Zebra is our number one.
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Brother P-Touch Edge PT-P750WVP Thermal Transfer Printer
The Brother P-Touch Edge PT-P750WVP Thermal Transfer Printer comes with both USB and wireless Wi-Fi connectivity; you can also print wirelessly from an iOS device using Apple AirPrint enabled apps, or integrate the printer into existing software processes to ease workflow on large projects. You can even design and wirelessly print wider labels and heat shrink tubes using an Excel database! The innovative built-in auto-cutter produces strips of easy to peel labels for everything from shipping to marking wires, patch panels and faceplates. Included in-box you will also find a protective case, software, li-ion battery, adapter, a free roll of compatible TZe tape and a 2 year limited exchange warranty.
Pros
- Compact and portable, battery power
- Prints a wide range of industry-standard labels
- 2 year limited warranty
- Flexible connectivity options
Cons
- Can’t print shipping labels
Verdict
The Brother P-Touch Edge PT-P750WVP Thermal Transfer Printer is packed with useful features for businesses, particularly in trades like electrical work and construction. Handling more specialist label types – such as heat shrink tubes and faceplates – makes this machine invaluable for tradespeople on the job. However, it is not able to print more widespread business products like shipping labels, so won’t be suited to a conventional office space.
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Brother TD-4750TWNB Thermal Transfer Printer
The Brother TD-4750TWNB Thermal Transfer Printer is an affordable desktop model, perfect for modern business. It seamlessly integrates with all popular WMS, manufacturing and other software solutions, and comes with a huge range of connection options as standard: LAN, USB, host-USB, Seral, WiFi and Bluetooth. This means it will fit into any existing workflow without a hitch, allowing you and your employees to be flexible about which devices you work from. It also has a higher print quality than any other machine on this list, at a consistently high resolution to 300dpi – this matches up to some monochrome office laser printers, statistically. Lastly, it prints fast at up to 6ips.
Pros
- Integrates with a range of software
- Widest range of connectivity options
- Highest print quality and resolution
- Fast efficient printing speed
Cons
- Desktop model, not portable
Verdict
Desktop printers are always the best choice for businesses; they provide a level of reliability and functionality that’s essential to keep things running smoothly. The Brother TD-4750TWNB Thermal Transfer Printer is the best desktop thermal transfer printer, and thus the best overall. The quality, connectivity performance and value of this machine is truly second to none. This is our number one best thermal transfer label printer for your business in 2022.
