Editor
When you sell on eBay, there are a lot of things to keep in mind. Firstly, you have to pick the right products, pitching them just right to catch the attention of potential buyers. Then, you must master shipping large amounts of parcels easily, accurately and efficiently; for most sellers, this is when technology comes in. Shipping label printers for 4×6 labels abound on the market, allowing you to swiftly print easy-to-read labels that get your parcels where they need to go, no matter the destination or shipping service. If all goes to plan, these two steps should be enough to satisfy customers, and net you that sweet positive feedback. However, if for some reason your customer is unsatisfied with their product and needs a return, you’ll need a way to tell them where to send their product back to. Shipping providers, too, will need to know a return address if parcels get lost. With a thermal four-line address label printer, you can easily create labels that transmit this information, ensuring your feedback stays positive. Here are our recommendations for the best return address label makers for eBay sellers.
Product Comparison Table: Best Label Maker for eBay
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | Brother QL-600 Desktop Label Printer | $$$ | 4.5 stars | Best desktop | Amazon |
 | Brother VC-500W Versatile Compact Color Label Printer | $$$ | 4.5 stars | Best versatility | Amazon |
 | PUQU Portable Bluetooth Label Maker | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best value | Amazon |
 | DYMO LabelWriter 550 Turbo Thermal Label Printer | $$$$ | 4.5 stars | Best for large volumes | Amazon |
 | Phomemo-M110 Portable Bluetooth Thermal Label Printer | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best overall | Amazon |
Brother QL-600 Desktop Label Printer
Despite being relatively compact for a desktop label printer, the Brother QL-600 Thermal Printer produces excellent results. It can print at a superfast speed of up to 44 labels per minute, keeping efficiency high. Furthermore, convenient Brother DK drop-in rolls mean you can replace the paper almost instantaneously, and switch seamlessly between a range of formats and sizes: tapes, film labels and pre-sized paper labels up to 2.4 inches (62mm) in width. An automatic cutter allows you to also select the length of labels, up to 8m long! Best of all, included free P-Touch editor software connects with applications like Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook – as well as Mac and Linux programs – to design labels on your computer. Connection is only available via USB, however.
Pros
- Fast printing speed
- Efficient label replacement system
- Free software included
Cons
- Only connects via USB
- Only supports Brother branded labels
Verdict
The Brother QL-600 Desktop Label Printer is our top choice in the desktop field, due to its sleek design and small footprint – as well as its excellent printing capabilities. This machine will allow you to create eBay return labels with ease, alongside a range of other printing jobs. However, it does only support Brother branded labels, which could push up costs as these tend to be more expensive than generic thermal direct labels.
Read more reviews or buy this productBrother VC-500W Versatile Compact Color Label Printer
The Brother VC-500W Versatile Compact Color Label Printer is portable, compact and versatile above all: it can print in full-colour, producing photos, stickers, address labels and more in a variety of finishes from matte to laminate. You may be wondering how thermal technology can produce colour prints: with Brother’s signature ZINK Zero Ink Technology all the colours needed for high-res photo printing are already impregnated into the adhesive-backed paper, allowing them to be easily revealed by the thermal head. The machine is simple to connect and use, allowing you to print immediately after connection via WiFi or WiFi direct from smartphone, laptops or tablets. Lastly, it comes with a free Color Label Editor app containing thousands of frames, fonts, art, backgrounds and templates.
Pros
- Prints in colour
- Simple connection, wireless options
- Comes with label design app
Cons
- Only supports ZINK papers
Verdict
The innovative design of the Brother VC-500W Versatile Compact Color Label Printer is the source of its greatest strengths – excellent print quality, vivid colours and easy cartridge replacement. However, this technology is also the source of its weaknesses, namely a reliance on extremely expensive ZINK papers. This machine is definitely the most versatile, but also probably best suited to only the most design-minded eBay sellers who want to inject their branding into their return label designs.
Read more reviews or buy this productPUQU Portable Bluetooth Label Maker
The PUQU Portable Bluetooth Label Maker is much lower in cost than the two preceding models on this list, and much more compact in size. However, although small, it can still run off 2×3 inch stickers – the perfect size for eBay return address labels. It is made to be portable, powered off a rechargeable battery. In the box, you receive an AC adapter and battery, which provides enough power for 180 hours standby. You also receive a free thermal direct label roll of a random size. Connection is available via Bluetooth with the PUQU printing app, which works with both Android and Apple iOS devices. Lastly, the printer can print a range of files through this app, including images and excel forms – no PDFs, however.
Pros
- Long-lasting rechargeable battery
- Great value low price
- Wireless connection options
Cons
- Can only connect with smartphones
Verdict
With the PUQU Portable Bluetooth Label Maker, you’ll save money both on the initial purchase, and label rolls in the long run; it supports generic lower-priced label rolls, in a range of finishes including matte and waterproof. However, the reliance on Bluetooth means this machine is not the best bet if you’re not planning to print from a smartphone.
Read more reviews or buy this productDYMO LabelWriter 550 Turbo Thermal Label Printer
The DYMO LabelWriter 550 Turbo Thermal Label printer is perhaps one of the fastest models the brand produces, churning out labels at the unbelievably fast clip of 90 labels per minute (1.5 per second). DYMO claims this is up to 45% faster than the preceding LabelWriter 550 model! Automatic label recognition technology also means the label printer can automatically detect the size, type and quantity of labels you’ve inserted, meaning the machine doesn’t have to be manually calibrated to avoid miprints. Connection-wise, you can either use a traditional USB cable, or LAN network connectivity if you need multiple users connected at once. The machine only supports authentic DYMO labels, although these are high-quality, BPA-free and FSC certified. DYMO Connect For Desktop software is included on purchase, allowing you to pick between 60+ designs.
Pros
- High-speed printing
- Automatic label recognition feature
- Free DYMO Connect software
Cons
- Only works with authentic DYMO labels
- Very expensive compared to others
Verdict
The DYMO LabelWriter 550 has all the features you’d expect from a big name like DYMO. As one of the most popular label-printer specific manufacturers, they know how to make a label printer that works. Yet the big name also means DYMO can hold their customers hostage to only authentic labels, which means prices can get even higher – on top of the initial cost of the machine. This is the best choice for sellers who handle extremely large volumes.
Read more reviews or buy this productPhomemo-M110 Portable Bluetooth Thermal Label Printer
The Phomemo-M110 Portable Thermal Label Printer can print matte, laminate and transparent labels of widths between 20 and 50mm, the perfect size for eBay return address labels. Plus, the auto-cutter means labels come out the perfect size every time, without a pair of scissors in sight. Automatic label identification prevents paper jams, deviations and misprints, plus optical character recognition software allows the printer to recognise text and convert it into a printable label within just four seconds. As for connection, the printer is intended to be used primarily in conjunction with Android and iOS devices; it connects via Bluetooth, maintaining connection within a 33 foot radius and taking only 2 seconds to connect. The free app also allows you to choose between a wide range of label templates, edit and typeset labels, or utilise excel batch printing.
Pros
- Automatic label identification and optical character recognition features
- Wireless connectivity options
- Comes with Phomemo design app
- Works with generic labels
Cons
- No USB connection option
Verdict
The Phomemo-M110 Portable Bluetooth Thermal Label Printer is our top choice for the best return address label printer for eBay sellers in 2022. This machine allows you to effortlessly print labels wherever you are, incorporating features (such as automatic label recognition and optical character recognition) that are usually reserved for models far beyond its price range. The option to use generic labels really seals the deal for us.
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