Editor
Zebra thermal label printing machines are renowned worldwide for their efficiency, quality and reliability. Even discontinued, pre-owned and refurbished models are sought-after, long after being removed from sale. The cost-effectiveness of Zebra machines is undeniable; their bulk labels are the cheapest on the market – 2 cents a label, as opposed to 8 cents for rival brand DYMO, at the time of writing – the construction is extremely durable, and they are far less prone to logjams and label wastage than their competitors. So, you know you want a Zebra branded printer, but how do you know which model is right for you? We’ve examined Zebra’s entire current product range to find the perfect printer for you, your business and your needs. This list includes both compact handheld and desktop-mounted models, comparing them on a variety of criteria specifically tailored to different work and home settings – from healthcare to business, and everything in-between. Here are our recommendations for the best Zebra label printer in 2022.
Product Comparison Table: Best Zebra Label Printer
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | Zebra ZT411 Thermal Label Printer | $$$$ | 4.5 stars | Best for business | Amazon |
 | Zebra ZD420d Direct Thermal Desktop Printer | $$$ | 4.5 stars | Best for medical use | Amazon |
 | Zebra ZQ520 Portable Thermal Printer | $$$ | 4 stars | Best for warehouses | Amazon |
 | Zebra GK420d Direct Thermal Printer | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best for eCommerce | Amazon |
 | ZSB Thermal Label Printer from Zebra | $ | 3.5 stars | Best for home | Amazon |
Zebra ZT411 Thermal Label Printer
The Zebra ZT411 Thermal Label Printer is the model succeeding the ZT200 Series, engineered primarily with business in mind. It doubles the print speed of the preceding model to achieve a very speedy 14 inches per second at 203dpi. It is also energy star approved, and will even allow you to print exact quantities instead of wasting 8.5 x11 sheets. Once labels have been printed, they can easily be torn off using the in-built metal teeth. Sturdy, simple and smart, it is ideal for business and retail settings. Being able to print in various Asian fonts is also a huge boon for international shipping, which is a common need for business environments. The resolution does mean it is unsuitable for extremely small texts, however, such as specimen labels. This aside, a colourful LCD display allows you to easily interface with the printer, plus connection is available via USB, serial or Ethernet.
Pros
- Very fast print speed
- Supports international fonts
- Print specific quantities on-demand
- Multiple connectivity options
Cons
- Can’t print very small texts
Verdict
When selecting a thermal label printer, most businesses look for features that will minimise wastage, smoothly integrate with existing workflows, and be practically foolproof to use for even the most junior employees. The Zebra ZT411 Thermal Label Printer ticks all these boxes. Whether printing shipping labels, file labels or name tags, this machine will do everything your business needs.
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Zebra ZD420d Direct Thermal Desktop Printer
The Zebra ZD420d Direct Thermal Desktop Printer, and delivers fast, high-quality printing for address, shipping, mailing, file folder, barcode, and binder labels as well as specialist items such as name tags, wrist bands, visitor passes and specimen labels. The resolution is higher than others on this list at 300dpi, making the machine excellent at even very small text point sizes. Prints made by this machine are fade and smudge resistant, too. The housing is compatible with field-installable add-ons (cutters, peelers and connectivity port adapters), and can withstand even heavy antiseptic cleaning. The max print speed reaches 6 inches per second, on media rolls up to 4.25 inches in width, and 5 inches in diameter with a 1 inch core. It also works with the Link-OS system, a simplified remote management tool allowing you to deploy large fleets of printers across multiple locations, and troubleshoot or maintain any individual machine at any time.
Pros
- Withstands heavy disinfectant cleaning
- Prints fade-resistant specialist medical items
- Compatible with field-installable add-ons
- Link OS system
Cons
- Expensive to buy multiple
Verdict
The Zebra ZD420d Direct Thermal Desktop Printer is our top recommendation for healthcare and medical settings, allowing you to bring your patients and colleagues all the benefits of Zebra technology in one compact, easy-to-clean package. The machine’s ability to handle smudge and fade-proof specialist healthcare items – like visitor passes, specimen labels and wristbands – makes this one stand out for hospital environments. It could become expensive if you’re buying multiple, but the Link OS system helps to provide much better value-for-money.
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Zebra GK420d Direct Thermal Printer
The Zebra GK420d direct thermal printer has a sleek and compact design, boasts the smallest footprint in a 4-inch desktop printer, and supports a variety of applications and industries; it comes standard with EPL and ZPL programming languages, and dual connectivity (USB, serial) for easy integration into existing systems. It can print a wide range of labels including shipping labels, making it ideal for Amazon FBA, USPS, UPS, Shopify, eBay and all major eCommerce and shipping platforms. It supports media rolls that have a 1 inch core, a max diameter of 5 inches, and a max width of 4.25 inches. The max speed is 5 inches per second, working at a Zebra-standard resolution of 203 dpi; this is sure to produce clear and pigmented prints in no time. Best of all, the machine is tested and certified by Zebra engineers to provide optimal performance and reduce printer downtime, so you can be as efficient as possible.
Pros
- Supports wide range of sizes
- Compatible with all major shipping platforms
- High resolution for clear prints
- No-ribbon design
Cons
- More expensive than others
- Heavy and bulky
Verdict
The Zebra GK420d Direct Thermal Printer is a perfect printer option for eCommerce. When printing shipping labels, you need a machine that is extremely reliable, and able to shoot out reams of labels in the shortest possible time. With the GK420d, you can do just that. However, it is much more expensive than the majority of thermal label printers; if this is a price you’re willing to pay for the Zebra name, this shouldn’t trouble you.
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Zebra ZQ520 Portable Thermal Printer
Extreme environments and bangs and bumps are no match for this lightweight, compact printer. The Zebra ZQ520 Portable Thermal Printer is one of the most hardwearing printers on the market, especially in the portable category; with its thick military-grade rubberised casing, it almost resembles a little dinosaur. It performs in the widest operating temperature range of any machine on the market, as well as surviving drops from up to 6.6 feet unscathed even without its exoskeleton. When wearing the exoskeleton, it can survive drops from 10 feet. Not even water spray can cause problems, as this machine boasts an IP54 rating. Larger buttons accommodate gloved fingers, too, and a rechargeable battery makes it entirely portable. It can also be integrated into forklifts, comes with Link OS, and is compatible with iOS and Android via Bluetooth connection. Finally, as for label handling, it supports rolls of 105 4×6 labels with a .75” core size.
Pros
- Integrates with warehouse machinery
- Multiple connectivity options
- Water and drop resistance
- Rechargeable and portable
Cons
- Doesn’t come with charger or belt clip
Verdict
The Zebra ZQ520 Portable Thermal Printer is an extremophilic, almost-unbreakable miniature behemoth of a thermal printer, ideal for even the roughest of industrial or warehouse environments. It will print shipping and organisation labels with ease, and integrates perfectly with pre existing workflows. It may not include a charger in-box, but it does come with Link OS, and belt clips and cables are relatively inexpensive.
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ZSB Thermal Label Printer from Zebra
ZSB is one of the newest series from Zebra, aiming to provide maximum simplicity at the best value price. The ZSB Series Thermal Label Printer works only with recyclable, virtually unjammable ZSB Series label cartridges – loading is so easy, you can simply drop them in and go. It prints up to 73 address labels per minute at maximum speed (4.25 in/s), at a crisp and clear 300 dpi resolution. The ZSB Desktop and Mobile App workspaces let you see in real-time which of the eight compatible label cartridge sizes (ranging between 4×6 and 1.25×1.25 inches) is currently in the printer, and how many labels you have left in your cartridge. You can also create labels from scratch with the browser-based Label Designer for Windows and MacOS, or use a pre-made template for printing from Android and iOS mobile Devices. As a wireless, cloud-connected machine, it allows connections via Bluetooth, USB and WiFi, no cables required.
Pros
- High resolution for clear prints
- Eight available cartridge sizes
- Great value low price
- Wireless connectivity
Cons
- No Link-OS support
Verdict
The ZSB Series Thermal Label Printer is our top choice for home use, providing all the basic capabilities with Zebra’s trademark simplicity and quality. The price is incredible value, too; even labels are inexpensive, and unbelievably easy to use. The included software is excellent for labelling home items or running a small home-based business, however it doesn’t support the Link-OS system. Considering most homes will only require one machine, this shouldn’t cause issues.
