The Top 5 Best Thermal Label Printers for Shopify Businesses

March 11, 2022

Shopify is a hugely popular eCommerce site, beloved for its accessibility. With Shopify, anybody can start their own business selling products online, connecting with customers all over the world and creating income. As your business grows, Shopify will grow with you. However, if you are shipping more products, you’ll need an easy way to label them; if they don’t get to where they need to be, it could damage the reputation and growth of your enterprise. The best way to make labels at scale is with a thermal shipping label printer. These machines use a heated head to expose dyes in impregnated paper, so you can print without messing around with inks and toners. We’ve looked across the web to find you the best thermal printer for Shopify in 2022, comparing them against the criteria that matter to Shopify sellers: value, efficiency, compatibility and ease-of-use. 

Product Comparison Table: Best Thermal Printer for Shopify

TitlePriceRating (Amazon)Best in classBuy
Brother QL-1100 Wide Format Professional Thermal Label Printer$$4.5 starsMost versatile Amazon
Logia Thermal 300 dpi Label Printer$4.5 starsBest value Amazon
Brother TD550DNWB 4-inch Thermal Desktop Barcode and Label Printer$$$$4.5 starsBest desktop Amazon
Alfuheim TORDORDAY Bluetooth Thermal Label Printer$$4 starsBest for smartphones Amazon
K Comer Thermal Shipping Label Printer $$








4.5 starsBest overall Amazon

Brother QL-1100 Wide Format Professional Thermal Label Printer

The Brother QL-1100 Wide Format Professional Thermal Label Printer is recommended by Shopify for its high level of compatibility with the platform. Labels print fast, at up to 69 standard 4×6 address stickers per minute – more than one per second. Sizes up to 4 inches wide are supported, and heights up to three feet. Plus, it allows you to crop barcodes to size automatically; the barcode crop function allows you to easily select barcodes and UPCs for printing from templates. The USB host interface also allows you to link the printer up to peripheral devices like scanners, and the “plug and label” feature allows you to create and print labels without the need to install software. The features don’t stop there: you can also create name badges (ideal for craft shows), and labels for file folders to keep your office looking organised and professional.

Pros

  • Small and compact
  • Many features: plug & label, barcode crop etc.
  • Fast print speeds and good quality
  • Prints a variety of products

Cons

  • Features only compatible with windows

Verdict

The Brother QL-1100 Wide Format Professional Thermal Label Printer prints more than just labels, making it our most versatile option. The name badge and file folder stickers will also help a growing Shopify business to present a professional front in the office and outside. However, the fact that the flashiest features are only compatible with Windows could exclude businesses that rely on alternative operating systems. 

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Logia Thermal 300 dpi Label Printer

The Logia Thermal 300 dpi Label Printer is an incredibly good value option, available at prices below a hundred dollars from many outlets. Despite the bargain price, you’ll still get commercial print quality labels that are clear and easy to read; the 300 dpi resolution rivals some monochrome desktop inkjet printers, for comparison. Unlike an inkjet, though, the prints are guaranteed not to smear, fade or bleed. It has Shopify label printer compatibility too, so you can connect it directly to your online store. A label holder automatically accepts labels without having to feed paper through the machine’s back, while a small lightweight and compact design (weighing in at under three pounds) makes the Logia suitable for even the smallest of home office desks. 

Pros

  • Good value, low price
  • Compatible with Windows and Mac
  • Inkjet-quality resolution
  • Label holder takes generic papers

Cons

  • No wireless connectivity (USB only)

Verdict

If your Shopify business is currently using an inkjet printer, and you want to make the switch to thermal without compromising on results, the Logia Thermal 300 dpi Label Printer is the perfect choice for you. The high dpi means your labels will look just the same as they did before. The expensive outlay of machinery and materials can limit some businesses from switching equipment; with this value option, this won’t be the case for you. 

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Brother TD550DNWB 4-inch Thermal Desktop Barcode and Label Printer

Where the Logia only weighed a tiny 3lb, the Brother TD550DNWB 4-inch Thermal Desktop Barcode and Label Printer comes in at a whopping 24lb. However, the size belies a huge wealth of features; this desktop thermal printer has the ability to print both shipping labels, barcodes and receipts, allowing you to handle all your business with one machine. It has Shopify label printer compatibility – so you can integrate it into your pre-existing supply chain and shipping workflows – plus it can also be connected to a computer or smartphone in a snap. The print speed reaches 6 inches per second, enough for one label (60 per minute), at a 300 dpi resolution. The spindle-less design allows for easy paper changing and supports media rolls up to five inches in diameter. 

Pros

  • Inkjet quality resolution
  • Multiple connectivity options
  • Spindle-less design
  • Desktop machine prints receipts too

Cons

  • Quite expensive
  • Doesn’t come with battery 
  • Doesn’t support Android

Verdict

The Brother TD550DNWB 4-inch Thermal Desktop Barcode and Label Printer is the ebay desktop thermal printer we could find for Shopify businesses. If you’re thinking of transitioning to also include offline commerce, this machine will support receipt-printing for physical sales, too. There’s inkjet-quality printing and a range of connectivity options; however, it doesn’t support Android and doesn’t include a battery in-box. 

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Alfuheim TORDORDAY Bluetooth Thermal Label Printer

The Alfuheim TORDORDAY Bluetooth Thermal Label Printer allows you to print from Android, iPhone or a laptop, as well as desktop computers running either Mac or Windows. It supports connections via Bluetooth or even an old-fashioned USB cable if you’re less technologically-minded. Aside from the plethora of connectivity options, the Alfuheim has other benefits too. It can print 4×6 labels, and is entirely compatible with Shopify. Best of all, it can print clearly and continuously for up to 12 hours, ideal for large orders and shipments. The images are high quality, and won’t smear or fade. Lastly, it features an automatic label size detector, meaning you won’t have to calibrate the machine to accept different label sizes – simply feed them in, and you’re good to go. 

Pros

  • Huge range of connectivity options (including Bluetooth)
  • Prints for 12 hours
  • Automatic label size detector

Cons

  • No WiFi connection

Verdict

With the Alfuheim TORDORDAY Bluetooth Thermal Label Printer, you can enjoy the most intuitive connection options available for thermal printing from your smartphone. It supports iPhone and Android well. However, if you want to connect from your laptop, you will still rely on a wired USB connection, as it is unable to link up with WiFi. If you run your Shopify business primarily through your mobile, this is the machine for you. 

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K Comer Thermal Shipping Label Printer

The K Comer Thermal Shipping Label printer is the fastest Shopify-compatible thermal printer on our list, producing up to 82 labels per minute in perfect clarity. That’s almost two per second! You don’t need to worry about it overheating either, even when working at lightning speed; it can print more than 50,000 labels in total before replacing the head, and run for 24 hours consecutively with no damage to the casing or mechanics. It’s lightweight and compact enough to be portable, too. Plus, the dust-resistant mechanism prevents any damage or interruption to printing even in the dustiest workshops. It’s compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems, and can be installed and ready to use in five minutes flat. 

Pros

  • Fast and easy setup
  • Dust and heat resistance
  • Long running time and great speed
  • Great value low price

Cons

  • Not the highest resolution

Verdict

The perfect thermal shipping label printer for Shopify sellers needs to deliver fast printing, accurate labels, easy use and great value for money – the K Comer Thermal Shipping Label printer provides all of these points. The resolution may not be the gold-standard, but it is more than enough to deliver clear, crisp labels that get your Shopify packets where they need to go. Anyway, at this price, you can’t complain! This is our choice for the overall best thermal printer for Shopify in 2022. 

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