Best Label Maker of 2023

What is the best label maker out there?  If you are in the market for a label maker, one of the first things you learn is that no one really reviews these things.   That’s crazy.  I’m very passionate about label makers and I own MANY of them.  And I’ll buy more if something catches my eye.  I think reviewing label makers is a blast.  Additionally, I can tell you things about them that you won’t see in the product literature.

You’ll find lots of “Best Label Maker” pages out there but I generally get the impression that they are specification driven and that the author just reads Amazon reviews and draws a conclusion.  Me.  I own, and I actually use the printers listed below.  Listing a bunch of affordable printers doesn’t make them the “best”.

So what is the best label maker out there?  The answer to that question depends on you.  What do you want to do with a label maker?  What do you NEED to do with a label maker?  If simple text labeling on an infrequent basis is what you need then I recommend the following:

• Don’t buy the “best label maker”.  You don’t need it.
• Take an economical approach.  Buy an inexpensive one at a big box store.
• Pick one that has refill cartridges that are available locally.

Dymo Letratag

You can buy a Dymo LetraTag at Walmart for around $21.  I personally don’t own one of these, nor have I used one of these.  Just pointing out a local option.   Additionally, I am not calling this the “Best Label Maker Of 2023”.    It is just a good example of text labeling in an inexpensive manner if you have basic labeling needs.

One thing to look out for though is that a lot of these label makers do not come with batteries or sometimes do not even include label tape cartridges.   That could potentially double the price of that inexpensive label maker.  When you add all that together you might be near the price range of some of the “best label makers”.
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Dymo Rhino 4200 Review

Dymo Rhino 4200

I am on a quest to find the perfect label maker.  Recently, I got my hands on a Dymo Rhino 4200.  I need to make this clear.  My testing unit is a USED Rhino 4200.

I obtained it from eBay for an exceptional price.   Mine included the case, rechargeable battery, power brick, and the machine had a Dymo original D1 cartridge installed (black lettering on white, 1/2″).

Even though this machine is used it seems to be in remarkable shape.  I gave it a quick wipe down with isopropyl alcohol and it looks brand, spanking new.

However, on my first test after powering up the unit, the labels would not feed out correctly.  The motor was pushing them but they were just bunching up in accordion fashion and not cleanly exiting the chute.   A visual inspection didn’t really reveal any problems.  It seems like maybe I now know why the unit was sold inexpensively.

I put another D1 cartridge in experienced no issues.  Then I tried a heat shrink cartridge with no issues.  Perfect printing was realized.  After reinstalling the cartridge that came with the unit the problem returned.  I pulled out about a foot of material and cut it off and tried again.  At this point it began to behave.   The problem seemed related to that cartridge.  The material seemed to be curved or bending just enough to get stuck in the chute or just prior to the chute.   Cutting the label or rather how you cut the label seemed to have an effect on that as well.  More about that later.

It looks like I got a good label maker for a song.
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K-Sun Label Printer 2001XLB

K-Sun 2001XLB

In either late 2005 or early 2006 I bought a K-Sun 2001XLB Label Printer from Image Supply.  After all these years I realized I have never really written much about it.

Despite the fact it is so old, tape cartridges are still available for purchase.  This means it is still a viable machine today.

I bought mine specifically because it can print on heat shrink tubing.  At the time I was restoring a 1950’s era Dynaco ST-70 vacuum tube stereo.  I marked both ends of every wire.  I still have that stereo as well.

After the stereo build I took the K-Sun labeler to work.  I was a DOD Electronics Tech Rep who worked on Aircraft Visual Landing Aids and Lighting systems.

All of our gear has heat shrink labels on every wire and when doing maintenance this allowed me to maintain that configuration control.  My boss liked the idea so much he bought us some Kroy label printers.  I took the K-Sun back home and used it for a few years.
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Dymo Rhino 5200 Review

Dymo Rhino 5200

I love label makers.  And any time I find a label maker at a good deal I will include it to the harem.   As luck would have it I found a great deal on a used Dymo Rhino 5200.

Brand new they go for approximately $150 for just the printer and around $200 with the hard case kit.

The term “used” while accurate doesn’t do this one justice.  This one looks like it is fresh out of the plastic wrap.   Even better I got it for an exceptional price.

I already own several Dymo label printers and most notably this label makers big brother, the Dymo Rhino 6000+.

So let’s shake it down and see what I think about it.
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Zebra Label Printers For Parts

Remember the days of going to the post office for everything?  Seems like everyone is shipping from home these days and saving money.  And for that you need a label printer.  I recently bought two Zebra Label Printers on eBay advertised as “For Parts”.

Zebra Printers

Pictured above is a Zebra GK420D and an LP 2844-Z.  Both are old.  Made in 2012, and 2009, respectively.  While there are inexpensive label makers out there for sale, nothing beats getting a label printer for $20.  And these old tanks can use generic labels.  Most manufacturers these days require expensive, and proprietary labels.

But buying these things is a crap shoot.  I spent $40 for both printers. Conversely,  this could have been a $40 disaster but as it turns out both printers actually still work.  Kind of.
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Zebra LP 2844 Label Printer

When you go to a Tech blog you expect to read about cutting edge technology that is fresh and exciting.   You don’t really expect to read about an appliance that was first manufactured in 2003.  And yet, here we are.  I’ll speak to the viability of using the venerable Zebra LP 2844  as your default label printer.

Seems crazy, I know, but most of the Zebra LP 2844’s out there are still working and may very well be the most economical solution out there for creating your shipping labels.

Why An LP 2844 in 2023?

1. Cost.  It is always about cost.   A working printer should not really cost you more than $50.  If you are diligent and patient you can actually get them for less than that.
2. Consumables.  These old printers can use generic labels.  Most label makers these days only work with proprietary labels that are read via RFID tags placed in the rolls.   Generic 4×6 labels are abundant and a lot cheaper than proprietary label rolls.
3. These printers also work with fanfold labels.  You don’t have to have a roll installed internally.  You can feed them from behind the printer from a folded stack of labels.

To recap:  Your printer should cost less than $50, and can use cheap shipping labels.
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NIIMBOT B1 Review

NIIMBOT Label Printers

This will be my review of the  NIIMBOT B1 thermal label printer.

I love NIIMBOT printers.  And to put that statement in perspective I have owned and reviewed a LOT of label printers.   Most of them you would call industrial printers.

A few months ago NIIMBOT contacted me and asked me to review their B21 Label Printer.  Since that time I have reviewed their B3S, the D110, and now their excellent B1 label maker.   I have enjoyed them all.  The concept of a small, portable, bluetooth label maker makes a heck of a lot of sense.  Most of my industrial printers are large, come in huge carrying cases, and are hooked to a computer via USB.  Most of them use speciality labels as well such as shrink tubing.  Having all that capability is great but sometimes you just need to put a small and simple label on something.  Actually MOST OF THE TIME, you just need to put a small and simple label on something.

This is where NIIMBOT printers shine.

Having a label maker that sits on your desk that you don’t need to actually have your hands on is awesome.  Holding a printer with a tiny keyboard on it is no fun.  Bluetooth connections are a welcome addition.   Making a label from a phone app instead of needing a full blown laptop is cool too.
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