The Best Label Makers for Organizing Your Workspace
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, ARTNews may receive an affiliate commission.
One satisfying way to get ahead of staying on task during the school year: Reorganize your supplies and workspace at home with the help of a label maker. These devices make it easy to DIY customized, self-stick adhesive strips for practically any purpose. The possibilities are endless: You can label binders to identify them by subject, add tabs to planners, and even emblazon your child’s perennially misplaced lunch box with their name. At home, paste labels onto drawers and files to help tidy up your growing archive of artworks, notes, and documentations. Below, we’ve rounded up our favorite label-making products. But proceed with caution: Once you get your hands on one of these, you might not be able to stop.
More from ARTnews.com
Jeff Koons and Nonprofit Startup Clever Noodle Release Children's Literacy Game
Nino Mier Gallery Accused of Underpaying Artists in New Investigation
How we pick each product:
Our mission is to recommend the most appropriate artists’ tool or supply for your needs. Whether you are looking for top-of-the line equipment or beginners’ basics, we’ll make sure that you get good value for your money by doing the research for you. We scour the Internet for information on how art supplies are used and read customer reviews by real users; we ask experts for their advice; and of course, we rely on our own accumulated expertise as artists, teachers, and craftspeople.
ARTnews RECOMMENDS
DYMO Label Maker with Adapter
Lots of label makers are either completely stand-alone or wholly dependent on computer or smartphone input. This product works in both modes, and better than many of the one-trick ponies out there.
DYMO Label Maker with Adapter | LabelManager 420P High-Performance Label Maker, Rechargeable, PC and Mac Connectivity, Bright Backlit Display, Easy-to-Use, Portable, for Home & Office Organization
Control freaks, rejoice! This label maker from the grandfather of the industry offers plenty of customization options for the pickiest labelers out there. It’s capable of printing 7 text sizes, 10 formatting styles (e.g., bold, italics, underlines), 8 fonts, and more than 200 symbols and clip-art images—and those are just the onboard offerings. If you connect the 420P to your PC or Mac with the included USB cable, it can print practically any font, design, or barcode you can whip up, so long as it fits on the tape. (And, by the way, it works with tape widths: 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch, and 3/4 inch.) It has a decent memory, storing up to 15 designs, and can run off 10 high-quality copies of a single design in one printing. Plus, for its countless offerings, the Dymo 420P remains portable and easy to use. Finally, the cherry on top: Unlike other handheld label makers out there, it’s rechargeable, so your days of blowing through batteries are over—at least when it comes to this device.
WE ALSO LIKE
Brother P-Touch Label Maker
This model makes up for its lack of PC integration with its sheer versatility. It can print two-line labels and is compatible with dozens of laminated tapes.
Brother P-touch, PTD210, Easy-to-Use Label Maker, One-Touch Keys, Multiple Font Styles, 27 User-Friendly Templates, White, Gray/White
At a fraction of the price of our top pick, Brother’s label maker is easy to use and an extraordinary bargain for its myriad offerings. Choose from more than 14 fonts, 97 frames, and 600 symbols to make a custom label, or select one of the 27 preprogrammed templates. You can store up to 30 of your designs, thanks to a roomy memory card, and print patterns like flowers and polka dots. The results are routinely crisp and clean; you won’t get the pixelated, mealy prints of some of this device’s price peers. It boasts a full QWERTY keyboard yet is still relatively lightweight and portable. Just be advised: It runs on six AAA batteries (not included) or via household current and AC adapter, sold separately.
A GREAT ALTERNATIVE
DYMO Embossing Label Maker
This company introduced its label embosser in 1958, and the design hasn’t changed much since then. To type, turn the dial to a letter or number, then squeeze the handle—slow work, but so satisfying.
DYMO Embossing Label Maker with 3 DYMO Label Tapes, Organizer Xpress Pro Label Maker Starter Kit, Ergonomic Design, For Home, DIY & Crafting
Have a home project but can’t stand the staid, word-processed aesthetic of most modern label makers? Hark back a half century with this analog label maker, a contemporary revamp of Dymo’s classic tape embosser. The main difference is in the name: Rather than create labels through thermal transfer, the Dymo wheel embosses tape to create a textured and very vintage effect. Beyond choosing among the three provided colors of tape, don’t expect to be able to customize your labels—Dymo offers just one font (set in all capitals) and one sizing option.
ALSO CONSIDER
Brother P-Touch Cube Smartphone Label Maker
Why learn another user interface when you can hook up your phone and print labels from there? Though not perfect, this user-friendly, streamlined model sets the course for future label makers.
Brother PTP300BT P-Touch Cube Smartphone Label Maker, Bluetooth Wireless Technology, Multiple Templates Available for Apple & Android Compatible – White
Don’t get intimidated by the sleek, faceless design: All you’ll need to work this bad boy is a smartphone (it’s compatible with iPhone or Android) and a Bluetooth connection. Just open up the free P-Touch app, which lets you start from scratch or choose from a bevy of predesigned templates. You’ll have 450 symbols and more than 60 frames at your fingertips, plus most of the fonts available on Apple devices or Google Suite. Like the PT-D210, this Brother is compatible with all Brother TZe line tapes up to a half-inch wide. If speed and convenience are your top criteria, look no further, but if you’re prioritizing quality and cost efficiency, you may want to think twice: The Cube’s prints sometimes look a bit grainy, and it tends to go through ink and tape rather quickly.
PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE
Brady M210 Portable Label Printer
This shock-tested label maker is a utilitarian choice, great for industrial and outdoor use.
Brady M210 Portable Label Printer with Rubber Bumpers, Multi-Line Print, 6 to 40 Point Font (Replaces BMP21-PLUS Printer), Yellow/Black, 9.5 in H x 4.5 in W x 2.5 in D
This sturdy, nearly indestructible label maker is great for on-site jobs: It is made with molded rubber bumpers, and Brady has engineered it to withstand shock and vibration. With more than 100 symbols and fonts ranging from 6 to 40 points in size, it offers plenty of options for creating customized labels. It runs on six AA batteries, but you can separately purchase a rechargeable lithium-ion battery if desired. Also available separately is a magnet you can use to mount the label maker on a metal surface for one-handed use or convenient storage.
Best of ARTnews.com
Looting, Plundering, and More: 20 Cultural Treasures that Have Faced Claims of Theft
A Whitney Show Highlights Pioneering Sculptor Ruth Asawa’s Works on Paper
How Georgia O'Keeffe Became One of the Most Celebrated American Artists of the 20th Century
Brought to you by the oldest and most widely circulated art magazine in the world, ARTnews Recommends helps you make the choice that suits you best from products in hundreds of art and craft supply categories. Our offerings are based on intensive research, interviews with artists and craftspeople, and the accumulated experience of the site’s editors and writers. We provide trustworthy and helpful advice about materials to artists ranging from beginner to professional.
1. DYMO Label Maker with Adapter
Control freaks, rejoice! This label maker from the grandfather of the industry offers plenty of customization options for the pickiest labelers out there. It’s capable of printing 7 text sizes, 10 formatting styles (e.g., bold, italics, underlines), 8 fonts, and more than 200 symbols and clip-art images—and those are just the onboard offerings. If you connect the 420P to your PC or Mac with the included USB cable, it can print practically any font, design, or barcode you can whip up, so long as it fits on the tape. (And, by the way, it works with tape widths: 1/4 inch, 3/8 inch, 1/2 inch, and 3/4 inch.) It has a decent memory, storing up to 15 designs, and can run off 10 high-quality copies of a single design in one printing. Plus, for its countless offerings, the Dymo 420P remains portable and easy to use. Finally, the cherry on top: Unlike other handheld label makers out there, it’s rechargeable, so your days of blowing through batteries are over—at least when it comes to this device.
DYMO Label Maker with Adapter
2. Brother P-Touch Label Maker
At a fraction of the price of our top pick, Brother’s label maker is easy to use and an extraordinary bargain for its myriad offerings. Choose from more than 14 fonts, 97 frames, and 600 symbols to make a custom label, or select one of the 27 preprogrammed templates. You can store up to 30 of your designs, thanks to a roomy memory card, and print patterns like flowers and polka dots. The results are routinely crisp and clean; you won’t get the pixelated, mealy prints of some of this device’s price peers. It boasts a full QWERTY keyboard yet is still relatively lightweight and portable. Just be advised: It runs on six AAA batteries (not included) or via household current and AC adapter, sold separately.
Brother P-Touch Label Maker
3. DYMO Embossing Label Maker
Have a home project but can’t stand the staid, word-processed aesthetic of most modern label makers? Hark back a half century with this analog label maker, a contemporary revamp of Dymo’s classic tape embosser. The main difference is in the name: Rather than create labels through thermal transfer, the Dymo wheel embosses tape to create a textured and very vintage effect. Beyond choosing among the three provided colors of tape, don’t expect to be able to customize your labels—Dymo offers just one font (set in all capitals) and one sizing option.
DYMO Embossing Label Maker
4. Brother P-Touch Cube Smartphone Label Maker
Don’t get intimidated by the sleek, faceless design: All you’ll need to work this bad boy is a smartphone (compatible with iPhone or Android) and a Bluetooth connection. Just open up the free P-Touch app, which lets you start from scratch or choose from a bevy of predesigned templates. You’ll have 450 symbols and more than 60 frames at your fingertips, plus most of the fonts available on Apple devices or Google Suite. Like the PT-D210, this Brother is compatible with all Brother TZe line tapes up to a half-inch wide. If speed and convenience are your top criteria, look no further, but if you’re prioritizing quality and cost efficiency, you may want to think twice: The Cube’s prints sometimes look a bit grainy, and it tends to go through ink and tape rather quickly.
Brother P-Touch Cube Smartphone Label Maker
5. Brady BMP21-Plus Handheld Label Printer
This sturdy, nearly indestructible label maker is great for on-site jobs: This model is made with molded rubber bumpers, and Brady has tested it to withstand shock and vibration. With more than 100 symbols and fonts ranging from 6 to 40 points in size, it offers plenty of options for creating customized labels. It runs on six AA batteries, but you can separately purchase a rechargeable lithium-ion battery if desired. Also available separately is a magnet you can use to mount the label maker on a metal surface for one-handed use or convenient storage.
