I remember my first shipment (about 50 textbooks from my time at University) to Amazon FBA. It was fun but the novelty of it ran off quickly.
In the end, the shipment took me a while to prepare. Why? Because I had to sellotape over each label after realising they were smudgeable. I was using my inkjet print and 30-up self-adhesive labels.
This way of labelling was my only option. Because I wanted to keep costs low as I had no idea if this whole FBA thing was going to work. In the end, it worked out cheap. I had spent about £7 on the 30-up self-adhesive labels and my inkjet printer. And I used spare boxes lying around to package the books.
I would recommend this way of labelling if you’re new to Selling on Amazon. It’s easy and economical. But if you know you will be doing Amazon FBA for a while, I would highly recommend investing in a thermal label printer.
Thermal-based printers are great because anything printed using them are not smudgeable. And because they don’t use ink or toner, you’ll probably save money on supplies in the long run.
I would say a label maker is an essential tool that all
Best label maker for Amazon FBA
Regardless of how you source — retail/online arbitrage, used books or wholesale — you need a thermal label printer. It will take your product preparation process to the next level.
Here are the most popular thermal label printers. I’ve curated this list based on my research and experience as a full-time Amazon FBA seller.
| PRODUCT | Suitable for printing... | |
|---|---|---|
| Dymo LabelWriter 450 Turbo | - Barcodes | FIND OUT MORE |
| Zebra GK420d | - Barcodes - Shipping labels - Postage labels | FIND OUT MORE |
| Brother QL-800 | - Barcodes | FIND OUT MORE |
| Brother QL-810w | - Barcodes | FIND OUT MORE |
| Dymo LabelWriter 4XL | - Barcodes - Shipping labels - Postage labels | FIND OUT MORE |
| Brother QL-1100 | - Barcodes - Shipping labels - Postage labels | FIND OUT MORE |
Dymo LabelWriter 450 Turbo
The Dymo LabelWriter 450 Turbo is undoubtedly the most popular thermal label printer among Amazon sellers. It’s what I should have bought instead of the cheaper Dymo 450 model.
The 450 Turbo has the same capabilities as the Dymo 450 but is slightly faster. The Turbo prints 71 labels per minute while the Dymo 450 can print up to 51 labels per minute. As far as I’m aware, this is the only reason why it’s more expensive.
Although the difference between the printing speeds might seem substantial, the time you’ll save is insignificant. Even if you’ll be doing high-volume printing. In my opinion, either of the models will do as they’re essentially the same.
The great thing about the Dymo printers is that they are affordable. So if you’re looking for a great label printer that doesn’t cost much, the Dymo 450 Turbo is a great option.
Key features
Here are the key features of the 450 Turbo label maker:
- Prints up to 71 labels per minute
- High printing quality — 600 x 300 dpi resolution
- Includes proprietary desktop software
These are the basic features of the label printer. And while it might seem like it’s enough, these are the only features you’ll ever need from a label printer.
In addition, the Dymo 450 Turbo was built to last. And except several jams over, I haven’t had any major issues over two years of almost daily use.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent printing quality | MS Excel and Word plugin don't work smoothly |
| Proprietary Dymo Label V8 software | |
| Easy to set up | |
| Great value for money |
Bottom line
All in all, the Dymo LabelWriter 450 Turbo is a solid yet inexpensive thermal label printer from an established brand. It’s well made, easy to use, and has a high printing quality.
It does, however, have one limitation: it can’t print shipping labels. But I suppose for its price, you shouldn’t expect it to. If that’s important for you, the Dymo 4XL is a safe option.
Click here to read my review of the Dymo 450.
Zebra GK420d
The Zebra GK420d is more expensive than the Dymo 450 Turbo reviewed above because it’s a heavy-duty label maker that was built for high-volume printing.
Another reason why it costs more than the Dymo 450 Turbo is that it can print a wide range of labels including shipping labels, making it ideal for Amazon, Etsy, and
In terms of connectivity, it supports USB and has a serial and parrel port for older devices. It also has another version that has both USB and Ethernet connectivity. Which of course is great because multiple people can access the Zebra 420d. But you will be paying more for this feature, about $200 more.
What I particularly love about this label printer is its beefy and sturdy look. Which gives me the feeling that it will last for a long time. And considering its price, I expect it to.
Features
- Can print a range of labels including shipping labels
- High printing quality
- Fast printing speed
- PC and Mac compatible
- USB, serial and parallel ports (Or Ethernet)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Heavy duty | Expensive |
| Easy to use | Loud motor noise |
| Can print larger labels up to 4'' by 6'' | |
Bottom line
The Zebra 420d desktop printer is a well-made, smart, and multifunctional label maker that all high-volume printing enterprises should have.
And although it might seem expensive, it’s nothing compared to other industrial-grade printers. It’s an investment you should consider, especially if you’re after a printer for the long-term.
Brother QL-800
The QL-800 label maker by Brother is one of the most popular consumer-grade label makers on the market. Why? Because it offers a decent list of features at an attractive price, especially when compared to the label makers reviewed above.
Despite being cheaper than the Dymo 450 Turbo, the QL-800 by Brother has more connectivity options. With the latter, you can print from your Android device with a microUSB-to-printer cable while you can’t with the former.
The standout feature for me, however, is the design of the printer. It’s small, sleek and looks high-end. And because Brother is a reputable brand, I’m sure that they do use high-quality components and materials, which removes my doubt about the overall quality of the printer.
Features
- USB connectivity
- Compatible with Windows and Mac
- Proprietary software
- MicroUSB-to-printer connectivity option
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stylish | Hard to use |
| Affordable | |
| Good build quality | |
Bottom line
As one of the least expensive label makers on the market, the Brother QL-800 doesn’t have any extra fancy features. Which shouldn’t put you off because this printer does what it’s supposed to well: to print high-quality labels reasonably fast.
Overall, I would say the QL-800 by Brother is a decent entry-level thermal label printer. Especially if you are just starting with selling on Amazon. It’s inexpensive, well-built, and doesn’t have the extra features that you probably don’t and won’t need in the near future.
Brother QL-810W
The Brother QL-810W is a sibling and model up of the QL-800 model just reviewed and is, therefore, more expensive. But not by much. For about an extra £30 you get more features including more connectivity options and a faster printing speed.
Unlike the label printers we’ve reviewed so far, the QL-800W by Brother has built-in Wifi for cable-free printing. This is a neat feature because it means you and your team can access the printer from anywhere.
In addition to black, this printer can also print in red, which is uncommon for printers in this price range. This feature can be useful because you can print ‘suffocation’ labels in red although it’s not necessary.
The only downside to this printer is that you have to remove the labels and reinsert the protective sheet when you’re not using it.
Key features
- Built-in Wifi
- USB 2.0 connectivity
- USB cable
- PC and Mac compatible
- Proprietary software
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lots of features | Hard to install |
| Sleek design | |
| High print quality |
Bottom line
The Brother QL-810w offers good value for money. It’s one of the cheapest label printers to have built-in wifi and the ability to print in another
The Dymo LabelWriter 4XL
Dymo is known for its label printers and the 4XL is its answer to the Zebra GK420d. Like the GK420d, it can print larger labels, up to and including shipping labels. You can use it to print Ebay, Etsy, Amazon, UPS, USPS, DHL, and FedEx shipping labels.
And although it’s capable of printing smaller labels like Amazon FNSKU labels, I use it to print mainly FBA shipping labels.
Features
- Can print large labels up to 4” x 6”
- USB connectivity
- PC and Mac compatible
- Proprietary software
- Compatible with MS Office and Quickbooks and more
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good build quality | USB doesn't get recognised sometimes |
| Can print shipping labels | |
| Easy to use | |
| Good value for money, especially when compared to Zebra GK420d |
Bottom line
The Dymo 4XL label inter is an inexpensive but essential tool, especially if, like me, you are a high-volume user. We send about 5,000 to 10,000 units to Amazon every month, so we rely heavily on the Dymo 4XL to print box labels.
I use this printer to print shipping labels and the Dymo 450 in this to print Amazon FBA labels. Which works really well because it means I don’t have to change labels all the time.
Brother QL-1100
The Brother QL-1100 is another label printer that is suitable for printing a range of label sizes include Amazon FNSKU, postage and shipping labels.
The other great thing about this printer is that it’s is slightly cheaper than its competition like the Zebra GK420d and Dymo 4XL we’ve already reviewed. But it’s still worth considering because it’s sleek, well built and has all the essential features.
It also has additional features like the ‘PLug and label,’ which is really neat. This feature lets you create and print labels without needing to install the software. But the downside, it seems, is that this feature only works on a PC.
Features
- USB connectivity
- Prints up 69 labels per minute
- Automatic cutter
- Host USB interface
- Plug and label
On paper, the Brother QL-1100 is a neat printer — and it is. But there are some things you need to consider before purchasing. For example, it has trickier installation than the Zebra GK420d and Dymo 4XL.
Another thing you need to know about the Brother QL-1100 is that there are few generic label options. You might have to buy official Brother labels, which are expensive.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good number of features | Difficult installation |
| Stylish design | |
| High print quality and well built |
Bottom line
If you want a label printer that prints a range of labels but offers great value for money, then the QL-1100 is a good choice. It’s the cheapest that can print small and large labels, like shipping labels. Also, it has high print quality and, like most printers by Brother, it looks appealing.
Conclusion
The label printers we’ve reviewed are all excellent and would like your business to the next level. But if you’re a beginner and just starting out with selling online, I would recommend using a traditional printer. Another economical option would be to consider a laser printer. It’s cheaper and you can print both small and large labels, and more.
But if you’re serious about selling on Amazon, I would highly recommend getting a thermal label printer. Any of the of the review prints would do and the good thing is that they most are affordable.