Dymo Label Maker Review

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The Dymo LabelWriter 450 is an affordable label maker from Dymo, designed primarily for printing address labels onto self-adhesive labels. But you can use it to print barcodes, filing labels, name badges and more.

It has a model up called the Dymo LabelWriter 450 Turbo, which is the same as the non-turbo but uses vertically shaped labels and is faster. Speaking of speed, this model is also decent. It connects to your computer (or Mac) via a USB cable and it easily allows you to print up 51 labels per minute.

Standard label makers can’t print larger labels like shipping labels. But there are others on the market that can, like the Dymo Labelwriter 4XL. In this case, I suppose you could always print the shipping label using a regular printer and then tape it over with clear tape to avoid potential smudging.

At £72, the Dymo LabelWriter 450 appears expensive but is actually great value for money. But how does it fare in other departments? Read on to find out.

Dymo LabelWriter 450 key features

  • Thermal printing technology
  • Good printing resolution: 600×300 DPI (Dots Per Inch)
  • High-speed printing: 51 labels per minute
  • Works with Windows XP (and above) and Mac
  • USB connected

Performance and use

Even if you’ve never owned a label maker before, you’ll find the Dymo LabelWriter 450 quick and straightforward to set up. Simply install the Dymo software from the CD that it comes with or from this website, then connect the power and USB cables. And boom, you are ready to start printing labels.

One of the advantages of the Dymo LabelWriter 450 is that it uses thermal printing technology, making it an economical choice. The downside to this, however, is that it only prints in black. But given the price, this is no surprise.

Although you won’t ever have to buy ink again, you will still need to pay for some consumables. Namely, labels. Not just any labels though but labels made especially for thermal based label printers. This label maker can take a range of label sizes but up 62 mm wide.

As mentioned this label printer has a fast print speed but also has a printing quality better than you might expect for the price. It has a printing resolution of 600×300 DPI (If like me, you have no idea what that means, just remember: the higher the DPI, the better the printing quality). In this case, you are sure to get clear and readable labels.

The Dymo Label v.8 software

If you need to print customised labels, then you might enjoy Dymo’s Dymo Label v.8 labelling software. It provides you with a choice of over 60 label styles and layouts. In addition to offering the standard font range (bold, italic, and underline), it also offers a range of clip art icons so that you can personalise to your heart’s content.

The only downside of the labelling software is that it appears cluttered, which makes some features tricky to find.

Pros

  • Reliable. I’ve had my Dymo LabelWriter 450 for almost two years now and I haven’t had any major issues yet.
  • Thermal-based. I love this label maker because it uses thermal printing technology, meaning you’ll never need to buy ink again.
  • Affordable. At only £72 on Amazon, this printer is a great deal.
  • Speed. According to Dymo, this label maker prints up to 51 labels per minute. But from my experience, they are being conservative. It can print a lot more, I would say about 75 per minute. My point is that it’s fast.
  • Rarely jams. As a long-term heavy user of the Dymo, I’ve only experienced a couple of jams.

Cons

  • Only prints in black. To be fair to this printer, most printers in its price black don’t print in colour. But I will still put this as a con because it would be cool if they could.
  • Dymo label v.8 software could be simpler. The software interface seems cluttered and busy. It could definitely be simpler.

Conclusion

The Dymo LabelWriter 450 label maker is a reliable yet versatile entry-level label printer. And as long as standard labels are what you require, I’m sure this printer will meet your labelling needs.

It’s one of the best helpers for any individual or business, regardless of whether you use it to print just a few or hundreds of labels. And you know what the best part is? It’s one of the cheapest label makers on the market. Yet it’s compact, stylish and is likely to last long.

Overall, I would recommend going for the Dymo LabelWriter 450 if printing standard labels are what you need. It’s simple, reliable and affordable.

Label printing FAQ

Can I use an inkjet printer to print labels?

In the long-run, no, I would not recommend using an inkjet printer to print FBA labels. Why? Well, because a barcode printed using an inkjet printer can easily get smudged or fade over time, making it unreadable by a scanner.

If you already have an inkjet printer, I suppose you can use it if your budget is tight. But I would recommend using clear tape over the barcode to ensure that it’s scannable.

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