Choosing the right thermal label printer is one of the most important decisions for Amazon FBA sellers. This comprehensive guide reviews the best thermal printers suited for Amazon sellers in 2019, helping you make an informed choice.
Thermal printers excel for Amazon FBA operations because they:
For sellers shipping more than 10-20 packages weekly, thermal printers typically pay for themselves within 2-3 months through saved time and eliminated ink costs.
Price Range: $150-250 (used/refurbished common)
Overview: The LP2844 is a durable, competitively priced workhorse that's become the de facto standard for Amazon sellers. Many sellers receive these free from UPS for high-volume shipping.
Specifications: - Print width: 4.09 inches - Print speed: 4 inches per second - Resolution: 203 DPI - Connectivity: USB, Serial, Parallel
Pros: - Extremely durable - built like a tank - Compatible with various label types and sizes - Excellent for high-volume sellers - Simple, reliable operation - Widespread availability of support resources - Free from UPS for qualified sellers
Cons: - Mac compatibility issues - Requires significant driver troubleshooting - No WiFi option (USB only on standard model) - Larger footprint than newer models - Can be noisy during operation
Best for: Windows users, high-volume sellers, anyone who can get one free from UPS
AZLabels compatibility: Excellent (though Mac users may need AZLabels Instant for best experience)
Price Range: $80-120
Overview: The LabelWriter 450 is a budget-friendly starter option that's particularly popular with newer sellers. It offers solid performance at an accessible price point.
Specifications: - Print width: 2.3 inches - Print speed: 51 labels per minute - Resolution: 600 DPI - Connectivity: USB
Pros: - Affordable entry point for new sellers - Excellent Mac compatibility - Compact desktop footprint - High resolution for crisp barcodes - Quiet operation - DYMO Label software included
Cons: - Requires proprietary DYMO labels - Higher ongoing costs - Limited to 2.3" width (can't print 4x6 shipping labels) - Not ideal for high-volume operations - Slower than dedicated 4" printers
Best for: New sellers, low-volume operations (under 50 labels weekly), Mac users who need plug-and-play simplicity
Note: For 4x6 shipping labels, you'll need the DYMO LabelWriter 4XL instead.
Price Range: $200-250
Overview: The 4XL is DYMO's faster model with wider print capabilities, handling the full 4" width needed for standard shipping labels.
Specifications: - Print width: 4.16 inches - Print speed: 71 labels per minute (53/min at 4x6) - Resolution: 300 DPI - Connectivity: USB
Pros: - Prints full 4x6 shipping labels - 40% faster than the 450 model - Excellent Mac compatibility - Quieter than Zebra competitors - Compact design for office environments - High-quality output
Cons: - Requires proprietary DYMO labels - $20-30 per 220 roll - Less smooth Word/Excel integration than Windows-focused alternatives - Label costs add up for high-volume users
Best for: Mac users, small office environments where noise matters, sellers printing 50-500 labels weekly
Cost comparison: At 220 labels per $25 roll, labels cost $0.11 each versus $0.02-0.04 for generic thermal labels.
Price Range: $180-220
Overview: Rollo printers have gained popularity as a commercial-grade, high-speed alternative that's described as "fast, reliable, and affordable".
Specifications: - Print width: 4.1 inches - Print speed: 150 mm/s (twice faster than competitors) - Resolution: 203 DPI - Connectivity: USB
Pros: - Significantly faster than competition (150mm/s vs 75mm/s) - Works with any thermal label brand (not proprietary) - Excellent Mac and Windows compatibility - Solid build quality - Great customer support - No additional software required
Cons: - Missing label roll holder - Labels sit beside printer or need separate holder - Slightly higher upfront cost than LP2844 - Less widespread than Zebra in terms of support resources
Best for: Sellers wanting maximum speed, those who print 100+ labels daily, operations where every second counts
AZLabels compatibility: Excellent with native support
Price Range: $150-200
Overview: Brother's QL-1100 offers a plug-and-play experience with good speeds and reliable performance.
Specifications: - Print width: 4.0 inches - Print speed: 69 labels per minute - Resolution: 300 DPI - Connectivity: USB
Pros: - Easy Windows and Mac setup - Good print quality at 300 DPI - Reliable Brother brand - Reasonable price point - Wide label compatibility
Cons: - Slightly slower than Rollo - Less common in FBA community (fewer resources)
Best for: Sellers wanting reliable brand-name quality with easy setup
Price Range: $120-160
Overview: Mid-range Brother model offering red/black printing capability in addition to standard black labels.
Specifications: - Print width: 2.4 inches - Print speed: 93 labels per minute (for 2" labels) - Resolution: 300 DPI - Connectivity: USB
Pros: - Unique red ink printing option - Fast for smaller labels - Good build quality - Affordable
Cons: - Limited red ink use cases for FBA - Can't print full 4x6 shipping labels - Red ribbon adds operating cost
Best for: Specialized applications where red printing matters (warning labels, clearance items)
Price Range: $300-350
Overview: Brother's premium model with wireless connectivity and professional features.
Specifications: - Print width: 2.4 inches - Print speed: 110 labels per minute - Resolution: 300 DPI - Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, USB
Pros: - Built-in auto-cutter - No manual tearing - WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity - Fast print speeds (110 labels/min) - Professional build quality - Can print from mobile devices
Cons: - Limited to 2.4" width - Can't handle 4x6 shipping labels - Higher price point - Overkill for most FBA operations
Best for: Office environments with multiple users, sellers who need mobile printing, operations printing primarily 2" product labels
Price Range: $500-600
Overview: A premium, mobile-capable printer best suited for larger operations.
Specifications: - Print width: 4.0 inches - Print speed: 5 inches per second - Resolution: 203 DPI - Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, USB
Pros: - Mobile capability with belt clip - Rugged construction for warehouse environments - WiFi and Bluetooth built-in - Fast printing - Industrial-grade durability
Cons: - Very high price ($500+) - Overkill for most home-based sellers - Larger and heavier than desktop models
Best for: Large operations with warehouse staff, multi-location businesses, industrial environments
Recommended: DYMO LabelWriter 450 or 4XL
Why: - Low upfront cost - Easy setup - Adequate speed - Room to grow
Budget: $80-250
Recommended: Zebra LP2844 or Rollo
Why: - Faster speeds handle volume - Uses affordable generic labels - Reliable for daily use - Good long-term value
Budget: $180-250 (or free Zebra from UPS)
Recommended: Rollo or Zebra LP2844
Why: - Maximum speed (Rollo) - Proven reliability (Zebra) - Low per-label costs - Built for daily heavy use
Budget: $180-250
Recommended: DYMO LabelWriter 4XL or Rollo
Why: - Native Mac compatibility - Minimal driver issues - Plug-and-play experience
Budget: $180-250
Note: Zebra LP2844 works on Mac with AZLabels Instant
2x1 FNSKU labels: - Cost: $15-20 per 1,000 - Per label: $0.015-0.020
4x6 shipping labels: - Cost: $20-30 per 500 - Per label: $0.040-0.060
Compatible with: - Zebra LP2844 - Rollo - Brother QL series (non-DK labels)
30334 (2.25" x 1.25") labels: - Cost: $20-25 per 1,000 - Per label: $0.020-0.025
4XL (4" x 6") labels: - Cost: $25-30 per 220 - Per label: $0.110-0.135
Compatible with: - DYMO LabelWriter series only
Seller printing 5,000 labels/year:
Generic labels: $75-100 DYMO labels: $550-675
Savings: $450-575 annually with generic labels
All reviewed printers work with AZLabels for streamlined label printing from Amazon Seller Central.
Instead of manually downloading PDFs and adjusting printer settings, AZLabels:
Excellent support: - Zebra LP2844 - Rollo - DYMO LabelWriter series
Good support: - Brother QL series - Most thermal printers
Free tier: - 100 product labels monthly - 10 shipping labels monthly - Perfect for new sellers
Paid plans starting at $9/month for higher volumes
Best choice: DYMO LabelWriter 450 ($80-120)
Limitation: Can't print 4x6 shipping labels
Best choice: Rollo ($180-220)
Benefit: 2x faster than competition
Best choice: Zebra LP2844 ($150-250 or free from UPS)
Benefit: Proven workhorse, widespread support
Best choice: DYMO LabelWriter 4XL ($200-250)
Benefit: Plug-and-play, no driver hassles
Best choice: Rollo or Zebra LP2844
Benefit: Low per-label costs, durable construction
For most Amazon FBA sellers, we recommend:
Best overall: Rollo - Fastest speeds, affordable labels, great compatibility
Best value: Zebra LP2844 - Especially if you can get it free from UPS
Best for Mac: DYMO LabelWriter 4XL - Plug-and-play simplicity
Pair any of these printers with AZLabels software to create an efficient, professional labeling workflow that scales with your business.
The right printer + the right software = a competitive advantage in your FBA operations.
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