With the advancement in technology, the continuous manual and tedious job of label designing has completely changed. You can now print a label or barcode in just a few clicks with a barcode printer.
If you looking at buying a barcode printer for professional use, remember that choosing the right one is not as simple as it sounds.
There are plenty of things that you need to consider while looking for a label printer and we have covered all of those. We have mentioned all the important types of barcode printers available in the market along with the essential factors you need to consider to make an informed decision.
To make your search simpler, we have also researched and reviewed the best barcode printers available in the market currently.
Types of Label Printers
When you start looking out for label printers, you will realize that there are different types
Thermal Transfer Types of Label Printers
This type of printer is usually called a label printer but it is the most flexible printer as it can print on anything that fits well inside it.
If you are making labels, you may also need to make wristbands and tags and this printer will be useful for that as well.
Remember that not all thermal printers are the same. The biggest difference between each is how much load they can print. They come in multiple forms like:
Desktop
You can buy this type of printer if your requirements are less than 500 labels per week. They are suitable for asset labeling at a retail store or any office.
Mobile
These printers are similar to the thermal barcode printers but you have the control to connect the cable connection to a computer.
If you are a person who is usually on the go for your work then this is an ideal printer to make receipts and labels on the move. It provides high-quality print and the size of the printer is such that it can fit in your pant’s pocket.
These mobile printers are perfect for sales agents and delivery drivers to create receipts on the spot.
Yes, they do have some limitations because of their small size. For example, they are not ideal for high volumes, have limited capacity, and can only print in a smaller size – maximum 4 inches.
Industrial
You would have guessed it right by the name, yes, these are larger sized printers for high volume prints. These have the capacity to print thousands of prints every day and can also work all day long.
The industrial printers can hold more media and can print from 0.5 inches to 8 inches wide prints.
Ticket
This is another type of thermal printer that provides high-quality print even in thicker paper. If you are into making tickets For festival concerts or any other type of event then this is a dedicated printer that fulfills the purpose.
These printers can carry more stacked media and also use roll media. You can stack a large stack of roll media so you do not have to reload it again and again.
Wristband
This printer is used to create wristbands at a lower cost and offers multiple other benefits.
Yes, the standard print can create wristbands too but you have the need to make wristbands then we recommend you opt for this dedicated printer. This one is ideal for concerts, theme parks, hospitals, and more.
Most other printers have media on a roll, this one has cartridges that you need to put in the right place and it starts printing.
They also have high print resolution and provide a crisp logo print. Another plus point of this printer is that it has an antimicrobial case that makes it ideal for the healthcare industry as well.
Direct thermal printers
These printers are similar to thermal printers but they do not need an ink ribbon. These actually have a special layer of chemicals under the surface that get heat-activated to create prints.
As you do not need a printing ribbon, the cost of print per label reduces significantly. Before you buy them remember that these printers are not suitable for long-term use especially in a place where there is direct UV light exposure.
If you are looking for a printer that does not cost you much for a print and is also easy to set up then the direct thermal printer is the right option to go for.
The prints that come out of this printer are not as vibrant as those of thermal printers. In case they come out too vibrant, then that means it is using too much heat that may affect its readability.
A few printers of this type that are available in the market have the capacity to switch between thermal transfer and direct thermal printing.
Laser printers
As we know, inkjet and laser printers are suitable for use at home and office. This makes them ideal for label printing as well because they are easy to use and inexpensive.
The durability of these printers depends on the surrounding condition like indoor applications to cold and humid applications.
The print quality of these printers is good, also in UV light exposure. Dry toner is used by laser sheets, either in full colour or black. This gives you the flexibility to add colour coding as well as graphics.
With the plus points mentioned above, the biggest disadvantage of this type of printer is that it can print only one label at a time, which might be time – consuming.
How to Choose a Barcode Printer in India?
Before you pick the first barcode printer you come across, it is wise to know your requirements and the essential points that will help you make an informed decision.
We have mentioned the important factors that you need to keep in mind to ensure you have made the right buy.
Reliability
One of the most important factors that you need to consider while looking for a barcode printer is its reliability. The printer should be designed in a way that it can print large quantities of high-quality prints.
A Barcode printer experiences less downtime and needs less maintenance when compared to a laser printer.
Efficiency
The office printers may not be as efficient as the dedicated barcode printer because they print an entire sheet of labels at a time but printers work well when you give a command to print one label at a time.
Thus a barcode printer is designed to make more efficient use of labels and work better than office printers.
Quality
One of the most important things that you need to consider is the quality of the prints. Investing in the right Printer can help you get high-quality barcode prints. This decreases the risk of downtime, chargebacks as well as unreadable labels.
Type as per your requirements
As mentioned above, there are multiple types of barcode printers available in the market. Before you choose one, ensure to know your needs well.
For example, if you need a printer for product delivery, then the mobile printer would be useful or in case you need one to print large quantities of labels, then the industrial one is the right choice.
Cost
Because barcode printers are designed to print barcodes and labels, they are cost-efficient than office printers.
These printers use rolls of labels that are inexpensive that paper sheets. With a decrease in downtime and lower cost of paper rolls, these printers can help you save some money.
Every printer is priced differently based on its type, brand, etc. Thus, we recommend you to fix a budget along with other requirements to make the right decision.
Warranty
Most brands offer a warranty of 1 year, but you may also come across a few that provide more than 12 months warranty, while some may not provide any.
Best Barcode Label Printers In India
1. TSC TE 244 Barcode Printer 203 DPI
This printer has a powerful processor of 400MHz 32 Bit.
If you are looking for a compact barcode printer that can be kept on your desk but does not take up a lot of space, then this one from TSC is a good one.
This printer has a powerful processor of 400MHz 32 Bit with ample memory storage – 16 MB SDRAM and 8MB flash memory.
This printer is super easy to use and versatile. It is lightweight as well weighing 3 kgs and thus you can carry it from one cabin to another.
It can print a wide variety of labels and tags. The printer can emulate TPLE and TPLZ languages out of the box.
This barcode printer provides 8 dots per mm print resolution and comes with a warranty of 1 year.
2. Everycom EC-58 58mm (2 Inches) Direct Thermal Printer
The printer has a cash drawer integration and supports 1D as well as 2D barcode printing.
If you are looking for a super affordable barcode printer, then this one from Everycom is the best option to choose from.
It is a direct thermal desktop printer that is super light in weight and compact. This printer has a printing speed of 120mm per second which is amazing considering its low price tag.
The printer is super simple to set up, all you need to do is plug and play. It is compatible with Epson ESC and POS.
It consumes less power and requires low maintenance. You can even upload your store logo into the printer for print.
It even has a cash drawer integration and supports 1D as well as 2D barcode printing. The print is available in black and white only.
3. Direct Thermal Transfer 4 IPS & 300 DPI Barcode Shipping Label Printer
It has a printing speed of 102,, per second, which is pretty amazing.
Another barcode and label printer from TCS is this one which is ideal for restaurants, retail shops, hotels, canteens, etc.
This one is a direct thermal printer that can print all kinds of receipts of up to 4-inch width at a high speed. It has a button to open the paper tray and can carry a paper roll of 25.4 – 38mm and 5inches OD.
It is compatible with Windows, MAC, Linux, Oracle, Microsoft SQL server, Nice Label, Bartender, and lots more.
This printer has a max print speed of 102 (4inches) mm per second and a resolution of 12 dots/mm. With a printing speed of 4 inches per second, it can print the barcodes or labels super fast.
4. Direct thermal Barcode Label Printer
The printer has an amazing printing speed of a maximum 152mm per second.
This one is a another heavy duty direct thermal barcode printer on this list. It is a compact and portable printer, ideal for professional use in shops, restaurants, etc.
The printer is designed very well and has a c;lamshell that enables users to easily open the cover of the media bay and drop the labels.
The black mark sensor and gap auto detection are adjustable. The print features a resolution of 203 DPI and print width of 20-103 mm.
It has an amazing printing speed of a maximum 152mm per second and a sufficient memory of 4MB RAM and 4MB flash.
The printer supports Windows 7/8/10 and comes with a warranty of 6 months.
5. Casio KL-820 Label Printer
The printer features 60 complete built in label designs for you to choose from.
Casio is one of the best Japanese multinational consumer electronics brands and it is super popular in India.
This label printer from Casio is super portable as it weighs only 610 grams. It can be useful at construction sites, warehouses or any other place where labelling is required.
The print coming out of the printer displays four 16 digit lines with large fonts that are easy to read. This means that you can print lots of information. It can handle 24, 18, 12, 9 and 6 mm tape widths.
The printer features 60 complete built in label designs for you to choose from. It even has numbering from 1 to 999 and 5 installed fonts, 6 languages, 5 character styles, and 3 character effects.
You can also get to look at the print preview so that you know if it will come out as you want. Casio offers the best warranty of 3 years on this product.
6. Portable Rechargeable Barcode Label & Receipt Printer
This printer is super lightweight, weighing only 1.56 kgs.
If you are looking for a portable barcode and label printer that works on bluetooth as well, then this one is the right option to consider.
This printer is super lightweight, weighing just 1.56 kgs. It supports Windows and Android and 20mm to 80mm barcode labels.
The outer grey colour body of this printer is made with ABS plastic making it super durable.it comes with a barcode making software that will help you design a barcode for your professional use.
7. Thermal High Speed Receipt Printer
This printer supports Windows XP, 7, 8, 10 and Linux operating systems.
Last but not the least, this printer from CYSNO is a thermal barcode and receipt printer. It has a high speed printing capacity of 70mm per second.
This printer has a cash drawer integration as well with a resolution of 203 DPI. It has a compact design and is light weight which makes it super portable.
This printer is suitable for all types of commercial detail POS systems. It supports Windows XP, 7, 8, 10 and Linux operating systems.
The printer accommodates a roll size of 2 inches which is ideal for receipts and tags. It comes with a 6 months warranty.
Conclusion
We hope to have helped you get the details required that would help you make the right decision.
Before you jump to a conclusion, make sure to check out the types of printers available like thermal transfer printers, direct thermal printers, etc. We have also mentioned in brief the details that will help you decide which type to go with.
The buying guide will help you understand the factors that you need to keep in mind while choosing the barcode printer.
Also, to make your search simpler, we have also reviewed the barcode and label printers available in the market.
