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The best cheap label makers
The DYMO LetraTag 100H is the cheap label maker most people should get. The Nelko P21 is the low-cost app option, and the DYMO embossing kit costs little and needs no batteries.
Updated 11-01-2026 by Imogen Pratt
Type your label
Embossed, laminated or thermal: three looks. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.
Cassette lengths are maker figures. The leader is the blank tape fed before the text; 0.75 in is our default, so set it to what your machine does.
Questions this page answers
How much does the tape cost, and am I locked in?
Most label makers only take their own brand's cartridges, so the tape decides your long-term cost. Brother TZe is laminated and costs more per foot; DYMO LetraTag paper costs less and lasts less.
Source: maker cassette specs.
Our pick for this: Brother P-touch PT-D220Fix: Brother TZe-231 tape, 12 mm black on white
Will labels survive water and freezers, or the dishwasher?
Laminated tape like Brother TZe holds up to spills and handling. Thermal paper labels fade with heat and light over time.
Source: maker tape descriptions.
Our pick for this: Brother P-touch PT-D220Fix: Brother TZe-S231 extra-strength tape
Why does it waste tape at the start of every label?
Most label makers feed a short leader before printing. Printing several labels in one run wastes less.
Source: maker manuals.
Our pick for this: Brother P-touch CUBE Plus PT-P710BTFix: Brother TZe-231 tape, 12 mm black on white
Machines for this
3D render, not a photoDYMO LetraTag 100H
Lowest cost to start
Lowest-cost keyboard machine with cheap paper tape.
Cost per label: About 8¢ to 17¢ per label on paper LT tape, 13¢ to 21¢ on plastic.
3D render, not a photoNelko P21 Bluetooth Label Maker
Best cheap Bluetooth label maker
Cheapest labels of all at a few cents each, if you use a phone.
Cost per label: Roughly 3¢ to 6¢ per label, the cheapest labels in this guide.
3D render, not a photoNIIMBOT D110 Mini Label Maker
Best mini label maker for jars and school
Equally cheap labels with a built-in battery.
Cost per label: Roughly 3¢ to 6¢ per label.
3D render, not a photoDYMO Organizer Xpress Pro Embossing Kit
Best for crafts and kids
Cheapest to own long term: no batteries and inexpensive tape.
Cost per label: Pennies per label; embossing tape refills are among the cheapest supplies in this guide.
3D render, not a photoBrother P-touch PT-N25BT
Best for colorful labels, keyboard or app
Budget Brother with keyboard and app; budget for Btag tape.
Cost per label: About 21¢ to 31¢ per label; Btag cassettes are half the length of TZe.
Before you pick one
The real cheapest choice
Add the machine to a year of supplies before deciding. A thermal app printer has the lowest running cost, a LetraTag has the lowest starting cost, and a Brother TZe machine costs more on both but the labels last for years. For a pantry you label once, durable tape often ends up cheapest.
Cheap machine, ongoing tape
The machine is a one-time cost; the tape is the bill that keeps coming. Before you buy, check what a refill costs and how many feet it holds, then run the calculator.
Thermal is cheap to run
App printers like the Nelko P21 and NIIMBOT D110 need no ink or ribbon, so a roll of labels is the only running cost.
Where cheap costs more
Paper tape on a damp jar peels in months. Spending a little more on laminated or plastic tape is cheaper than relabeling the pantry.
Generic refills
Compatible tapes are cheaper; quality varies, so buy one before you buy a ten-pack.
Quick questions
What is the best cheap label maker?
The DYMO LetraTag 100H for a keyboard, the Nelko P21 for an app.
Are cheap label makers worth it?
Yes for indoor labels; for wet or outdoor spots, pay for laminated tape.
What is the cheapest label maker to run?
Thermal app printers, because they use no ink or ribbon; you only buy label rolls.
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