This guide to the best still-current label printers we've tested in recent years, along with our label-printer buying advice, should go a long way toward helping you make a good buying decision. Keep in mind, however, that general-use printers can also print sheets of paper labels, and are a viable alternative for that task, particularly if you need to print a stack of address labels for a mass mailing. For a look at our top picks, check out our roundup of overall best printers, as well as picks for the best inkjet and laser printers you can buy right now.

An important factor in choosing a labeler is deciding how and where you'll use it. Some label printers today work strictly as standalone devices, requiring that you enter label text and commands on a tiny attached keyboard. However, most recent models either add the option to print from a computing device (whether a PC or a mobile device) or are limited to printing only that way. Adding a PC to the mix provides the easiest and most versatile platform for creating labels, thanks in part to label-printing apps and to the ability to use a full-size keyboard to enter label content.

Mobile devices can offer equally versatile print features, but without a proper keyboard. That said, printing using a mobile device or a standalone printer can be more convenient for printing labels as you need them, whether labeling cables, say, in a data communications center or just in your family room. So be sure to pick a printer that offers the combination of standalone printing and printing from a PC or mobile device that best fits your needs.

In most cases, when using a label printer app, the printer tells the software what type of label roll is loaded. In turn, the software displays predesigned templates for several different label types. You can then fill in the blanks as-is, redesign the template, or start fresh and create your own custom labels.

In many cases, in addition to using the symbols, borders, and other design options built into the software, you can also import clip art and sometimes even photos (which print in monochrome on monochrome printers, of course) into your label layouts. For more details on any bundled software for a given model, look at authoritative label printer reviews. (Hint: We have lots of them.)

Another important factor in choosing a labeler is knowing how and where you'll use it, which helps determine the type of connection you need. Many label printers support multiple connection types, but some support only one, with USB being the most common. Not only is it used for connecting to your computer, but it's also one of the more common ways to recharge the many labelers that come with internal batteries.

The problem with USB is that the labeler must always be tethered to another device, making it more difficult to move the printer around. In addition, printing devices that connect solely via USB generally limit you to printing from only the one PC they're connected to, unless you take the time to set up something to act as a print server. (You can set Windows, for example, to share any USB-connected printer, so other PCs on the network can use it.)

Bluetooth is also supported by many label printers, as is Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Wi-Fi Direct. Ethernet and Wi-Fi, of course, make the printer available on your network, so any computer or mobile devices on the network can send it a print job—assuming the proper software is installed. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Direct create peer-to-peer connections between the printer and a mobile device or PC.