Topic 01 · Updated November 2026
Choose a label maker for drawers, folders, cables and boxes. Start with the space you have for text and how you’d like to type it.
Compare home label makers
21 practical guides
Choose how you want to enter the text, measure the label space and check the refill family. Then use the guide for your machine or household job.
Quick match
Type at the shelf and print on the spot. It takes Brother TZe tape from 3.5 to 12 mm, so there’s a narrow option for tight folder spines.
3.5–12 mm TZe · Built-in keyboard
See it in the guide →10 guides
Start with the kind of label you need, then compare the machines that support it.
4 guides
The usable space and surface decide which label is practical.
7 guides
Follow the model-specific controls and change one setting at a time.
For files, drawers and storage boxes, a handheld machine with its own keyboard is a good starting point. You can type the label where you need it and move on to the next shelf. If you like to lay out text on a larger screen, choose an app-controlled model and check that the app runs on your phone before ordering.
A box lid gives you room for two lines or larger lettering. A slim folder spine or cable gives you much less space. Measure the usable area, then check the machine’s printable height as well as the nominal tape width. The label needs a margin above and below the lettering.
PT-H110 and PT-P300BT take tape up to 12 mm. PT-P710BT adds widths up to 24 mm.
Suit dry indoor jobs such as file tabs. Check whether the machine supports the paper cassette you want to use.
Look up the tape maker’s guidance for the specific material, adhesive and surface.
Look for a documented flexible tape and match it to the shape and diameter of the cable.
Keep a note of the model and refill code. Brother lists TZe cassettes for the PT-H110, while DYMO specifies LetraTag labels for the LT-100H. Both offer a 12 mm format within their own families.
Check tape compatibility →Best for everyday labels
A handheld pick for files, drawers and boxes. The built-in QWERTY keyboard lets you type and print wherever the job is, and the narrow tapes leave room on smaller surfaces.
Keep in mind. The 12 mm maximum is limiting if you want large lettering across a box lid. It uses six AAA batteries or a compatible optional mains adaptor.
Yes. The Brother PT-H110 and DYMO LetraTag LT-100H both have built-in keyboards. App-controlled models let you design on your phone instead.
Measure the flat part of the spine first. A short title read close up often fits on 9 or 12 mm tape. Check the printer’s printable height as well as the cassette width.
They are different cassette families. Match the family and width listed for your exact model before buying a refill.
Check the maker’s app on your phone, the supported tape widths, the power source and whether you need automatic cutting for repeated labels.
Look for a tape specified for the surface and cleaning routine. Try a small label on a clean, flat patch before printing the whole set.