10 Best Portable Thermal Printers 2025 in the UK

The DYMO LabelManager 160 Label Maker Starter Kit is a compact and lightweight portable thermal printer ideal for home or office use. One of its notable strengths is the QWERTY keyboard, which allows for quick text input and efficient label creation with various formatting options, including 6 font sizes, 8 text styles, and 228 symbols. This makes it versatile for different labeling needs.

The thermal printing technology eliminates the need for ink or toner, making it a cost-effective choice over time. Additionally, the starter kit includes three rolls of D1 label tape, adding value compared to purchasing these items separately. The automatic switch-off feature extends battery life, enhancing its portability. Connectivity is limited to USB, which may not be as convenient as wireless options but is sufficient for basic use.

The printer's resolution ranges between 203 to 300 dpi, suitable for clear, professional labels. On the downside, it lacks dual-sided printing and color depth is monochrome, which might be restrictive for users needing more advanced printing features. The build quality is commendable with environmentally-friendly materials used in its construction, but the absence of included batteries could be inconvenient for immediate use. The DYMO LabelManager 160 is user-friendly with its LCD display and lightweight design, making it a practical choice for everyday labeling tasks.

The SUPVAN E10 Mini Bluetooth Label Maker is a compact and portable device designed mainly for home, school, kitchen, and office labeling needs. It uses thermal printing technology, meaning it prints labels without ink, which makes it cost-effective and mess-free. The print resolution is 203 dpi, offering clear, sharp labels ideal for organizing items like storage bins and containers. Printing speed is decent at up to 25 pages per minute, which is adequate for typical labeling tasks but not for heavy-duty use.

Connectivity is straightforward via Bluetooth, allowing you to design labels with a free app on smartphones or tablets (iOS 13.0+ and Android 8.0+ supported). The app offers a wide variety of fonts, icons, emojis, and templates, making it easy and fun to customize labels. Battery life is strong, with a rechargeable battery that can last about a month on a single charge, supporting portability and convenience. The label maker uses 15mm wide waterproof tape, suitable for most household or office labeling but limited if you need wider labels.

Its lightweight and durable plastic build make it easy to carry around, though it lacks dual-sided printing and color options. It is ideal for casual users who want an easy and fast way to keep things organized, while it may not fit users needing heavy printing volume or multi-color labels. Customer ratings are positive, reflecting satisfied users who appreciate its clarity, design, and app features.

The Dymo LetraTag LT-100H is a handheld thermal label printer designed mainly for home and office use. It prints in black and white with a modest resolution of 160 dpi, which is enough for clear text labels but not detailed graphics. Printing speed is relatively slow at about 10 characters per second, fitting for labeling tasks rather than bulk jobs. It uses thermal printing technology, so you won’t need to buy ink or toner, which keeps running costs low. The device is powered by 4 AA batteries (not included), making it highly portable, but battery life depends on usage and batteries used.

Connectivity is limited to USB, so you can’t print wirelessly or directly from a smartphone despite some compatibility claims. The included 13-character LCD screen is simple but lets you preview text and formatting before printing, which helps avoid mistakes. You can choose from multiple font sizes, styles, box designs, and even print two lines with date stamps for versatile labeling needs.

The build is lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around, though it has a plastic feel typical of budget handheld devices. Loading labels is straightforward, and the included starter roll helps you get going immediately. This label maker suits users looking for a basic, portable solution to create simple labels quickly without fuss. It is not ideal if you need high-resolution printing, color labels, or advanced connectivity options.