QUESTION
Should I buy a Brother label maker or a cheap Amazon label maker?
Typical price to pay:
- Brother label maker: about $25–$60 for most common home/office models
- Cheap Amazon label maker: about $15–$35 for basic budget models
- Refill tape: usually $8–$25 per pack for Brother-branded or compatible tapes, and $6–$20 for many budget-brand replacements
What I’d buy: for most people, Brother is worth the extra money if you plan to label regularly, want easier refill shopping, or care about long-term reliability. A cheap Amazon label maker is fine if you only need occasional labels and you’ve confirmed the exact tape/refill size is easy to find.
One caveat: prices and tape availability change a lot, so check recent sold/completed listings and current refill prices before buying.
If you want the safest value, I’d usually pay around $30–$45 for a Brother or under $25 for a budget Amazon model—but only if the refill tape is readily available.