Brother P-Touch QL-500 Manual-Cut PC Label Printing System

by Brother

• Up to 50 standard address labels per minute
• Easy to load drop-in supplies, auto sensor
• Integrated Add-ins for Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Custom layouts with barcodes, graphics, TrueType fonts
• Connects easily to PC via a USB port

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Now the PC Label Printer you've always wanted is here! Introducing the easy-to-use Brother QL-500 Quick PC Label Printer that prints address and shipping labels, up to 2.4 inches wide, on easy-to-peel, die-cut paper and continuous length film labels. The Brother QL-500 also prints file folder, CD/DVD, and visitor badge labels for just pennies apiece. Plus, no wasted sheets to worry about because you can print one label, a few, or hundreds at a time!

The Brother QL-500 has the ability to print on rolls of continuous film, up to 3 feet long, which makes it perfect for custom signage or banners. Highlight your text; click and print directly from Microsoft Word, Excel, or Outlook applications; or use the included Brother label creation software to customize your labels with logos or graphics or to print from lists and databases.

There's never been an easier or faster way to make the labels you need!

Printer Features:

• Print up to 50 standard address labels per minute (3 inches per second speed)
• Virtually edge-to-edge printing on a 2.4-inch wide label
• Crisp 300 dpi razor sharp printing
• Easy to load drop-in supplies with auto sensor, lessens label waste
• Easy to peel labels
• Connect easily to PC via a USB port, version 1.1
• Sharp manual cutter for clean label cuts
• Thermal print technology eliminates toner, ink, and ribbon costs
• Compact size, only 5.7 by 7.7 by 6 inches

Software Features:

• Integrated Add-ins for popular Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, and Outlook); no retyping necessary (see specifications for system requirements)
• Built-in general office and commercial templates for quick label creation
• Included P-touch editor software for custom layouts with barcodes, graphics, truetype fonts, and special formatting including frames and tables
• Database connectivity with .xls, .csv, .txt, and .mdb file types
• Prints in portrait or landscape mode; also prints text vertically for binder labeling
• Auto-size feature reduces or enlarges text to fit on a label
• Date and time stamping; auto-counter for serialization
• Zoom feature to preview labels and layouts before printing
• Prints a variety of barcodes: Code39, Code 128, Codabar, UPC A/E, EAN 8/13/128, Interleaved 2 of 5, Postnet, Laser Bar Code, ISBN2, ISBN5, PDF 417 QR Code, Data Matrix
• Auto Sensor quickly identifies label type for quick label formatting changes
• Repeat (multi-copy) printing
• P-touch library and history functions for quick access to frequently used labels and graphics

What's in the Box
P-Touch QL-500, DK 1201 starter roll of die-cut address labels, USB cable, Quick Start Guide, CD with software and user's guide

Product Description

Brother PC Label Printer Prints up to 50 labels per minute. 300dpi printing. Prints up to 2.3" wide labels, address labels, shipping labels, file folder labels, CD/DVD labels and name badges, or custome length lables.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely competive label/banner printer August 25, 2004

By Terri Bell

I recently purchased this machine for around $100. I have owned label writers in the past and this machine is performing even better than the much more expensive Dymo models. Some of the features that I find unique and usefull are the continueous tape option for banners and the speed at which this machine prints. It prints much faster than previous models I have owned. This label printer has been very easy to set up. The only thing is I might opt for the step up QL-550 next time because it has an auto cutter build in. But in defense of the QL-500, it's manual cutter is very easy to use too and has been a non issue.

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars small, simple, super-fast and good price August 22, 2005

By A. Woodley

This has proved to be an excellent buy - we use this all the time for our address labels, but also labelling everything we need around here from Jam, to bags to our business - and it runs so quickly and easily.

What do I really like about this - well it was quick and easy to set up - not just load the software on to the computer, but to fit the consumables in - it needs special spools to run - they slip in and out in a flash so if you are printing different sized labels you can refit them quickly

The size of the printer itself is great, it is light and compact which means it can be slipped into a corner when not in use, or quickly plugged in

I love the fact it doesn't use ink so no replacing ink cartridges or watching flashing lights etc.

It didn't take too long to find my way around the software, I was a bit annoyed at first you couldn't easily access a box for number of labels you want printed - but then you can't have every feature right there on the desktop - and there is already a great deal to cope with in terms of options.

We were printing simple labels with clip art within minutes and haven't stopped finding uses for it since (neat for backs of photos for instance)

It runs easily from Microsoft software which is also great - printing from letters etc is a breeze.

...and the speed! I couldn't believe how quick it was - it just shoots them out, cutting between labels as it goes

Overall I think this is a very versatile machine with great cross over for business and home use. It has all the elements I like - fast, efficient, easy-to-use, versatile and compact.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick, easy AND cheap! June 28, 2005

By hyperbolium

If you've been holding off getting a label-printer due to price, this is the printer for you. Not only has Brother lowered the price point on the printer itself (with rebates it often dips below $50), but Brother's standard address label refills are reasonably priced - about 3-cents each.

Setup on Windows XP is simple, but the iconography in the quick-start instructions manual can be a little frustrating. The printed instructions for label printing are anemic; the on-line (PDF) manual is better. Printing simple address labels is sufficiently intuitive that it can be accomplished without ready the manual.

Finally, this printer is fast! The first time I printed a label I thought the printer was just spinning the roll - turns out it was printing! The only downside I've found so far is that the printer's footprint is larger than some of the more expensive competitors.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Choice for Ebay Shipping Labels April 18, 2006

By Jay A. Brunn

Amazon Verified Purchase

I purchased this printer to print shipping labels for packages we ship out for our Ebay on line business. It works great with the ship feature in Paypal and has been trouble-free ever since I bought it. Use the continuous 2-3/7" labels DK-2205 for the Ebay shipping labels, fully compatable with the USPS Priority Mail system. I have also used this to print address labels (with the postnet codes as a feature of the excellent software which comes with this unit), CD labels and file folder labels. The manual cutter works just fine for me and I did not need the auto cut of the more expensive model

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars 100% Satisfied after 4 years of ownership November 6, 2006

By R. Savage

Amazon Verified Purchase

Have owned this printer for about 3 months now. This printer has been a very handy and useful tool for rapidly creating address labels, file labels, etc. I typically create one off labels, not mailing lists or batch lable jobs. I also frequently switch between label rolls and this is a pretty easy and fast process. I use this printer from multiple workstations on a single network. There is a driver on Brother's website that will allow you to install the printer driver for network usage. It uses Window File & Print sharing.

UPDATE: Owned now for 2 years. This label printer has worked flawlessly and Brother even provided updated Vista x64 drivers when I needed them. No complaints on this printer and I would still recommend it for perspective buyers.

** UPDATE **
Owned now for 3 years. Still no problems with this printer. Now using with Windows 7 Ultimate X64. I have had excellent experience with Brother printers.

** UPDATE **
Owned now for 4 years. Still no problems with this printer.

** UPDATE **
Owned now for 5 years. Still no problems with this printer.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very pleasant to use May 10, 2007

By Gadgester HALL OF FAME

The P-Touch QL-500 is a label printer that connects to your Windows 2000 or XP PC (not sure if Vista is supported) and allows you to print custom labels with text and graphics. The labels will be printed on blanks sold by Brother but they are reasonably priced. As another reviewer points out, this label printer doesn't use ink, so that's a big saving in itself.

The QL-500 uses a manual cutter: there's a lever at the bottom front that you move to cut a printed label. It's very easy to use. Its more expensive sibling, the QL-550, has a cut button that you press to "automatically" have the label cut.

The QL-500 turned out to be bigger and heavier than I had expected, but not unduly so. Setting it up took about 10 minutes from opening the packaging to having the first label printed. Half of that time was spent on reading the typical originaly-written-in-Japanese user's manual and another 30% of the time on installing the included software (I chose standard installation even though I don't think I'll ever use the P-Touch Addressbook).

Installing a label cartridge couldn't be simpler: the spool has guides that slide easily and effortless into the guide slots on the QL-500. And there's only one way you can insert the cartridge, so you won't do it wrong. You then feed the label tape into the printing mechanism, pulling the first tape just past the cutter slot. The QL-500 is smart enough to sense where the cutting position on the label tape should be, so for the most part it's a truly worry-free experience.

I use the included P-Touch program to design, lay out and write up my labels. (The program has half-baked integration with Microsoft Office programs.) So far I've printed only address labels.... The included starter label roll is similar to the DK-1201 roll: each address label is 1 1/7" x 3 1/2", good for 4 lines of address text in 12-point Arial. The starter roll has 100 labels, whereas the $12 DK-1201 has 400. I bought the $18 DK-1208 roll (also with 400 labels) which is wider (1 1/2" x 3 1/2"), since I often print addresses with 5 lines or more of text. But I think for most purposes, the DK-1201 suffices and saves you 50% in cost.

You should read the manual to ensure a hassle-free setup. The most important thing with the setup process is: do NOT connect the QL-500 to your PC via the included USB cable until after you've installed the software suite, which includes the crucial driver that's needed. The installation program will prompt you to connect the printer to the PC. I installed the software on Win2K and WinXP machines, and never had to restart any of the PCs (even though the manual says you might need to reboot).

The QL-500 is easy to set up and very easy -- and fun -- to use. Making customized labels has never been so easy. I wish the QL-500 could operate on batteries and were slightly slimmer and lighter, and I wish the labeling program were a little more user-friendly -- but for less than fifty bucks, this is the best PC peripheral I've bought in a long time. Plus, Brother makes and sells all kinds of label blanks at reasonable prices, so your creativity is your only limit.

I whole-heartedly recommend this product to anyone who prints labels. Read more ›