Label Tape

Label Tape and Refills

Label tape is a consumable that has to match the machine exactly — right brand, right family, right width. NXP stocks 83 label tapes and label rolls for Brother P-touch and Dymo labelling machines, in widths from 6mm to 24mm and in laminated, non-laminated, flexible and extra-strength constructions, plus lower-cost Icon compatible alternatives.

Match the tape to the machine first

Tape families are not interchangeable, and this is where nearly every wrong order comes from.

Brother:

• TZe — laminated tape for Brother P-touch machines. The most common family, and the one most P-touch models take.
• M-K — non-laminated Brother tape. Cheaper, less durable, fits some P-touch models.
• DK — die-cut and continuous rolls for Brother QL desktop label printers. A completely different system from TZe; a QL machine will not take a P-touch cassette.

Dymo:

• D1 — the standard cassette for Dymo LabelManager machines.
• LetraTag — a different, narrower cassette for Dymo LetraTag handhelds only. D1 will not fit a LetraTag and vice versa.
• LabelWriter (LW) rolls — thermal label rolls for Dymo LabelWriter desktop printers, such as the 54 x 101mm shipping label.

Check the model number on the machine, then check the tape width your machine supports. Many entry level machines top out at 12mm even though the tape family goes up to 24mm.

Widths, and what each is for

• 6mm — cable identification, small component labelling, narrow spines.
• 9mm — small item labelling, keys, chargers.
• 12mm — the everyday default. Files, shelves, containers, equipment. If you only stock one width, stock this one.
• 18mm — shelf edges, larger containers, signage that has to be read across a room.
• 24mm — plant and equipment labelling, warehouse racking, anything read at distance.
• 62mm continuous — for Brother QL printers, cut to whatever length you need. Good for address labels, shipping and parcel labels.

Laminated, non-laminated, flexible or extra strength

This is the durability decision, and it matters more than most people expect.

Laminated (Brother TZe) tape sandwiches the printed text between layers of clear PET film. The print sits inside the tape, not on the surface, so it survives water, abrasion, sunlight, chemicals and being wiped down. This is what you want anywhere a label has to last — kitchens, workshops, laboratories, plant rooms, outdoors, or anything touched daily. For harsher environments still, purpose-made heavy duty labels are the alternative.

Non-laminated (Brother M-K) prints on the surface. It's cheaper and perfectly adequate for indoor office use — file spines, shelf labels, a labelled drawer — but the print will scuff off under handling or moisture.

Extra strength adhesive (TZe-S) is the same laminated tape with a stronger, more aggressive adhesive. Use it on rough, textured or powder-coated surfaces where standard tape lifts at the corners — and be aware it's difficult to remove cleanly.

Flexible ID (TZe-FX) is designed to wrap around cables and cylindrical objects without the ends peeling back or the label cracking at the bend. If you're labelling network cables, patch leads or pipework, this is the correct tape — standard laminated tape wrapped around a cable will lift within weeks. Pair it with proper cable management and a comms cupboard becomes traceable.

Colour, and using it properly

NXP stocks black on white, clear, yellow, green and red. Two practical uses beyond decoration:

Black on clear looks like printing directly onto the surface, which is why it's the choice for signage, glass, equipment fascias and anywhere a white rectangle would look untidy.

Coloured tape lets you colour-code by department, hazard, review date or circuit — yellow for electrical, red for restricted, and so on. In a workshop or comms room, colour-coded labels are read correctly at a glance in a way text alone isn't.

Label rolls for desktop printers

Brother QL and Dymo LabelWriter machines use rolls rather than cassettes. Die-cut rolls come pre-sized — the 54 x 101mm and 62 x 100mm shipping labels are the common despatch sizes — while continuous rolls let you cut to length. These are thermal labels, so there's no ribbon to replace, but the print will fade with prolonged sunlight and heat.

Compatible tapes

The Icon compatible cassettes here fit Dymo LetraTag and LabelWriter machines at a lower price than the branded consumable. They're a sensible saving for high-volume internal labelling. For labels that have to last years, or for warranty-sensitive equipment, stick with the branded tape — the laminate construction and adhesive are where the difference shows.

Keeping stock

Label tape always runs out mid-job. Keep a spare cassette in your most-used width, and if you run several machines, standardise on one family and one width across the office so a spare fits whatever ran out. NXP has no minimum order quantity, orders placed by 3pm dispatch the same day from the nearest branch, and freight is free over $50.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between Brother TZe and M-K tape?

TZe is laminated — the print is sealed between layers of clear film, so it resists water, abrasion and fading. M-K is non-laminated, with the print on the surface: cheaper, but it scuffs off under handling or moisture. Use TZe anywhere the label needs to last; M-K is fine for indoor office labelling.

Will Dymo D1 tape fit a LetraTag machine?

No. D1 and LetraTag are different cassette systems and aren't interchangeable. Check which family your machine takes before ordering — the model name on the machine tells you (LabelManager takes D1, LetraTag takes LetraTag cassettes).

What width label tape should I buy?

12mm is the everyday default and fits most office uses. Choose 6mm or 9mm for cables and small items, 18mm or 24mm for shelf edges, racking and anything read from a distance. Check the maximum width your machine accepts first — many entry-level machines only take up to 12mm.

Which label tape works on cables?

Flexible ID tape (Brother TZe-FX) is made for it — it wraps around cables and cylindrical surfaces without the ends lifting or the label cracking at the bend. Standard laminated tape wrapped around a cable tends to peel back within weeks.

Are compatible label tapes as good as branded?

For everyday internal labelling, they do the job at a lower cost. Branded laminated tape is the better choice where the label must survive years, moisture, chemicals or outdoor exposure — the laminate construction and adhesive quality are where the difference shows up over time.