Brother P-touch PT-D220 Label Maker: features, specs and who it suits

The Brother P-touch PT-D220 is a handheld label maker for home and small-office organizing. It prints laminated labels on Brother TZe tape, so you can mark files, shelves, cables, jars and storage boxes. The point is simple: things are easier to find and put back when they are clearly named.

What it prints on

The PT-D220 uses Brother TZe label tapes, up to roughly 1/2 inch (12 mm) wide. TZe tapes are laminated, which in general makes the printed text resistant to scuffing and fading. Brother says the range covers many finishes and colours, including waterproof, glitter, extra-strong adhesive for uneven surfaces and tamper-evident versions. You can print one or two lines of text on a label.

Keyboard and screen

The keyboard follows the familiar QWERTY layout, with one-touch keys for formatting. A 15-character display lets you preview text before printing, which helps avoid wasted tape. Because the screen shows only a short stretch of text at a time, longer labels need a bit of scrolling while you check them.

Fonts, frames and symbols

Brother lists 14 fonts, 11 font styles, 99 frames and over 600 symbols. In practice, this lets you separate categories with a border or colour of tape, or add a small symbol such as an arrow, a warning mark or a recycling icon. Those options are handy when several people share a space and need to read labels quickly.

Templates and saved labels

Twenty-five preset templates are built in for common home and workplace jobs, so you pick a layout rather than designing one from scratch. The memory stores up to 30 frequently used labels, which you can find and reprint as many times as you need. That suits repeated tasks, such as labelling a row of folders with the same heading or reprinting an address.

Power and size

The label maker runs on six AAA batteries, or on an optional AC adapter. Batteries and the adapter are sold separately. It measures about 5.9 x 6.2 x 2.7 inches (15 x 16 x 7 cm) and weighs 1.1 lb (about 0.5 kg), so it fits in a drawer and can be carried from room to room.

Who it suits

It suits households that want tidy pantries, craft supplies or toolboxes, and small offices that label files, drawers and shelves. Brother points people who want to design labels on a PC and print on tape up to 3/4 inch (18 mm) wide to its PT-D410 model. The PT-D220 is a stand-alone device and works from its own keyboard.

What to check before you buy

• Tape width: it takes TZe tape up to about 12 mm wide. Check that this suits the labels you plan to make.
• Tape supply: it needs Brother genuine TZe cassettes, so look at the colours and finishes you want.
• Power: decide between six AAA batteries and the optional AC adapter, since neither is included.
• Text length: one or two lines per label, with a 15-character preview.
• Surfaces: check the tape type against the surface, such as rough, curved, damp or outdoor spots.

The short version

• A handheld Brother label maker for home and small-office organizing.
• Prints on TZe tape up to roughly 12 mm wide, one or two lines of text.
• QWERTY keyboard, 15-character display, 14 fonts, 11 styles, 99 frames and 600+ symbols.
• 25 templates and memory for 30 saved labels.
• Runs on six AAA batteries or an optional AC adapter, both sold separately.

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