The Brother QL-700 is a good buy only if your labels are 2.4 inches wide or narrower and print from one computer. It is a USB-only, 300 dpi direct thermal printer with a 2.3-inch maximum print width and an automatic cutter. It handles address, file folder and product labels on Brother DK rolls, but it cannot print a standard 4 x 6 carrier label. For those, look at a 4-inch printer such as the Brother QL-1110NWB or the other 4x6 printers for a small shipping station .

If you already own one, the everyday roll is Brother’s DK-2205 continuous 2.4 in tape , cut to length for address and product labels.

This is a spec-based buyer review, not a hands-on test: we have not printed with a QL-700. Specifications come from Brother’s support site, the QL-700 user guide and Brother’s DK roll pages, checked on October 3, 2026.

Picks at a glance

Model Who it is for Sourced spec Buy
Brother QL-700 One computer, narrow labels; compare current price USB only; 300 dpi; 2.3 in print width (Brother) Amazon
Brother QL-800 Same job, newer model USB only; 2.3 in print width; red and black on DK-2251; 300 x 600 dpi mode (Brother) Amazon
Brother QL-1100 4x6 carrier labels USB only; 300 dpi; 4 in print width (Brother) Amazon

Key specifications

Spec Brother QL-700
Print method Direct thermal (no ink, toner or ribbon)
Print head 300 dpi, 720 dots
Maximum print width 2.3 in (59 mm)
Print length 0.5 in to 39.37 in
Maximum speed 5.9 in per second; up to 93 standard address labels per minute (from P-touch Editor)
Cutter Automatic
Connection USB only
Built-in software P-touch Editor Lite, launched with the Editor Lite button

The U.S. specification lists a 300 dpi printhead, while Brother’s QL-700 datasheet also documents a 300 × 600 dpi high-resolution mode. A 300 dpi head specification does not rule out higher resolution in the feed direction. Check the mode in the supported driver; it does not turn the QL-700 into a four-inch printer.

Labels it takes

The QL-700 uses Brother DK rolls up to 2.4 inches (62 mm) wide . Examples from Brother’s supply pages:

  • DK-1201: 1.1 x 3.5 in standard address labels, 400 per roll.
  • DK-1202: 2.4 x 3.9 in die-cut shipping labels, 300 per roll. This is the largest die-cut label in this width.
  • DK-2205: 2.4 in continuous paper tape, 100 ft per roll, cut to whatever length you print.

The same DK rolls fit the QL-800, QL-820NWB, QL-1100 and QL-1110NWB, so rolls bought for a QL-700 carry over if you upgrade.

What to check before buying one

Shipping labels. eBay’s label tool, for example, offers three print formats: 8 x 11, 4 x 6, or 2 x 7 (USPS only). The QL-700 cannot print the first two. Neither Brother nor eBay documents printing eBay’s 2 x 7 format on 2.4-inch DK tape, so test it before relying on it. In practice, treat the QL-700 as an address and product label printer next to your shipping setup. Our label roll size guide explains the split.

Age and support. Brother’s QL-700 user guide lists Windows XP to 7 and Mac OS X 10.4 to 10.7. Brother’s current support list is much newer: it includes Windows 11 and macOS 26, plus Linux. A missing store page does not establish the condition or age of every offer. Confirm new versus used condition, seller support and the actual driver download for your OS before buying.

Barcodes. Brother’s guide recommends setting the driver’s Print Quality option to “Give priority to print quality” for barcodes and printing them in the orientation its troubleshooting diagram shows relative to the print head.

Durability. Brother’s QL-series guides warn that DK labels fade with sunlight and heat and should not be used outdoors where durability matters.

QL-700 vs QL-800 vs QL-820NWB

QL-700 QL-800 QL-820NWB
Maximum print width 2.3 in 2.3 in 2.3 in
Resolution 300 dpi head; documented 300 × 600 mode 300 dpi, plus 300 x 600 dpi high-resolution mode 300 dpi, plus 300 x 600 dpi high-resolution mode
Connections USB USB USB, USB Host, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth
Black and red printing No Yes, on DK-2251 tape Yes, on DK-2251 tape

If the QL-700 and QL-800 cost about the same, the QL-800 is the better choice: same width and supplies, plus red printing and the high-resolution mode. Choose the QL-820NWB only if the printer must be reached over a network or from a phone.

Who should buy it

Buy a QL-700 if one computer prints small labels (addresses, folders, bins, product tags), you want them cut automatically, and you can get it cheaper than a QL-800. Skip it if you need 4 x 6 shipping labels, network or phone printing, or the option of non-Brother label rolls.

Sources

FAQ

Can the Brother QL-700 print 4x6 shipping labels?

No. Brother lists a 2.3-inch maximum print width. The largest die-cut DK shipping label it takes is the DK-1202 at 2.4 x 3.9 inches. For 4 x 6 carrier labels you need a 4-inch printer such as the QL-1100.

Is the Brother QL-700 still supported?

Brother’s supported-OS page lists Windows 11 and macOS 26 alongside older releases, but it warns that some older software is no longer updated. Check the actual download and feature support for your system; a listed OS does not promise indefinite updates.

Does the QL-700 need ink?

No. It is a direct thermal printer, so the only supply is Brother DK label rolls.

What is the difference between the QL-700 and QL-800?

Both are USB-only, 300 dpi, 2.3-inch printers that use DK rolls. The QL-800 adds black and red printing on DK-2251 tape. The QL-700 also has a documented 300 × 600 dpi mode, so that alone is not a reason to upgrade.