Head to head
DYMO LabelManager 160 vs Brother PT-H110 (2026)
DYMO 160 vs Brother PT-H110: D1 convenience against laminated TZe durability in the two best budget handhelds.
#1 in our rankings · Best overall
DYMO LabelManager 160
Best for: Home and office organizing where a self-contained keyboard handheld is the fastest path to a label.
#3 in our rankings · Best for durability
Brother P-touch PT-H110
Best for: Desk and garage organizing where labels must survive handling, moisture and time.
Our recommendation
Buy the DYMO LabelManager 160 for general indoor organizing: simpler formatting keys and D1 tape you can buy anywhere. Buy the Brother PT-H110 if labels face moisture, sunlight, abrasion or cables: laminated TZe output is built for exactly that. Same handheld idea, different label lifetimes.
Label durability
Brother TZe is laminated, protecting the printed layer under a clear film that resists water, fading and peeling. DYMO D1 is a quality general-purpose tape for indoor use but is not laminated in the same way. On a freezer bin or a cable, the difference shows within months.
Formatting and features
The 160 leans on one-touch smart keys and 200+ symbols for fast, good-looking office labels. The PT-H110 answers with a dedicated cable-labeling mode, 15-label memory and easy-peel TZe backing.
Tape buying
Both cap at 12 mm. D1 is typically the cheapest and most widely stocked; TZe costs more per foot and comes in standard, flexible-ID, extra-strength and colors aimed at durability jobs.
Choose DYMO LabelManager 160 if…
- Most of your labels are files, shelves and storage indoors
- You want the cheapest, most available tape refills
- One-touch formatting speed matters most
Choose Brother P-touch PT-H110 if…
- Your labels face kitchens, garages, outdoors or cables
- You want laminated labels that last for years
- Cable labeling is a regular job
Spec-by-spec comparison
| Spec | DYMO LabelManager 160 | Brother P-touch PT-H110 |
|---|---|---|
| Price tier | Budget | Budget |
| Tape system | DYMO D1, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 in widths | Brother TZe laminated, 3.5 to 12 mm widths |
| Input | QWERTY keyboard, large display | QWERTY keyboard, graphical display |
| Formatting | 20+ format options, 200+ symbols and clip-art | - |
| Print method | Thermal transfer, 300 dpi class output | Thermal transfer, laminated output |
| Power | Batteries or optional AC adapter; auto power-off | 6 AAA batteries or optional AC adapter |
| Memory | - | Stores up to 15 labels |
| Best for | Home and office organizing where a self-contained keyboard handheld is the fastest path to a label. | Desk and garage organizing where labels must survive handling, moisture and time. |
| Skip if | You want to design labels on a big screen, or you need tape wider than 1/2 inch. | You want Bluetooth app design, or labels wider than 12 mm. |
Strengths and limitations
DYMO LabelManager 160
Strengths
- Computer-style QWERTY keyboard with one-touch smart keys for bold, italic, underline and borders, so formatting takes fewer steps.
- Over 20 ways to format text and more than 200 symbols and clip-art built in, with a large display to preview before printing.
- Uses widely available DYMO D1 tapes in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch widths, with auto power-off to stretch battery life.
Limitations
- Maximum tape width is 1/2 inch (12 mm), too narrow for large storage-bin labels.
- Runs on disposable batteries or an optional adapter, neither of which removes the refill-style running cost of D1 tape.
- No phone or PC connection, so designs live on the small built-in display only.
Brother P-touch PT-H110
Strengths
- Prints on Brother TZe laminated tapes, whose laminated construction resists water, fading and peeling indoors and out.
- Dedicated cable labeling feature plus one-touch keys for fonts, sizes, styles and frames.
- Stores up to 15 labels in memory for fast reprints, with 3 fonts, 14 frames and over 250 symbols.
Limitations
- Tape tops out at 12 mm, and TZe cartridges cost more per foot than basic thermal sticker paper.
- Powered by 6 AAA batteries with the AC adapter sold separately.
- Two lines maximum per label, fine for files and cables, limiting for address-style labels.
How they fit the wider field
- DYMO LabelManager 160: ranked #1 (Best overall) in The Best Label Makers. Read the full DYMO LabelManager 160 review.
- Brother P-touch PT-H110: ranked #3 (Best for durability) in The Best Label Makers.
Neither one quite right? The full rankings cover 10 picks matched to different buyers.
Questions, answered
Which labels last longer outdoors?
The Brother PT-H110 on TZe laminated tape, by design. It is the only one of the two built and warranted around indoor and outdoor durability.
Which is cheaper to own?
The DYMO 160, typically, on both hardware tier and D1 refill prices, provided your labels live in gentle indoor conditions.