Custom Labels in Dubai: Should You Print Them In-House or Order Them Pre-Printed?If your labels carry information that changes, such as prices, weights, batch numbers, expiry dates or serial numbers, print them in-house on a label printer. If every label carries the same branded design and you use thousands of them, order them pre-printed. Many Dubai businesses do both: pre-printed branded labels, with a small printer adding the details that change.
That paragraph settles the question for most businesses. The rest of this guide explains the trade-offs so you can check which side you’re on before you spend money on a printer or a print run.
The two ways to get custom labels
Printing in-house means buying a desktop label printer and printing labels yourself, whenever you need them. You design the label in software and the printer prints it onto blank label rolls. Most desktop label printers are thermal, which means they print in one colour, usually black.
Ordering pre-printed labels means a label printing company produces your labels in a print run and delivers them on rolls or sheets. Pre-printed labels can be full colour, use special materials and finishes, and be cut to almost any shape.
When printing in-house makes sense
Print your own labels when:
- The information changes from label to label, or from day to day. Prices, weights, dates, batch codes, serial numbers and order numbers all change. A printer handles that easily. A print run can’t.
- You need labels straight away. A printer produces a label in seconds. A print run takes days.
- You have many products in small quantities. Printing 20 labels each for 50 different products is easy on a desktop printer and expensive as 50 separate print runs.
- Black text and barcodes are enough. Shelf labels, shipping labels, warehouse labels, asset tags and most compliance labels don’t need colour.
The investment is modest. An entry-level desktop barcode printer costs about AED 700 to AED 1,300 in the UAE, and blank thermal labels in common sizes cost around AED 10 to AED 15 per roll of 1,000. Our label printer price guide has the full breakdown.
When pre-printed labels make sense
Order pre-printed labels when:
- The design is the same on every label. Retail product labels, brand stickers, and labels with a logo and fixed text.
- You need colour, a premium finish or an unusual shape. Full colour, metallic or foil effects, matt or gloss lamination, and die-cut shapes are all print-run features. A desktop thermal printer can’t produce them.
- You use large quantities of the same label. Setup costs are spread across the run, so the price per label falls as the quantity rises.
- The label affects how customers judge the product. On a shop shelf, a well-printed label on good material looks noticeably different from a thermal print on plain paper.
See our pre-printed stickers and labels for what we produce.
The option most businesses end up with: both
This is the approach we recommend most often. It suits food producers, cosmetics brands, pharmacies, jewellers and online sellers particularly well.
Order your branded labels pre-printed, with your logo, colours and fixed product information, and leave a blank area on each label. Then use a desktop thermal transfer printer to add the details that change, such as the price, weight, batch number, barcode or expiry date.
You get a branded, professional label without paying for a new print run every time a price or batch changes.
Two things to get right when you order labels you plan to print on:
- Leave a clear area with no varnish for the overprint. Thermal transfer ribbon doesn’t bond reliably to heavily varnished or laminated surfaces, so the print can smudge or rub off. Tell your label printer which area you will print on.
- Match the ribbon to the label material. Paper labels generally work with wax or wax-resin ribbon, and synthetic labels usually need resin. If you’re not sure, send us a sample label and we’ll test it.
Comparing the cost
There’s no single break-even figure, because it depends on label size, material, colours and quantity. But the structure of the cost is simple.
Print in-house Order pre-printed Upfront cost A printer (entry level about AED 700 – 1,300) Setup on the first order, plus a cutting die for unusual shapes Cost per label Blank labels plus ribbon Falls as the order quantity rises Colour Usually one colour (black) Full colour Making changes Free and immediate Needs a new print run Lead time Seconds Several working days Staff time Someone prints and applies them Labels arrive ready to apply
A useful rule of thumb: if you would reprint the same unchanging design several times a year, pre-printed usually works out cheaper and looks better. If the label content changes often, printing in-house usually wins.
What makes a custom label look premium
For branding, the material and finish usually matter more than the design itself. A few things make a visible difference:
- Synthetic or polyester stock instead of paper, for products that are handled, chilled or likely to get wet. Our guide to choosing barcode label material explains the options.
- Matt or gloss lamination, which protects the print and changes how the label looks under shop lighting.
- Consistent placement. Labels applied straight and in the same position on every pack look more professional than any design detail.
- A barcode that scans first time. Leave clear space either side of the barcode and print it large enough. A barcode that fails at the till undoes the effect of a good design.
Quick decision guide
If your labels… Choose Change often (prices, dates, batches) Print in-house Are identical and used in large quantities Pre-printed Need full colour, foil or a custom shape Pre-printed Need branding plus details that change Pre-printed, then overprint in-house Are needed the same day Print in-house
How we can help
Labels & Labeling does both. We supply barcode label printers, labels and ribbons for printing in-house, and we produce custom pre-printed labels in Dubai. Tell us what you’re labelling and roughly how many you need, and we’ll tell you which approach costs less for you. See our label printing in Dubai service or request a quote.
Visit: Office M04, AB Plaza-2 Building, near Al Qiyada Metro Station, Abuhail, Deira, Dubai Call: +971 4 2715807 · Mobile: +971 55 7994752 · Email: sales@labelsandlabeling.ae
Frequently asked questions
Can I print custom labels myself?
Yes. A desktop thermal label printer and label design software let you print custom labels with text, barcodes, QR codes and simple logos. Most thermal printers print in one colour, so full-colour labels are better ordered pre-printed.
Can a label printer print in colour?
Most desktop barcode and label printers are thermal and print in a single colour, usually black. Colour label printers exist, but they cost more to buy and run. For full-colour branded labels, pre-printed labels are usually more economical.
What is overprinting on pre-printed labels?
It means printing information that changes, such as prices, batch numbers or expiry dates, onto labels that already carry your printed branding. It is usually done with a thermal transfer printer, and the overprint area should be left free of varnish.
Which is cheaper, printing in-house or pre-printed labels?
It depends on how often the label changes and how many you use. Labels that change often are cheaper to print in-house. Identical labels used in large quantities are usually cheaper pre-printed.
Do you print custom labels in Dubai?
Yes. Labels & Labeling produces custom pre-printed labels and supplies label printers, labels and ribbons for printing in-house, from our office in Abuhail, Deira, Dubai.
If your labels carry information that changes, such as prices, weights, batch numbers, expiry dates or serial numbers, print them in-house on a label printer. If every label carries the same branded design and you use thousands of them, order them pre-printed. Many Dubai businesses do both: pre-printed branded labels, with a small printer adding the details that change.
That paragraph settles the question for most businesses. The rest of this guide explains the trade-offs so you can check which side you’re on before you spend money on a printer or a print run.
The two ways to get custom labels
Printing in-house means buying a desktop label printer and printing labels yourself, whenever you need them. You design the label in software and the printer prints it onto blank label rolls. Most desktop label printers are thermal, which means they print in one colour, usually black.
Ordering pre-printed labels means a label printing company produces your labels in a print run and delivers them on rolls or sheets. Pre-printed labels can be full colour, use special materials and finishes, and be cut to almost any shape.
When printing in-house makes sense
Print your own labels when:
- The information changes from label to label, or from day to day. Prices, weights, dates, batch codes, serial numbers and order numbers all change. A printer handles that easily. A print run can’t.
- You need labels straight away. A printer produces a label in seconds. A print run takes days.
- You have many products in small quantities. Printing 20 labels each for 50 different products is easy on a desktop printer and expensive as 50 separate print runs.
- Black text and barcodes are enough. Shelf labels, shipping labels, warehouse labels, asset tags and most compliance labels don’t need colour.
The investment is modest. An entry-level desktop barcode printer costs about AED 700 to AED 1,300 in the UAE, and blank thermal labels in common sizes cost around AED 10 to AED 15 per roll of 1,000. Our label printer price guide has the full breakdown.
When pre-printed labels make sense
Order pre-printed labels when:
- The design is the same on every label. Retail product labels, brand stickers, and labels with a logo and fixed text.
- You need colour, a premium finish or an unusual shape. Full colour, metallic or foil effects, matt or gloss lamination, and die-cut shapes are all print-run features. A desktop thermal printer can’t produce them.
- You use large quantities of the same label. Setup costs are spread across the run, so the price per label falls as the quantity rises.
- The label affects how customers judge the product. On a shop shelf, a well-printed label on good material looks noticeably different from a thermal print on plain paper.
See our pre-printed stickers and labels for what we produce.
The option most businesses end up with: both
This is the approach we recommend most often. It suits food producers, cosmetics brands, pharmacies, jewellers and online sellers particularly well.
Order your branded labels pre-printed, with your logo, colours and fixed product information, and leave a blank area on each label. Then use a desktop thermal transfer printer to add the details that change, such as the price, weight, batch number, barcode or expiry date.
You get a branded, professional label without paying for a new print run every time a price or batch changes.
Two things to get right when you order labels you plan to print on:
- Leave a clear area with no varnish for the overprint. Thermal transfer ribbon doesn’t bond reliably to heavily varnished or laminated surfaces, so the print can smudge or rub off. Tell your label printer which area you will print on.
- Match the ribbon to the label material. Paper labels generally work with wax or wax-resin ribbon, and synthetic labels usually need resin. If you’re not sure, send us a sample label and we’ll test it.
Comparing the cost
There’s no single break-even figure, because it depends on label size, material, colours and quantity. But the structure of the cost is simple.
| Print in-house | Order pre-printed | |
| Upfront cost | A printer (entry level about AED 700 – 1,300) | Setup on the first order, plus a cutting die for unusual shapes |
| Cost per label | Blank labels plus ribbon | Falls as the order quantity rises |
| Colour | Usually one colour (black) | Full colour |
| Making changes | Free and immediate | Needs a new print run |
| Lead time | Seconds | Several working days |
| Staff time | Someone prints and applies them | Labels arrive ready to apply |
A useful rule of thumb: if you would reprint the same unchanging design several times a year, pre-printed usually works out cheaper and looks better. If the label content changes often, printing in-house usually wins.
What makes a custom label look premium
For branding, the material and finish usually matter more than the design itself. A few things make a visible difference:
- Synthetic or polyester stock instead of paper, for products that are handled, chilled or likely to get wet. Our guide to choosing barcode label material explains the options.
- Matt or gloss lamination, which protects the print and changes how the label looks under shop lighting.
- Consistent placement. Labels applied straight and in the same position on every pack look more professional than any design detail.
- A barcode that scans first time. Leave clear space either side of the barcode and print it large enough. A barcode that fails at the till undoes the effect of a good design.
Quick decision guide
| If your labels… | Choose |
| Change often (prices, dates, batches) | Print in-house |
| Are identical and used in large quantities | Pre-printed |
| Need full colour, foil or a custom shape | Pre-printed |
| Need branding plus details that change | Pre-printed, then overprint in-house |
| Are needed the same day | Print in-house |
How we can help
Labels & Labeling does both. We supply barcode label printers, labels and ribbons for printing in-house, and we produce custom pre-printed labels in Dubai. Tell us what you’re labelling and roughly how many you need, and we’ll tell you which approach costs less for you. See our label printing in Dubai service or request a quote.
Visit: Office M04, AB Plaza-2 Building, near Al Qiyada Metro Station, Abuhail, Deira, Dubai Call: +971 4 2715807 · Mobile: +971 55 7994752 · Email: sales@labelsandlabeling.ae
Frequently asked questions
Can I print custom labels myself?
Yes. A desktop thermal label printer and label design software let you print custom labels with text, barcodes, QR codes and simple logos. Most thermal printers print in one colour, so full-colour labels are better ordered pre-printed.
Can a label printer print in colour?
Most desktop barcode and label printers are thermal and print in a single colour, usually black. Colour label printers exist, but they cost more to buy and run. For full-colour branded labels, pre-printed labels are usually more economical.
What is overprinting on pre-printed labels?
It means printing information that changes, such as prices, batch numbers or expiry dates, onto labels that already carry your printed branding. It is usually done with a thermal transfer printer, and the overprint area should be left free of varnish.
Which is cheaper, printing in-house or pre-printed labels?
It depends on how often the label changes and how many you use. Labels that change often are cheaper to print in-house. Identical labels used in large quantities are usually cheaper pre-printed.
Do you print custom labels in Dubai?
Yes. Labels & Labeling produces custom pre-printed labels and supplies label printers, labels and ribbons for printing in-house, from our office in Abuhail, Deira, Dubai.