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-1100 .
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.
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 |
Brother’s QL-700 specification page lists only the 300 dpi print head. The 300 x 600 dpi high-resolution mode is a QL-800 and QL-820NWB feature.
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 2-inch vs 4-inch label printer comparison explains the split.
Age and support. Brother’s QL-700 user guide dates from 2011 and 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. Brother’s US online store no longer has a QL-700 product page, so most units for sale are older stock or used.
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 | 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
- Brother QL-700 specifications : direct thermal, 300 dpi/720 dot head, 2.3 in print width, 5.9 in/sec and 93 labels per minute, automatic cutter, USB, Editor Lite button.
- Brother QL-700 supported OS list : Windows 11, macOS 26 and Linux among supported systems.
- Brother QL-700 User’s Guide (PDF) : original OS requirements, “Give priority to print quality” for barcodes, barcode print orientation.
- Brother QL-1100 User’s Guide (PDF) : DK rolls fade with sunlight and heat and are not for durable outdoor use.
- Brother DK-1201 , DK-1202 and DK-2205 : roll sizes, label counts and QL-700 compatibility.
- Brother QL-800 product page and QL-800 specifications : USB, 2.3 in print width, black and red on DK-2251, 300 x 600 dpi high-resolution mode.
- Brother QL-820NWB specifications : Wi-Fi, LAN port, Bluetooth, USB Host, 2.3 in print width, high-resolution mode.
- eBay: Printing and canceling shipping labels : label print formats of 8 x 11 in, 4 x 6 in, or 2 x 7 in for USPS only.
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 support site lists QL-700 software for Windows 11 and macOS 26, along with older versions. Brother’s US online store no longer has a QL-700 product page; its current USB-only model in this size is the QL-800.
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. Brother lists two extras for the QL-800: black and red printing on DK-2251 tape, and a 300 x 600 dpi high-resolution mode.
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