Are Star Label Printers Compatible with Brother, Dymo, and Zebra Labels?

Written by: BernauLena

March 7, 2025

Time to read 5 min

Star Micronics offers a wide range of business printers and solutions, including receipt printers, thermal printers, kiosk printers, impact printers, scanners, cash drawers, and labels. Among these, they have five label printer models. To determine whether these printers are compatible with Brother, Dymo, and Zebra labels, we will analyze their specifications and label detection methods.

Table of Content

Introduction To Zebra Labels Introduction To Star SP742 Printers Conclusion Share

Brother, Dymo, and Zebra Label Types and Detection Methods

Before checking compatibility, we need to understand how Brother, Dymo, and Zebra label printers detect labels. A label printer must support the correct detection method and paper type to be compatible.

Brother: Uses a special hole on Brother label rolls to identify the label type. This means Brother labels can only be used with Brother printers.
Dymo:
- Detection Method: Gap/Black Mark Sensor
- Label Type: Die-Cut
Zebra:
- Detection Method: Gap Sensor
- Label Type: Die-Cut

Now, let's analyze each Star label printer model and see if they support Dymo and Zebra labels.

TSP143IV SK Sticky Linerless Label Printer

The TSP143IV SK is designed for businesses like quick-service restaurants, cafes, and delis that use repositionable sticky receipts.

Specification	Details
Printing Technology	Direct Thermal
Label Detection Method	Taken & Paper End (No Gap/Black Mark Sensor)
Paper Width (Fixed Width)	- 3 1/8" (80mm) - 3 1/8" (80mm print width) - 2 1/4" (58mm print width)
Paper Type	Linerless Thermal Label Rolls
Paper Roll Diameter	Up to 83mm
Connection Method	USB, LAN (Ethernet), WLAN, Bluetooth
Printing Speed	- 72mm print width: Max 250mm/sec - Other print widths: Max 220mm/sec
Print Resolution	203 DPI

Compatibility Analysis:

· Not compatible with Dymo and Zebra labelsbecause:
- o It does not support Gap/Black Mark sensors, which are required for Dymo and Zebra labels.
- o It uses linerless thermal labels, while Dymo and Zebra labels are die-cut with liners.

Conclusion:

The TSP143IV SK cannot print Dymo or Zebra labels.

mC-Label3 Multifunctional Printer

The mC-Label3 is an upgraded model that supports multiple label types and is more flexible in terms of printing size.

Specification	Details
Printing Technology	Direct Thermal
Label Detection Method	GAP/Black Mark
Paper Width	25mm – 80mm (1in - 3.15in)
Paper Type	- Linerless Label (Sticky + Permanent) - Die-Cut Label - Continuous Label - Thermal Receipt
Paper Roll Diameter	Up to 102mm
Connection Method	USB, LAN (Ethernet), WLAN, Bluetooth
Printing Speed	Max 180mm/sec
Print Resolution	203 DPI

Compatibility Analysis:

· Compatible with Dymo and Zebra labelsbecause:
- o It has a GAP/Black Mark sensor, which is required for detecting Dymo and Zebra die-cut labels.
- o It supports die-cut thermal labels, the type used by Dymo and Zebra.
- o The supported paper width range (25mm – 80mm) matches many Dymo and Zebra label sizes.

Conclusion:

The mC-Label3 can print Dymo and Zebra labels as long as they fall within the supported width range (25mm – 80mm).

SK1-311 SK Linerless Label Kiosk Printer

The SK1-311 SK is a 3-inch linerless label kiosk printer designed for self-service applications in industries like food, beverage, and travel. It prints repositionable thermal labels that can be removed and reapplied without leaving residue.

Specification	Details
Printing Technology	Direct Thermal
Label Detection Method	Black Mark
Paper Width	80mm, 83mm (Print width: 72mm, 80mm)
Paper Type	Repositionable Linerless Sticky Labels
Paper Roll Diameter	Up to 83mm
Core Diameter	Internal φ25.4mm x External φ29.4mm
Connection Method	USB & Serial (RS-232)
Printing Speed	Max 200mm/sec
Print Resolution	203 DPI

Compatibility Analysis:

· Not compatible with Dymo and Zebra labelsbecause:
- o It uses linerless sticky labels, while Dymo and Zebra labels are die-cut with liners.
- o It has a Black Mark sensor, but no GAP sensor, making it incompatible with Zebra’s label detection method.

Conclusion:

The SK1-311 SK cannot print Dymo or Zebra labels due to incompatible paper types and detection methods.

TSP743II Thermal Printer

The TSP743II is a high-speed thermal printer designed for printing labels, receipts, and tickets. It offers flexible connectivity options and supports multiple paper widths.

Specification	Details
Printing Technology	Direct Thermal
Label Detection Method	Black Mark
Paper Width	- Standard: 80mm - With Paper Guide: 82.5mm, 58mm
Paper Type	Thermal Labels
Paper Thickness	0.065 ~ 0.15 mm (65 μm ~ 150 μm)
Paper Roll Diameter	Up to 100mm
Core Diameter	- 65-75 μm paper: φ18±1mm (Core outer) - 65-75 μm paper: φ32±1mm (Core outer) - 75-150 μm paper: φ32±1mm (Core outer)
Connection Method	Serial, Parallel, USB, Ethernet (LAN), WLAN, Bluetooth, AirPrint, CloudPRNT
Printing Speed	Max 200mm/sec
Print Resolution	203 DPI

Compatibility Analysis:

· Not compatible with Dymo and Zebra labelsbecause:
- o It uses a Black Mark sensor, but no GAP sensor, which means it cannot properly detect Zebra labels.
- o It supports continuous labels, but both Dymo and Zebra only use die-cut labels, making them incompatible.

Conclusion:

The TSP743II cannot print Dymo or Zebra labels because it lacks a GAP sensor and only supports continuous labels.

TSP847II Thermal Printer

The TSP847II is a wide-format thermal printer that supports a variety of paper widths and is designed for applications requiring large labels or receipts.

Specification	Details
Printing Technology	Direct Thermal
Label Detection Method	Black Mark
Paper Width	- Standard: 112mm - Adjustable: 82.5mm, 80mm, 58mm (with Paper Guide)
Paper Type	Thermal Labels
Paper Thickness	0.065 ~ 0.15 mm (65 μm ~ 150 μm)
Paper Roll Diameter	Up to 100mm
Core Diameter	- Core inner diameter: 25.4±1mm - Core outer diameter: 32±1mm
Connection Method	WebPRNT Ethernet, WebPRNT Browser App, Apple MFi Certified Bluetooth, Serial, Parallel, USB, Ethernet
Printing Speed	37 Receipts Per Minute (180 mm/sec)
Print Resolution	203 DPI

Compatibility Analysis:

· Not compatible with Dymo and Zebra labelsbecause:
- o It uses a Black Mark sensor, but no GAP sensor, meaning it cannot detect Zebra labels.
- o It supports continuous labels, while Dymo and Zebra use die-cut labels.

Final Conclusion:

The TSP847II cannot print Dymo or Zebra labels due to its lack of a GAP sensor and its focus on continuous labels.

Final Verdict: Which Star Printers Work with Dymo and Zebra Labels?

Star Printer Model	Compatible with Dymo Labels?	Compatible with Zebra Labels?	Reason
TSP143IV SK	❌ No	❌ No	No GAP sensor, linerless labels only
mC-Label3	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Supports GAP/Black Mark, die-cut labels
SK1-311 SK	❌ No	❌ No	No GAP sensor, only supports linerless labels
TSP743II	❌ No	❌ No	No GAP sensor, only supports continuous labels
TSP847II	❌ No	❌ No	No GAP sensor, only supports continuous labels

Only mC-Label3 can print Dymo and Zebra labels because it supports die-cut thermal labels and has the necessary GAP/Black Mark sensor for detection.

We hope this information is helpful. If you have more questions, feel free to reach out to our customer support team at cs@betckey.com . We always stand behind you!

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