Is It Cheaper to Buy Labels or Print Your Own?

Whether you run a small greenhouse, a retail garden center, or a large nursery operation, labels are one of the quiet but constant expenses in your business. Every plant, tree, and pot needs identification, species name, barcode, SKU, price, and care instructions.

Many horticulture professionals ask the same question:
👉 “Is it actually cheaper to buy pre-printed labels, or should I invest in my own label printer?”

The short answer: printing your own labels saves money in the long run, and gives you control over customization, timing, and inventory flexibility.

💰 The Real Cost of Buying Pre-Printed Plant Labels

At first glance, pre-printed tags and labels appear convenient. You send a design file, approve a proof, and boxes of tags arrive ready to use. But the hidden costs add up quickly.

Here’s what nurseries and growers often overlook:

• Minimum order requirements – Many suppliers require bulk orders of 5,000–10,000 tags per design.

• Setup and plate fees – Each artwork change or logo tweak can add $50–$100 to every batch.

• Shipping delays – Seasonal updates or price changes mean reordering — and waiting days for delivery.

• Wasted inventory – When plant prices, barcodes, or USDA info change, your old tags become useless.

Those issues make outsourcing inefficient for fast-moving horticultural operations. You may save time initially, but you lose agility — and end up with wasted stock that eats into your margin.

🖨️ Printing Your Own: A Flexible, On-Demand Solution

In-house printing gives you full control over your labeling process.
With a GoDEX thermal transfer printer, you can produce durable, waterproof plant tags right when you need them, with no setup costs, no shipping delays, and no waste.

Key benefits:

• Print small or large batches instantly — from 10 to 10,000 tags.

• Update designs in minutes — edit your logo, price, or barcode anytime.

• Reduce waste — only print what’s needed for the current inventory.

• Avoid long supplier lead times — no waiting for new batches to ship.

• Customize every tag — include QR codes, plant care info, or branding.

Each label costs just a few cents (including ribbon and material). Once your printer is set up, the per-unit cost drops dramatically compared to pre-printed tags.

⚙️ How Thermal Transfer Printing Keeps Costs Down

GoDEX thermal transfer printers use heat and resin ribbons to bond the print permanently to the label surface. Unlike inkjet or laser systems, thermal transfer doesn’t use liquid ink or toner, meaning no refills, no smudges, and no fading.

That durability makes it perfect for outdoor tags exposed to water, sunlight, and fertilizer.
And because thermal printers can handle synthetic materials like polyester or polypropylene, your labels stay legible through every season.

🌿 Real Cost Comparison: Pre-Printed vs. In-House

For a nursery printing around 5,000 plant tags per month, that’s a savings of $400–$600 monthly, or over $5,000 per year.

🌻 Which GoDEX Printers Are Best for Plant Labels?

1. GoDEX RT700i+ – Perfect for smaller nurseries and garden centers.
203 DPI printing for quick production of waterproof synthetic plant tags. Compact and easy to use.

2. GoDEX ZX420i+ – A workhorse for high-volume greenhouses.
300 DPI resolution, metal casing, and support for 450-meter resin ribbons for uninterrupted runs.

3. GoDEX HD830i+ – Wide-format, 8-inch printer built for large signage, tree tags, and outdoor branding.
Ideal for botanical gardens or farms that need heavy-duty, UV-resistant tags.

All three are Energy Star® Certified, making them energy-efficient and eco-friendly options for plant labeling.

🧴 Recommended Label and Ribbon Materials

• Synthetic Polyester (PET) – Waterproof, UV-resistant, tear-proof.

• Polypropylene (BOPP) – Flexible, durable, and ideal for general horticultural labeling.

• Vinyl Tags – Long-term outdoor applications and flexible surfaces.

• Resin Ribbons – Provide permanent, chemical-resistant print that won’t fade in the sun or water.

You can print loop tags, pot stakes, adhesive stickers, and wrap-around plant labels from one setup.

🌞 Environmental and Operational Benefits

Aside from savings, in-house printing supports your sustainability goals:

• Reduces waste from unused pre-printed tags

• Minimizes freight emissions from multiple supplier shipments

• Extends label lifespan, reducing plastic waste

• Uses Energy Star® certified printers with low power consumption

This helps nurseries meet both cost efficiency and green production goals — a strong advantage when selling to eco-conscious buyers.

✅ Final Thoughts

If you print plant tags regularly, investing in a thermal transfer printer isn’t just cheaper, it’s a strategic decision.
You’ll eliminate waste, cut costs, and streamline operations, all while producing professional, waterproof, UV-resistant labels on demand.

Printing your own labels is up to 70% cheaper over time, and it keeps your horticulture business nimble, professional, and profitable.