Thermal Labels

How to choose thermal labels

Match three things to your printer: the print method, the format and the size.

Direct thermal or thermal transfer

Direct thermal labels have a heat-sensitive face that darkens under the print head, so they need no ribbon. Thermal transfer labels need a ribbon. The print head heats the ribbon, which melts onto the label face to form the image. Zebra says the ribbon and the label stock must be compatible.

Zebra notes that direct thermal labels are often topcoated to resist UV light, chemicals and abrasion. Topcoated labels are marked in the case table.

Desktop, industrial or fanfold

Industrial rolls hold more labels per roll, so you change rolls less often. Rows marked 2 across have two labels side by side on the roll, and the count includes both. Before you order, check three numbers in your printer manual: the widest label it prints, the core size it takes and the largest roll it holds.

Size

Shipping labels are usually 4 x 6 in. See every color and format on 4x6 thermal labels. Smaller sizes, down to 1 x 0.5 in, suit barcodes, bins and product labels. Sizes appear as each product title lists them, so 2 x 1 and 1 x 2 are separate listings. The thermal label size chart matches each size to common uses.

Buying by the case

• Each price in the tables is for one case, as sold on the product page.
• Volume pricing comes off at checkout with no code: 3% off when the cart has 3 or more items and 5% off at 6 or more. Each case counts as one item, and sizes can be mixed.
• Orders of one or two items with a product subtotal of $500 or more ship free when the checkout freight rate is $45 or less, or $90 or less on orders of $1,000 or more.
• Orders of three or more items get the volume discount instead of free shipping. Checkout shows the discount and the freight for your address before you pay.
• Packrift ships to street addresses in the contiguous United States.
• For pallet quantities, repeat orders or mixed sizes, request a delivered quote with freight priced for the whole order.

Request a bulk quote

Thermal label questions

Related

• 4x6 thermal labels
• Shipping labels
• Thermal transfer ribbons
• Inventory labels
• Packing list envelopes
• Thermal label size chart

Sources: Zebra, direct thermal and thermal transfer printing, determining thermal media types and print method setting; Shopify Help Center, printing shipping documents and discount combinations. Prices, counts and stock in the tables are read live from the catalog.