Labels Per Roll and Core Size Chart: Thermal Label Rolls by Size

Updated September 3, 2026108 label sizes468 stocked thermal label products

A 4 x 6 thermal label comes 250 to a roll on a 1 inch core and 1,000 to a roll on a 3 inch core, and every other size scales with its height. The chart lists each stocked thermal label size with its labels per roll, core, rolls per case, direct thermal or thermal transfer, colors and lowest cost per label, plus how to estimate the count for any roll.

Core size sets labels per roll

How many labels fit on a roll is a function of three things: the label height, the roll's core diameter and the largest roll diameter the printer accepts. A 1 inch core wound to a 4 inch outside diameter carries about 250 labels at 4 x 6; a 3 inch core wound to 8 inches carries about 1,000 of the same label. That is why the same label size is stocked in two roll counts. The count on the product name is the number to plan around when comparing price per label and change-over frequency.

Roll outside diameter is the physical limit: a desktop printer's roll well takes a 4 or 5 in OD roll, an industrial printer an 8 in roll.
Core Roll outside diameter Typical 4 x 6 count Printers Notes
0.75 in 2 in 85 to 100 Mobile and belt printers Small rolls for handheld units
1 in 4 in (some 5 in) 250 (up to 450 on 5 in OD) Desktop: Zebra ZD/GK/LP series, Rollo, Brother, Dymo 4XL (with adapter) The standard desktop roll; changes often on a busy station
3 in 8 in 1,000 Industrial: Zebra ZT/ZM, Datamax, Sato, Honeywell Four times the labels per change; needs an 8 in roll holder
Fanfold n/a (stack) 500 to 4,000 per stack Any printer with a rear feed slot No core, no OD limit; stacks feed from behind the printer

Stocked thermal labels: sizes, counts and cores

Direct thermal labels print without a ribbon and are the shipping-label standard (they fade in heat and sunlight over months); thermal transfer labels need a wax or resin ribbon and last for years, which is what product, asset and freezer labels use. Both come on the same cores.

Live catalog on September 3, 2026. Where the core is not stated on the product, it is inferred from the roll count: 4 in wide labels at 250 to 400 per roll are 1 in core desktop rolls, at 800 or more they are 3 in core industrial rolls. Cost per label uses the cheapest stocked variant of that size and type.
Label size (W x H) Type Labels per roll Core Rolls per case Colors Cost per label (lowest) Stocked variants
1 x 0.5 in direct thermal 1,310, 4,800 see product see product white 3.87 cents 2
1 x 0.5 in thermal transfer 19,200 see product see product white 0.98 cents 1
1 x 0.75 in thermal transfer 6,800 see product see product white 2.15 cents 1
1.5 x 0.5 in direct thermal 2,350 see product see product white 4.00 cents 1
1.5 x 0.5 in thermal transfer 2,400, 9,600, 19,200 see product see product white 0.78 cents 3
1.75 x 0.5 in direct thermal 2,400 see product see product white 5.64 cents 1
1 x 1 in direct thermal 500, 2,620, 5,100 see product see product white 3.47 cents 3
1 x 1 in thermal transfer 5,100 see product see product white 2.86 cents 1
2 x 0.5 in thermal transfer 2,400, 9,600 see product see product white 1.80 cents 2
1.2 x 0.85 in direct thermal 1,500 see product see product white 7.49 cents 1
1.5 x 0.75 in direct thermal 1,310, 1,780 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 11.24 cents 7
1.5 x 0.75 in thermal transfer 6,800 see product see product white 2.27 cents 1
1.25 x 1 in direct thermal 2,620 see product see product white 14.36 cents 1
1.5 x 1 in direct thermal 960, 1,310, 2,600 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 8.85 cents 8
1.5 x 1 in thermal transfer 1,310, 5,100, 10,200 see product see product white 1.52 cents 3
2 x 0.75 in thermal transfer 6,800 see product see product white 2.77 cents 1
2.25 x 0.75 in thermal transfer 6,800 see product see product white 2.24 cents 1
2 x 1 in direct thermal 735, 1,310, 2,620, 5,100 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 4.33 cents 13
2 x 1 in thermal transfer 5,100, 10,200 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 1.54 cents 8
4 x 0.5 in direct thermal 2,400 see product see product white 7.65 cents 1
1.5 x 1.5 in direct thermal 960, 3,500 see product see product white 6.68 cents 2
1.5 x 1.5 in thermal transfer 3,500 see product see product white 4.17 cents 1
2.25 x 1 in direct thermal 1,500 see product see product white 10.14 cents 1
3 x 0.75 in direct thermal 1,700 see product see product white 9.22 cents 1
3 x 0.75 in thermal transfer 6,800 see product see product white 2.80 cents 1
2 x 1.25 in direct thermal 1,135 see product see product white 23.55 cents 1
2 x 1.25 in thermal transfer 4,300 see product see product white 4.52 cents 1
2.5 x 1 in direct thermal 1,310, 1,500, 5,100 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 4.03 cents 8
2.5 x 1 in thermal transfer 5,100 see product see product white 3.25 cents 1
2.25 x 1.25 in direct thermal 1,135, 1,800 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 12.13 cents 7
1 x 3 in direct thermal 500 see product see product white 59.42 cents 1
2 x 1.5 in direct thermal 960, 4,308 see product see product white 5.75 cents 2
2 x 1.5 in thermal transfer 3,500, 7,000 see product see product white 2.51 cents 2
3 x 1 in direct thermal 1,310, 5,000 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, yellow 8.38 cents 11
3 x 1 in thermal transfer 5,100 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 5.14 cents 7
2.75 x 1.25 in thermal transfer 4,400 see product see product white 4.68 cents 1
3.5 x 1 in direct thermal 1,500, 5,100 see product see product white 5.85 cents 2
3.5 x 1 in thermal transfer 5,100 see product see product white 2.10 cents 1
2.5 x 1.5 in direct thermal 900, 4,308 see product see product white 6.25 cents 2
2 x 2 in direct thermal 735, 1,000 3 in, see product see product white 7.94 cents 3
2 x 2 in thermal transfer 6,000 3 in see product white 3.37 cents 1
4 x 1 in direct thermal 1,310, 5,560, 11,000 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 1.79 cents 13
4 x 1 in thermal transfer 5,100 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 3.86 cents 7
1.5 x 3 in direct thermal 500 see product see product white 49.38 cents 1
2.25 x 2 in direct thermal 735 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, yellow 20.09 cents 6
2.25 x 2 in thermal transfer 3,000 3 in see product white 5.79 cents 1
3 x 1.5 in direct thermal 900, 4,308 see product see product white 6.63 cents 2
3 x 1.5 in thermal transfer 4,308 see product see product white 4.84 cents 1
4 x 1.25 in direct thermal 1,000 see product see product white 20.14 cents 1
3.5 x 1.5 in direct thermal 900 see product see product white 19.57 cents 1
3.5 x 1.5 in thermal transfer 4,308 see product see product white 4.72 cents 1
2 x 3 in direct thermal 500 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 53.63 cents 7
2 x 3 in thermal transfer 500, 1,000, 2,000 3 in, see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 13.26 cents 13
3 x 2 in direct thermal 735, 3,000, 6,000 3 in, see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 3.07 cents 11
3 x 2 in thermal transfer 3,000 3 in see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 8.95 cents 7
4 x 1.5 in direct thermal 960 see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, yellow 23.90 cents 6
2.5 x 2.5 in thermal transfer 2,400 3 in see product white 9.02 cents 1
2.25 x 3 in direct thermal 500 see product see product white 28.32 cents 1
3.5 x 2 in thermal transfer 3,000 3 in see product white 7.84 cents 1
2 x 4 in direct thermal 377, 1,000 1 in, 3 in see product white 21.25 cents 2
4 x 2 in direct thermal 735, 3,000, 6,000 3 in, see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 2.89 cents 12
4 x 2 in thermal transfer 3,000, 6,000 3 in see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 2.56 cents 8
2.25 x 4 in direct thermal 350 1 in see product white 37.67 cents 1
2.25 x 4 in thermal transfer 377 1 in see product white 33.53 cents 1
3 x 3 in direct thermal 2,000 3 in see product white 14.92 cents 1
2 x 5 in thermal transfer 1,300 3 in see product white 16.88 cents 1
4 x 2.5 in direct thermal 575 see product see product white 48.43 cents 1
4.5 x 2.5 in direct thermal 2,400 3 in see product white 9.64 cents 1
2 x 6 in direct thermal 250, 1,000 1 in, 3 in see product white 25.64 cents 2
2 x 6 in thermal transfer 1,000 3 in see product white 22.36 cents 1
3 x 4 in direct thermal 1,500 3 in see product white 21.51 cents 1
3 x 4 in thermal transfer 1,500 3 in see product white 11.84 cents 1
4 x 3 in direct thermal 500, 2,000, 4,000 3 in, see product see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 4.67 cents 12
4 x 3 in thermal transfer 2,000, 4,000 3 in see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 3.37 cents 8
2.5 x 5 in thermal transfer 1,300 3 in see product white 14.47 cents 1
3 x 5 in direct thermal 305, 1,200, 1,300 1 in, 3 in see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 36.44 cents 12
3 x 5 in thermal transfer 1,300 3 in see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 19.64 cents 7
5 x 3 in thermal transfer 2,000 3 in see product white 9.20 cents 1
4 x 4 in direct thermal 377, 1,500, 3,000 1 in, 3 in see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 6.64 cents 12
4 x 4 in thermal transfer 1,500, 3,000 3 in see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 4.49 cents 8
3.5 x 5 in direct thermal 325 1 in see product white 61.27 cents 1
3.5 x 5 in thermal transfer 1,300 3 in see product white 13.47 cents 1
3.25 x 5.5 in thermal transfer 1,000 3 in see product white 20.22 cents 1
3 x 6 in thermal transfer 1,000 3 in see product white 17.24 cents 1
4 x 5 in direct thermal 1,000 3 in see product white 20.02 cents 1
4 x 5 in thermal transfer 1,300 3 in see product white 13.47 cents 1
5 x 4 in thermal transfer 1,500 3 in see product white 17.02 cents 1
4 x 6 in direct thermal 250, 1,000 1 in, 3 in see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 20.55 cents 9
4 x 6 in thermal transfer 250 1 in see product blue, green, orange, red 95.47 cents 4
6 x 4 in thermal transfer 1,500 3 in see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 17.53 cents 7
4 x 6.25 in direct thermal 300 1 in see product white 75.99 cents 1
5 x 5 in direct thermal 1,300 3 in see product white 23.31 cents 1
4 x 6.5 in direct thermal 230, 900 1 in, 3 in see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, yellow 33.64 cents 11
4 x 6.5 in thermal transfer 900 3 in see product blue, green, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 20.38 cents 7
4 x 6.75 in direct thermal 900 3 in see product white 22.84 cents 1
3.5 x 8 in thermal transfer 800 3 in see product white 19.17 cents 1
4 x 8 in direct thermal 200 1 in see product white 102.31 cents 1
4 x 8 in thermal transfer 800, 1,400 3 in see product blue, orange, pink, red, white, yellow 10.26 cents 7
5 x 7 in thermal transfer 875 3 in see product white 21.79 cents 1
3 x 12 in thermal transfer 500 see product see product white 34.48 cents 1
6 x 6 in thermal transfer 1,000 3 in see product white 20.08 cents 1
4 x 10 in direct thermal 160 1 in see product white 127.22 cents 1
5 x 8 in thermal transfer 800 3 in see product white 27.61 cents 1
4 x 12 in direct thermal 500 see product see product white 45.08 cents 1
6 x 8 in thermal transfer 800, 1,400 3 in see product white 11.91 cents 2
4 x 13 in thermal transfer 465 see product see product white 36.09 cents 1
6 x 9 in thermal transfer 675 see product see product white 28.48 cents 1
4 x 500 in thermal transfer 1 1 in see product white 16133.00 cents 1

Estimating labels per roll for any size

For a roll that is not listed, the count is approximately the length of label stock on the roll divided by the label pitch. Stock length on a roll is about 0.785 times the difference of the squares of the outside and core diameters divided by the stock caliper: for a 4 in OD, 1 in core roll on 0.0065 in stock that is roughly 1,800 inches, which at a 6 in label plus a 1/8 in gap gives about 290 labels, close to the 250 that a slightly thicker liner and a looser wind produce in practice. Double the label height and the count halves; a 4 x 3 label on the same roll is about 500, a 4 x 2 about 750.

Choosing a roll

  1. Check the printer's roll well. Desktop printers take 1 in core, 4 to 5 in OD; industrial printers take 3 in core, 8 in OD; many desktop printers also feed fanfold from the back.
  2. Match the label to the job. Direct thermal for shipping labels read within weeks; thermal transfer for anything that must survive heat, sun, freezers or a year on a shelf.
  3. Count change-overs. A station printing 400 labels a day changes a 250-count roll twice a day and a 1,000-count roll every two and a half days.
  4. Buy by the case. Rolls per case run 4 to 12 for 3 in cores and 4 to 36 for 1 in cores; cost per label falls with case size.
  5. Confirm the size the carrier wants. 4 x 6 is the UPS, FedEx and USPS shipping label; the label size guide by carrier lists the rest.

The label size chart and thermal label size chart cover which physical size to use; this page covers how those sizes are rolled and sold.

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Frequently asked questions

How many 4x6 labels are on a roll?

About 250 on a 1 inch core (4 inch outside diameter) desktop roll and about 1,000 on a 3 inch core (8 inch outside diameter) industrial roll. Fanfold stacks run 500 to 4,000.

What core size does my label printer need?

Desktop printers (Zebra ZD and GK series, Rollo, Brother) take 1 inch cores up to 4 or 5 inches outside diameter; industrial printers (Zebra ZT, Datamax, Sato) take 3 inch cores up to 8 inches. Check the roll well before ordering.

Can I use 3 inch core labels in a desktop printer?

Not on the internal spindle; an 8 inch roll will not fit. Some desktop printers accept an external roll holder feeding through the rear slot, which is also how fanfold stacks are used.

What is the difference between direct thermal and thermal transfer labels?

Direct thermal labels have a heat-sensitive coating and print without a ribbon; they are the shipping-label standard but fade with heat and light. Thermal transfer labels are printed with a ribbon and last for years.

How many labels are on a roll of 4x3 or 4x2 labels?

Roughly 500 (4 x 3) and 750 (4 x 2) on a 1 inch core, and about 2,000 and 3,000 on a 3 inch core, since count scales with the inverse of label height.

Related references

Related references