Direct thermal or thermal transfer: which do you need?
- Ribbon needed: direct thermal, no. Thermal transfer, yes (wax, wax/resin or resin).
- Typical life: direct thermal, 6–12 months indoors. Thermal transfer, years.
- Best for: direct thermal suits shipping and courier labels, picking and packing, short shelf-life food and receipts. Thermal transfer suits product and barcode labels, asset tags, outdoor use, chemical and freezer storage.
- Cost per label: direct thermal is lowest. Thermal transfer is slightly higher (label plus ribbon).
- Printers: direct thermal runs on direct-thermal-only printers (e.g. Zebra ZD421d, GK420d) and dual-mode printers. Thermal transfer needs a thermal transfer printer (e.g. Zebra ZD421t, GK420t, ZT series).
A quick test: scratch the label surface with a fingernail. If it leaves a dark mark, it's direct thermal.
Not sure which your printer takes? Look for a ribbon spindle inside. If there's one, your printer can run both types; if not, it is direct thermal only.
Choosing the right roll
- Size: label width × length. The UK courier standard is 6x4 / 100x150mm.
- Core: the hole in the middle of the roll. Desktop printers usually take a 25mm core; industrial printers take 76mm.
- Labels per roll: smaller desktop printers hold rolls of about 127mm across at most, so choose 250 or 500 labels per roll for large label sizes.
- Adhesive: permanent for most uses, removable for clean peel-off, and freezer for chilled and frozen goods.
Our Self Adhesive Labels Size Guide lists every size we stock. You can also call 01482 485005 with your printer model and we'll match the right roll.