What Is a Thermal Label? Sizes and Choosing the Right Roll

Short answer: A thermal label is an adhesive label that is printed by heat, either without ink or ribbon (direct thermal) or with a ribbon (thermal transfer). It is widely used for shipping, warehouse and barcode labelling.

The barcode label on a parcel is very often a thermal label. The printer heats the label to form the image, which gives fast, clean printing. The right size and the right roll affect both print quality and the life of the printer.

How do direct thermal and thermal transfer differ?

Direct thermal

• No ribbon is needed; heat-sensitive paper is printed directly with heat.
• Suits short-life uses such as shipping labels.
• The print can fade after long exposure to light and heat.

Thermal transfer

• A ribbon is used; the print is transferred to the label through the ribbon.
• Long-lasting and resistant to abrasion.
• Preferred for product, warehouse, batch and cold-chain labels.

Common thermal label sizes

• 100 x 150 mm: shipping and logistics label.
• 100 x 100 mm: warehouse, pallet and product label.
• 58 x 40 mm and 40 x 30 mm: barcoded product and shelf labels.

The exact size is chosen to match the printer’s print width and the roll diameter. Ask our sales team which sizes are in stock and can be produced.

How do you choose the right roll?

1. Check the maximum print width of your printer.
2. Set the core diameter and the outer roll diameter to suit the printer.
3. Choose the winding direction (inside or outside) to suit your printer.
4. Choose gap or black-mark sensing so the label spacing matches the printer.

Our product pages: thermal and barcode labels, roll labels, unprinted labels and printed labels.

Frequently asked questions

What is a thermal label?

An adhesive label with a heat-sensitive coating; the printer prints with heat. It is used in two ways: direct thermal and thermal transfer.

Does a direct thermal label need a ribbon?

No. A direct thermal label is printed directly with heat, so no ribbon is needed.

Which one lasts longer?

Thermal transfer. Print made with a ribbon lasts longer against light, heat and abrasion.

Which size is used for shipping labels?

The most common size is 100 x 150 mm. Check the size your carrier or printer recommends.

How do I choose a roll for my printer?

Print width, core diameter, outer roll diameter, winding direction and label gap must match the printer.

Can printed thermal labels be made?

Yes. Logos and fixed information are pre-printed and variable data is added by the printer.

Do thermal labels fade over time?

Direct thermal labels can fade after long exposure to light and heat. Thermal transfer is recommended for long storage.

What do I need for a quote?

Label size, roll dimensions, printer model, quantity and print details are enough.

Let us pick the right roll together. Send your printer model and label size and we will recommend a suitable roll. Get a quote