Label Printer Labels: Which Labels Fit Your Printer?

Label printer labels have to match your printer in three ways: the printing method, the format and the size. Pack Solution sells direct thermal rolls, fanfold stacks, A4 sheets and parcel warning labels, and this guide explains which one belongs in your printer.

Most problems with labels for label printer setups start with an order placed on size alone. A 4 x 6" label can come on a roll, in a fanfold stack or on an A4 sheet, and each format only suits some printers. So the printer comes first and the size second.

Quick Picks: Label Printer Labels for Each Job

Pick by the machine on your desk. A direct thermal printer takes thermal labels on rolls or fanfold thermal labels, and an ordinary office printer takes A4 sheet labels.

Best for direct thermal printers that load a roll

Thermal Labels on Rolls

Self-adhesive direct thermal labels that print with heat, so there is no ink, toner or ribbon. Five sizes run from barcode labels to courier labels.

• Five sizes from 2 x 1" to 4 x 8"
• 4 x 6" roll holds 500 labels
• For Zebra-style direct thermal printers that take standard rolls

From £3.50 ex VAT (£4.20 inc VAT)

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Best for long 4 x 6" courier label print runs

Fanfold Thermal Labels 4 x 6"

A folded stack of 1000 direct thermal labels, perforated between each label, so you reload less often. Suits printers that feed from a stack.

• 4 x 6" (101.6 x 152.4mm)
• 1000 labels per stack
• Direct thermal, no ink or ribbon

£12.00 ex VAT (£14.40 inc VAT)

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Best for address labels from an office printer

A4 Sheet Labels

Self-adhesive labels on standard A4 sheets, made for printing on an office printer. Ten layouts run from one big label to 65 small ones per sheet.

• 10 layouts, 1 to 65 labels per sheet
• Boxes of 500 sheets
• 21 per sheet is 63.5 x 38.1mm, a common address size

From £30.00 ex VAT (£36.00 inc VAT)

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Key facts

• Thermal labels are direct thermal, so the printer uses heat and you buy no ink, toner or ribbon.
• The roll comes in five sizes, from 2 x 1" (50 x 25mm) to 4 x 8" (100 x 210mm).
• The 4 x 6" (100 x 150mm) roll holds 500 labels, and the fanfold stack holds 1000.
• A4 label sheets come in 10 layouts, from 1 to 65 labels per sheet, in boxes of 500 sheets.
• Warning labels come in two designs: Fragile at 89 x 32mm and Caution Heavy at 148 x 50mm.
• Order by 2pm Monday to Friday for same-day dispatch from Manchester.

Direct Thermal or Office Printer: Which Do You Have?

A label printer that prints with heat is a direct thermal printer, and an office printer is the machine that prints your letters on A4. The labels you buy depend on which of the two sits on your desk.

Direct thermal printers mark the label itself with heat. So thermal printing labels need no ink, toner or ribbon, and you load a roll and go. Our thermal rolls and the fanfold stack are made for these printers, and they suit Zebra-style direct thermal printers that take standard rolls. If your machine only accepts its own branded rolls, ours will not work in it, so look at what it allows before you order.

An office printer takes paper from a tray, so it needs labels on flat sheets. Our A4 sheet labels are self-adhesive labels on standard A4 sheets, made for printing on an office printer. They will not work in a thermal label printer, and thermal rolls will not work in a tray-fed printer.

Rolls or Fanfold: Which Format Does Your Printer Take?

Choose rolls if your printer holds a roll inside its cover, and choose fanfold if you print long runs and have space for a stack behind or under the printer. Both are direct thermal and both need no ink or ribbon.

A roll is wound on a core, so it fits a compact printer. Each one is an adhesive label roll, and you peel the labels off the backing as you use them. Labels in a roll also suit a tight desk, because nothing sits outside the printer. Fanfold labels come as a flat stack folded back and forth along perforations, fed in from behind or underneath. The stack holds 1000 labels, so you reload less often than with a small roll when you print all day.

Still deciding between formats? Our guide to choosing shipping labels in rolls, fanfold and A4 sheets covers the same ground from the shipping side, and the full labels collection shows every option together.

Which Thermal Label Size Do You Need?

For a courier parcel, the size you need is 4 x 6" (100 x 150mm). Smaller rolls suit barcodes and shelf labels, and the large 4 x 8" label adds room for a packing slip.

Many sellers shop for thermal labels without knowing which of the five sizes suits the job. The table pairs each roll size with the use its product page gives.

If the width does not match your printer's setup, the label will not feed or print properly. Check that your printer is a direct thermal model that takes standard rolls of that width.

Many listings write the 4 x 6" size as 4x6 thermal labels or thermal labels 4x6. It is the same standard courier label. The fanfold version measures 4 x 6" (101.6 x 152.4mm), the same standard size in a different format.

Labels for Royal Mail, Evri, DPD and Marketplace Parcels

Use a 4 x 6" label for courier parcels, then print from your carrier or marketplace label tool in the 4 x 6 (or 6 x 4) format. The product pages list use for Royal Mail, Evri, DPD and Parcelforce, and for sellers on eBay, Etsy and Vinted.

A royal mail postage label, a DPD label and an Evri label all print at the same size on the same roll, so one stock item covers every carrier you use. Self adhesive labels on a roll in this size are the usual starting point for a parcel business. The 4 x 8" roll is the alternative if you want the address and packing-slip details on one label.

Keep the label you buy separate from the label you print. We supply the blank direct thermal label. The shipping labels themselves come from your carrier or marketplace tool, and a royal mail shipping label only prints in the right place if that tool offers a 4 x 6 format. The same goes for any postage label from a marketplace.

Sellers who print dozens of parcel labels a day often prefer fanfold, because one stack covers a long shift. Those with a small desk and a roll-fed printer usually stay with rolls, and self adhesive labels in rolls of 4 x 6" keep the desk tidy. Our guide to why thermal label rolls make labelling easier explains the roll side in more detail.

A4 Sheets for Address Labels and Office Printing

Use A4 sheets if you print addresses from an ordinary office printer. Our A4 label sheets are self-adhesive and come in 10 layouts, so you can choose the label size that fits the job.

Address labels for letters and return addresses are usually printed 21, 24 or 27 to a sheet. A single address label for a mailing bag or envelope has more room at 8 or 10 per sheet. For a parcel, 1 or 2 per sheet gives a large box label, and 4 per sheet leaves space for a logo or barcode. The smallest layouts, 44 and 65 per sheet, suit product, price and barcode labels.

If you print in-house, self adhesive address labels on sheets are the simplest start, since they work with the printer already in the office. A box holds 500 sheets, so a 21 per sheet box gives 10,500 labels. If you also print packing slips and invoices, pair them with A4 paper, and our A4 printer paper guide explains the weights we sell.

Printable label sheets let the same printer handle letters and labels. Thermal printers are quicker for high daily parcel counts, while a4 labels win on flexibility.

Fragile and Caution Labels for Parcels

A fragile label is a self-adhesive parcel label that tells couriers to handle the package with care. We sell two warning labels on rolls, and you apply them by hand rather than printing them.

The Fragile design measures 89 x 32mm and comes 1000 to a roll, which suits mailing bags, small boxes and the side panels of larger cartons. Caution Heavy is 148 x 50mm and comes 500 to a roll, for heavy boxes and pallets where a bigger label warns handlers before they lift. Both are printed labels on a roll, so nothing needs loading into a printer.

Best for marking fragile and heavy parcels by hand

Warning Labels

Self-adhesive parcel warning labels on rolls, with a Fragile design and a larger Caution Heavy design. You stick them on by hand, so no printer is involved.

• Fragile 89 x 32mm, 1000 per roll
• Caution Heavy 148 x 50mm, 500 per roll
• Self-adhesive, applied by hand

From £10.00 ex VAT (£12.00 inc VAT)

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Put a fragile label on the top of the box and on at least one side, so it shows however the parcel is stacked. A warning label does not replace protective packaging, so wrap breakables in bubble wrap or similar before boxing. Our guide to dispatching fragile items safely is worth a read too.

How to Check Labels Fit Your Printer

You can check that labels fit your printer in five steps, using only the printer and its manual.

1. Find out whether your printer is direct thermal or tray-fed. Direct thermal machines use heat and take rolls or fanfold stacks.
2. Look up the label width and format your printer accepts. Standard rolls are fine, but a printer that only takes its own branded rolls is not compatible with ours.
3. Check how the labels load. A printer that holds a roll under its cover needs rolls, and one that feeds from behind or underneath suits fanfold.
4. Match the size to the job using the table above, with 4 x 6" for courier parcels.
5. Set the label size in the printer settings and in your carrier tool, then print one test label before a full run.

If anything is unclear, call 0161 706 1246 or email sales@packsolution.co.uk before you order. You can return unused items within 30 days of delivery for a refund once you have contacted the shop with the order number, as set out in the refund policy.

Label Order Checklist

• I know whether my printer is direct thermal or an office printer.
• I have checked that it takes standard labels, not only its own branded ones.
• I have chosen roll, fanfold or A4 sheet to match how the printer loads labels.
• I have matched the size to the job, such as 4 x 6" for a courier label.
• I have confirmed my carrier or marketplace tool offers a 4 x 6 format.
• I have worked out how many labels I use each week, so I can order the right quantity.
• I have added warning labels for fragile and heavy parcels.

Wrap-Up: Matching Label Printer Labels to Your Setup

Choosing label printer labels comes down to the printing method first, then the format, then the size. Direct thermal printers take rolls or fanfold, and office printers take A4 sheets.

Prices are shown ex VAT on each product page, with volume pricing that lowers the cost per pack as you order more, and delivery is free with Royal Mail Tracked 48 and no minimum order. See the whole range in the labels collection, or read the shipping policy for dispatch and delivery details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are label printer labels?

Label printer labels are labels made to feed through a dedicated label printer, usually direct thermal. Ours are self-adhesive and print with heat, so there is no ink, toner or ribbon to buy. They come on rolls or in a fanfold stack, in sizes from 2 x 1" to 4 x 8".

Which labels for label printer use do I need for courier parcels?

For courier parcels use the 4 x 6" (100 x 150mm) size. It is the standard courier label, and a roll holds 500 labels. A fanfold stack of the same size holds 1000. Check that your printer is direct thermal and takes standard rolls of that width.

Can I print address labels at home?

Yes. Our A4 sheet labels are self-adhesive labels on standard A4 sheets, made for printing on an office printer. For return addresses and letters choose 21, 24 or 27 per sheet, and for parcel delivery addresses choose 8 or 10 per sheet, which gives more room.

Are thermal labels the same as thermal printing labels?

Yes, they describe the same thing. Thermal labels are direct thermal labels that mark with heat, so you need no ink, toner or ribbon. Printers that only accept their own branded rolls are not compatible with these standard rolls, so check your printer before ordering.

What is the difference between a roll and a fanfold stack?

A roll is wound on a core, and a fanfold stack is folded back and forth along perforations. Fanfold feeds from behind or under the printer and suits long runs, with 1000 labels per stack. Rolls suit printers that hold the roll under the cover.

Do you sell a fragile label?

Yes. The Fragile design is 89 x 32mm and comes 1000 to a roll. Caution Heavy is larger at 148 x 50mm and comes 500 to a roll. Both are self-adhesive and applied by hand. They warn handlers but do not replace protective packaging such as bubble wrap.

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Related Guides

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• Shipping Labels: Thermal Rolls vs Fanfold vs A4 Sheets
• Why Thermal Labels Rolls are Essential for Efficient Labelling Solutions
• Packaging Cost per Order & Stock Planning Guide

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