Thermal Transfer Ribbon for Zebra Printers

Zebra desktop and industrial ribbon: 74m on ½ inch or 450m on 1 inch

Zebra's ribbon rules split cleanly by series. The desktop GK420t, GC420t, GX420t and GX430t take 74m rolls on a ½ inch core, in widths up to about 109mm. The ZD series has more choice: the ZD420 and ZD620 take 74m on a ½ inch core or 300m on a 1 inch core, the ZD230t takes both, and the ZD220t takes 74m only.

The industrial printers use a 1 inch core and rolls up to 450m, with a maximum roll diameter of 81.3mm. That covers the ZT230, ZT231, ZT410, ZT411, ZT610, ZT111 and 105SL Plus, all up to 110mm wide and starting at 20mm on the ZT610 and 105SL Plus, 40mm on the ZT230, ZT231 and ZT111, and 51mm on the ZT410 and ZT411. The six-inch ZT420 and ZT421 take ribbon up to 174mm and the ZT620 up to 170mm. We slit up to 160mm, so on those models 160mm is the widest ribbon we cut.

Which Zebra printers take inside wound ribbon

Outside wound, ink side out, is Zebra's standard answer outside the ZD series. The GK420t, GC420t, GX420t, GX430t and 105SL Plus can only use ribbon coated on the outside, and the ZT230 and ZT231 are ink side out too. The ZT410, ZT411, ZT420, ZT421, ZT610 and ZT620 take outside wound ribbon as standard and run inside wound ribbon only with Zebra's optional ribbon spindle.

For the ZD series, Zebra's guides show the loading path in pictures and do not state the ink side in words. Zebra's FAQs do say the ZD printers can use the same ribbons as the GK420t and GX420t, which are outside wound, but that does not state the ink side of the ZD rolls themselves, so for ZD models we confirm the winding against your roll before dispatch.

The ZD series: ribbon-out trailer and 300m rolls

The ZD420 and ZD620 use a ribbon with a reflective ribbon-out trailer and a core notched on both sides. Our ZD rolls are cut with both, so mention the printer model when you order. For a 300m roll, Zebra's ZD guides set minimums for a ribbon from another maker: a 1 inch fibreboard core, 33mm to 110mm wide, and a roll diameter up to 66mm, fitted with Zebra's core adapters.

Run our free sample on your own ZD printer before you order a larger quantity.

Choosing a grade on a Zebra printer

Zebra's own guidance splits ribbon three ways: wax for paper with little or no chemical or abrasion exposure, wax-resin for select papers and matte synthetics at moderate speeds, and resin for synthetics that meet harsh chemicals or heavy abrasion. Our grades follow the same split. CW-11 is the wax for uncoated and matte paper. CW-22 is wax-resin for coated paper, polyester and polypropylene, and it is listed for pharmaceutical batch labels. CW-28 is the resin for polyester, polypropylene, polyimide and film. CW-60 is our wash care ribbon for nylon and satin garment labels.

Zebra's manuals add two rules for any of these printers. Use a ribbon at least as wide as the label, so the printhead stays covered. And set darkness to the lowest setting that gives good print quality, because too high a setting can burn through the ribbon and wear the printhead early.

Ordering ribbon for a Zebra printer

Not sure what your printer takes? Check the roll in it now, the ribbon specification in the user guide, or the model table above. Send the exact model, because the ZD220t takes 74m rolls only while the ZD420 also takes 300m on a 1 inch core. Add the label width, core size, winding, roll length and number of rolls. Standard sizes have no minimum order, and we send a free sample. Widths run from 25mm to 160mm and lengths from 50m to 600m, on ½ inch or 1 inch cores, notched if needed. MSDS is available on request.