Barcode Labels & Thermal Media | Direct Thermal & RFID Stock

Plan Your Deployment

Match label dimensions and material to printer model and application
Select direct thermal for short-life labels or thermal transfer for durability
Evaluate synthetic labels (polyester, polypropylene) for chemical or outdoor exposure
Specify core size (1 inch or 3 inch) matching your printer spindle

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Showing Results for Labels and Media

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-10229

SATO SR15LT-10229 4x1 Thermal Transfer Paper Label

4"×1" thermal transfer paper labels, 10,160 per case for SATO printers
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$107.49 $68.99 Save $38.50

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-10230

Sato SR15LT-10230 4x6 Thermal Transfer Paper Label

4"×6" thermal transfer paper labels, 1,200/case for high-volume shipping
In stock · Ships same business day

$49.64 $31.99 Save $17.65

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-10272

SATO SR15LT-10272 4x6 Thermal Transfer Paper Label

4x6 thermal transfer paper labels, 1,800 per case for SATO printers
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$73.97 $47.99 Save $25.98

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-51160

SATO SR15LT-51160 3x1 Polypropylene Label

3"×1" polypropylene labels, 8,120 per case for high-volume thermal transfer
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$130.80 $83.99 Save $46.81

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-51161

SATO SR15LT-51161 4x1 Polypropylene Label

4" × 1" polypropylene labels for wet/chemical industrial environments
- 8,120 labels per case (4 rolls × 2,030) with 1.5" core for SATO printers
- Polypropylene + permanent acrylic adhesive resists moisture, oils, chemicals
- Compatible with wax, wax-resin, and resin thermal transfer ribbons
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$127.09 $81.99 Save $45.10

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-51163

SATO SR15LT-51163 Polypropylene 4x3 Thermal Label

4"x3" polypropylene thermal labels, 2,920 per case for SATO printers
- Polypropylene with permanent acrylic adhesive resists moisture and chemicals
- 730 labels per roll, 4 rolls per case with 1.5" core for easy loading
- Compatible with wax, wax-resin, and resin thermal transfer ribbons
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$127.09 $81.99 Save $45.10

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-51164

SATO SR15LT-51164 Polypropylene 4x6 Thermal Label

4x6 polypropylene thermal labels, 1,480 per case, moisture-resistant
- Polypropylene facestock with permanent acrylic adhesive resists water and humidity
- 1,480 labels per case (370 per roll × 4 rolls) for high-volume operations
- Compatible with wax, wax-resin, and resin ribbons for SATO thermal printers
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$137.54 $88.99 Save $48.55

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-51165

SATO SR15LT-51165 2x1 Polypropylene Thermal Label

2"×1" polypropylene thermal labels, 13,200 per case, water-resistant
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$149.64 $95.99 Save $53.65

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-51166

SATO SR15LT-51166 Polypropylene 3x2 Label

3"×2" polypropylene labels with permanent adhesive for industrial thermal transfer
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$105.83 $67.99 Save $37.84

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-51167

SATO SR15LT-51167 Polypropylene 4x2 Label

4x2 polypropylene thermal transfer label, 3,400/case, moisture-resistant
- Polypropylene with permanent acrylic adhesive resists moisture, oils, and solvents
- 850 labels per roll × 4 rolls per case for high-volume warehouse and logistics ops
- Compatible with wax, wax-resin, and resin ribbons on SATO industrial printers
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$127.09 $81.99 Save $45.10

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-51168

SATO SR15LT-51168 4x6 Polypropylene Thermal Label

4x6 polypropylene thermal labels with permanent adhesive for industrial durability
- 1,200 labels per case (4 rolls × 300) on 1.5" cores for SATO printers
- Polypropylene resists moisture, chemicals, and flexing in harsh environments
- Compatible with wax, wax-resin, and resin thermal transfer ribbons
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$111.42 $71.99 Save $39.43

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-53176

SATO SR15LT-53176 4x2 Gloss White Polyester Label

4x2 gloss polyester thermal labels, chemical/heat/UV resistant
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$310.41 $198.99 Save $111.42

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-53177

Sato SR15LT-53177 2x1 Gloss White Polyester Thermal Transfer Label

2"×1" gloss polyester labels for thermal transfer printers, 13,200/case
- Permanent acrylic adhesive bonds to dusty, oily, textured warehouse surfaces
- Polyester facestock resists chemicals, oils, UV, and moisture in harsh environments
- 8 rolls × 1,650 labels per roll, 1.5" core, compatible with SATO R333A/R435B
In stock · Ships same business day

$293.46 $195.99 Save $97.47

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-53179

SATO SR15LT-53179 3x2 Gloss White Polyester Label

3"x2" gloss polyester label for thermal transfer, 850/roll, chemical & heat resistant
- 2 mil gloss white polyester with permanent acrylic adhesive for durable industrial adhesion
- 850 labels per roll on 1.5" core, 4 rolls per case totaling 3,400 labels
- Resists chemicals, heat, and UV exposure; UL recognized with SATO R333A or R435B ribbons
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$212.71 $136.99 Save $75.72

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Sato

SKU: SR15LT-53181

SATO SR15LT-53181 4x2 Gloss White Polyester Label

4×2 gloss polyester thermal label, 3,400/case for industrial SATO printers
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$262.58 $168.99 Save $93.59

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Sato

SKU: SR30KLT-10090

SATO SR30KLT-10090 RFID 4x2 Label Roll

4" x 2" RFID labels with thermal transfer printing for supply chain tracking
Special Order · Ships in 2-3 weeks

$1,697.56 $1,087.99 Save $609.57

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What to Look For When Buying

The decisions that matter most before you spec.

Printer Compatibility & Media Matching

Direct thermal and thermal transfer label stock must match your printer's print head technology and ribbon system. Verify roll width (4-inch standard for most industrial printers), core diameter, and print-head clearance before bulk ordering. Incompatible media causes jamming, poor adhesion, and wasted consumables.

Durability & Environmental Conditions

Synthetic polypropylene and polyester media withstand humidity, temperature swings, chemical exposure, and outdoor UV better than coated paper stock. Choose synthetic for cold-chain, chemical plants, and exterior asset tags; reserve direct thermal for controlled warehouse environments where cost per label is the priority.

Adhesive Selection for Surface Type

Permanent, removable, and freeze-thaw adhesives are optimized for different substrates and dwell times. Cardboard and corrugated require permanent adhesive; returnable containers and reusable bins benefit from removable formulations. Verify adhesive compatibility with your label application temperature and surface porosity.

RFID Integration for Automated Tracking

RFID label stock embeds passive UHF inlays for read ranges up to 12 feet in open air, enabling hands-free asset tracking and RFID accessory deployment. Plan inlay placement to avoid metal surfaces and ensure antenna clearance for reliable encode-and-read workflows.

Print Volume & Roll Economics

Direct thermal media offers 15–25% lower cost-per-label vs. thermal transfer but requires ribbon changeovers less frequently. High-volume shipping operations (>10K labels/day) justify thermal transfer's durability premium; lower-volume asset tracking often favors direct thermal's simplicity.

Supply Chain Resilience & Lead Times

Stock bulk label rolls and ribbon in your warehouse to avoid production stalls when carrier delays occur. Monitor Zebra, TSC, and Brother media certifications to ensure OEM compatibility and prevent counterfeit or degraded stock.

Technology Stack

The specs and acronyms that actually affect labels and media performance.

Direct Thermal Printing

Heat-activated label stock that darkens under thermal print-head pressure without requiring ribbon or ink. Suitable for 1–5 year shelf life; ideal for short-term shipping and compliance labels but prone to fading in sunlight or heat exposure.

Thermal Transfer Media

Label stock printed via wax or resin ribbon, creating durable, fade-resistant marks lasting 5+ years. Requires ribbon cartridge changes but offers superior image quality, color options, and longevity for asset tracking and product marking.

Synthetic & Polypropylene Stock

Polyester or polypropylene base material resistant to moisture, chemicals, and temperature extremes. Commonly used in cold-chain logistics, pharmaceutical, and industrial environments where paper stock deteriorates.

RFID Inlay Technology

Embedded passive UHF (860–960 MHz) or HF (13.56 MHz) RFID chip and antenna printed onto label stock for automated item identification. EPC Gen2 protocol standard; read range varies 1–12 feet depending on inlay design and environment.

Label Adhesive Types

Permanent adhesive (high-tack, long-term bond), removable (clean removal without residue), and freeze-thaw (low-temperature logistics). Adhesive choice impacts label durability and surface compatibility.

Print Resolution & DPI

Standard industrial label printers output 203, 300, or 600 DPI. Higher DPI improves barcode scannability and text readability; 203 DPI suffices for GS1 shipping labels, while 300+ DPI is preferred for asset tags and small-form-factor codes.

Typical Deployment Scenarios

High-Volume Shipping & Logistics (50K+ labels/week)

Deploy 4x6 direct thermal labels on 2–3 industrial label printers fed by 1000-label roll stacks. Direct thermal cost (~$0.05/label) suits disposable shipping use. Integrate barcode scanners for outbound verification.

Asset Tracking & Inventory Management (1K–5K labels/month)

Use 2x3 or 4x4 thermal transfer synthetic labels with permanent adhesive for durable asset tagging. Include RFID inlay for automated asset discovery. Pair with handheld mobile computers for cycle counts.

Cold-Chain & Pharmaceutical Compliance (Regulated Environments)

Deploy polyester thermal transfer labels with freeze-thaw adhesive for refrigerated trucks and -20°C warehouses. Permanent ink resists moisture and chemical exposure. Laminated stock extends readability in extreme cold.

Multi-Location Retail & Warehouse Network (5–10 sites)

Standardize on 4x6 thermal transfer media across all locations to simplify ribbon and media procurement. Use Zebra or TSC certified stock to ensure OEM reliability. Maintain 2–4 weeks' inventory per site to buffer supply-chain delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Direct thermal media darkens under heat from the printer's thermal print head and requires no ribbon; it's faster and cheaper but fades over time (1–5 years). Thermal transfer uses a ribbon to transfer wax or resin ink onto the label, producing fade-resistant marks that last 5+ years. Choose direct thermal for disposable shipping labels and thermal transfer for durable asset tags.

How do I know which label size and roll width to order?

Check your label printer specifications for maximum media width (typically 4 inches for industrial models). Pre-sized labels (4x6, 4x8, 2x3) are standard; verify that your printer firmware supports your chosen dimensions. Measure your print-head gap and roller diameter to confirm roll compatibility before ordering bulk stock.

Can I use RFID labels with any thermal transfer printer?

No. RFID labels require a printer with an encode module or a separate RFID encoder. Standard thermal transfer printers print the barcode and text only; RFID inlay encoding requires specialized hardware. Verify your printer model supports RFID before purchasing inlay stock.

What adhesive should I use for returnable containers and pallets?

Removable or repositionable adhesive is ideal for returnable assets because it peels cleanly without residue or substrate damage. Permanent adhesive works for single-use shipping labels and fixed asset tags. Freeze-thaw adhesive is essential for cold-chain applications and outdoor exposure.

How long does label stock last in storage, and what conditions matter?

Sealed label rolls remain viable for 2–3 years if stored in cool (60–75°F), dry (<50% humidity) conditions. Direct thermal stock is sensitive to heat and humidity; exposure causes yellowing and print-quality loss. Thermal transfer and synthetic media are more stable but should still be rotated in FIFO order to avoid adhesive degradation.

Are generic labels compatible with Zebra, TSC, and Brother printers?

Generic media often works but may cause jams, poor adhesion, or print-quality issues because of slight dimensional or coating variances. Zebra, TSC, and Brother publish OEM-certified media lists. Ordering certified stock ensures reliability and protects your warranty.

Labels and Media

Plan Your Deployment

Sub categories

Showing Results for Labels and Media

SATO SR15LT-10229 4x1 Thermal Transfer Paper Label

Sato SR15LT-10230 4x6 Thermal Transfer Paper Label

SATO SR15LT-10272 4x6 Thermal Transfer Paper Label

SATO SR15LT-51160 3x1 Polypropylene Label

SATO SR15LT-51161 4x1 Polypropylene Label

SATO SR15LT-51163 Polypropylene 4x3 Thermal Label

SATO SR15LT-51164 Polypropylene 4x6 Thermal Label

SATO SR15LT-51165 2x1 Polypropylene Thermal Label

SATO SR15LT-51166 Polypropylene 3x2 Label

SATO SR15LT-51167 Polypropylene 4x2 Label

SATO SR15LT-51168 4x6 Polypropylene Thermal Label

SATO SR15LT-53176 4x2 Gloss White Polyester Label

Sato SR15LT-53177 2x1 Gloss White Polyester Thermal Transfer Label

SATO SR15LT-53179 3x2 Gloss White Polyester Label

SATO SR15LT-53181 4x2 Gloss White Polyester Label

SATO SR30KLT-10090 RFID 4x2 Label Roll

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