Z-Essentials 500D
Uncoated direct-thermal paper for high-volume, short-term labeling.
Print Method Direct Thermal
Adhesive Permanent acrylic
Typical Uses Shipping, receiving, inventory and short-life identification
Zebra Labels, Tags & Thermal Transfer Ribbons | Genuine Zebra Media | ShopPOSPortal
Zebra Certified Supplies
Zebra Labels, Tags and Thermal Transfer Ribbons
Zebra offers paper labels, specialty papers, polypropylene films, polyester and polyimide synthetics, security materials and matched thermal-transfer ribbons. The correct combination of facestock, adhesive and ribbon helps produce readable barcodes, durable images and consistent printer performance.
90+ Zebra material options for standard, durable and specialty applications
400+ Stocked paper and synthetic label and tag configurations
3 Primary ribbon chemistries: wax, wax/resin and resin
Custom Sizes, adhesives, preprints, constructions and ribbon configurations
Everyday Paper Label Portfolio
Zebra paper labels range from economical short-life materials through premium coated papers intended for improved print quality, moisture resistance and wider operating temperatures.
Z-Essentials 540D
Uncoated direct-thermal paper with aggressive hotmelt rubber adhesive.
Print Method Direct Thermal
Adhesive Hotmelt rubber
Typical Uses Shipping, retail pricing, food labeling and work in process
Z-Essentials 540T
Top-coated thermal-transfer paper for economical, high-volume applications.
Print Method Thermal Transfer
Adhesive Permanent acrylic
Matched Ribbon 1600 Wax
Z-Essentials 1500D
Top-coated direct-thermal paper with permanent acrylic adhesive.
Print Method Direct Thermal
Positioning Economical coated paper
Typical Uses General logistics, inventory and product identification
Z-Perform 1000D
Standard uncoated direct-thermal material for everyday operations.
Print Method Direct Thermal
Environment Indoor; avoid prolonged moisture exposure
Typical Uses Shipping, receiving and work-in-process labels
Z-Perform 1500T
Coated thermal-transfer paper with moderate moisture and weak-chemical resistance.
Print Method Thermal Transfer
Temperature Range Approximately 0°F to 180°F
Matched Ribbons 1600, 6000, 2000 or 6100
Z-Perform 2000D
Coated direct-thermal paper offering improved environmental performance.
Print Method Direct Thermal
Temperature Range Approximately -65°F to 200°F
Adhesive Options Permanent and all-temperature constructions
Z-Perform 2000T
Coated thermal-transfer paper for broad warehouse, logistics and product-labeling use.
Print Method Thermal Transfer
Adhesive Options Permanent and all-temperature
Matched Ribbons 1600, 6000, 2000 or 6100
Z-Select 4000D
Premium coated direct-thermal material for strong barcode contrast and broad temperatures.
Print Method Direct Thermal
Adhesive Options All-temperature configurations
Typical Uses Healthcare, retail, laboratory and premium barcode labeling
Z-Select 4000T
Premium coated thermal-transfer paper available with multiple adhesive constructions.
Print Method Thermal Transfer
Adhesive Options Permanent, all-temperature and removable
Matched Ribbons 1600, 6000, 2000 or 6100
IQ Color 2000D
Direct-thermal media that enables color printing inside predefined label zones.
Print Method Direct Thermal
Material Options Standard and opaque paper constructions
Typical Uses Visual alerts, priority identification and color-coded workflows
Specialty Paper Materials
Zebra’s 8000-series specialty papers address difficult surfaces, temporary labeling, cover-up applications and multi-layer workflows.
| Material | Print Method | Construction | Primary Use | Compatible Ribbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8000D Dissolvable | Direct Thermal | Dissolvable facestock and adhesive | Food-service containers, reusable trays and applications requiring clean removal with water | None |
| 8000T High-Tack | Thermal Transfer | High initial-tack adhesive | Corrugate, cartons and surfaces requiring stronger initial adhesion | 6000 Wax, 2000 Wax or 6100 Wax/Resin |
| 8000T Super-Tack | Thermal Transfer | Hammerlock rubber adhesive | Wood, textured substrates and other difficult-to-label surfaces | 6000 Wax, 2000 Wax or 6100 Wax/Resin |
| 8000T Multi-Removable | Thermal Transfer | Dual-function removable construction | Permanent adhesion to corrugate with clean removal from glass | 6000 Wax or 2000 Wax |
| 8000T Ultra-Removable | Thermal Transfer | Long-term clean-removal adhesive | Temporary labels that must remove without damaging the surface or label | 6000 Wax or 2000 Wax |
| 8000T Opaque | Thermal Transfer | Cover-up paper construction | Relabeling, error correction and obscuring existing printed information | 6000 Wax, 2000 Wax or 6100 Wax/Resin |
| 8000T Piggyback | Thermal Transfer | Multi-layer label and liner construction | Record transfer, tracking documents and labels requiring reapplication | 6000 Wax, 2000 Wax or 6100 Wax/Resin |
| 8000T Semi-Gloss | Thermal Transfer | Semi-gloss paper with permanent rubber adhesive | Branded product identification and higher-finish paper labels | Wax or wax/resin, depending on durability requirement |
Synthetic Label Families
Synthetic materials are intended for applications that require more resistance to moisture, tearing, chemicals, abrasion, outdoor exposure or elevated temperatures than conventional paper labels can provide.
PolyPro
A broad family of polypropylene films balancing durability, flexibility and cost.
Available Constructions Direct thermal and thermal transfer options
Common Finishes White, clear, matte and gloss configurations
Typical Uses Product labels, cold-chain containers, cosmetics, beverage and flexible packaging
Water Resistant Tear Resistant Flexible
Z-Ultimate
High-performance polyester materials for durable product and asset identification.
Material Options White, silver and clear constructions depending on configuration
Typical Uses Asset tracking, electronics, automotive parts, rating plates and product identification
Ribbon Options 6200, 5095 or 5100 depending on material and environment
Abrasion Resistant Chemical Resistant Long Life
Z-Xtreme
Durable synthetic media for demanding environmental and industrial exposure.
Designed For Harsh chemicals, abrasion, outdoor exposure and difficult operating environments
Typical Uses Industrial assets, chemical containers, utilities, field equipment and compliance labels
Special Pairing Image Lock materials pair with Zebra Image Lock resin ribbon
Outdoor Use Extreme Durability Image Lock Options
Z-Supreme
Premium high-performance synthetic materials, including polyimide constructions.
Designed For High heat, strong chemicals, abrasion and electronics manufacturing
Typical Uses PCB labeling, electronics, high-temperature process tracking and compliance
Recommended Ribbon High-performance or premium resin formulation
Polyimide High Temperature Electronics
Tamper-Evident Media
Security constructions designed to show evidence of removal or attempted replacement.
Construction Options VOID, destructible and tamper-indicating materials
Typical Uses Warranty seals, electronics, security labeling and controlled assets
Print Method Primarily thermal transfer
Regulatory and Rated Media
Materials and adhesive systems selected for specific regulatory or environmental requirements.
Available Requirements UL, CSA, GHS, BS5609 and other application-specific constructions
Typical Uses Chemical containers, industrial products, electrical equipment and export labeling
Selection Note Compliance depends on the complete material, adhesive and ribbon combination
Specialty Media Options
Zebra media extends beyond standard barcode labels. Specialty constructions support RFID, healthcare, security, cold-chain, chemical, electronics and operational labeling requirements.
RAIN RFID Labels and Tags
RFID-enabled paper and synthetic media for item, case, pallet and asset tracking.
Paper RFID Synthetic RFID On-Metal Asset Tracking Case and Pallet
Specimen and Laboratory Labels
Media selected for patient samples, pharmacy workflows, laboratory containers and cold storage.
Specimen Pharmacy Cryogenic Small Vials Cold Storage
Z-Band Wristbands
Direct-thermal patient-identification wristbands designed for barcode readability and comfort.
Patient ID Adult Pediatric Soft Materials Water Resistant
Freezer and Low-Temperature Labels
Adhesive and facestock combinations intended for cold application and low-temperature service.
Freezer Grade All Temperature Food Production Pharmaceutical
GHS and Chemical Labels
Durable materials for chemical containers, hazard communication and harsh-environment identification.
GHS BS5609 Drums Chemical Resistant Outdoor Use
Paper and Synthetic Tag Stock
Non-adhesive media for inventory tags, retail tickets, work-in-process and operational identification.
Paper Tags Synthetic Tags Retail Tickets Inventory Tags Continuous Stock
Adhesive and Construction Options
The facestock alone does not determine label performance. Adhesive, liner, finish, core, roll direction and application temperature must also match the surface and operating environment.
Permanent Acrylic Permanent Rubber Hotmelt Rubber All-Temperature Freezer Grade Cold-Temperature High Tack Super Tack Removable Ultra Removable Multi-Removable Opaque Piggyback Destructible VOID Dissolvable Clear White Silver Matte Gloss Semi-Gloss Fanfold Continuous Black Mark Notched Preprinted
Zebra Thermal Transfer Ribbon Portfolio
Zebra organizes its ribbon portfolio into wax, wax/resin and resin formulations. Wax is primarily intended for paper materials, wax/resin adds chemical and abrasion resistance, and resin is used with synthetic materials and demanding environments.
Wax Ribbons
Best for coated and uncoated paper labels, general-purpose barcode printing and applications with little exposure to chemicals or abrasion.
1600 Wax
Economy
Cost-effective formulation for general-purpose, short-term paper labeling.
6000 Wax
Standard
Excellent print quality at high speeds with improved abrasion resistance over conventional wax.
2000 Wax
High Performance
Designed for high-quality normal and rotated barcodes at high print speeds.
2100 Wax
High Performance
Built for extended, high-volume printing in industrial printers and print engines.
5319 Wax
Performance
Produces high-quality normal and rotated barcodes on coated and uncoated paper.
Wax/Resin Ribbons
Intended for top-coated papers and matte synthetic materials requiring stronger resistance to scratching, smearing, chemicals and elevated temperatures.
6100 Wax/Resin
Standard
Versatile and cost-effective formulation for use across a wide range of materials.
3200 Wax/Resin
High Performance
Provides improved scratch, smear, everyday chemical and temperature resistance.
Resin Ribbons
Developed for synthetic labels and applications requiring the highest resistance to chemicals, abrasion, heat, outdoor exposure and long-term image degradation.
6200 Resin
Standard
Strong print quality for dense barcodes and graphics with harsh-chemical and abrasion resistance.
5095 Resin
High Performance
Excellent chemical and temperature resistance with strong small-font, graphic and rotated-barcode quality.
5100 Resin
Premium
Premium durability for ultra-high temperatures and demanding outdoor environments.
Image Lock Resin
Extreme Environment
Produces exceptionally durable images without requiring an added laminate.
Ribbon Configuration Options
Ribbon formulation is only one part of the configuration. Width, length, core size, winding direction and printer family must also match the printer and label width.
Desktop Lengths Industrial Lengths Print Engine Lengths 0.5-Inch Core 1-Inch Core Cartridge Ribbon Multiple Widths Coated Side In Coated Side Out Black Ribbon Specialty Colors
How to Select the Right Media Combination
Start with the label environment, then match the facestock, adhesive, printing technology and ribbon to the printer and expected label life.
1
Choose the Facestock
Select paper, polypropylene, polyester, polyimide or another specialty construction.
2
Match the Adhesive
Consider the surface, application temperature, service temperature and removal requirements.
3
Select Print Technology
Use direct thermal for ribbon-free short-life labeling or thermal transfer for greater image durability.
4
Pair the Ribbon
Match wax, wax/resin or resin chemistry to the label material and environmental exposure.
Custom Media Quotes
Need a Custom Zebra Label, Tag or Ribbon Configuration?
Standard stocked media does not fit every workflow. ShopPOSPortal can help quote custom Zebra and Zebra-compatible media based on your printer, application, environment, label size, adhesive, durability requirements and order volume.
Custom die-cut sizes Custom roll configurations Fanfold labels Continuous media Black-mark media Preprinted labels Sequential numbering Variable information RFID encoding Custom adhesives Security constructions High-temperature labels GHS and BS5609 media Custom ribbon widths Colored ribbon options Volume and contract pricing
Request a Custom Media Quote
Include the Zebra printer model, label dimensions, annual volume, surface type, environmental exposure and any required certifications.
Request a Custom Media QuoteMaterial availability, certifications, adhesive constructions, ribbon compatibility and printer compatibility can vary by label size and configuration. Final media selection should be confirmed against the specific printer, application surface and operating environment.
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