Print GLS labels on a thermal label printer (100×150)

GLS has its own companies in Poland, Czechia and Finland. In Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania it works through its partner Smartposti, so for those countries follow Smartposti labels on a thermal printer. Here is how to print GLS labels as single labels on a Zebra, TSC or Honeywell printer.

Before you start

Each GLS country uses its own shipping tool, and the label options differ:

Use direct thermal labels, which need no ribbon. In our label titles, "40 g" and "76 g" mean the core diameter in mm, not the weight. Check them against your printer: a Zebra ZD220 or ZD230 takes 12.7 or 25.4 mm cores (38.1 mm with adapters), so rolls on a 76 mm core need a printer or roll holder made for that core. Ask us if unsure.

Choose a single-label format in MyGLS (Czechia)

In MyGLS the label format is an account setting. Names below are from GLS's English MyGLS guide; the Czech interface may word them differently.

1. Open Settings and go to "Set Key Data" › paper format.
2. Pick a format with one label per page. GLS's guide describes "Connect" as a 91×151 mm label and "Thermal" as an 85×85 mm thermal label. "A4 2x2" (four labels on a sheet) and "A4 4_1" are for office printers.
3. Click "Print Test Label" and check the result on your printer before you print a whole list.
4. Print your parcels from the "Print List" at the top right.

In the GLS Online app, change the printer type under "Nastavení" (Settings); "Laserová/inkoustová A4 - 2x2" (laser/inkjet A4) prints four labels per sheet.

Print ZPL labels from ADE-Plus (Poland)

GLS Poland's ADE-Plus runs in the browser and prepares labels in thermal printer languages (ZPL, EPL, DPL). Pick one your printer understands:

• Zebra: ZPL.
• TSC DA210, DA220, TE200, TE210: ZPL or EPL; these printers emulate Zebra and Eltron languages.
• Honeywell PC42E: ZPL or EPL; the default Autosense setting detects the language.

Automatic printing on a thermal printer needs a helper program. GLS Poland's ADE-Plus page has videos on downloading and using it ("DPL programme") and on printing a label.

The MyGLS API used in Czechia also lists ZPL printer types: "ThermoZPL" for 203 dpi printers and "ThermoZPL_300DPI" for 300 dpi. Match it to your printer: the Honeywell PC42E-T we sell prints at 300 dpi, the other printers in this guide at 203 dpi.

Set up the printer for 100×150 mm labels

For PDF labels, set the label size once in the driver, otherwise Windows sends an A4 page and the label comes out tiny or cut off:

• Zebra (ZD220, ZD230, ZD421, ZD621, ZT231, ZT411): in the ZDesigner driver's Printing preferences, set 100×150 mm under Page Setup and Thermal Direct as printing mode. See Print 100×150 mm shipping labels on Zebra.
• TSC (DA210, DA220, TE200, TE210, MH241): in the TSC Windows driver, open Printing preferences › Page Setup, click New under Stock and create a 100×150 mm stock. See Print shipping labels on TSC printers.
• Honeywell (PC42E-T, PC42E-D): set the label size in the InterDriver printing preferences. See Print shipping labels on the Honeywell PC42E.

On a thermal transfer model, set the print method to direct thermal for labels without ribbon; thermal transfer labels need a ribbon.

Print the PDF at the right size

1. Check the PDF's page size in the PDF reader's document properties.
2. Choose Print and select the label printer. The paper size should show 100×150 mm.
3. If the page is exactly 100×150 mm (4×6 in), print at actual size (100 %). For any other page size, such as 91×151 mm or A6, choose Fit to page.
4. Print one label and scan its barcode before printing the rest.

Print from your e-shop

GLS Poland also offers a Magento 2 module. Platform tips: Shopify shipping labels on a thermal printer and WooCommerce shipping labels on a thermal printer.

Check and attach the label

• Put one label on each parcel, on the largest flat side, without folding it over an edge.
• Remove all old labels from reused boxes instead of covering them.
• Never photocopy a label or use it on a second parcel: every consignment number is unique.

Common problems