52 x 38 mm thermal labels are a compact and efficient size used for product barcodes, shelf labels and inventory management. Available in direct thermal grades — Eco (BPA-free) or Top-coated (produced without bisphenol chemistry) or thermal transfer materials for long-lasting, high-quality print results.
Choose a common setup or build your own below. Each configuration can be tailored to labels/roll, roll OD, adhesive and presentation.
Direct Thermal
Paper · Permanent
76 mm core · Gap (die-cut)
Direct Thermal
Paper · Permanent
25.4 mm core · Gap (die-cut)
Direct Thermal
Paper · Removable
25.4 mm core · Gap (die-cut)
Direct Thermal
Paper · Freezer-grade
76 mm core · Gap (die-cut)
Thermal Transfer
Paper · Permanent
76 mm core · Gap (die-cut)
Thermal Transfer
Paper · Permanent
25.4 mm core · Gap (die-cut)
Thermal Transfer
Synthetic (PP/PE) · Resin ribbon
76 mm core · Gap (die-cut)
Thermal Transfer
Tamper-evident stock · Permanent
76 mm core · Gap (die-cut)
Select the print method then add material, adhesive, core size and sensing — then send it straight to the enquiry form.
Choose Direct Thermal (no ribbon) or Thermal Transfer (uses ribbon; more durable).
Choose the label material appropriate for your application.
Choose the adhesive appropriate for your material and application.
Choose the roll core to suit your printer.
Choose how your printer detects each label.
Choose a print method to begin…
Enquire now| Label size | 52 x 38 mm (2 x 1.5″) |
|---|---|
| Shape | Rectangle with rounded corners |
| Cores (ID) | 25 / 38 / 76 mm (standard) · 19 / 44 mm on request |
| Sensing | Gap (die-cut) or Black-mark |
| Typical printers |
Desktop (25 / 38 mm): Zebra GK / ZD series, TSC, Citizen, Toshiba Industrial (76 mm): Zebra ZT series & equivalents Portable (19 mm): small hand-held or mobile printers |
Unsure whether to choose Direct Thermal or Thermal Transfer? See our guides to Direct Thermal labels and Thermal Transfer labels — or ask us; we’re happy to help.
A: DT Eco is BPA-free. DT Top-coated grades are produced without bisphenol chemistry, so they are BPA-, BPS-, and phenol-free. If you need phenol-free media, choose Top-coated DT (data sheets available on request).
A: Yes — 52 x 38 mm labels are compatible with most desktop printers (Zebra GK420D / ZD421, TSC, Citizen, Toshiba) and industrial units with 76 mm cores. Choose the correct core size for your printer.
A: Direct Thermal paper is not waterproof. For outdoor or long-term use, select Thermal Transfer synthetics such as polypropylene or polyester printed with a wax-resin or resin ribbon.
A: Choose Freezer-grade permanent for cold storage and Removable for short-term applications.
Compatibility: Freezer is offered with Top-coated DT and TT Paper; Removable is not available with TT Polyester or Tamper-evident materials.
A: Yes — we produce similar formats including 50 × 50 mm, 60 × 40 mm and 50.8 × 25.4 mm. We can also make custom sizes to your requirements.
A: Tell us about your printer, environment and application in the enquiry form — we’ll recommend the most suitable print method, material and adhesive.
