50×30, 40×20, 4×6 shipping labels… Which label size suits which job, and how do you measure the roll you already use? A practical guide to width, gap, liner, core and roll diameter before you place your next order.
When barcode label sizes are chosen wrongly, the problem usually shows up on the very first print: the barcode runs off the edge, the printer cannot find the gap between labels, or the roll simply does not fit inside the printer. In this guide we group the most common label sizes by application and walk you through the seven values you need to measure an existing label correctly.
How barcode label sizes are written
Label dimensions are given in millimetres as “width × height”: 50 × 30 mm means a label 50 mm wide and 30 mm high. Most manufacturers give the width first, measured across the roll (perpendicular to the direction the label leaves the printer), and the height second, measured along the feed direction. This convention is not universal, though. A 30 × 50 label and a 50 × 30 label cover the same area but behave very differently in a printer, so the safest approach is to state clearly which value runs across the roll when you order.
In markets that work in inches, the same labels are named in inches. The well-known 4 × 6 inch shipping label, for example, corresponds to roughly 100 × 150 mm.
Standard label sizes and where they are used
The table below summarises label sizes you will often come across and their typical uses. These are common choices, not mandatory standards: the product surface, the barcode type and the amount of information on the label decide the right size.
| Size (mm) | Common use | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 30 × 20 | Small items, cosmetics, jewellery, spare parts | Enough for a short barcode and price; tight for longer text |
| 40 × 20 | Small items and shelf barcodes | Practical for one line of product name plus a barcode |
| 50 × 30 | Standard product and shelf barcodes; retail and warehouse | One of the most popular general-purpose sizes |
| 58 × 40 | Scale labels, food counters, ingredient information | Leaves room for a few lines of text next to the barcode |
| 100 × 50 | Carton and dispatch labels | Large barcode plus address or batch details |
| 100 × 100 | Carton and warehouse labels | Layouts combining logo, lot number and barcode |
| 100 × 150 | Shipping and e-commerce parcel labels | Close to 4 × 6 inch; common for courier label printouts |
For product labels, 50 × 30 mm is one of the most widely used sizes, and it is also the standard size we offer at Yayex. Smaller items tend to use 40 × 20 or 30 × 20 mm, while cartons and parcels call for labels 100 mm wide. To see ready-made sizes, browse our blank labels.
How to measure a label: 7 values, step by step
If you already have a roll and want to reorder the same label, measure the following values with a ruler or caliper. Where possible, measure on the roll without peeling the label off its backing.
- Label width: the distance from one edge of the label to the other, across the roll.
- Label height (length): the distance from the start to the end of one label, along the feed direction.
- Gap between labels: the bare liner between two labels. The printer's sensor uses this gap to find the start of each new label; it is usually a few millimetres.
- Side margin: the space between the edge of the label and the edge of the liner. If the left and right margins differ, note both.
- Liner (backing) width: the total width of the siliconised paper the labels sit on. The printer's media guides are set to this value.
- Core inner diameter: the inside diameter of the cardboard tube at the centre of the roll. Yayex offers 40 mm and 76 mm cores; as a rule, small desktop printers use the narrower core and industrial printers use 76 mm (3 inch) cores.
- Roll outer diameter and labels per roll: the diameter measured at the outermost point of the roll determines whether it fits in the printer's media compartment. The number of labels per roll depends on it, too: more small labels fit into the same diameter. Our typical quantity is 1,000 labels per roll.
Always record measurements in millimetres and do not round them: ordering a 49 mm label as “50” can cause small but annoying shifts in the print.
Orientation and winding direction: two short notes
Orientation: the same 50 × 30 mm label can sit on the roll landscape (long edge across the roll) or portrait (short edge across the roll). If your design is landscape but the roll is portrait, the printer has to rotate the design or cannot fit it at all. Define the artwork and the roll using the same logic.
Winding direction: it matters whether the labels face the outside (wound out) or the inside (wound in) of the roll, and which edge leaves the roll first. Most desktop printers work with a specific winding, while on label applicators the direction depends on how the machine is set up. If in doubt, take a photo of your current roll and mark the direction in which the labels come off.
What to check when choosing barcode label dimensions
- Fitting the barcode: product barcodes such as EAN-13 and logistics barcodes such as GS1-128 need a blank zone (quiet zone) on both sides to scan reliably. The label must leave room for this zone as well as the barcode itself.
- Amount of information: as you add product name, price, lot and best-before date, 50 × 30 can become tight; consider 58 × 40 or larger.
- Printer width: check the maximum liner and print width in your printer's manual. We produce sizes, cores and winding directions compatible with Zebra, TSC, Argox and Godex printers.
- Application surface: a curved bottle, a small box or a corrugated carton; the surface decides which size will sit flat without creasing.
- Print method: decide early whether you will print direct thermal or thermal transfer, because it affects the label material you need.
Custom size labels: from 20 × 10 mm to 100 × 150 mm
If none of the sizes in the table suits you, custom production is possible. At our plant in Pendik, Istanbul, we die-cut labels from 20 × 10 mm up to 100 × 150 mm and also prepare custom die shapes when needed. Cutting is done with micron precision, so the gap and margins stay the same from the start of the roll to the end.
Stock sizes can be ordered from a single roll. For custom sizes or printed labels, quantities of around 5,000 and above are usually recommended to keep the unit cost reasonable. Standard lead time for custom production is 3–5 working days.
Once you know the size and quantity, our instant quote calculator shows you a price straight away.
Not sure about the size? Send us a sample
Measuring an old roll with a ruler is not always easy; the gap and margins are only a few millimetres, so the margin for error is high. The safest way is to send us a few labels or a piece of the roll you use. From the sample we can determine the size, gap, core and winding direction and reproduce it. For printed jobs we also check your artwork free of charge before printing for size, resolution and bleed. Get in touch through our contact page about samples and sizes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most standard barcode label size?
There is no single mandatory standard, but 50 × 30 mm is one of the most common sizes for product and shelf barcodes. For shipping labels, 100 × 150 mm (4 × 6 inch) is widely used.
How many 50x30 labels are on a roll?
The quantity per roll depends on the core diameter and the maximum outer roll diameter your printer accepts. At Yayex the typical quantity is 1,000 labels per roll.
Is the first number in a label size the width or the height?
In most cases the first number is the width, measured across the roll. To avoid confusion, state in your order which edge runs across the roll, or send us a sample.
Should the core be 40 mm or 76 mm?
That depends on your printer. Check the media specifications in the printer manual; if you are unsure, send us the make and model of your printer and we will help you choose the right core.
Conclusion
The right barcode label size comes from getting the width, height, gap, liner, core and roll diameter right together. If one of the common sizes does the job, stock rolls ship the same day; if you need a custom size, we can produce anything from 20 × 10 mm to 100 × 150 mm. Enter your size in the quote calculator to see a price straight away.