# Best thermal labels: 4 × 6 rolls and fanfold stacks

> Fanfold stacks, rolls and small stock labels compared by size, printer fit and cost per label, for sellers printing their own shipping labels.

Almost every US shipping label you buy online prints at 4 × 6 inches, from eBay, Pirate Ship, Poshmark, Mercari or USPS Click-N-Ship. A thermal printer burns that onto heat-sensitive paper, so you buy no ink or toner.

Pick by format. Fanfold stacks hold 500 labels for about $12 to $20, rolls hold 250 for about $8 to $14, and a roll of small 1.5 × 1 inch labels covers shelf codes and bag notes.

1. **[4 × 6 in thermal labels, 500 fanfold](https://sellersetups.com/us/product/thermal-labels-fanfold)** ($8 to $16): The cheapest per label and the fewest swaps, if your printer has a rear feed slot.
   - Good for: Ten or more packages a week; Printers with a rear feed slot
   - Not for: Printers that only take rolls
2. **[4 × 6 in thermal labels, 250 roll](https://sellersetups.com/us/product/thermal-labels-roll)** ($8 to $14): The easy start: drops into most printers and takes little desk space.
   - Good for: First thermal printer; Small desks
   - Not for: High volume, where fanfold costs less
3. **[2.25 × 1.25 in thermal labels, 1,000 roll](https://sellersetups.com/us/product/thermal-labels-sku)** ($5 to $10): Small labels for stock codes, so you can find any item in seconds.
   - Good for: Coding bags, bins and shelves; Card and clothing sellers with lots of inventory
   - Not for: Shipping labels

## How we chose

- Matches the 4 × 6 inch size carriers and marketplaces print
- Feeds in the printers home sellers own
- Cost per label at a typical pack size
- Swap time when a pack runs out

## Fanfold or roll

Fanfold labels come as a flat zigzag stack that sits behind the printer and feeds through a slot. You get more labels per pack and fewer swaps in a busy week.

Rolls sit on a holder inside or on top of the printer. They suit a small desk, or a printer with no rear slot, and cost a little more per label.

## Getting the size right

Buy 4 × 6 inch labels for shipping. eBay, Pirate Ship, Etsy and the Poshmark and Mercari prepaid labels all print at that size, so the address and barcode come out at full scale.

Avoid smaller shipping labels unless your printer only takes narrow rolls. A shrunk barcode can fail to scan at the post office or sorting center.

## Checking printer compatibility

Most desktop thermal printers take generic labels up to about 4.25 inches wide, on rolls or fanfold. Check two numbers in your printer's manual: maximum label width and maximum roll diameter.

Some compact printers only accept the maker's own chipped rolls. If yours does, generic labels will not feed, so factor that cost in before you buy the printer.

## Direct thermal, not transfer

Home printers are direct thermal: no ribbon, and the label darkens where the head heats it. Buy labels marked direct thermal.

Thermal transfer labels need a ribbon and print blank on a direct thermal printer. They are easy to buy by mistake from bulk listings.

## Questions

### What size thermal labels do I need for USPS?

4 × 6 inches. Pirate Ship, eBay and USPS Click-N-Ship all offer a 4 × 6 layout.

### Are fanfold labels cheaper than rolls?

Usually, per label. As a rough guide, 500 fanfold run $12 to $20 and 250 on a roll $8 to $14.

### Will generic labels work in my printer?

Most desktop thermal printers take them. A few compact models need the maker's own rolls, so check the manual first.

### Why are my labels printing blank?

You may have thermal transfer labels, which need a ribbon. Scratch the label with a fingernail: direct thermal paper turns dark.

### Do thermal labels fade?

Heat and sunlight darken or fade them over months. That is fine for a package in transit, but store spare stock somewhere cool.

### Can I print Poshmark labels on a thermal printer?

Yes. The Poshmark prepaid label comes as a PDF you can print at 4 × 6 inches. Mercari and Depop labels work the same way.