Thermal Label Size & DPI Calculator
Enter your label dimensions and select a print resolution to see the exact pixel width and height your design file should be. Works for any thermal printer at 203, 300, or 600 DPI. Switch freely between inches and millimeters.
Canvas size at 300 DPI
1200 × 1800 px
Width
4.00 in
101.60 mm
Height
6.00 in
152.40 mm
Printable area (est.)
1153 × 1753 px
2 mm margin per side
Pixel dimensions at other resolutions
How this is calculated: 4.00 in × 300 DPI = 1200 px wide; 6.00 in × 300 DPI = 1800 px tall. The printable area subtracts an estimated 2 mm margin on each side (24 px at 300 DPI).
How it works
Thermal printers specify their resolution in DPI (dots per inch). To size a design file correctly you multiply the label's physical dimensions by the printer's DPI:
pixel width = physical width (in) × DPI pixel height = physical height (in) × DPI
For example, a 4 × 6 inch label at 203 DPI is 812 × 1218 pixels. The same label at 300 DPI is 1200 × 1800 pixels. Higher DPI means finer detail but larger file sizes.
The printable-area estimate subtracts a 2 mm margin from each side. Actual margins vary by printer model — check your printer's documentation for the exact non-printable zone.
Common Thermal Label Sizes
| Label size | 203 DPI | 300 DPI | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in | 812 × 1218 | 1200 × 1800 | Shipping labels |
| 4 × 4 in | 812 × 812 | 1200 × 1200 | Square labels |
| 2 × 1 in | 406 × 203 | 600 × 300 | Small product labels |
| 3 × 2 in | 609 × 406 | 900 × 600 | Retail price tags |
| 2 × 0.5 in | 406 × 102 | 600 × 150 | Barcode strips |
Frequently Asked Questions
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