Amazon FBA sellers need efficient label printing solutions, and Zebra thermal printers offer the perfect combination of speed, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. This guide covers everything you need to know about printing FBA labels on Zebra printers.
Why Thermal Printers?
Thermal printers offer significant advantages over standard ink printers:
- Reduced costs for high-volume label printing
- Faster operation - No drying time required between prints
- Lower maintenance - Fewer moving parts mean fewer repairs
- No consumables - No ink or toner cartridges to replace
- Professional quality - Crisp, scannable barcodes every time
Two Required Labels
Amazon FBA sellers must attach two labels to each shipment:
1. Shipping Labels (4" × 6")
These contain barcodes for UPS/FedEx tracking, allowing:
- Carrier routing to the correct fulfillment center
- Real-time tracking information
- Proof of delivery documentation
2. FBA Box Labels (4" × 6")
These provide warehouse identification codes that:
- Link shipments to your seller account
- Enable Amazon's inventory management system
- Track products through the fulfillment network
Creating Shipping Labels
Generate labels through Amazon Seller Central by following these steps:
- Navigate to Orders → Manage Orders
- Select the orders you're shipping
- Provide package weight and dimensions
- Select your preferred shipping service (UPS, FedEx, etc.)
- Confirm shipment details
- Download the shipping labels
Amazon generates PDF files containing your labels.
Printing Methods
The Difficult Approach (Manual PDF Extraction)
This traditional method involves:
- Download PDFs from Seller Central
- Open in Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Use the snapshot tool to capture individual labels
- Adjust size and positioning manually
- Configure printer settings for thermal output
- Print each label with precise DPI settings (203 or 300)
This approach is very labor-intensive and requires:
- Multiple software applications
- Detailed knowledge of printer settings
- Manual adjustment for each label
- Significant time investment per shipment
For sellers shipping regularly, this manual process quickly becomes unsustainable.
The Streamlined Approach (AZLabels)
A much more efficient solution uses AZLabels' browser extension:
Setup Process
- Install AZLabels extension for Chrome or Firefox
- Sign up for a free account
- Configure your Zebra printer in the dashboard
- Set label size preferences once
- Ready to print!
Printing Workflow
- Generate labels in Seller Central as usual
- Click the AZLabels button in your browser
- Labels automatically convert to thermal-printer format
- Print with one click (or enable automatic printing with premium)
- Labels output in perfect format immediately
Time savings: Approximately 5 minutes per shipment, adding up to hours saved weekly for active sellers.
Zebra Printer Setup
Loading Labels
- Open the printer cover
- Place label roll between the green adjustable bars
- Use black pieces to secure the paper width
- Thread labels through the feed mechanism
- Close cover
- Wait for green indicator light
Paper Size Configuration (Windows)
- Navigate to Control Panel → Devices and Printers
- Right-click your Zebra printer
- Select Printer Preferences
- Add new stock sizes:
- Width: 4 inches (for standard shipping labels)
- Height: 6 inches
- Darkness: 15
- Speed: 1.5 inches/second
- Save configuration
Darkness Settings
Adjust darkness based on label quality:
- Too light: Increase darkness to 16-18
- Too dark: Decrease to 12-14
- Standard: 15 works for most thermal labels
Supported Zebra Models
AZLabels works with popular Zebra printers including:
- Zebra LP 2844 (the UPS free printer)
- Zebra GX430t
- Zebra ZP 450
- Zebra GK420d
- Other ZPL-compatible models
AZLabels Pricing
Free Tier
Perfect for getting started:
- 100 product labels monthly
- 10 shipping labels monthly
- Full printing features
- No credit card required
Premium Plans
For growing businesses:
- Higher label volumes
- Automatic printing (no click required)
- Priority processing
- Advanced features
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Labels Printing Blank
- Check thermal head cleanliness
- Verify label orientation (thermal side down)
- Increase darkness setting
Labels Printing Off-Center
- Adjust label guides (black pieces)
- Verify paper size configuration matches actual labels
- Run printer calibration
Barcode Not Scanning
- Increase print quality/DPI
- Check darkness settings
- Ensure labels are flat and properly adhered
Benefits of the AZLabels Workflow
Once properly configured, thermal printing with AZLabels enables:
- Efficient high-volume operations - Process dozens of shipments quickly
- Reduced errors - Automated formatting eliminates manual mistakes
- Cost savings - No ink, no paper waste, no misprints
- Professional appearance - Clean, scannable labels every time
- Scalability - Handle growth without workflow bottlenecks
Conclusion
While manual PDF extraction methods exist for printing FBA labels on Zebra printers, they're impractical for sellers who ship regularly. AZLabels transforms the process from a tedious manual task into a one-click operation.
The combination of reliable Zebra hardware and streamlined AZLabels software provides the best possible label printing experience for Amazon sellers. Start with the free tier to experience the efficiency gains, then upgrade as your business grows.