ITS is your source for the top brands and best values for thermal barcode printers, supplies, printing software, parts, and service. A modern thermal printer gives you the power and convenience of printing your own barcode labels on demand.

For many jobs, a convenient and user-friendly desktop label printer will get the job done well. For the heavy-duty use, however, you may need an industrial label printer, designed to withstand the stresses of producing a large volume of labels, day in, day out. Between these two categories, there are a range of medium options to suit your needs. One size doesn't fit all — which type of printer you need depends on the specifics of your application and environment. Give us a call at 888-768-5946 and we'll help you find your printer.

A frequently-asked question about thermal barcode printers is, what's the difference between "direct thermal" (DT) printing and "thermal transfer" (TT) printing? These are the two types of thermal printing. Thermal transfer labels are printed using an ink ribbon; during the printing process, ink is <i>transferred</i> from the ribbon onto the label. Direct thermal labels are printed by applying heat <i>directly</i> onto the label. Direct thermal printing is typically used when temporary labels are needed. The main advantage of direct thermal printing is that it is less expensive per label. The main disadvantage is that the printing will tend to degrade over time, making the label unreadable within a few weeks (this process can happen much quicker if the label is stored in a hot environment). Thermal transfer printing is slightly more expensive per label, but the result is a label that will last indefinitely. For this reason, we strongly recommend the use of thermal transfer labels if you need labels that will last longer than about two weeks. Many barcode printers can handle both types of printing, but some smaller printers are designed specifically for DT printing. Please check with us before ordering to make sure that you are getting the right type of printer.

Most barcode printers will print labels up to 4" wide. Need to print extra-wide labels? We carry printers that print up to 10" across. The standard resolution for barcode printers is approximately 200 dpi. This will create a readable barcode at normal sizes. If you are printing an especially small barcode or if you are including detailed graphics on the label, you may want a printer with additional resolution; up to 600 dpi is available.

We also carry the full range of supplies that you will need for your label printing application: labels (thermal transfer or direct thermal), ink ribbons, and replacement printheads. Labels are available in paper, which is usually the most cost-effective option, or in synthetic materials, which may be required for more rugged or caustic environments. Make sure to get the right ribbon for your labels! Give us a call at 888-768-5946 to discuss your printing supply needs. We can also provide labels with custom materials and adhesives for the most demanding environments. Call now for a free quote.

To generate barcodes to print, you will need special barcode label generating software. We offer BarTender software from Seagull Scientific. Alternatively, for a small charge, we can provide you an image with the barcode of your choice.

At ITS we pride ourselves on having a wide range of products in stock and ready to ship today. If you need it tomorrow, give us a call and we'll figure out a way to get it there tomorrow.

Want to skip the trouble of printing barcode labels yourself? We offer custom-printed labels. Click here for more information.

 

Top sellers, top value Eltron (now Zebra) Sato TSC Datamax Intermec	Supplies Labels Paper Synthetic Custom Preprinted Ribbon Printheads
Industrial printers Zebra XiIII series Zebra 110XiIII Zebra 140XiIII Zebra 170XiIII Zebra Z4M Sato M84	Desktop printers Eltron TLP 2844 / LP 2844 Eltron TLP 2722 Eltron TLP 2742 Sato CX208
Medium-grade printers Zebra S600 Zebra 105SL Datamax i-4208 Sato CL408e	Eltron Eltron LP 2443 / TLP 2443 Orion Eltron LP 2742 / TLP 2742 Eltron LP 2844 Eltron TLP 2844 Eltron LP 3844 Eltron TLP 3844
Sato Sato CX208 Sato CX212 Sato CT400 Sato GL series Sato LM series Sato M-8400 series	Zebra Zebra S600 Zebra GX series Zebra S4M Zebra ZM400 Zebra 105SL Zebra Xi series
TSC TSC TTP-243 TSC TTP-244 TSC TTP-245 TSC TTP-246M TSC M-23	Datamax Datamax i series Datamax m-series Datamax m-4206 Datamax e-series Datamax e-3202 Datamax Allegro 2 Datamax XL Datamax Prodigy Datamax w-series Datamax h-series
Extra-wide print 6" wide print Sato CL608e Zebra 140XiIII 8" wide print Datamax w-8306 10" wide print Sato M-10e	Enhanced resolution 300 dpi Zebra TLP 28344 Datamax i-4308 400 dpi Intermec EasyCoder PX4i 600 dpi Zebra 110XiIII Plus
Portable printers Zebra MZ series Zebra EM220 Zebra P4T Zebra QL220	Direct Thermal printers Zebra LP 2844 Sato CX208 DT
Barcode label software Seagull Scientific BarTender Basic Seagull Scientific BarTender Professional Seagull Scientific BarTender Enterprise