Configuring printers

We recommend shippers use a direct thermal label printer to print Amazon Shipping Labels, though shippers are free to choose whichever label printer they prefer. A tip for printing success is to verify that the shipper has the correct DPI setting for their printer.

Dots per inch (DPI) is the resolution setting of the printer and it has to match with the DPI setting on their account. The printer resolution (203 DPI or 300 DPI) has to match the resolution of the label. By default, accounts are set up with 300 DPI. If the shippers have a 203 DPI printer, we’re able to update the setting for them.

Example 203 DPI Printers - These printers work well with our systems, meet our label requirements, have fast print speeds, and are easy to set up:

Zebra GK420D
Zebra GC420D
Zebra ZP505
Zebra ZP450
Zebra ZT230
Zebra 500
Honeywell (Intermec) PC43D
Honeywell (Datamax) E-Class Mark III
Rollo
This is just examples. Shippers may have other 203 DPI models, which also work well with our systems.

Example 300 DPI Printer; These printers work well with our systems, meet our label requirements, have fast print speeds, and are easy to set up include:

Citizen CL-S300
Citizen CL-S631
Zebra ZD420
Zebra ZT400
Dymo 4XI
This is just examples. Shippers may have other 300 DPI models, which also work well with our systems.

We recommend that the shipper has the following settings configured on their printer in order to get a clear and crisp barcode:
Print your label via a PDF viewer. (saving the label to your desktop to open it by default in a PDF viewer).
Set Dithering to None
From your PDF viewer click on Edit then preference. Find the Page display section and set the Custom resolution to 200 DPI or higher.
Speed is to be between 3 and 5.
Darkness is to be set to 13 or above.
Under the Options tab > Size, width is to be set to 4 inches, and height to 6 inches (or 10 x 15 cm).
Remove margin values (if any) and set them to 0.0.
Shippers are able to check the quality of their labels if they changed to 203 DPI. It’s always a best practice to test printing a label once changes are made. Make sure they check the label for blurriness, pixelated or half-toned barcodes or illegible markings. Shippers are able to review the printer’s settings following the steps:
Log into ship.amazon.co.uk
Select settings in the main drop-down menu.
Select printing
Select Edit in the printing setup option.
Click Test Print

NOTE:
Always print labels via a PDF viewer rather than a web browser (for example, Acrobat reader, Adobe, etc.). In the PDF viewer, ensure that your custom resolution is set to 203 DPI or higher (Edit > Preference > Page display - Custom resolution).