Print 100×150 mm shipping labels on TSC DA210, DA220, TE200, TE210

Courier portals deliver shipping labels as PDF files. Set up a TSC DA210, DA220, TE200 or TE210 once with the right label size, scaling and darkness, and every label prints full size with barcodes that scan.

Before you start

Most shipping labels are direct thermal and print without a ribbon. The DA210 and DA220 print direct thermal only. The TE200 and TE210 print direct thermal labels without a ribbon, and thermal transfer labels with one.

A 100 mm wide label fits all four printers: they print up to 108 mm wide and take labels up to 114 mm (DA) or 112 mm (TE) wide. Check the roll too. Inside the printer, TSC specifies rolls up to 127 mm in diameter on a 25.4 or 38 mm core. Rolls on a 76.2 mm (3 in) core, such as our 1,000-label rolls, need the optional external roll mount. Our 500-label roll has a 40 mm core, which is not on TSC's list, so ask us before ordering it for a TSC printer.

No driver yet? See the DA210/DA220 or TE200/TE210 setup guide.

Load the labels and calibrate

1. Open the top cover. Place the roll between the media holders (DA) or on the media supply spindle (TE). On a TE, remove the two fixing tabs for 100 mm wide labels.
2. Pull the labels through the media sensor, printable side up, and lay the leading edge on the platen roller. On a TE, open the print head mechanism first and slide the media guides against the label edges.
3. Close the print head mechanism (TE) and the top cover until the latches click.
4. Calibrate so the printer learns the 150 mm label length. Switch the printer off, hold FEED and switch it on. Keep holding through the LED sequence and release while the LED blinks red and amber: this is the gap calibration for labels with gaps between them.
5. The printer feeds a few labels while it measures them. It is ready when the LED is solid green.

Video: TSC Auto ID

Filmed on the earlier DA200; TSC lists it as the DA Series loading video.

Create a 100×150 mm stock in the TSC driver

TSC's Windows driver is made by Seagull Scientific and saves label sizes as stocks. Without the right stock, Windows sends an A4 or Letter page and the label comes out tiny or cut off.

1. Open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Printers & scanners, choose your TSC printer and open Printing preferences.
2. On the Page Setup tab, click New under Stock.
3. Enter a name, such as 100 x 150 mm, a width of 100 mm and a height of 150 mm. Click OK.
4. Select the new stock, then click Apply and OK.

TSC lists a wrong label size as a cause of jams, skipped labels and missing print at the sides, so the stock must match your labels exactly.

Choose the label format in the courier portal

In the courier portal, pick the label printer format: names vary, for example 100×150, 4×6, A6, thermal or label printer. A label-sized PDF prints sharp and full size.

Don't shrink an A4 or A5 sheet with several labels onto one label: the barcode bars become too thin to scan. If the portal only creates such sheets, look for a label printer or A6 option in your account settings, or ask the courier.

Some carriers also offer ZPL, a label printer language. TSC lists its TSPL-EZD language as compatible with ZPL and EPL. Use ZPL only if your courier explains how its software sends it to the printer; otherwise PDF is simpler.

Print the PDF at the right size

1. Open the PDF and choose Print.
2. Select your TSC printer and check that the paper size shows your 100×150 mm stock; a PDF reader can override the driver default.
3. Choose the scale. If the PDF page is exactly 100×150 mm or 4×6 in, print at actual size (100 %). For any other page size, such as A6, choose fit to page (the name differs between programs).
4. Choose portrait or automatic orientation.
5. Print one label and check it before you print a batch.

Adjust darkness and speed if needed

For poor print quality, TSC recommends adjusting density (darkness) and speed. Change one step at a time and print a test label after each change.

• Pale print or barcodes that won't scan: raise the density.
• Still not crisp: lower the speed.
• Bars run together: lower the density.

Where to change them: in TSC Console, select the printer, open Functions › Printer Configuration, click Get, change Speed and Density and click Set. In BarTender, TSC's FAQ uses Printer Properties › Options: clear Use Current Printer Settings, then adjust speed and density.

Persistent pale print can come from a dirty printhead; TSC cleans it with 99 % isopropyl alcohol. See DA210/DA220 troubleshooting or TE200/TE210 troubleshooting.

Test the label

• Scan every barcode and 2D code with a scanner or phone.
• Check that no edge of the address or barcodes is cut off.
• Check that no blank label follows.

Common problems

Carrier-specific steps

Carriers name the label printer format differently, and not all use 100×150 mm: Posti (Finland) uses 107×225 or 107×251 mm thermo labels. Our carrier guides show the exact formats and settings:

• Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania: Omniva, SmartPosti, DPD, Venipak, Latvijas Pasts, LP Express
• Finland: Posti, Matkahuolto
• Poland: InPost, Poczta Polska, ORLEN Paczka, DHL eCommerce Poland
• Czechia: Packeta (Zásilkovna), PPL, Česká pošta and Balíkovna
• International: DHL Express, UPS, GLS
• Webshop platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce

Printing on a different printer? See shipping labels on Zebra printers or shipping labels on the Honeywell PC42E.