Citizen CL-E321 / CL-E331 ribbon — size, core and grade
The Citizen CL-E321 / CL-E331 takes 110mm × 300m ribbon on a 1" core, outside wound (ink side out).
Codewell Image manufactures that ribbon in Badli, New Delhi — wax, wax-resin and resin grades, slit to your label width, with a free sample before you order.
About the CL-E321
The CL-E321 and CL-E331 are Citizen's desktop printers, at 203dpi and 300dpi, with a print width of about 104mm. Citizen's manual gives one ribbon: 35mm to 114mm wide, up to 300m long, with a roll diameter of up to 68mm on a 1-inch core. Two points in it matter when you order. The minimum width is 35mm, higher than the 25mm we can slit, so for a narrow label order a ribbon of 35mm or wider. And the manual says to use ribbon with the ink surface on the outer side: ribbon with the ink on the inner side cannot be used. Citizen's datasheet gives a maximum roll diameter of 60mm where the manual says 68mm, so measure your rolls and check with us if they sit between the two. Citizen also advises a ribbon at least 5mm wider than the media, and for media 2 inches wide or less, a ribbon 60mm or wider. Paper labels run on wax (CW-11, CW-12). Polyester and polypropylene labels need wax-resin or resin.
Citizen CL-E321 / CL-E331 specifications for ribbon
| Print method | Thermal transfer (uses ribbon) |
|---|---|
| Resolutions | CL-E321: 203 dpi; CL-E331: 300 dpi |
| Print width | CL-E321: 104mm; CL-E331: 104mm (datasheet) or 105mm (manual) |
| Ribbon width range | 35–114mm |
| Maximum ribbon length | 300m (maximum roll diameter 68mm in the manual, 60mm in the datasheet) |
| Core | 1" |
| Winding | Outside (ink out) |
Ribbon specification
Citizen gives a minimum ribbon width of 35mm and says ribbon with the ink on the inside cannot be used.
110mm × 300m is the standard size for this model. Because we slit in-house you are not restricted to it: you can order a narrower width that is still a few millimetres wider than your label, so less ribbon overhangs and goes to waste.
Which grade for a CL-E321
The printer does not decide the grade — the label material and the conditions it has to survive do.
Uncoated paper labels (Citizen CL-E321, CL-E331)
Matte, semi-gloss and coated paper labels (Citizen CL-S621)
Coated paper, polyester and polypropylene labels (Citizen CL-S700)
Polyester, polypropylene and film labels that meet chemicals or abrasion (Citizen CL-S700)
Unsure? The ribbon selector narrows it in two questions, or see the full size chart listing the printer models we have checked.
Loading ribbon in a Citizen printer
All the Citizen models here use a 1 inch core (25.4mm). Winding: the CL-S700 takes inside or outside wound ribbon and senses it automatically; the CL-S621 and CL-S631 take either, selected by switch or menu; the CL-E321 and CL-E331 take outside wound ribbon only, with the ink on the outer side. Give us your model when ordering, and ask us to confirm it.
Citizen CL-E321 / CL-E331 ribbon — common questions
What ribbon size does the Citizen CL-E321 / CL-E331 use?+
110mm × 300m on a 1" core, outside wound (ink side out). At 300m a roll covers roughly 3,000 labels at 100mm pitch. We slit 25mm – 160mm, so a non-standard width for your label is not a problem.
Is the CL-E321 inside or outside wound?+
Outside wound — the ink side faces out. Load an inside-wound roll instead and the ink faces away from the label, so the label comes out blank; that reads as a printer fault but is a winding problem. Citizen gives a minimum ribbon width of 35mm and says ribbon with the ink on the inside cannot be used.
Which ribbon grade should I use in a CL-E321?+
Grade follows the label, not the printer. Desktop units like the CL-E321 are most often paired with paper stock, where wax (CW-11 or CW-12) is the right grade. Move to wax-resin only if the label is coated or synthetic.
Can I get a free sample for my CL-E321?+
Yes. We manufacture in Badli, New Delhi and send samples so you can print on your own CL-E321 with your own label stock before ordering volume. Wash-care and resin grades in particular are worth testing rather than taking on spec.
Need a size the CL-E321 does not take as standard? We slit 25mm – 160mm.
Ask for a custom size