Zebra ZT230 / ZT231 ribbon — size, core and grade
The Zebra ZT230 / ZT231 takes 110mm × 450m 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 ZT230
The ZT230 is the mid-range industrial Zebra most common in Indian warehouses and dispatch bays. It takes up to 450m ribbon, which at typical shipping-label volumes means a roll change roughly every 4,500 labels — worth planning around if you print in shifts. The ribbon path sits close to the media guide, so a ribbon narrower than the label will scuff the printhead within days rather than weeks. 300m rolls also fit. The newer ZT231 takes the same ribbon: 110mm × 450m on a 1-inch core, ink side out.
Zebra ZT230 / ZT231 specifications for ribbon
| Print method | Thermal transfer (uses ribbon) |
|---|---|
| Print width | ZT230: 104mm |
| Ribbon width range | 40–110mm |
| Maximum ribbon length | 450m |
| Core | 1" |
| Winding | Outside (ink out) |
Ribbon specification
110mm × 450m 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 ZT230
The printer does not decide the grade — the label material and the conditions it has to survive do.
Paper labels — shipping, retail, inventory (Zebra GK420t, ZD420)
Pharma and compliance labels on coated paper (Zebra ZT230, ZT410)
Synthetic labels — polyester, polypropylene (Zebra ZT420, ZT610)
Nylon and satin garment labels (Zebra GX430t)
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 Zebra printer
Core sizes: ½ inch and 1 inch. Winding: Zebra desktops (GK, GX, GC) take outside-wound ribbon only. For the ZD series, Zebra's guides do not state the ink side, so we confirm the winding against your roll before dispatch. The ZT230, ZT231 and 105SL Plus are outside only; the ZT410, ZT420, ZT610 and ZT620 take outside wound as standard, and inside wound only with Zebra's optional spindle. Specify your model when ordering for confirmed compatibility.
Zebra ZT230 / ZT231 ribbon — common questions
What ribbon size does the Zebra ZT230 / ZT231 use?+
110mm × 450m on a 1" core, outside wound (ink side out). At 450m a roll covers roughly 4,500 labels at 100mm pitch. We slit 25mm – 160mm, so a non-standard width for your label is not a problem.
Is the ZT230 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.
Which ribbon grade should I use in a ZT230?+
Grade follows the label, not the printer. Industrial units like the ZT230 usually run mixed media, so most sites keep a wax for paper and a wax-resin or resin for synthetics rather than compromising on one grade for both.
Can I get a free sample for my ZT230?+
Yes. We manufacture in Badli, New Delhi and send samples so you can print on your own ZT230 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 ZT230 does not take as standard? We slit 25mm – 160mm.
Ask for a custom size