Zebra ZT620 ribbon — size, core and grade
The Zebra ZT620 takes 160mm × 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 ZT620
The ZT620 is the 6-inch model in Zebra's ZT600 series, printing 168mm wide at 203 or 300dpi; the 600dpi option is on the 4-inch ZT610, not here. Ribbon width is the reason to check before ordering: Zebra lists 51mm to 170mm, where the ZT610 stops at 110mm. Our widest slit is 160mm, so a label printed beyond that, up to the 168mm print width, needs a wider ribbon than we cut. Zebra gives a 51mm minimum, with a footnote allowing narrower ribbon only where it is still wider than the media. The roll takes a 1-inch core and runs to 450m, with an 81.3mm maximum diameter. Winding is outside as standard, and inside-wound ribbon runs only with Zebra's optional ribbon spindle, so the first thing to confirm is whether a spindle is fitted. Paper labels run on wax (CW-11, CW-12). CW-22 is the wax-resin listed for coated paper, polyester and polypropylene, and CW-28 is the resin for polyester, polypropylene, polyimide and film.
Zebra ZT620 specifications for ribbon
| Print method | Thermal transfer (uses ribbon) |
|---|---|
| Resolutions | 203 / 300 dpi (600 dpi not offered) |
| Print width | 168mm |
| Ribbon width range | 51–170mm |
| Maximum ribbon length | 450m (maximum roll diameter 81.3mm) |
| Core | 1" |
| Winding | Outside (ink out) |
Ribbon specification
Takes ribbon up to 170mm wide; Codewell slits up to 160mm. Inside-wound ribbon fits only with Zebra's optional ribbon spindle.
160mm × 450m is the standard size for this model. Because we slit in-house you are not restricted to it — if your label is 60mm, order a ribbon a few millimetres wider rather than paying for 110mm and wasting the overhang.
Which grade for a ZT620
The printer does not decide the grade — the label material and the conditions it has to survive do. The ZT620 runs all three families.
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 covering every major printer.
Loading ribbon in a Zebra printer
Core sizes: ½ inch and 1 inch. Winding: Zebra desktops (GK, GX, GC) take outside-wound ribbon only, and Zebra's FAQs point the ZD series to the same ribbons. 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 ZT620 ribbon — common questions
What ribbon size does the Zebra ZT620 use?+
160mm × 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 ZT620 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. Takes ribbon up to 170mm wide; Codewell slits up to 160mm. Inside-wound ribbon fits only with Zebra's optional ribbon spindle.
Which ribbon grade should I use in a ZT620?+
Grade follows the label, not the printer. Industrial units like the ZT620 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 ZT620?+
Yes. We manufacture in Badli, New Delhi and send samples so you can print on your own ZT620 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 ZT620 does not take as standard? We slit 25mm – 160mm.
Ask for a custom size