How to Create ZPL Labels

Step-by-step tutorial with 10 practical examples to create professional labels from scratch

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Introduction to ZPL

ZPL (Zebra Programming Language) is the standard language for programming Zebra thermal printers and is used by major marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Shopify, as well as carriers like FedEx and UPS, to generate shipping labels. Compatible thermal printers include Zebra, Brother, DYMO, and Rollo models. In this tutorial you will learn to create ZPL labels from scratch in 10 progressive steps, from the basic structure to a complete shipping label. Each step includes code you can copy and test directly in the ZPLPDF ZPL Viewer. You do not need a Zebra printer: you can convert your ZPL code to PDF and print from any printer.

1
Step 1: Basic structure of a ZPL label

Every ZPL label starts with ^XA (start format) and ends with ^XZ (end format). Between these commands all elements are defined. Each element (text, barcode, graphic) is a "field" defined with ^FO (position), the content, and ^FS (end of field). This structure is mandatory — without ^XA/^XZ the printer will ignore the code. This is the minimum valid ZPL label you can create.

^XA
^FO50,50
^A0N,30,30
^FDHello World^FS
^XZ

2
Step 2: Configuring label size with ^LL and ^PW

Use ^LL to set the label length and ^PW to set the print width, both in dots. At 203 DPI: 1 inch = 203 dots, 1 mm = 8 dots. A standard 4x6 inch shipping label (used by Amazon, FedEx, UPS, and eBay) needs ^PW812 ^LL1218. The ^LH command adjusts the origin (margins) of the entire label. Always set size before placing any elements.

^XA
^PW812
^LL1218
^LH10,10
^FO50,50^A0N,30,30
^FD4x6 Inch Label^FS
^XZ

3
Step 3: Positioning elements with ^FO

The ^FO (Field Origin) command defines the X,Y coordinates where the next element will be placed. Coordinates are measured in dots from the top-left corner of the label. X grows to the right, Y grows downward. At 203 DPI, 100 dots is approximately 12.5 mm. You can place multiple elements at different positions within the same label. Use the ZPLPDF viewer to visually adjust positions.

^XA
^FO50,30^A0N,25,25^FDTop left^FS
^FO300,30^A0N,25,25^FDTop right^FS
^FO50,200^A0N,25,25^FDBottom left^FS
^FO300,200^A0N,25,25^FDBottom right^FS
^XZ

4
Step 4: Text with different fonts and sizes

The ^A command defines the font to use. Format: ^A(font)(orientation),(height),(width). Font 0 is the standard built-in font. Orientations: N=normal, R=90°, I=180°, B=270°. Height and width are measured in dots. For multi-line text with automatic word wrap, use ^FB(width),(lines),(spacing),(alignment) before ^FD. This is useful for addresses and long descriptions on Shopify or eBay order labels.

^XA
^FO50,30^A0N,50,50^FDLarge Title^FS
^FO50,100^A0N,30,30^FDMedium subtitle^FS
^FO50,150^A0N,20,20^FDSmall text^FS
^FO50,200^A0R,30,30^FDRotated 90°^FS
^FO50,300^FB400,3,0,C,0
^A0N,25,25^FDThis text wraps automatically in a 400-dot wide block^FS
^XZ

5
Step 5: Barcodes with ^BY and ^BC (Code 128)

To create a barcode, first configure its size with ^BY(module_width,ratio,height), then use the barcode type command. ^BC creates Code 128, the standard in logistics used by FedEx, UPS, Amazon, and eBay. Parameters of ^BC: orientation, height, human_readable(Y/N), text_above(Y/N), checksum(Y/N). Always use Y for human readable so the number is visible under the bars.

^XA
^FO50,50^BY2,3,100
^BCN,100,Y,N,N
^FD123456789^FS
^FO50,200^BY3
^BCN,80,Y,N,N
^FDABC-001-XYZ^FS
^XZ

6
Step 6: QR Codes with ^BQ

The ^BQ command creates QR codes. Format: ^BQ(orientation),(model),(magnification). Always use model 2 and adjust magnification (1-10) for the desired size. Data must be preceded by two characters before the comma: the first is the error-correction level (H/Q/M/L) and the second is the input mode (A = automatic encoding, M = manual segments). Use HA, as the recommended default — H-level error correction (~30% recovery) plus automatic encoding. For UTF-8 / international characters, add ^CI28 before the ^BQ instead of switching prefix. Magnification 5 is a good starting point for standard labels.

^XA
^FO50,50
^BQN,2,5
^FDHA,https://zplpdf.com^FS
^FO350,50
^BQN,2,3
^FDHA,Product: SKU-001^FS
^XZ

7
Step 7: Drawing boxes, lines, and dividers with ^GB

The ^GB command draws boxes and rectangles: ^GB(width,height,line_thickness). If width and height equal the thickness, it draws a line. Use boxes to create frames, dividers, and visually organize label elements. You can also create circles with ^GC(diameter,thickness) and diagonal lines with ^GD. Structured layouts are common on professional shipping labels for FedEx, UPS, and carrier labels.

^XA
^FO30,30^GB500,300,2^FS
^FO30,120^GB500,1,1^FS
^FO50,50^A0N,30,30^FDHeader^FS
^FO50,140^A0N,25,25^FDLabel content here^FS
^FO50,200^A0N,25,25^FDMore information^FS
^FO400,250^GC50,2,B^FS
^XZ

8
Step 8: Special characters and accents with ^CI28

By default, ZPL does not support accented characters or special symbols. To enable them, add ^CI28 at the beginning of your label to activate UTF-8 encoding. This is essential for labels with non-ASCII characters, international addresses, or product names containing special symbols. Without ^CI28, accents will appear as incorrect symbols. This is commonly needed for international Shopify orders or Amazon global marketplace labels.

^XA
^CI28
^FO50,50^A0N,30,30
^FDCustomer: Renée Müller^FS
^FO50,100^A0N,30,30
^FDAddress: 123 Ñoño St.^FS
^FO50,150^A0N,30,30
^FDCode: Ü-2024-US^FS
^XZ

9
Step 9: Printing multiple copies with ^PQ

The ^PQ(quantity) command before ^XZ defines how many copies to print. For automatic serialization (numbers that increment with each copy), use ^SN(start,increment,zero_fill) inside the field. This is ideal for generating labels with consecutive serial numbers without sending each label individually. Brother, DYMO, and Rollo printers all support the ^PQ command.

^XA
^FO50,50^A0N,30,30
^FDProduct: Widget Pro^FS
^FO50,100^A0N,25,25
^FDSerial: ^FS
^FO130,100^A0N,25,25
^SN0001,1,Y^FS
^FO50,150^BY2^BCN,80,Y
^FDSKU-WIDGET-PRO^FS
^PQ5
^XZ

10
Step 10: Complete shipping label

This example combines all tutorial concepts into a real shipping label: size configuration, box frames, text at different sizes, Code 128 barcode for the tracking number, QR code with tracking URL, and UTF-8 support for international characters. You can use this as a base template for your Amazon, eBay, Shopify, FedEx, or UPS shipping labels. Compatible with Zebra ZT, ZD, GX series, as well as Brother, DYMO, and Rollo thermal printers.

^XA
^CI28
^PW812^LL609
^FO20,20^GB772,569,2^FS
^FO20,100^GB772,1,1^FS
^FO20,300^GB772,1,1^FS
^FO40,35^A0N,40,40^FDExpress Shipping^FS
^FO40,120^A0N,25,25^FDFrom: John Smith^FS
^FO40,155^A0N,25,25^FD123 Main St, Suite 456^FS
^FO40,190^A0N,25,25^FDNew York, NY 10001^FS
^FO40,240^A0N,30,30^FDTo: Jane Doe^FS
^FO40,275^A0N,25,25^FDLos Angeles, CA 90001^FS
^FO40,320^BY2^BCN,120,Y
^FDTRACKING-2024-001234^FS
^FO600,320^BQN,2,4
^FDHA,https://track.example.com/001234^FS
^FO40,470^A0N,20,20^FDWeight: 2.5 lbs | 1 of 1^FS
^XZ

Tips for creating ZPL labels

Always test your code in the ZPLPDF ZPL Viewer before sending to the printer
Add ^CI28 at the start if you need accents, special symbols, or international characters
Use ^BY BEFORE each barcode to control bar width and height
For standard 4x6 inch shipping labels (Amazon, FedEx, UPS): use ^PW812 ^LL1218 at 203 DPI
^FO coordinates are measured in dots: at 203 DPI, 1 inch = 203 dots, 1 mm = approximately 8 dots
Use ^FB to create multi-line text blocks with automatic word wrapping
Organize your label visually with ^GB to create frames and divider lines
Save reusable templates and only change variable data — use ^FN fields for batch label runs
Validate your code with the ZPL Validator to catch syntax errors before printing
If you do not have a Zebra, Brother, DYMO, or Rollo printer, convert your ZPL to PDF with ZPLPDF and print from any printer

Frequently asked questions about creating ZPL labels

Do I need a Zebra printer to use ZPL code?

No. You can write and test ZPL code in the ZPLPDF ZPL Viewer without a printer. When you are ready to print, you can convert ZPL to PDF and print on any thermal printer (Brother, DYMO, Rollo) or even a regular laser printer.

What size is a standard shipping label?

The standard shipping label used by Amazon, eBay, FedEx, and UPS is 4x6 inches (100x150 mm). In ZPL at 203 DPI, configure it with ^PW812 (width) and ^LL1218 (length). For smaller labels like 4x4 inches, use ^PW812 ^LL812.

How do I calculate coordinates to position elements?

The ^FO coordinates are measured in dots from the top-left corner. At 203 DPI: 1 inch = 203 dots, 1 mm is approximately 8 dots. For a 4-inch wide label, the X range is 0–812. Use the ZPLPDF ZPL Viewer to visually adjust positions.

Why do my special characters or accents appear as garbled symbols?

The ^CI28 command is missing at the start of your label. This command activates UTF-8 encoding, required for accented characters, international symbols, and non-ASCII text. Place it right after ^XA: ^XA ^CI28 ...

How do I create labels with variable data (name, address, tracking number)?

You have two options: 1) Generate the complete ZPL code from your application by replacing variable data for each label — this is the simplest approach for most use cases including Amazon, Shopify, and eBay integrations. 2) Use ^FN fields in ZPL to create a template and then supply only the variable data via ^FN to fill the fields.

Can I create ZPL labels from a spreadsheet or database?

Yes. The most common approach is to generate ZPL code from your application (Python, JavaScript, C#, Java, etc.) using data from your database or spreadsheet to populate the variable fields (name, address, barcode). Each label is a ^XA...^XZ block with the data inserted.

How do I print multiple different labels in a single print job?

Concatenate multiple ^XA...^XZ blocks in a single send. Each block generates a different label. Example: ^XA...^XZ ^XA...^XZ ^XA...^XZ prints 3 distinct labels. For identical copies of the same label, use ^PQ(quantity) inside a single block.

Test your ZPL code now

Use our ZPL viewer to see how your label will look before printing. No printer needed.

Go to ZPL Viewer ZPL Commands Cheatsheet

How to Create ZPL Labels

Step-by-step tutorial with 10 practical examples to create professional labels from scratch

Try our free ZPL tools right now

Convert to PDF Preview Labels Validate ZPL

Free, runs in your browser — Instant results

Introduction to ZPL

1
Step 1: Basic structure of a ZPL label

^XA
^FO50,50
^A0N,30,30
^FDHello World^FS
^XZ

2
Step 2: Configuring label size with ^LL and ^PW

^XA
^PW812
^LL1218
^LH10,10
^FO50,50^A0N,30,30
^FD4x6 Inch Label^FS
^XZ

3
Step 3: Positioning elements with ^FO

^XA
^FO50,30^A0N,25,25^FDTop left^FS
^FO300,30^A0N,25,25^FDTop right^FS
^FO50,200^A0N,25,25^FDBottom left^FS
^FO300,200^A0N,25,25^FDBottom right^FS
^XZ

4
Step 4: Text with different fonts and sizes

^XA
^FO50,30^A0N,50,50^FDLarge Title^FS
^FO50,100^A0N,30,30^FDMedium subtitle^FS
^FO50,150^A0N,20,20^FDSmall text^FS
^FO50,200^A0R,30,30^FDRotated 90°^FS
^FO50,300^FB400,3,0,C,0
^A0N,25,25^FDThis text wraps automatically in a 400-dot wide block^FS
^XZ

5
Step 5: Barcodes with ^BY and ^BC (Code 128)

^XA
^FO50,50^BY2,3,100
^BCN,100,Y,N,N
^FD123456789^FS
^FO50,200^BY3
^BCN,80,Y,N,N
^FDABC-001-XYZ^FS
^XZ

6
Step 6: QR Codes with ^BQ

^XA
^FO50,50
^BQN,2,5
^FDHA,https://zplpdf.com^FS
^FO350,50
^BQN,2,3
^FDHA,Product: SKU-001^FS
^XZ

7
Step 7: Drawing boxes, lines, and dividers with ^GB

^XA
^FO30,30^GB500,300,2^FS
^FO30,120^GB500,1,1^FS
^FO50,50^A0N,30,30^FDHeader^FS
^FO50,140^A0N,25,25^FDLabel content here^FS
^FO50,200^A0N,25,25^FDMore information^FS
^FO400,250^GC50,2,B^FS
^XZ

8
Step 8: Special characters and accents with ^CI28

^XA
^CI28
^FO50,50^A0N,30,30
^FDCustomer: Renée Müller^FS
^FO50,100^A0N,30,30
^FDAddress: 123 Ñoño St.^FS
^FO50,150^A0N,30,30
^FDCode: Ü-2024-US^FS
^XZ

9
Step 9: Printing multiple copies with ^PQ

^XA
^FO50,50^A0N,30,30
^FDProduct: Widget Pro^FS
^FO50,100^A0N,25,25
^FDSerial: ^FS
^FO130,100^A0N,25,25
^SN0001,1,Y^FS
^FO50,150^BY2^BCN,80,Y
^FDSKU-WIDGET-PRO^FS
^PQ5
^XZ

10
Step 10: Complete shipping label

^XA
^CI28
^PW812^LL609
^FO20,20^GB772,569,2^FS
^FO20,100^GB772,1,1^FS
^FO20,300^GB772,1,1^FS
^FO40,35^A0N,40,40^FDExpress Shipping^FS
^FO40,120^A0N,25,25^FDFrom: John Smith^FS
^FO40,155^A0N,25,25^FD123 Main St, Suite 456^FS
^FO40,190^A0N,25,25^FDNew York, NY 10001^FS
^FO40,240^A0N,30,30^FDTo: Jane Doe^FS
^FO40,275^A0N,25,25^FDLos Angeles, CA 90001^FS
^FO40,320^BY2^BCN,120,Y
^FDTRACKING-2024-001234^FS
^FO600,320^BQN,2,4
^FDHA,https://track.example.com/001234^FS
^FO40,470^A0N,20,20^FDWeight: 2.5 lbs | 1 of 1^FS
^XZ

Tips for creating ZPL labels

Always test your code in the ZPLPDF ZPL Viewer before sending to the printer
Add ^CI28 at the start if you need accents, special symbols, or international characters
Use ^BY BEFORE each barcode to control bar width and height
For standard 4x6 inch shipping labels (Amazon, FedEx, UPS): use ^PW812 ^LL1218 at 203 DPI
^FO coordinates are measured in dots: at 203 DPI, 1 inch = 203 dots, 1 mm = approximately 8 dots
Use ^FB to create multi-line text blocks with automatic word wrapping
Organize your label visually with ^GB to create frames and divider lines
Save reusable templates and only change variable data — use ^FN fields for batch label runs
Validate your code with the ZPL Validator to catch syntax errors before printing
If you do not have a Zebra, Brother, DYMO, or Rollo printer, convert your ZPL to PDF with ZPLPDF and print from any printer

Frequently asked questions about creating ZPL labels

Do I need a Zebra printer to use ZPL code?

What size is a standard shipping label?

How do I calculate coordinates to position elements?

Why do my special characters or accents appear as garbled symbols?

How do I create labels with variable data (name, address, tracking number)?

Can I create ZPL labels from a spreadsheet or database?

How do I print multiple different labels in a single print job?

Test your ZPL code now

Use our ZPL viewer to see how your label will look before printing. No printer needed.

Go to ZPL Viewer ZPL Commands Cheatsheet

Introduction to ZPL

1Step 1: Basic structure of a ZPL label

2Step 2: Configuring label size with ^LL and ^PW

3Step 3: Positioning elements with ^FO

4Step 4: Text with different fonts and sizes

5Step 5: Barcodes with ^BY and ^BC (Code 128)

6Step 6: QR Codes with ^BQ

7Step 7: Drawing boxes, lines, and dividers with ^GB

8Step 8: Special characters and accents with ^CI28

9Step 9: Printing multiple copies with ^PQ

10Step 10: Complete shipping label

Tips for creating ZPL labels

Frequently asked questions about creating ZPL labels

Do I need a Zebra printer to use ZPL code?

What size is a standard shipping label?

How do I calculate coordinates to position elements?

Why do my special characters or accents appear as garbled symbols?

How do I create labels with variable data (name, address, tracking number)?

Can I create ZPL labels from a spreadsheet or database?

How do I print multiple different labels in a single print job?

Test your ZPL code now

Introduction to ZPL

1Step 1: Basic structure of a ZPL label

2Step 2: Configuring label size with ^LL and ^PW

3Step 3: Positioning elements with ^FO

4Step 4: Text with different fonts and sizes

5Step 5: Barcodes with ^BY and ^BC (Code 128)

6Step 6: QR Codes with ^BQ

7Step 7: Drawing boxes, lines, and dividers with ^GB

8Step 8: Special characters and accents with ^CI28

9Step 9: Printing multiple copies with ^PQ

10Step 10: Complete shipping label

Tips for creating ZPL labels

Frequently asked questions about creating ZPL labels

Do I need a Zebra printer to use ZPL code?

What size is a standard shipping label?

How do I calculate coordinates to position elements?

Why do my special characters or accents appear as garbled symbols?

How do I create labels with variable data (name, address, tracking number)?

Can I create ZPL labels from a spreadsheet or database?

How do I print multiple different labels in a single print job?

Test your ZPL code now

1
Step 1: Basic structure of a ZPL label

2
Step 2: Configuring label size with ^LL and ^PW

3
Step 3: Positioning elements with ^FO

4
Step 4: Text with different fonts and sizes

5
Step 5: Barcodes with ^BY and ^BC (Code 128)

6
Step 6: QR Codes with ^BQ

7
Step 7: Drawing boxes, lines, and dividers with ^GB

8
Step 8: Special characters and accents with ^CI28

9
Step 9: Printing multiple copies with ^PQ

10
Step 10: Complete shipping label

1
Step 1: Basic structure of a ZPL label

2
Step 2: Configuring label size with ^LL and ^PW

3
Step 3: Positioning elements with ^FO

4
Step 4: Text with different fonts and sizes

5
Step 5: Barcodes with ^BY and ^BC (Code 128)

6
Step 6: QR Codes with ^BQ

7
Step 7: Drawing boxes, lines, and dividers with ^GB

8
Step 8: Special characters and accents with ^CI28

9
Step 9: Printing multiple copies with ^PQ

10
Step 10: Complete shipping label