Print DHL Express labels on a thermal label printer (100×150)

DHL Express ships international express parcels from all our markets. You create the shipment in MyDHL+, which delivers the label as a PDF, or in DHL Express Commerce, which prints through a desktop app. Set either tool to a label printer and the label prints on a Zebra, TSC or Honeywell thermal printer at 100×150 mm, with barcodes the courier can scan.

Before you start

DHL Express offers two web tools for shipping. MyDHL+ is the shipping portal at mydhl.express.dhl. DHL Express Commerce is a shipping tool for webshops that imports orders and prints labels in bulk through a desktop app. Both work with your DHL Express account.

By default MyDHL+ prints on A4 paper. DHL's MyDHL+ guides don't state the size of the label for a label printer, so check the page size of the first PDF (step 3). DHL Express Commerce can create labels at 100×150 mm, 100×200 mm or A4; DHL's printing FAQ says you change the label size in its settings menu.

Use direct thermal labels (no ribbon). In our label titles, "40 g" and "76 g" mean the core diameter in mm, not the weight. Check the core and roll diameter against your printer's specification before you order. Shipping domestic parcels in Poland? That is a different company with its own tools: see DHL eCommerce Poland labels on a thermal printer.

Switch MyDHL+ to a label printer

Do this once per MyDHL+ login.

1. Log in to MyDHL+ and open My Saved Settings › Printer Settings. Older DHL guides show it under My Shipment Settings.
2. Change the printer type from A4 paper (PDF) to the label or thermal printer option.
3. Choose "Standard Label Printing" as the format. DHL Express Poland's guide calls it "Standard Label Printing (Zebra Printer)". DHL says to pick it unless your printer supports direct printing.
4. Set your defaults for the Shipment Receipt and the additional receiver label.
5. Click "Save Changes".

Set up the printer for 100×150 mm labels

If Windows doesn't know the label size, it sends an A4 page and the label comes out tiny or cut off. Load the labels, calibrate, then set the size once in the driver:

• Zebra (ZD220, ZD230, ZD421, ZD621, ZT231, ZT411): in the ZDesigner driver's Printing preferences, set 100×150 mm under Page Setup and Thermal Direct as printing mode. See Print 100×150 mm shipping labels on Zebra.
• TSC (DA210, DA220, TE200, TE210, MH241): in the TSC Windows driver, open Printing preferences › Page Setup, click New under Stock and create a 100×150 mm stock. See Print shipping labels on TSC printers.
• Honeywell (PC42E-T, PC42E-D): set the label size in the InterDriver printing preferences. See Print shipping labels on the Honeywell PC42E.

On a thermal transfer model, set the print method to direct thermal for labels without ribbon. Thermal transfer labels need a ribbon.

Print the label from MyDHL+

1. Create the shipment as usual. At the end, choose the documents and the number of copies, then click "Print selected documents".
2. MyDHL+ opens the PDF label in a new browser tab or window. If nothing opens, allow pop-ups for mydhl.express.dhl: in Microsoft Edge, click "Always allow" in the blocked pop-up alert.
3. Check the PDF's page size, for example in the PDF reader's document properties.
4. Choose Print and select the label printer. The paper size should show 100×150 mm.
5. If the PDF page is 100×150 mm (4×6 in), print at actual size (100 %). For any other page size, choose the option that fits the page to the paper (fit, fit to page or shrink to printable area), which Zebra recommends for PDFs.
6. Print one label and scan its barcodes before you print the rest.

Pale barcode: raise darkness one step at a time in the driver or lower the speed. Bars running together: lower the darkness.

Print from DHL Express Commerce

DHL Express Commerce prints through its Print Application, which DHL names "DHL Express Commerce Desktop App" (Windows 10 with .NET Framework 4.8, or macOS Mojave or later).

1. In the web app, open Settings › Printing and download the Print Application for Windows or Mac. Log in with your web app details.
2. In the Print Application, open Printers › Print Settings, click "Assign a label to a printer", pick the label type and your label printer, and click "Save".
3. Click "Edit" ("Edit Preferences" on a Mac) and set the paper size, or the width and height, to 100×150 mm. Click "Save".
4. Print from the Orders screen with "Print", or select several orders and click "Print shipping label".

Settings are stored per computer, so repeat them on every packing station. If the label type settings won't save, DHL suggests running the desktop app (DECDesktop.exe) as administrator.

Connect your webshop

DHL lists DHL Express Commerce integrations for Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Amazon and eBay, so webshop orders arrive in DHL Express Commerce and print as in step 4. On Shopify, the "DHL Express (Official)" app by DHL Express is available to DHL Express account holders and offers batch label printing. Ask your DHL Express contact which tool your account can use. Platform tips: Shopify shipping labels on a thermal printer and WooCommerce shipping labels on a thermal printer.

Common problems