BIXOLON XD3-40d — 4-inch direct thermal desktop label printer, undefined dpi
Direct Thermalundefined dpiUp to 127 mm/sUSB
The BIXOLON XD3-40d is a 4-inch desktop label printer that prints by direct thermal at undefined dpi and up to 127 mm/s (5 ips), made for shipping and courier labels, warehouse and stock labels, and retail product or shelf labels.
It connects over USB 2.0. Its BPL-Z and BPL-E emulations accept ZPL II and EPL label formats, so most labels created for Zebra printers print without rework. It is a compact, single-user or workgroup printer for counters, packing benches, back offices and small warehouses rather than a 24/7 industrial line printer.
In practice it sits between a PC or POS terminal and a roll of labels: you design labels in label software such as BarTender, or print them straight from your ERP, WMS, e-shop back office or courier portal. Label size, gap and darkness are set once in the driver or by a quick media calibration, and after that every print lands in the same place on the label.
Before you order: This is a direct thermal printer. It needs direct thermal (heat-sensitive) labels and does not use a ribbon. Direct thermal labels darken with heat and fade in sunlight, so for labels that must last outdoors or for years choose a thermal transfer model with a ribbon.
What's in the Box
- XD3-40d label printer
- External power supply unit and power cable
- USB cable
- No labels — media is ordered separately
What It Means in Practice
- Labels from 15–118 mm wide on rolls up to 127 mm outside diameter — standard 100 × 150 mm (4 × 6 in) shipping labels fit.
- At up to 127 mm/s (5 ips) a 150 mm long label prints in roughly 1.2 seconds, so batches of a few hundred labels are a matter of minutes.
- With USB 2.0 only, it prints from the PC it is cabled to; to use it from several PCs, share it from that PC or choose the network version.
- No ribbon to buy or change: running cost is the labels only, and loading a new roll takes seconds.
What Will Not Work
- Media wider than 118 mm or rolls larger than 127 mm outside diameter.
- Ribbons and thermal transfer-only labels — this model has no ribbon mechanism.
- Colour printing, photos or ordinary A4 office printing — it prints one colour (black) on label media.
- Network or wireless printing — this configuration has USB only; for LAN order the XD3-40dEK.
Key Features
ZPL II and EPL emulation
BPL-Z and BPL-E let existing Zebra-format labels and label software such as BarTender or BIXOLON Label Artist-II print without rework; SLCS is the native BIXOLON language.
Easy media loading
Clamshell design with an adjustable paper guide; takes gap, black-mark, notched, continuous and fan-fold media from 15 to 118 mm wide on rolls up to 127 mm.
Compact direct thermal body
At 181 × 222 mm and 1.7 kg it fits beside a till or monitor — smaller and lighter than the thermal transfer version because there is no ribbon compartment.
Toolless maintenance
The print head and platen roller can be cleaned and replaced without tools, which keeps downtime short when a head eventually wears out.
Technical Specifications
| Identification |
| Part Number |
XD3-40DK/BEG |
| EAN / GTIN |
8809521195989 |
| Brand |
BIXOLON |
| Model |
XD3-40d |
| Printing |
| Print method |
Direct thermal |
| Resolution |
undefined dpi (12 dots/mm) |
| Max print speed |
127 mm/s (5 ips) |
| Max print width |
104 mm |
| Max print length |
1000 mm |
| Media |
| Media width |
15–118 mm |
| Max roll outer diameter |
127 mm |
| Core inner diameter |
25.4–38.1 mm |
| Media types |
Gap, black mark, notch, continuous, fan-fold |
| Sensors |
Transmissive (fixed), reflective (adjustable), head open |
| Connectivity |
| Interfaces |
USB 2.0 |
| Command languages |
SLCS, BPL-Z (ZPL II), BPL-E (EPL) |
| Memory |
64 MB SDRAM, 128 MB flash |
| Physical |
| Dimensions |
181 × 222 × 168 mm (W × D × H) |
| Weight |
1.7 kg |
| Operating temperature |
0–40 °C |
| Power |
External adapter, 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz (ENERGY STAR) |
| Colour |
Black |
| Warranty |
| Warranty |
1-Year Warranty (Singular) |
| Manufacturer Term |
2-year standard BIXOLON warranty (EU) — claims handled through Singular |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it print labels designed for a Zebra printer?
In most cases yes: select BPL-Z (ZPL II) or BPL-E (EPL) emulation and send the same label format. Formats that rely on Zebra-specific features should be tested first — send us a sample file and we will check it.
Can I print 100 × 150 mm courier labels?
Yes. 100 × 150 mm direct thermal shipping labels on a 25.4–38.1 mm core and up to 127 mm roll diameter are exactly what this printer is built for.
Is there a cutter or peeler?
A peeler and an external paper supply are listed as options for the XD3-40 series; BIXOLON does not list a cutter for this series, so labels are torn off against the tear bar.
Can I print courier labels from the carrier website?
Yes. Courier and marketplace portals offer labels as PDF, which prints through the Windows driver once the label size is set. ZPL or EPL files can also be sent to the printer directly, which is faster and keeps barcodes razor-sharp.
Singular Expert Insight · Buyer's Guide
The XD3-40dK is a no-ribbon 4-inch printer for courier and stock labels from a single PC: load a roll, print, done. It accepts ZPL II and EPL formats, so it can replace an older Zebra desktop on the same workstation. For a wired network connection, use a patch cable from our
network cables range.
✓ Buy it if you print shipping or short-life labels from one PC and want the lowest running cost.
✕ Skip it if labels must survive sunlight, heat or years of storage — choose the thermal transfer XD3-40t.
→ Also consider BIXOLON XD3-40dEK (adds serial and Ethernet) or XD3-40tK (thermal transfer).
Not sure it fits your setup? Send us the model of your rack, switch or device and we will check compatibility before you order.