TSC DA220 — 4-inch direct thermal desktop label printer, 203 dpi
Direct Thermal203 dpiUp to 152 mm/sUSB & Ethernet
The TSC DA220 is a 4-inch desktop label printer that prints by direct thermal at 203 dpi and up to 152.4 mm/s (6 ips), made for shipping and courier labels, warehouse and stock labels, and retail product or shelf labels.
It connects over USB 2.0, Ethernet 10/100. Its TSPL-EZ firmware also understands EPL, ZPL and ZPL II commands, so it can replace a Zebra or Eltron desktop printer without rewriting label formats. A built-in real-time clock lets labels carry the current date and time straight from the printer. 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
- TSC DA220 printer
- External universal power supply and power cord
- USB cable
- Windows labelling software CD and quick start guide
What It Means in Practice
- Labels from 19–114 mm wide on rolls up to 127 mm outside diameter — standard 100 × 150 mm (4 × 6 in) shipping labels fit.
- At up to 152.4 mm/s (6 ips) a 150 mm long label prints in roughly 1.0 seconds, so batches of a few hundred labels are a matter of minutes.
- On the network (Ethernet) several PCs can print to it, so one printer can serve a packing bench or an office.
- 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 114 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.
- A cutter or peeler cannot be retro-fitted — TSC lists them as factory options, and this unit has neither.
Key Features
EPL and ZPL compatible
TSPL-EZ understands EPL, ZPL and ZPL II out of the box, so it slots in where a Zebra or Eltron printer used to be.
Real-time clock
The RTC lets the printer stamp date and time itself — useful for food prep, use-by and batch labels.
Ethernet as standard
10/100 Ethernet on this version lets several PCs or a POS system share the printer on the LAN.
Wide media range
Labels 19–114 mm wide, 10 to 2286 mm long, on rolls up to 127 mm and 25.4–38 mm cores; continuous, gap, black-mark, notched and fan-fold media.
Technical Specifications
| Identification |
| Part Number |
99-158A015-2102 |
| EAN / GTIN |
5704174064770 |
| Brand |
TSC |
| Model |
DA220 |
| Printing |
| Print method |
Direct thermal |
| Resolution |
203 dpi (8 dots/mm) |
| Max print speed |
152.4 mm/s (6 ips) |
| Max print width |
108 mm |
| Max print length |
2286 mm |
| Media |
| Media width |
19–114 mm |
| Max roll outer diameter |
127 mm |
| Core inner diameter |
25.4–38 mm |
| Media types |
Continuous, gap, black mark, fan-fold, notched |
| Sensors |
Transmissive gap, reflective black mark, head open |
| Connectivity |
| Interfaces |
USB 2.0, Ethernet 10/100 |
| Command languages |
TSPL-EZ (EPL, ZPL, ZPL II compatible) |
| Memory |
128 MB flash, 64 MB SDRAM |
| Real-time clock |
Yes (RTC fitted) |
| Physical |
| Dimensions |
172 × 165 × 195 mm (W × H × D) |
| Weight |
1.5 kg |
| Operating temperature |
5–40 °C |
| Power |
External universal supply, 100–240 V AC in, 24 V DC 2.5 A (60 W) |
| Colour |
Black |
| Warranty |
| Warranty |
1-Year Warranty (Singular) |
| Manufacturer Term |
Printer 2 years; print head 25 km or 12 months; platen 50 km or 12 months, whichever comes first (TSC) — claims handled through Singular |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTC for?
A real-time clock keeps time inside the printer, so label formats can print the current date, time or a calculated use-by date even when the PC sends a fixed template.
Will it print my Zebra ZPL labels?
Yes. TSPL-EZ accepts ZPL and ZPL II as well as EPL. Formats using unusual Zebra features should be tested first — send us a sample.
Can I print 100 × 150 mm courier labels?
Yes. 100 mm wide direct thermal labels on a 25.4–38 mm core and up to 127 mm roll diameter fit.
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 DA220 is TSC's compact 4-inch direct thermal workhorse: 6 ips, EPL/ZPL compatibility to replace older Zebra or Eltron units, and in this version Ethernet plus a real-time clock for dated food and stock labels. For the wired network connection, use a patch cable from our
network cables range.
✓ Buy it if you need networked courier or dated labels and want to reuse existing EPL/ZPL formats.
✕ Skip it if labels must last outdoors or for years — choose a thermal transfer printer.
→ Also consider BIXOLON XD3-40dEK or Zebra ZD230d for another 4-inch direct thermal option.
Not sure it fits your setup? Send us the model of your rack, switch or device and we will check compatibility before you order.