Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 102 x 38 mm Direct Thermal Paper Labels
Direct thermal — no ribbon102 x 38 mm25 mm core · desktop12 rolls per box
The Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 880191-038D is an economy direct thermal paper label measuring 102 x 38 mm, with a general-purpose permanent acrylic adhesive on a 25 mm core, made for Zebra 4-inch desktop printers printing indoor shipping, warehouse and product labels.
At 102 x 38 mm it is a wide, short format: a full-width line for an address, a barcode or a part number with a short description — common for carton marking, bin and shelf labels and work-in-progress tags.
Z-Perform is Zebra's economy paper line: an uncoated face keeps the cost per label low, while the permanent adhesive holds well on corrugated cartons and most everyday packaging surfaces.
Before you order: This is direct thermal media: it prints by heat alone, with no ribbon, so the printer must be set to direct thermal mode. The roll is 102 mm wide on a 25 mm core, so it needs a 4-inch desktop printer — 2-inch models such as the ZD410 or ZD411 cannot take it.
What's in the Box
- 12 rolls of Zebra Z-Perform 1000D 102 x 38 mm labels
- Labels wound on a 25 mm core, roll diameter approx. 126 mm (4.97 in)
- No ribbon — none is needed for direct thermal printing
What It Means in Practice
- One consumable only: there is no ribbon to buy, load or change, which keeps running costs and changeovers to a minimum.
- The image is created by heat, so it darkens over time with heat and sunlight — ideal for labels that live days to months indoors, not years.
- The uncoated paper face has limited resistance to moisture and abrasion; keep it away from wet, oily or heavily handled items.
- The 102 x 38 mm format fits a 1D barcode plus one or two text lines; for full carrier shipping labels with routing barcodes, use a 102 x 152 mm label instead.
What Will Not Work
- 2-inch desktop printers (for example ZD410, ZD411) — the 102 mm roll is wider than their media path.
- Industrial ZT-series printers — Zebra lists this 25 mm core roll for desktop printers only.
- Laser or inkjet office printers — direct thermal paper reacts to heat and is not made for toner fusers or ink.
- Outdoor labels, long exposure to sunlight or extreme heat, PVC surfaces or high-speed printing — Zebra does not recommend Z-Perform 1000D for these.
Key Features
No ribbon needed
Direct thermal printing means a single consumable to stock and nothing to rethread between rolls.
Permanent acrylic adhesive
Smooth paper label with a permanent acrylic adhesive that gives good adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces, including cartons.
Food-contact adhesive
The adhesive complies with FDA 175.105 for direct contact with dry foodstuffs, or alternatively separated by a functional barrier.
Technical Specifications
| Identification |
| Part Number |
880191-038D |
| Brand |
Zebra |
| Material |
Z-Perform 1000D (economy direct thermal paper) |
| Label |
| Label size |
102 x 38 mm (4 x 1.5 in) |
| Print method |
Direct thermal (no ribbon) |
| Face material |
Smooth uncoated paper, white |
| Adhesive |
Permanent acrylic |
| Perforation |
Not listed |
| Roll & Pack |
| Core |
25 mm |
| Roll outer diameter |
approx. 126 mm (4.97 in) |
| Rolls per box |
12 |
| Compatibility |
| Printer type |
Zebra 4-inch desktop printers (direct thermal mode) |
| Zebra-listed models (4-inch) |
GK420d/GK420t, GC420d/GC420t, GX420d/GX420t, GX430t, GT800, ZD220, ZD230, ZD421, ZD621, ZD888, ZP888 |
| Recommended use |
Indoor general-purpose, packaging, shipping, picking and receiving, shelf-edge and product labels |
| Warranty |
| Warranty |
1-Year Warranty (Singular) |
| Manufacturer Term |
Zebra supplies limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, per Zebra terms — claims handled through Singular |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a ribbon for these labels?
No. Z-Perform 1000D is direct thermal paper: the printhead heats the coating directly. If your printer is a thermal transfer model (for example GK420t or ZD421t), simply remove the ribbon and switch it to direct thermal mode.
Will the print fade?
Direct thermal images are sensitive to heat, sunlight and abrasion. Zebra positions Z-Perform 1000D for indoor applications; for labels that must stay readable for long periods, ask us about thermal transfer media.
Is 102 x 38 mm big enough for a courier shipping label?
Usually not. Most carrier labels are designed for 102 x 152 mm. 102 x 38 mm suits address strips, product and carton identification, bin labels and short barcodes.
Singular Expert Insight · Buyer's Guide
Z-Perform 1000D is the label to buy when cost per label matters and the label only has to survive the trip through your warehouse and courier network. If your labels face cold storage, moisture or rough handling, the top-coated Z-Select 2000D range costs a little more and lasts longer. Browse our
Zebra labels and receipt rolls to compare sizes and materials.
✓ Buy it if you print product, carton or bin labels with a barcode and a short line of text on a Zebra 4-inch desktop printer and want the lowest running cost with no ribbon.
✕ Skip it if your printer is a 2-inch model or an industrial ZT printer with a 76 mm spindle, or the labels must survive outdoors, moisture or long storage.
→ Also consider Zebra Z-Select 2000D top-coated direct thermal labels for better durability, or thermal transfer labels with a ribbon for long-life printing.
Not sure it fits? Send us your printer model and the label size you print today, and we will confirm the roll, core and quantity before you order.