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Home›ZPL commands list and reference

ZPL commands list and reference

Complete ZPL commands list grouped by task: format and position, text and fonts, barcodes, graphics, media setup. Syntax, parameter ranges, runnable examples.

How a ZPL format is built

Every label starts with ^XA and ends with ^XZ. In between, each field is three parts: a position (^FO x,y), the content (^FD…^FS) and an optional format command (font ^A, barcode ^BC). Coordinates are printer dots, not millimetres — at 203 DPI one inch is 203 dots.

^XA
^FO50,50^A0N,40,40^FDHello^FS
^FO50,110^BY2^BCN,80,Y,N,N^FD12345678^FS
^XZ

ZPL commands list by task

The commands each job needs, one per line. Every link opens the command's own page with syntax, parameter ranges and an example; the printable version of this list is the ZPL cheat sheet.

Format and position

Open and close a label, end each field and place it: ^FO from the top-left corner, ^FT from the text baseline; ^LH, ^LS and ^LT shift the whole label.

  • ^XA Start Format
  • ^XZ End Format
  • ^FS Field Separator
  • ^FO Field Origin
  • ^FT Field Typeset
  • ^LH Label Home
  • ^LS Label Shift
  • ^LT Label Top
  • ^FX Comment

Text and fonts

Field data, font and size, the default font, the character set (^CI28 for UTF-8), wrapping text blocks, hex escapes, rotation and reverse print.

  • ^FD Field Data
  • ^A Font Selection
  • ^CF Change Default Font
  • ^CI Character Set
  • ^FB Field Block
  • ^TB Text Block (width and height)
  • ^FH Field Hexadecimal Indicator
  • ^FW Field Orientation
  • ^FR Field Reverse Print
  • ^FV Field Variable
  • ^PA Advanced Text Properties
  • ^CW Font Identifier

Barcodes

^BY sets the module width and default height for the barcode that follows; then one command per symbology, 1D and 2D.

Graphics and images

Boxes and lines (^GB), circles, ellipses, diagonal lines, embedded bitmaps (^GF) and graphics stored in printer memory.

  • ^GB Graphic Box
  • ^GC Graphic Circle
  • ^GD Graphic Diagonal Line
  • ^GE Graphic Ellipse
  • ^GF Graphic Field
  • ^IM Image Move
  • ~DG Download Graphic
  • ^XG Recall Graphic

Media and printer setup

Label width and length, print orientation, reversing the whole label, units of measurement and how many copies to print.

  • ^PW Print Width
  • ^LL Label Length
  • ^PO Print Orientation
  • ^PM Printing Mirror Image of Label
  • ^LR Label Reverse
  • ^MU Set Units of Measurement
  • ^PQ Print Quantity

Printable ZPL cheat sheet →

For a printable one-page summary see the ZPL cheat sheet; to try a command right now, the online ZPL viewer. ZPL cheat sheet · online ZPL viewer

ZPL lint rules →

Format control

^XA
Start Format

Marks the beginning of a label format. Every label starts with ^XA.

^XZ
End Format

Ends the label format and prints or renders the label.

^FS
Field Separator

Ends a field. Every ^FD, ^GB or barcode field is closed with ^FS.

^FX
Comment

A comment. It has no effect on rendering and is skipped.

^CF
Change Default Font

Sets the default font, height and width for the ^FD fields that follow.

^CI
Character Set

Selects the international character encoding. The engine assumes UTF-8 (^CI28).

^PW
Print Width

Sets the print width of the label in dots.

^LL
Label Length

Sets the label length in dots.

^LH
Label Home

Moves the top-left (home) reference point of the label.

^LT
Label Top

Shifts the whole label vertically.

^PO
Print Orientation

Selects the print orientation: ^POI prints the whole label rotated 180°. The preview draws it rotated too.

^LR
Label Reverse

Prints following fields reversed (negative); ^LRN turns it off.

^LS
Label Shift

Shifts ALL fields horizontally. Shipping labels usually carry ^LS0 (no effect); a non-zero value moves every field.

^PM
Printing Mirror Image of Label

Mirrors the whole printable area from left to right; stays active until ^PMN. The preview draws the mirror image too.

^CC
Change Caret

Changes the format command prefix (^) to another character (~CC works too); the preview and the validator apply the new prefix.

^CT
Change Tilde

Changes the control command prefix (~) to another character; also written ~CT. The preview and the validator apply the change.

Positioning and text

^FO
Field Origin

Places the next field at position x,y measured from the top-left corner.

^FT
Field Typeset

Positions the next field from the baseline of the text rather than its top edge.

^FD
Field Data

Carries the text or barcode data to be printed.

^FH
Field Hexadecimal Indicator

Enables _XX hex escapes inside the following ^FD (for special characters).

^A ·
Font Selection

Selects the font, orientation and size. ^A0 is the scalable font.

^FB
Field Block

Lays text out as a word-wrapped block of a given width, with justification.

^FW
Field Orientation

Sets the default rotation for the fields that follow (N/R/I/B).

^FR
Field Reverse Print

Prints the next field in reverse: light on a dark background.

^FV
Field Variable

Carries field data as a variable; the engine treats it the same way as ^FD.

^TB
Text Block (width and height)

Places text in a block of the given width and height with word wrap; text that does not fit is truncated, not overprinted as with ^FB.

^PA
Advanced Text Properties

Sets how missing characters print and switches bidirectional layout, shaping and OpenType; the preview applies the last three together.

^CW
Font Identifier

Binds a font letter (A-Z, 0-9) to a downloaded font. The preview only uses a TrueType font sent with ~DU in the same ZPL.

Graphics

^GB
Graphic Box

Draws a rectangular box or a line (width, height, thickness).

^GC
Graphic Circle

Draws a circle (diameter, thickness).

^GD
Graphic Diagonal Line

Draws a diagonal line.

^GE
Graphic Ellipse

Draws an ellipse (width, height, thickness).

^GF
Graphic Field

Prints a bitmap graphic (logo or image) embedded in the label.

^IM
Image Move

Places a graphic from memory at the current ^FO position (does the same job as ^XG).

Barcodes

^BY
Barcode Field Defaults

Sets the module width, ratio and height for the barcodes that follow.

^BC
Code 128

A Code 128 barcode — the most common linear barcode in shipping and logistics.

^BE
EAN-13

An EAN-13 retail product barcode (the last digit is calculated automatically).

^BQ
QR Code

A QR code. The data is normally given with the ^FDQA,... prefix.

^BX
Data Matrix

A Data Matrix 2D barcode — a lot of data in a very small area.

^B3
Code 39

Code 39 — a linear barcode encoding uppercase letters and digits.

^B7
PDF417

A PDF417 stacked barcode — high data capacity across multiple rows.

^B1
Code 11

Code 11 (USD-8) — telecom and laboratory labels.

^B2
Interleaved 2/5

Interleaved 2 of 5 — numeric data in digit pairs.

^B8
EAN-8

EAN-8 — short retail code for small packaging.

^B9
UPC-E

UPC-E — compressed UPC for small packaging.

^BA
Code 93

Code 93 — the denser successor to Code 39.

^BI
Industrial 2/5

Industrial 2 of 5 — numeric only, industrial use.

^BJ
Standard 2/5

Standard 2 of 5 — numeric only.

^BK
Codabar

Codabar — blood banks, libraries, courier labels.

^BM
MSI

MSI Plessey — shelf and inventory labels.

^BU
UPC-A

UPC-A — the North American retail standard.

^BR
GS1 DataBar

GS1 DataBar (RSS Expanded) — small retail and fresh food.

^B0
Aztec

Aztec Code — 2D, needs no quiet zone.

^BO
Aztec

Aztec Code (^BO spelling) — produces the same symbology as ^B0.

^BF
MicroPDF417

MicroPDF417 — PDF417 compressed for narrow space.

^BD
MaxiCode

MaxiCode — the symbology on UPS shipping labels.

Advanced

^SN
Serialisation Data

Serialises the field data across a batch with a start value, an increment and padding.

^PQ
Print Quantity

Sets how many copies of the same label are produced.

^MU ·
Set Units of Measurement

Selects the unit used by the commands that follow; with a base and target dot density the printer rescales the format between resolutions.

^FN
Field Number

A variable field placeholder in templates (used with ^DF and ^XF).

^DF
Download Format

Stores a label format in memory as a template.

^XF
Recall Format

Recalls a stored template and fills its ^FN fields with values.

^XG
Recall Graphic

Recalls a graphic loaded into memory (~DG or ^GF) and prints it.

~DG
Download Graphic

Loads a bitmap graphic into printer memory (a control command with the ~ prefix).

~DU
Download Font

Loads a TrueType font into virtual printer memory; fields bound to it with ^A@ use this data.

~DY
Download Object

Loads a graphic or font object into virtual printer memory (the general form of ~DG).

~EG
Erase Graphics

Erases ALL graphics from virtual printer memory.

^ID
Delete Object

Deletes a SINGLE object from memory (~EG erases all).

^SF
Serialization Field

Increments field data automatically according to a mask (the mask-based form of ^SN).

Labelixa extension (preview)

~LC
Label Stock Colour

Simulates pre-printed or coloured label stock in the preview. Physical printers ignore this command.

RFID

^RF ·
RFID Read/Write

Writes data to or reads data from the RFID tag. It does not affect the preview image; encoding is done by a real RFID printer.

^RS ·
RFID Setup

Configures RFID tag type, programming position and error handling.

^RB ·
EPC Bit Partitions

Defines the bit partitions of the EPC data; subsequent ^RF writes use this layout.

^RR ·
RFID Retries

Sets the number of retries for failed RFID read/write operations.

Printer settings

^SZ ·
Set ZPL Mode

Selects whether the printer interprets ZPL or ZPL II. A printer setting; it does not affect the preview.

~TA ·
Tear-off Adjust Position

Moves where the media stops after printing (tear or cut position) in dot rows, written as three digits. No effect on the preview.

^ML ·
Maximum Label Length

Sets the maximum label length calibration searches for; it must be equal to or greater than the real label length. It does not affect the preview.

^MC ·
Map Clear

^MCN keeps the bitmap, so this label prints behind the next one. The preview draws every label clean and warns on ^MCN.

~PS ·
Print Start

Makes a paused printer resume printing (the same as pressing PAUSE on the panel). It does not affect the preview.

~JO ·
Head Test Non-Fatal

A failed head test shows an error and stops printing, but no power cycle is needed (unlike ~JN). No effect on the preview.

^SP ·
Start Print

On complex labels, starts printing from the given dot row before the whole format is ready (a throughput setting). It does not affect the preview.

^ZZ ·
Printer Sleep

Shuts a battery-powered printer down after the given idle time (PA400/PT400 only). It does not affect the preview.

~EF ·
Erase Stored Formats (legacy)

Legacy ZPL II command that erases formats stored on the printer; the current Zebra guide uses ^ID instead. No effect on the preview.

Full Zebra command catalog

Every other command in Zebra's ZPL programming guide, with syntax and what it does. Commands that change the label have their own page; printer settings, network, memory, RFID and font downloads are grouped by task.

Commands with their own page

  • ^A@ Use Font Name to Call Font
  • ^B4 Code 49 Barcode
  • ^B5 Planet Code Barcode
  • ^BB CODABLOCK Barcode
  • ^BL LOGMARS Barcode
  • ^BP Plessey Barcode
  • ^BS UPC/EAN Extensions
  • ^BT TLC39 Barcode
  • ^BZ POSTAL Barcode
  • ^CD Change Delimiter
  • ^CV Code Validation
  • ^FC Field Clock
  • ^FE Field Concatenation
  • ^FM Multiple Field Origin Locations
  • ^FP Field Parameter
  • ^GS Graphic Symbol
  • ^JM Set Dots per Millimeter

Commands grouped by task