Core reference
Built-in fonts, the ^A command, sizes by DPI and what each printer series supports.
ZPL Fonts Overview
What ZPL fonts are, how bitmap and scalable fonts differ, and how to choose between them for your labels.
OpenBuilt-in ZPL Font List (A to H, 0 and GS)
The factory fonts in every ZPL II printer, with base dot sizes, character spacing and what each is best used for.
OpenThe ^A Command Guide (Font, Orientation, Height, Width)
Syntax and examples for ^A and ^A@, the ZPL commands that choose a font, rotate text and set its size.
Open^CF, ^FD and ^FO Basics
The three commands behind every text field in ZPL - set a default font, position the field, and supply the text.
OpenZPL Font Sizes in Dots by Printer DPI (203, 300, 600)
Convert millimetres, inches and points to dots for 203, 300 and 600 DPI printers, with a ready-made lookup table.
OpenFonts Available by Printer Model (ZD, ZT, GK, ZQ)
Which ZPL fonts and font-loading features are available across Zebra ZD, ZT, GK and ZQ printer series.
OpenWhere to start with ZPL fonts
If you've landed here because a label looks wrong, or because you've just been handed a printer and a spec, this section is the foundation. It explains how the built-in fonts work, how to ask for them, and how big they'll actually come out. None of it is hard, but a handful of facts will save you a lot of wasted labels.
The best order for a beginner is the overview first, so you understand the difference between bitmap and scalable fonts. Next comes the built-in font list, which tells you what each letter actually gives you. After that, learn the two commands you'll write more than any other: ^A to choose the font, and the basics of ^CF, ^FD and ^FO to position and fill a field.
The thing that trips up almost everyone
ZPL measures everything in dots. A dot is a different physical size on a 203 DPI printer than on a 300 DPI one, so the same label file prints at different sizes on different models. If you only read one page after the overview, make it font sizes by DPI. It comes with a lookup table, and the size calculator does the arithmetic for you.
Know your hardware
The core fonts are the same on every ZPL printer, but memory, resolution and firmware vary. The page on fonts by printer model gives a sense of what to expect from the ZD, ZT, GK and ZQ families, and how to check your own unit.
When you outgrow the built-ins
If you need a brand typeface or a language the factory fonts can't handle, head to custom and special fonts. If something already misbehaves, the troubleshooting guides are organised by symptom. And for longer, story-style explanations, our blog has articles such as how to choose the right ZPL font and font 0 versus bitmap fonts.
A habit worth building
Whatever you're working on, test small. Paste your label into the live preview to catch layout mistakes, then print a single label before you print a hundred. It's the cheapest quality control there is, and it works for beginners and experienced developers alike.