Zebra ZT231 Industrial Printer
Industrial Printer Specifications
Zebra ZT231 Industrial Printer
Smart features, flexible upgrades and dependable 4-inch industrial printing.
The ZT231 combines a durable metal frame, compact footprint, 4.3-inch color touchscreen and fast printing with field-installable options for wireless connectivity, media handling and UHF RFID. It supports direct thermal and thermal transfer workflows across manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and retail.
Direct Thermal + Thermal TransferUp to 12 ips4.09 in Max Print Width203 or 300 dpi4.3 in Color Touchscreen
Core printer specifications
The ZT231 uses a metal frame and enclosures, a bi-fold media door, side-loading supplies and movable transmissive and reflective sensors.
12 ipsMaximum speed at 203 dpi
4.09 inMaximum print width, or 104 mm
203 / 300 dpi203 dpi standard; 300 dpi optional
256 MB + 256 MBSDRAM and onboard linear Flash memory
Printing and controls
| Print methods | Direct thermal or thermal transfer |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 203 dpi / 8 dots per mm; 300 dpi / 12 dots per mm optional |
| Maximum speed | 12 ips at 203 dpi; 8 ips at 300 dpi |
| Display | 4.3-inch color resistive touchscreen with an intuitive menu |
| Status | Three-color LEDs for quick printer status |
| Media sensors | Movable transmissive and reflective sensors |
Print length and standard features
| Maximum length, 203 dpi | 157 in / 3988 mm |
|---|---|
| Maximum length, 300 dpi | 73 in / 1854 mm |
| Printhead | Thin-film printhead with E3 Element Energy Equalizer |
| Real-time clock | Standard |
| Bluetooth Low Energy | Standard for enhanced location precision |
| Certification | ENERGY STAR certified |
Media and ribbon specifications
Supports common industrial media types, large 8-inch media rolls and 1476-foot ribbon rolls on thermal transfer configurations.
Media characteristics
| Media width | 0.75 to 4.50 in / 19.4 to 114 mm |
|---|---|
| Roll size | 8.0 in / 203 mm outside diameter on a 3.0 in / 76 mm core; or 6.0 in / 152 mm outside diameter on a 1.0 in / 25 mm core |
| Thickness | 0.003 to 0.010 in / 0.076 to 0.25 mm |
| Media types | Continuous, die-cut, notch and black mark |
| Minimum label and liner length | Tear: 0.7 in / 18 mm; cutter: 1 in / 25 mm; peel: 0.5 in / 13 mm |
Ribbon characteristics
| Applies to | Thermal transfer configurations only |
|---|---|
| Standard length | 1476 ft / 450 m |
| Width | 2 to 4.33 in / 51 to 110 mm |
| Core | 1.0 in / 25.4 mm |
Connectivity, media handling and RFID options
The standard interfaces cover common wired deployments. Optional cards and field-installable upgrades allow the platform to expand later.
Standard connectivity
| USB | USB 2.0 and USB Host |
|---|---|
| Serial | RS-232 Serial port |
| Ethernet | 10/100 Ethernet |
| Mobile pairing | Print Touch tag using NFC with compatible devices |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth Low Energy |
Options and accessories
| Communication | 802.11ac Wi-Fi option card, second 10/100 Ethernet card and Applicator Interface |
|---|---|
| Peel | Front-mount passive peel with no take-up spindle |
| Peel with liner take-up | Front-mount passive peel with liner take-up spindle; factory-fit only |
| Cutter | Front-mount guillotine cutter |
| RFID | Field-installable UHF RFID kit |
| Standalone operation | ZKDU keyboard display units |
Firmware, software, fonts and barcode support
Firmware and Print DNA
| Printer languages | ZPL and ZPL II; EPL and EPL2 on 203 dpi models only |
|---|---|
| Optional programming | ZBI 2.0 for standalone applications and peripheral connections |
| Label design | ZebraDesigner Essentials |
| Management and security | Supported by Zebra Print DNA, including remote management, analytics and security capabilities; features may vary and some require a license |
Fonts and graphics
| Resident fonts | Seven bitmapped fonts and one smooth-scalable CG Triumvirate Bold Condensed font |
|---|---|
| International support | Pre-loaded Unicode-compliant scalable fonts for EMEA character sets; IBM Code Page 850 |
| User content | Supports user-defined fonts, graphics and custom logos, plus ZPL II boxes and lines |
| User memory | 64 MB Flash for downloadable objects and 32 MB SDRAM |
Barcode symbologies
| Linear barcodes | Code 11, Code 39, Code 93, Code 128 with subsets A/B/C and UCC Case Codes, ISBT-128, UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, EAN-13, UPC and EAN with 2- or 5-digit extensions, Plessey, Postnet, Standard 2-of-5, Industrial 2-of-5, Interleaved 2-of-5, Logmars, MSI, Codabar and Planet Code |
|---|---|
| 2D barcodes | Aztec, Codablock, PDF417, Code 49, Data Matrix, MaxiCode, QR Code, MicroPDF417, TLC 39, RSS-14 and composite |
Physical, electrical and operating specifications
Physical characteristics
| Base dimensions | 17 L x 9.5 W x 11 H in / 432 x 241 x 279 mm |
|---|---|
| Base weight | 20 lb / 9.1 kg |
| With liner take-up unit | 17 L x 9.5 W x 12.75 H in / 432 x 241 x 324 mm |
| Weight with liner take-up | 24 lb / 10.9 kg |
Environmental and electrical
| Thermal transfer operation | 40 to 105 F / 5 to 40 C |
|---|---|
| Direct thermal operation | 32 to 105 F / 0 to 40 C |
| Storage/transport | -40 to 140 F / -40 to 60 C |
| Operating humidity | 20% to 85%, non-condensing |
| Storage humidity | 5% to 85%, non-condensing |
| Electrical | Universal auto-ranging, PFC-compliant power supply, 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz |
Agency approvals
| Compliance | IEC 62368-1, EN55022 Class B, EN55024, EN55035, EN61000-3-2, EN61000-3-3, FCC Class B, ICES-003, FCC 15.209 and 15.247(d), IC RSS 247, EN 300 328, EN 301 893, EN 62311, cTUVus, CE Marking, UKCA, VCCI, RCM, S-Mark, CCC, CU EAC, BSMI, KCC and BIS |
|---|
Markets and applications
- Manufacturing: work-in-process, product ID and serial numbers, packaging labels, receiving and put-away
- Transportation and logistics: picking and packing, shipping and receiving, cross-docking, compliance labels
- Healthcare: laboratory, blood bank, asset tracking, unit-dose and pharmacy labels
- Retail: buy-online-pick-up-in-store, returns, pricing and shipping labels
Configuration note: Optional features depend on the selected configuration and may require factory-fit or field-installed components. Base dimensions do not apply to every configuration. Confirm the exact part number before ordering. Specifications are based on Zebra's ZT231 product specification sheet dated 08/14/2023.