Royal Mail to charge for thermal label rolls from January 2026, with alternatives available from Kite Packaging

Royal Mail has confirmed that, from 19 January 2026, it will begin charging business customers for self-adhesive thermal label rolls. Up until this point, they have been provided free of charge to those with posting accounts.

Under the new changes, standard 100x150mm (4”x6”) direct thermal labels will be treated as a paid consumable listed at £4.69 per roll (exc. VAT), equivalent to around £5.63 per roll including VAT.

Kite Packaging highlights its stocked alternatives for the Royal Mail labels, which match Royal Mail’s template alignment and printer compatibility while being competitively priced.

The product range includes:

• 4”x6” direct thermal labels on a roll
• A4 sheet labels
• Integrated labels

For like-for-like alternatives to Royal Mail reference P6709, Kite offers own-branded label rolls of 500 or Zebra branded rolls of 475. These are compatible with Zebra and other desktop thermal printers, and do not require any ink, toner or ribbon to print.

The packaging company also supplies the Zebra ZD421D printer as a direct, plug-and-play successor to the widely used but discontinued Zebra GK420d. This model accepts the same label formats and core sizes with no reconfiguration, delivering crisp 203 dpi print quality at speeds of up to 152mm/s.

Users stand to benefit from a more powerful processor, LED status lights for monitoring, and flexible connectivity via Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB or serial. Designed for straightforward setup, secure operation and simple maintenance, the ZD421D is a practical choice for all dispatch environments.

Low-volume dispatch operation without thermal printers can opt for Kite’s A4 sheet labels. Featuring four labels per sheet and 500 per pack, these are designed for use with laser and inkjet printers.

Kite also stocks integrated label solutions that combine the delivery address label and associated paperwork into a single A4 document, available in 100×150 mm and 150×100 mm formats.

To support businesses adapting to the change, Kite Packaging provides large stock availability, fast delivery and competitive pricing to meet ongoing demand. Customers can take advantage of clear guidance on label sizes, core diameters and printer compatibility so they can select the right solution quickly.

To learn more, please visit www.kitepackaging.co.uk.