How do I print GHS labels?

Create the label with a GHS label generator (or template), download the print-ready PDF, load the matching label stock into your printer, and print at 100% / actual size — not 'fit to page' — so the label prints at true physical scale. For a handful of labels, an office laser printer with Avery label sheets works. For volume or durability, use a thermal-transfer label printer with polypropylene or polyester GHS label stock.

What printer do I need to print GHS labels?

For occasional labels, a standard office laser printer (color laser for the red-bordered pictograms) with adhesive label sheets is enough. For frequent printing or workplace durability, a thermal-transfer label printer such as a Zebra, Brother, or DYMO industrial model prints water- and smudge-resistant labels on continuous or die-cut GHS label rolls. Avoid inkjet for chemical areas unless the labels are laminated — inkjet ink smears when wet.

What label stock should GHS labels be printed on?

For indoor, low-exposure containers, standard paper adhesive labels (e.g., Avery 5163) are fine. For drums, secondary containers exposed to splash, or outdoor storage, use synthetic polypropylene or polyester label stock that resists water, oil, and abrasion. For chemicals shipped by sea, GHS labels must survive 3 months of seawater immersion — use BS5609-certified label stock and a compatible resin ribbon.

What size should a GHS label be?

OSHA (HCS 2024 / 29 CFR 1910.1200) does not mandate a specific label size for workplace labels — the requirement is legibility. Common sizes: 1 x 2.625 in (Avery 5160) for small bottles, 2 x 4 in (Avery 5163) for medium containers, and 4 x 6 in for drums and totes. For shipped containers, the DOT/UN and GHS pictogram minimum is typically 100 x 100 mm (about 4 x 4 in) with pictograms at least 1 x 1 in.

Do GHS pictograms have to be in color?

Yes for shipped containers — the GHS pictogram must have a red diamond border with a black symbol on a white background. For internal workplace (secondary container) labels, OSHA allows alternatives, but color pictograms are strongly recommended for instant recognition. Print pictograms on a color laser or color-capable label printer so the red border is accurate; a black-and-white red border is not compliant for primary/shipped labels.

Can I print GHS labels for free?

Yes. Tellus offers a free GHS label generator that formats your product identifier, signal word, pictograms, and hazard/precautionary statements to OSHA HCS 2024 and outputs a print-ready PDF — no account required for a single label. You supply the printer and label stock. A paid Tellus account adds bulk printing from your SDS library, auto-extracted hazards, and SDS-aware QR codes.

Are printed GHS labels OSHA compliant?

A GHS label is compliant when it contains the six required elements (product identifier, signal word, pictograms, hazard statements, precautionary statements, and supplier information for manufacturer labels), the text matches the Safety Data Sheet, and it stays legible and firmly attached in the workplace. The printing method doesn't affect compliance — durability and legibility do. Always verify the generated label against the manufacturer SDS before printing a batch.

How to Print GHS Labels: A Step-by-Step Guide (Free Template)

Print your own GHS labels — the short version

If a container of a hazardous chemical in your workplace doesn't have a legible, compliant label, you have an OSHA HazCom gap. The good news: you don't need to order pre-printed labels or wait on a vendor. You can make and print GHS labels yourself in a few minutes with a free tool and the right label stock.

This guide covers the whole process — creating the label, choosing a printer and label stock, getting the size and color right, and making labels that survive the shop floor.

🛠 Want to skip straight to it? Use the free GHS Label Generator to build an OSHA HCS 2024 label and download a print-ready PDF in under 60 seconds. Prefer a fill-in-the-blanks format? Use the GHS label template instead — same tool, framed as a reusable template.

Step 1 — Build the label (get the content right first)

Before you think about printers, get the content right. A compliant GHS workplace label under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard (HCS 2024 / 29 CFR 1910.1200) needs six elements:

Product identifier — must match the name on the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Signal word — "Danger" or "Warning" (only one, from the most severe hazard)
Hazard pictograms — the red-bordered diamonds (flame, health hazard, corrosion, etc.)
Hazard statements — the standardized H-statements from SDS Section 2
Precautionary statements — P-statements for prevention, response, storage, disposal
Supplier information — manufacturer name, address, and phone (for manufacturer labels)

The fastest way to assemble these correctly is a generator that pulls the exact OSHA Appendix C statement text for you. Enter your product name and the H-codes from your SDS (or auto-fill from a CAS number), and the GHS Label Generator formats all six elements to spec. For a deeper explanation of each element, see GHS Label Requirements Under OSHA.

Secondary containers — spray bottles, parts washers, decanted jugs — need labels too. If the chemical will be used up on the same shift by the person who filled it, OSHA is lenient; otherwise it needs a full workplace label. The secondary container label generator is purpose-built for this.

Step 2 — Choose your printer

The right printer depends on how many labels you print and how tough they need to be.

Printer type	Best for	Notes
Color laser (office)	Occasional labels, mixed use	Toner resists smudging; reproduces the red pictogram border accurately. Use adhesive label sheets.
Inkjet (office)	Light use, indoor only	Ink smears when wet — only use if you laminate, or for dry indoor containers.
Thermal-transfer label printer	Volume, durability, drums	Zebra / Brother / DYMO industrial models. Prints water- and chemical-resistant labels on continuous or die-cut rolls. Needs a color model or pre-printed color stock for pictograms.
Direct thermal	Short-lived labels	Fades with heat and UV over time — not ideal for permanent chemical labels.

Rule of thumb: printing a dozen labels a month → a color laser and Avery sheets is plenty. Printing hundreds, or labeling drums and outdoor totes → invest in a thermal-transfer printer and synthetic label stock.

Step 3 — Match the label stock to the environment

The label stock (the material) matters more than the printer for durability.

Paper adhesive labels (e.g., Avery 5160, 5163, 5164) — cheap, easy, fine for indoor, low-exposure containers.
Synthetic (polypropylene / polyester) — water-, oil-, and tear-resistant. Use for secondary containers exposed to splash, and for anything handled frequently.
Weatherproof / UV-resistant — for outdoor tanks, drums, and yard storage. Laminate laser-printed labels if the stock isn't already coated.
BS5609-certified stock + resin ribbon — required for drums shipped by sea. BS5609 labels must survive 3 months of seawater immersion and stay legible. If you ship internationally, this is not optional.

Step 4 — Get the size right

OSHA does not mandate a specific GHS label size for workplace labels — the standard is *legibility*. Pick a size that fits the container and keeps the pictograms and text readable:

Container	Common size	Avery equivalent
Small bottles, vials	1 x 2.625 in	5160
Bottles, jugs, mid-size	2 x 4 in	5163
Drums, totes, large	4 x 6 in	— (drum format)

For shipped containers, the UN/GHS pictogram should generally be at least 1 x 1 in (2.6 x 2.6 cm), and many carriers expect a label of at least 100 x 100 mm. When you download from the generator, the PDF page size matches the physical label, so print at 100% / actual size — never "fit to page," which rescales and can shrink pictograms below the legible minimum.

Step 5 — Print, verify, and apply

Load the correct stock and confirm the printer is set to the matching media size.
Print one test label at 100% scale. Measure it against the intended size.
Check the pictograms — the diamond border must be red (a black border is not compliant for shipped labels), symbols black on white.
Verify against the SDS — product identifier, signal word, and H/P statements must match the manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet.
Apply firmly to a clean, dry surface. Smooth out bubbles so edges don't peel in a wet environment.

Printing labels for a whole inventory

Printing one label at a time is fine for a spray bottle. It does not scale to a facility with hundreds of chemicals — each with its own SDS, hazards, and revision history.

That's the difference between the free tool and a full platform. With Tellus ChemIQ, your chemical inventory drives the labels: upload an SDS and the hazards are auto-extracted, GHS classification is handled for you, and you print labels in batch across your whole library — GHS, NFPA, and HMIS — with SDS-aware QR codes that update when the SDS is revised. When a manufacturer reissues an SDS, you reprint the affected labels instead of hunting through binders.

Want NFPA diamonds for your storage tanks too? See How to Print NFPA 704 Labels for Chemical Storage.

FAQ

The questions below are the ones people actually search when they set out to print GHS labels. If yours isn't here, the GHS Label Generator page has a fuller FAQ, or contact us.