Free LTO barcode labels – no installation, no account. Barcodes per the IBM label specification.No subscriptions, no different editions: one tool, free for good.Free for personal and commercial use.
1Which labels do you need?
Cartridge
Which characters count up?
Normally the digits at the end count up. You can change that here, e.g. so the letter in front continues counting after 999.
6 characters per line, optionally followed by a 2-character media type. You can paste a CSV export from your backup software directly; the first column is used.
Avoid duplicate barcodes
Inventory from your backup software
Export the cartridge list from Veeam, Backup Exec, your library management or similar as CSV or text and load it here. The app finds the barcode column itself and warns about IDs that already exist.
Used with this app
Really delete all remembered labels?
The list is stored only in this browser on this computer. Export it to back it up or share it with colleagues.
2What are you printing on?
Custom template or adjust dimensions
Tip: when you click into a dimension field, the preview shows exactly that dimension.
All dimensions in mm. Changes are saved as “Custom template”. Column/row pitch = start of one label to start of the next.
Colours for digits 0–9. The text colour is chosen automatically.
Border
Advanced barcode settings
The defaults follow the IBM specification. Only change them in special cases.
Printer grid: every bar gets a whole number of printer dots, so all bars are exactly equal. The matching value is set when you change the template. Bar width reduction makes bars slightly thinner in case the toner spreads.
4Print position
For partly used sheets: labels already used are skipped and shown in grey in the preview.
Calibrate printer
If your printer prints slightly off, find the offset with the calibration sheet: print, measure, enter the value. The values are saved.
For label printers, set position and label size in the printer driver.
Labels–
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Sheets0
In your PDF viewer, print at “Actual size” / 100 %, not “Fit to page”.
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LTO label generator: free LTO barcode labels for your tape library
Free Tape Labels is a free LTO label generator: software for creating LTO barcode labels, also called tape labels, cartridge labels or tape library labels. Choose the cartridge type, label sheet and number range and get a print-ready PDF for your laser or label printer.
Every cartridge, every generation.
LTO-1 to LTO-10, WORM, cleaning cartridges and IBM 3592 are built in. Missing your media type? Just enter your own two-character code.
Fits your label stock
Templates for Avery 6571/6577, OnlineLabels OL173, WorldLabel WL-173, Avery Zweckform 3420, Herma 4459, Avery L7162 and more sheets, plus label printers such as Zebra or Brother QL.
Built to specification
Code 39 barcodes following IBM's label specifications for LTO and 3592: a 6-character VOLSER plus 2-character media type, correct bar widths, quiet zones and barcode height. The app checks this before you print.
No sign-up, no upload
Everything runs in your browser. No data is sent to a server. Settings and lists stay on your computer.
Also known as: LTO tape labels, tape barcode labels, Ultrium labels, cartridge labels, tape library labels, library barcode labels, VOLSER labels, backup tape labels, media ID labels, WORM labels, cleaning cartridge labels.
LTO, Linear Tape-Open and Ultrium are trademarks of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM and Quantum. Avery, Zweckform, Herma, OnlineLabels, WorldLabel, Zebra and Brother are trademarks of their respective owners. Free Tape Labels is not affiliated with any of these companies. Provided without warranty: please make a test print on plain paper before printing on labels.
Supported labels and printers
Ready-made templates exist for these label sheets and label printers. One click starts with the matching template. For other formats, create your own template.
User guide
How to create your LTO barcode labels in a few minutes. Click a chapter to expand it.
1. Define your labels
At the top, choose the cartridge: LTO or IBM 3592.
Choose the media type, e.g. L9 for LTO-9. It becomes the last two characters of the barcode.
Enter the first label (6 characters, e.g. VOL100) and the count. Right below you see which labels will be created.
The digits at the end count up automatically. Under “Which characters count up?” you can allow more positions, e.g. so the letter in front continues after 999.
If you already have a list, choose “Own list” and paste the IDs, one per line. A CSV export from your backup software works too.
2. Choose labels and printer
Choose “Label sheet” for laser or inkjet printers, or “Label printer” for rolls, e.g. Zebra or Brother QL.
Click the template that matches your labels. Below the selection is a note about the template, e.g. whether the labels need trimming.
Your labels are not listed? Under “Custom template or adjust dimensions” enter paper size, margins and label size in millimetres.
3. Design the look
Layout: choose where text and barcode go. The preview shows the result immediately.
Description: e.g. “Fileserver Backup” with an icon. Placeholders such as {date} or {no} are filled in when printing.
Colour: colours fill the character boxes and help you spot cartridges quickly. For label printers colours are switched off because they only print black.
Border: “No border” for pre-cut labels, “Crop marks” or “Dashed” if you cut them yourself.
You normally do not need to change the advanced barcode settings. The defaults follow the specification.
4. Print
Check the status above the preview. “Ready to print” means everything is fine. If there are warnings, the list below the preview explains what to do.
Click “Create PDF” and open the PDF.
Print at “Actual size” / 100 %, never “Fit to page”. Otherwise the dimensions are wrong and the library may not read the barcodes.
The first time, make a test print on plain paper and hold it against a label sheet.
Partly used sheet? Enter the first free label under “Start at label no.”. Used positions are skipped.
5. Calibrate your printer
Many printers print one or two millimetres off. You correct this once, and every print fits from then on.
Under “Print position”, open “Calibrate printer” and click “Create calibration sheet”.
Print the sheet at 100 % on plain paper.
Measure the distance from the left and top paper edges to the lines. The target is 20.0 mm each.
Enter the difference as offset. Measured 21.5 mm means an offset of −1.5 mm.
Print the sheet again to check.
6. Avoid duplicate barcodes
Each ID may exist only once in a tape library. The app helps in two ways:
After each PDF the app asks whether you will use the labels. If you choose “Yes, remember”, it warns you if you create one of these IDs again later.
In step 1, under “Avoid duplicate barcodes”, you can load the cartridge list from your backup software, e.g. a CSV from Veeam or Backup Exec. The app finds the barcode column itself and warns about overlaps.
You can export the remembered labels as CSV and import them again, e.g. for colleagues.
7. What is saved
The app saves everything automatically in your browser as soon as you change something. On your next visit everything is set up as before:
Calibration (left and top offset)
Colour style including custom colours, border, line width and layout
Description and icon
Template including custom template, cartridge and media type
First label, count and start position
Barcode settings and language
Remembered labels and loaded inventory
Good to know: the data is stored only in this browser on this computer and is not sent anywhere. In another browser, on another computer or in a private window the app starts empty. If you clear your browser data, the settings are gone. To back up or move to another computer, open the “Project” menu at the top and choose “Save project”. This saves a file (e.g. FreeTapeLabels_Project_herma4459_VOL001_2026-10-14.json) containing all settings including calibration, colours and your custom template. Store it e.g. on a network share or pass it on to colleagues. Use “Open project” to load it again, also on another computer or in another browser. Remembered labels are not included in this file; back them up under “Avoid duplicate barcodes” with “Export (CSV)”. To start over, the “Project” menu has two entries: “Reset settings” returns all settings to the initial state, “Delete everything” also removes remembered labels and the inventory. There is no step-by-step undo; if you want to experiment, save a backup with “Save project” first.
Frequently asked questions
How do I print LTO labels myself?
Choose the cartridge and media type, enter the first label and the count, pick your label sheet and click “Create PDF”. Print the PDF at “Actual size” / 100 %. Before printing on labels for the first time, make a test print on plain paper and hold it against a label sheet.
What does L8 or L9 at the end of the barcode mean?
The last two characters are the media type: L8 stands for LTO-8, L9 for LTO-9, LA for LTO-10. WORM cartridges have their own codes such as LZ, cleaning cartridges CU or C1 to C5. The first six characters are the actual cartridge ID, the VOLSER.
Which printer works best?
A 600 dpi laser printer produces the most reliable barcodes on label sheets. For single labels, thermal transfer printers such as Zebra work well; a Brother QL with DK-11203 works with trimming. Inkjet printers also work, but ink can spread on some labels.
My library does not read the label. What now?
Most common causes: the PDF was printed scaled down (make sure to print at 100 %), the label is crooked or overlaps the label area, or the toner is too light. Also check that the media type matches the cartridge. If that does not help, try the bar width reduction under “Advanced barcode settings”.
Which labels do I need?
For A4, Avery Zweckform 3420 and Herma 4459 are common; for Letter, Avery 6571/6577 and OnlineLabels OL173. For long life in a library, polyester labels such as Avery L4775 or OL173LP are better than paper.
What is the best LTO label software?
That depends on what you need. What matters are barcodes that follow the IBM specification, templates for your labels, a check before printing, and the price. Free Tape Labels covers all of this for free and without installation.
Can I use Free Tape Labels in my company?
Yes. You may use the tool and the labels it creates for personal and commercial purposes, for example in your company, in a data center or for customers. No sign-up or licence is required.
Is Free Tape Labels really free?
Yes, for good. There are no subscriptions and no different editions; every feature is available to everyone. No sign-up; the only limit is 10,000 labels per job.
Is my data uploaded?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing leaves your computer. Details are in the privacy policy.
Terms of use
Free Tape Labels is free of charge and may be used for personal and commercial purposes. By using it, you accept these terms.
The tool is provided “as is”, without warranty of any kind, in particular not that it is error-free or continuously available, or that generated barcodes will be read by every tape library.
Check generated labels with a test print and in your tape library before use. You are responsible for assigning labels to cartridges and for your data.
To the extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any damages arising from the use or unavailability of the tool, including data loss, misassigned cartridges or business interruption. Mandatory consumer rights in your country remain unaffected.
We may change the tool and these terms or discontinue the service at any time.
Last updated: October 16, 2026.
Privacy policy
Effective October 15, 2026.
Controller and contact
Free Tape LabelsEmail: freetapelabels@proton.me
Hosting and server log files
This website is hosted by Cloudflare, Inc., 101 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. When the site is accessed, the host processes technically necessary data such as IP address, date and time, requested file and browser type in server log files. This serves the secure and stable operation of the website; for users in the EU the legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest). How long the log files are kept is determined by Cloudflare; details are in Cloudflare’s privacy policy (cloudflare.com/privacypolicy).
Your input is not transmitted
Labels are generated entirely in your browser. Your input, loaded inventory lists and generated PDFs are not sent to us or to third parties.
Storage in your browser
To keep settings, language, remembered labels and a loaded inventory for your next visit, the app stores them in your browser’s local storage (localStorage). This data does not leave your computer. You can remove it at any time in the app via the “Project” menu → “Delete everything” or via your browser settings (“Clear site data”). This storage is technically required for the app to work.
No cookies, no tracking
This website sets no cookies and uses no analytics or tracking services. Fonts and program libraries are loaded from this server, not from third parties.
Do Not Track: because we do not track anyone across websites, Do Not Track signals from your browser have no effect. The website behaves the same with or without this signal.
Your rights
You can request access to your data and its correction or deletion at any time; write to freetapelabels@proton.me. Since we receive no data apart from the host’s server log files, we usually hold no data about you. Users in the EU also have the rights under Art. 15 to 21 GDPR and may lodge a complaint with the data protection supervisory authority of their country (Art. 77 GDPR).
Changes
If we change this policy, we will publish the new version on this page and update the date above.
Accessibility
Free Tape Labels is meant to be usable by everyone, including with a keyboard, screen reader, screen magnification or high contrast mode. Our goal is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 at level AA.
What is implemented: full keyboard operation with a visible focus and a link to skip the header, labelled controls, error messages right at the input field, status changes announced to screen readers, contrast per WCAG AA in light and dark mode, layout without horizontal scrolling down to 320 pixels width or 400 % zoom, and the “reduce motion” system setting is respected. Selected options are marked not only by colour but also with a check mark.
Known limitations: the label preview is a graphic. Its content, i.e. number range, count and check results, is also shown as text on the page. Colours on the labels are an additional aid; all information can also be read as characters. We have tested with automated checks (axe-core) and manually with the keyboard; testing with every screen reader is still pending.
Do you encounter a barrier or have a suggestion for improvement? Write to freetapelabels@proton.me. We will reply as soon as possible and, if you like, help you directly, for example by creating labels for you.