Label repeat calculator
Work out how many labels fit across the web, how long the repeat is, and how many meters the order needs.
Label planning comes down to two numbers: how many fit across the web, and how much web one revolution consumes. Everything else follows.
Enter the label size and the gaps and this works out both, then converts an order quantity into running meters.
Calculator
How to use it
- Enter Label width in mm
- Enter Label height in mm. Along the web direction
- Enter Gap across in mm
- Enter Gap around in mm
- Enter Usable web width in mm. After edge trim and matrix margins
- Enter Quantity in labels
- Enter Waste allowance in %
Formula
Worked example
A 76 x 51 mm label with 3 mm gaps on a 330 mm usable web, 50,000 labels, 5% waste:
- Across = floor((330 + 3) / 79) =
4 - Repeat = 51 + 3 =
54 mm - Labels per meter = (1000 / 54) x 4 =
74.07 - Running meters = 50,000 / 74.07 =
675 m, with waste708.8 m
Assumptions
- Usable web width is what remains after edge trim and matrix margins, not the full roll width.
- Labels are laid out in a plain grid. Staggered or nested layouts fit differently and are not modelled here.
- Repeat is taken as label height plus the gap around. On a press with fixed repeat cylinders the available repeats are limited, so the practical repeat may be longer.
Limitations
Every calculator on this site gives a planning figure, not a production guarantee. Check the result against your own records before committing material or money to it.
- It does not check that the repeat is achievable on your press. Fixed repeat presses only offer certain cylinder sizes.
- Die cutting tolerances, matrix stripping and rewinding requirements can all change the usable layout.
Common mistakes
- Using full web width instead of usable width, which can add a phantom label across.
- Forgetting the gap around when setting repeat, which quietly under-orders material.
- Applying one waste percentage to every job regardless of run length or number of colours.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate labels per meter?
Divide 1000 by the repeat in millimetres to get repeats per meter, then multiply by the number of labels across the web.
What is the repeat on a label job?
The distance consumed along the web by one row of labels, which is the label height plus the gap around it. It has to match a cylinder the press can actually run.
Why does my press fit fewer across than this shows?
Usually because the usable web is narrower than assumed once edge trim and matrix margins are taken out, or because the die layout uses wider gaps than entered.