Honeywell PD43 Label Printer Guide: PD43 vs PD43c and Specs
The Honeywell PD43 label printer is a compact 4 inch thermal printer built for warehouses, distribution centers and shipping benches that need more than a desktop printer but have no room for a full size industrial frame. It has a smaller sibling, the PD43c, and both still turn up under the Intermec name, which causes more confusion than any spec on the sheet.
This guide sets out what the PD43 and PD43c are for, how the part numbers in our listing differ, what the discontinuation means for support, and what to check on a refurbished unit before you add it to a fleet. If you already know what you need, go straight to the PD43 specs table or the full range of part numbers.
In this guide
- Products in our listing
- Honeywell PD43 specs in our listing
- Intermec or Honeywell: the naming explained
- What the Honeywell PD43 label printer is built for
- PD43 vs PD43c: size, weight and media
- Key configuration choices
- Media and ribbon
- Setup, command languages and drivers
- Lifecycle and replacement planning
- Buying a refurbished PD43: what to check
- Full PD43 and PD43c range in our listing
- How the PD43 compares with related Honeywell printers
- Ordering
- Common questions
Products in our listing
Four of the PD43 and PD43c printers we list are below, and each card opens the full product page with the part number to quote when you order.
Every PD43 and PD43c in our listing is refurbished and carries the 30-Day Tech Seller USA warranty. Manufacturer warranty is not guaranteed. Browse the full Intermec printer range.
Need one PD43 or a matched set for several benches?
Send your part numbers and quantities and we will confirm the configuration and quote.
Honeywell PD43 specs in our listing
The table summarizes the store data for the PD43 and PD43c part numbers we list. Values vary by part number, so check the product page for the exact unit before you order.
| Feature | PD43 (our listing) | PD43c (our listing) |
|---|---|---|
| Max print width | 4 inches | 4 inches |
| Print resolution | 203 dpi and 300 dpi models | 203 dpi |
| Print method | Thermal transfer / direct thermal, plus two direct thermal only models | Thermal transfer / direct thermal |
| Print speed | Up to 8 ips at 203 dpi, up to 6 ips at 300 dpi | Up to 8 ips with the 203 dpi printhead |
| Connectivity | USB, USB Host and Ethernet on most models; USB and Ethernet on one; not listed on one | USB, USB Host, Ethernet |
| Display | LCD or color graphic display on some models; not listed on others | Color LCD |
| Memory | 128 MB on some models; not listed on others | Not listed |
| Max media width | Up to 4.65 in on PD43AG3100010201; not listed on others | Not listed |
| Listed weight | About 18.5 lbs | 11.2 lbs |
| Condition | Refurbished | Refurbished |
| Models in our listing | 5 | 1 |
Intermec or Honeywell: the naming explained
The PD43 was introduced as an Intermec printer. Intermec became part of Honeywell in 2013, and Honeywell now lists the PD43 and PD43c on its own site as Honeywell industrial printers. Units built and sold over the life of the model carry either badge, and our product listings use the Intermec name because that is what many of the units, labels and part number records still say. A PD43 is the same printer whichever name is on the front. When you match a replacement, match the part number, not the logo.
What the Honeywell PD43 label printer is built for
Honeywell describes the PD43 series as light industrial printers designed for the smallest possible footprint, and names distribution centers, warehouses and airline passenger service as typical settings. In practice that means shipping stations, goods in benches, small production cells and back office counters where a printer runs every day and has to fit on a shallow counter or into a pull out cabinet, which Honeywell names as design targets.
A desktop printer such as the Intermec PC43t is smaller and lighter and suits lower volumes. A full industrial printer such as the PM43 in our PM series guide is a larger frame for heavier work. The PD43 gives you a metal chassis, according to Honeywell, and industrial command languages in a much shorter body. Our guide on industrial versus desktop label printers covers where that middle ground makes sense and where it does not.
It suits single buyers replacing one failed unit just as well as teams standardizing several benches.
PD43 vs PD43c: size, weight and media
Both models print up to 4 inches wide, and in our listing both run at up to 8 ips with the 203 dpi printhead. The difference is the body. The PD43 is the full length model, listed in our store at about 18.5 lbs, and PD43AG3100010201 records dimensions of 9.8 x 8.3 x 18.5 in. The Honeywell PD43c is the compact model, listed at 11.2 lbs. Honeywell's data sheet gives the PD43c a length of about 9.3 in against about 18.5 in for the PD43, so it takes roughly half the bench depth.
The trade is media capacity. The longer PD43 body holds a larger label roll inside the printer, which means fewer roll changes on a busy shipping bench. In our listing, PD43A03100000212 records a maximum roll diameter of 8.39 in. The PD43c holds a smaller roll internally. Honeywell offers an external media holder for the PD43c, but we do not list one with the PD43CA3100020001, so plan on the internal roll unless you source a holder separately.
If roll changes are what slows the bench down, choose the PD43. If counter depth is the limit and volumes are modest, the PD43c fits where the PD43 will not.
Key configuration choices
Print method. Most PD43 and PD43c part numbers in our listing are thermal transfer / direct thermal, which means they can print with a ribbon for durable labels or without one on direct thermal stock. Two part numbers, PD43A03100000211 and PD43A03100000212, are listed as direct thermal only. They suit shipping and pick labels read within days, but they cannot use a ribbon. Our guide to direct thermal versus thermal transfer printing explains where the line falls.
Resolution. PD43A03100010301 is the 300 dpi model in our listing and is listed at up to 6 ips. Every other PD43 and PD43c we list is 203 dpi at up to 8 ips. Choose 300 dpi for small text, dense 2D codes or small asset tags, and 203 dpi for standard 4 x 6 shipping labels where speed matters more. The 203 vs 300 vs 600 dpi guide goes through the decision with examples.
Interfaces. Most units we list record USB, USB Host and Ethernet. PD43A03100000212 records USB and Ethernet only, and PD43A0330001020 has no connectivity listed, so confirm the ports on those two before you order. USB Host lets you attach a keyboard, scanner or memory stick for standalone printing. Serial, parallel, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are options on the series according to Honeywell, but none are listed on our units. See printer connectivity explained before you design the network side.
Display. Some units record an LCD, a color LCD or a color graphic display; others do not list one. If operators adjust settings at the printer, ask which display a specific unit has.
Media and ribbon
On the thermal transfer units, match the ribbon to the label face stock: wax for paper shipping labels, wax resin for coated paper and light synthetic labels, and resin for polyester asset tags or labels that meet chemicals and abrasion. Honeywell lists support for ribbons wound ink in and ink out on half inch and one inch cores. Our label media and ribbon selection guide covers the matching in detail.
On the direct thermal only units, the label is the consumable. Direct thermal stock is cheaper to run, but the image fades with heat and light, so keep it to labels that are read and discarded.
Setup, command languages and drivers
The Honeywell PD43 label printer is a good fit for mixed estates because it speaks several printer languages. Honeywell lists Direct Protocol, IPL, DPL, ESim (EPL), ZSim2 (ZPL II) and XML for SAP and Oracle WMS. That means a PD43 can often replace an older Intermec printer running IPL, or sit beside Zebra printers receiving ZPL, without the host system changing its label templates. Our guide to printer command languages explains the differences.
Emulation is close but not perfect. Fonts, graphics and printer specific settings can render differently, so print every template you use on a test unit and scan the results before you roll out. Honeywell lists InterDriver for Windows, a CUPS driver for Linux and certified device types for SAP, and Honeywell's PrintSet tool for configuration. The series also supports Smart Printing, which lets apps written in C# for Printers or Fingerprint run on the printer itself.
For a fleet, save one configuration file and load it on every unit so speed, darkness, media type and network settings match. The printer firmware and fleet configuration guide covers the process.
Lifecycle and replacement planning
Honeywell's PD43 product page lists the PD43 as discontinued, with a product discontinuation date of April 25, 2023 and a service and support discontinuation date of December 31, 2028. Firmware, drivers and manuals remain on Honeywell's site. For most buyers that means two things. First, refurbished PD43 units are a sensible way to keep an existing fleet consistent, because the templates, drivers and spare parts are already in place. Second, if you are building a new fleet that must run well past 2028, compare the PD43 with a current model before you commit.
Honeywell does not name a direct successor on the PD43 page. For a compact industrial printer still in our range, read our Honeywell PD45S guide. For heavier duty work, see the PX4ie guide.
Buying a refurbished PD43: what to check
Every PD43 and PD43c in our listing is refurbished. These printers refurbish well because the chassis is solid and most wear sits in a few parts.
The printhead is the most expensive wear part. A thin white line running down every label is a failed element, and cleaning will not fix it. Ask about head condition and print a test label with a full width barcode. See printhead failure diagnosis and replacement.
The platen roller drives the media. Flat spots or adhesive build up cause drift and uneven darkness. Routine cleaning is in our thermal printer maintenance guide.
The configuration should match your fleet. Confirm the resolution, print method and ports for the exact part number, and reset the network settings when the unit arrives so it does not bring a previous owner's address onto your network.
The box contents should include the power cord and any spindle or media guide your workflow needs. Our refurbished hardware grading explained guide sets out what our condition descriptions mean.
Full PD43 and PD43c range in our listing
Every PD43 and PD43c part number we currently list is below. Select a part number to open its product page.
| Part number | Model | Resolution | Print method | Connectivity | Listed weight | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PD43A03100000211 | PD43 | 203 dpi | Direct thermal | USB, USB Host, Ethernet | 18.5 lbs | Refurbished |
| PD43A03100000212 | PD43 | 203 dpi | Direct thermal | USB, Ethernet | 18.5 lbs | Refurbished |
| PD43A03100010301 | PD43 | 300 dpi | Thermal transfer / direct thermal | USB, USB Host, Ethernet | 18.5 lbs | Refurbished |
| PD43AG3100010201 | PD43 | 203 dpi | Thermal transfer / direct thermal | USB, USB Host, Ethernet | 18.52 lbs | Refurbished |
| PD43A0330001020 | PD43 | 203 dpi | Thermal transfer / direct thermal | Not listed | 18.5 lbs | Refurbished |
| PD43CA3100020001 | PD43c | 203 dpi | Thermal transfer / direct thermal | USB, USB Host, Ethernet | 11.2 lbs | Refurbished |
Found your part number in the table?
Request a quote for one unit or a whole bench, and list as many part numbers as you need.
How the PD43 compares with related Honeywell printers
- PD43 vs PD45S: both are compact industrial printers. If you need a model with a longer remaining support life, start with the PD45S and keep the PD43 for matching an existing fleet.
- PD43 vs PM43: the PM43 is a larger industrial printer. Read the PM43 and PM45 guide if the bench has room for a bigger frame.
- PD43 vs PC43t: the PC43t is a desktop printer for lighter work. The PC43t guide covers it.
- PD43 vs PX4ie: the PX4ie is a full size industrial printer for high volume lines, covered in the PX4ie guide.
Browse all printers in our range.
Ordering
Send the full part number you are replacing, your label width and material, whether the label must last days or years, the command language your system sends, and how many units you need. We will confirm the matching PD43 or PD43c configuration before you order. Returns are accepted within 30 days, with a 25% restocking fee that is waived for defective or wrongly shipped items, and we ship with FedEx and DHL.
Common questions
Is the PD43 an Intermec or a Honeywell printer?
Both names are correct. The PD43 was launched under the Intermec brand, and Intermec became part of Honeywell in 2013. Honeywell now lists the PD43 and PD43c as Honeywell industrial printers, while many units and our listing still carry the Intermec name. The part number is the same either way.
What is the difference between the PD43 and the PD43c?
Both print 4 inch wide labels. The PD43 is the full length model, listed in our store at about 18.5 lbs, and holds a larger internal media roll. The PD43c is the compact version, listed at 11.2 lbs, with a much shorter body for tight counters and cabinets.
Is the Honeywell PD43 discontinued?
Yes. Honeywell's PD43 product page lists a discontinuation date of April 25, 2023 and a service and support discontinuation date of December 31, 2028. Refurbished units remain a practical way to keep an existing PD43 fleet consistent.
Can the PD43 print ZPL labels?
Honeywell lists ZSim2 (ZPL II) emulation for the PD43 series, alongside Direct Protocol, IPL, DPL, ESim (EPL) and XML. Test your actual label formats on the unit before rollout, because emulation covers common commands rather than every printer specific setting.
Is the PD43 a desktop or an industrial printer?
Honeywell classes the PD43 and PD43c as light industrial printers. Some of our listings describe them as desktop label printers because they sit on a bench or counter. The hardware is the same model either way, so judge it by the specs in the part number.
Does every PD43 need a ribbon?
No. In our listing PD43A03100000211 and PD43A03100000212 are listed as direct thermal only, so they print without a ribbon. The other PD43 and PD43c part numbers we list are thermal transfer and direct thermal, so they can run with or without a ribbon.
Ready to order?
Send the part number you are replacing, your label size and your daily volume, and we will confirm the right PD43 or PD43c before quoting.
