Peptide Label Template3ml Vial Label Size
3ml vial label size, in short: a label up to about 45 mm long and 20 mm tall fits most 3 ml vials. That is because the glass is about 16 mm wide, so it is about 50 mm around. A 40 x 20 mm label wraps it and leaves a small gap.
The quick answer
| Vial | Width | Around | Label length | Label height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 ml | 16 mm | about 50 mm | up to about 45 mm | up to about 20 mm on the smallest body |
| 10 ml | 22 to 24 mm | about 69 to 75 mm | up to about 65 mm | up to about 24 mm on the smallest body |
These numbers leave a few mm of clear glass where the ends meet. They also leave a little space above and below the label.
Vial sizes from the ISO table
Small glass vials are made to a standard called ISO 8362-1. Each size has a short name, like 2R or 10R. A glass maker's catalog lists the sizes like this:
| ISO size | Full to the brim | Outside width | Body height | Total height | Around the vial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2R | 4 mL | 16 mm | 22 mm | 35 mm | 50.3 mm |
| 3R | 5 mL | 16 mm | 27 mm | 40 mm | 50.3 mm |
| 4R | 6 mL | 16 mm | 32 mm | 45 mm | 50.3 mm |
| 6R | 10 mL | 22 mm | 26 mm | 40 mm | 69.1 mm |
| 8R | 11.5 mL | 22 mm | 31 mm | 45 mm | 69.1 mm |
| 10R | 13.5 mL | 24 mm | 30 mm | 45 mm | 75.4 mm |
The catalog gives how much each vial holds when filled to the very top. It does not say which size a shop will sell as "3 ml". Niimbot, which makes label printers, says many 3 ml vials are about 16 to 17 mm wide. That matches the 2R, 3R and 4R rows, which are all 16 mm wide. So for a 3 ml vial, plan on 16 mm.
How to work out a label size
You only need two numbers from the vial.
- Find the distance around. Multiply the width by 3.14. For a 16 mm vial: 16 x 3.14 = 50.2 mm.
- Take off a gap. Subtract 4 to 6 mm, so you can see the liquid where the ends meet. That gives a label about 44 to 46 mm long.
- Check the height. Measure the straight part of the glass, below the curve of the shoulder. Keep the label a few mm shorter than that.
Try your own numbers here:
Label wrap check
Compares your label length with the distance around the vial (3.14 times the outside width).
How to measure your own vial
Vials are not all the same, so measuring is the safest step.
- With a strip of paper. Wrap a thin strip around the widest part of the glass. Mark where it meets itself, then lay it flat and measure. That is the distance around.
- With calipers. Measure the width, then multiply by 3.14.
- For the height. Measure the straight side only, from just above the base to where the glass starts to curve in.
Do common label sizes fit?
| Label | On a 3 ml vial (16 mm) | On a 10 ml vial (22 to 24 mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 40 x 12 mm | Fits, with about 10 mm of glass showing | Fits, but looks small |
| 40 x 20 mm | Fits, with about 10 mm of glass showing | Fits |
| 44.5 x 12.7 mm (1/2 x 1-3/4 in sheet) | Fits, with about 6 mm showing | Fits |
| 50 x 30 mm | Too long: the ends meet with no gap, and overlap on a slightly smaller vial | Wraps, but at 30 mm it is as tall as a 10R body and taller than a 6R (26 mm) |
| 66.7 x 25.4 mm (1 x 2-5/8 in sheet) | Too long | Fits a 24 mm vial, tight on a 22 mm one |
The label maker runs this same check as you pick a size. The Niimbot peptide label template guide lists which thermal rolls come in these sizes, and the peptide vial labels guide covers label sheets.
Frequently asked questions
What size label fits a 3 ml vial?
A label up to about 45 mm long fits. Keep it up to about 20 mm tall. A 40 x 20 mm label is a common choice, and it leaves about 10 mm of glass clear.
What are the dimensions of a 3 ml vial?
In the ISO 8362-1 table, the 16 mm wide sizes are 35 to 45 mm tall overall. Their straight sides are 22 to 32 mm tall. Measure yours, since shops do not always say which size they sell.
What size label goes on a vial?
Make it a few mm shorter than the distance around the vial. Make it a few mm shorter than the straight side too. For any vial, the distance around is its width times 3.14.
What size label fits a 10 ml vial?
A 10 ml vial is often 22 to 24 mm wide, so it is about 69 to 75 mm around. A label up to about 65 mm long fits both widths. A 50 x 30 mm label wraps it, but check the height first: it needs a straight side at least 30 mm tall.
How do you measure the circumference of a vial?
Wrap a thin strip of paper around the vial and mark where it overlaps. Lay it flat and measure to the mark. Or measure the width and multiply by 3.14.
What are 2R vial dimensions?
In the ISO 8362-1 table, a 2R vial is 16 mm wide and 35 mm tall. Its straight side is 22 mm tall. Filled to the very top, it holds about 4 ml.
Sources
- Core Vials in StandardLine quality, ISO 8362-1 table, page 2, SCHOTT Pharma, 02/2026, read 2026-10-05
- What size label fits on a 3ml vial, Niimbot official store (niimbots.com), read 2026-10-05
- Avery template 5167 and Avery template 5160, Avery, sheet label sizes, read 2026-10-05