GHS Label Minimum Size by Container Volume: EU CLP Table and China GB 15258 Table
Label size is the most common reason a GHS label fails a compliance check without a single wrong word on it. The information is right, the pictograms are right, and the whole thing was printed on the 50 × 30 mm stock the line already had. Two jurisdictions publish hard minimums; the third leaves it to legibility. Here are the tables, then how to apply them.
Key points
- EU CLP: four capacity bands, from 52 × 74 mm (≤ 3 L) to 148 × 210 mm (> 500 L).
- China GB 15258: five bands, from 50 × 75 mm (> 0.1–3 L) to 200 × 300 mm (> 1000 L); ≤ 100 mL uses a simplified label.
- Pictograms (EU): at least 1/15 of the minimum label area and never under 1 cm².
- The US sets no dimensions but requires legibility; HazCom 2024 codifies small-container relief at ≤ 100 mL and ≤ 3 mL.
1. EU — CLP Annex I, section 1.2.1 (Table 1.3)
| Capacity of the package | Minimum label dimensions (mm) | Minimum pictogram dimensions (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Not exceeding 3 litres | If possible, at least 52 × 74 | Not smaller than 10 × 10; if possible at least 16 × 16 |
| Greater than 3 litres, not exceeding 50 litres | At least 74 × 105 | At least 23 × 23 |
| Greater than 50 litres, not exceeding 500 litres | At least 105 × 148 | At least 32 × 32 |
| Greater than 500 litres | At least 148 × 210 | At least 46 × 46 |
Two rules sit alongside the table. Each hazard pictogram must cover at least one fifteenth of the minimum surface area of the label dedicated to the Article 17 information, and never less than 1 cm². The dimensions refer to the information area; a larger sticker with decorative branding does not change the minimum for the hazard block.
Reading the table correctly: the "if possible" in the first row is deliberate. A 30 mL vial genuinely cannot carry a 52 × 74 mm label; the regulation then allows fold-out labels, tie-on tags, or the small-package derogations in Annex I 1.5 rather than a shrunken label.
2. China — GB 15258-2009, section 5.3
| Container or package volume (L) | Minimum label size (mm × mm) |
|---|---|
| ≤ 0.1 | Simplified label (section 4.3) |
| > 0.1 to ≤ 3 | 50 × 75 |
| > 3 to ≤ 50 | 75 × 100 |
| > 50 to ≤ 500 | 100 × 150 |
| > 500 to ≤ 1000 | 150 × 200 |
| > 1000 | 200 × 300 |
The simplified label for packages of 100 mL or less keeps the product identifier, pictograms, signal word, hazard statements, emergency telephone, supplier name and phone, and the SDS reference phrase, and drops the full precautionary text. Colours follow the GB 20576–20602 pictogram standards — black symbol, white background, red frame — and the standard notes that for domestic use the frame may be black.
3. US — legibility, not dimensions
OSHA HazCom does not publish a size table. Labels must be legible, in English, prominently displayed. The 2024 final rule codified the long-standing interpretations for small containers:
- ≤ 100 mL: the immediate container may carry a reduced label (product identifier, pictograms, signal word, manufacturer contact, and a statement that full information is on the outer package) when the full label cannot be accommodated.
- ≤ 3 mL: the immediate container may carry only the product identifier when even the reduced label will not fit, with full labelling on the outer package.
4. Choosing the label for the container
| Container | Typical minimum (EU / CN) | Recommended label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 mL–1 L bottle | 52×74 / 50×75 | 60 × 80 or 70 × 90 mm, PE or PP synthetic | Curved surface: use a conformable film; paper cracks on tight radii |
| 5–25 L jerrycan | 74×105 / 75×100 | 80 × 110 or 100 × 120 mm, BOPP with solvent-resistant adhesive | Face is often ribbed; choose a flat panel |
| 200 L drum | 105×148 / 100×150 | 120 × 160 or 150 × 200 mm, PE or PET, outdoor-grade | UV and rain: laminated or thermal-transfer with resin ribbon |
| IBC 1000 L | 148×210 / 150×200 (≤ 1000 L) | A5 or larger, in a document pouch or on the cage plate | Above 1000 L China requires 200 × 300 mm |
Print and material
- Red frame must read as red: pre-print the red on the stock and overprint black, or use a colour label printer; thermal-transfer alone gives you black only.
- Outdoor drums and IBCs: PET or PE face stock, resin ribbon, permanent acrylic adhesive; paper labels do not last a season.
- Check the label after application, not on screen — a 16 mm pictogram looks fine at 200% zoom and disappears on a wet drum.
5. Quick decision path
- Determine the container volume in litres.
- Read the EU row and the China row; take the larger if the product goes to both.
- Check each pictogram is ≥ 1/15 of the minimum label area and ≥ 1 cm² (EU).
- Below 125 mL (EU) or 100 mL (CN/US), apply the small-package rules instead of shrinking the label.
- Pick face stock and adhesive for the container surface and environment.
The label layout calculator can check how many labels of the chosen size fit a sheet or roll, and the dieline templates give you a print-ready outline with bleed.
Generate the label content, then size it from the table
Enter a UN number, get pictograms, signal word and H/P statements, and export at the dimensions your container needs. Open the tool →
References
This article is based on the following primary sources; always check the edition in force before shipping or labelling.
- UNECE — Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
- UNECE — GHS pictograms (official artwork)
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP)
- ECHA — Labelling and packaging under CLP
- OSHA — Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200)
- Federal Register — Hazard Communication Standard final rule (May 20, 2024)
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum GHS label size in the EU?
CLP Annex I section 1.2.1 sets minimum label dimensions by package capacity: up to 3 L, at least 52 × 74 mm if possible; over 3 L to 50 L, at least 74 × 105 mm; over 50 L to 500 L, at least 105 × 148 mm; over 500 L, at least 148 × 210 mm. These refer to the area used for the information required by Article 17, not the whole sticker.
How big must a GHS pictogram be?
In the EU each hazard pictogram must cover at least one fifteenth of the minimum label area and never be smaller than 1 cm². The CLP table gives practical minimums: 10 × 10 mm (16 × 16 mm if possible) up to 3 L, 23 × 23 mm from 3 to 50 L, 32 × 32 mm from 50 to 500 L, 46 × 46 mm above 500 L. China defers pictogram design to the GB 20576–20602 series; the US requires legibility without a fixed dimension.
What are the China GB 15258 label sizes?
GB 15258-2009 section 5.3: containers over 0.1 L up to 3 L need at least 50 × 75 mm; over 3 to 50 L, 75 × 100 mm; over 50 to 500 L, 100 × 150 mm; over 500 to 1000 L, 150 × 200 mm; over 1000 L, 200 × 300 mm. Containers of 0.1 L (100 mL) or less use the simplified label defined in section 4.3.
Can I shrink the label for a small bottle?
Only within the rules. In the EU, packages of 125 mL or less may omit specified H and P statements for certain hazard classes, and fold-out or tie-on labels are allowed when the package cannot carry the information. In China, packages of 100 mL or less use a simplified label. In the US, HazCom 2024 codifies reduced labelling for containers of 100 mL or less and 3 mL or less, with full information on the outer package.