Operating a business is equal to delivering goods promptly. To accomplish this without a hustle, you require shipping labels. They inform the courier of the package’s destination and the sender. Parcels can be delayed, lost, or returned without a label. The information on how to print shipping labels is also relevant to small businesses, online sellers, and even those who package and ship goods.
This guide will reveal all you need to know about shipping labels, including their definition and how to print shipping labels on shopify, Amazon, home, or even at a courier counter near you.
Key Takeaways
- Shipping labels include the sender, receiver, tracking, and courier information.
- Shipping labels can be printed at home using a printer or a courier office.
- Direct label printing is possible in online platforms such as Shopify, Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.
- The labels may be printed using thermal printers (4×6) or ordinary A4.
- Barcodes must be clear and scannable—smudges cause delivery issues.
- You can reprint or create return labels easily from most platforms.
- Using bulk label tools saves time and money for frequent shippers.
- If you don’t own a printer, courier counters and local stores can print them.
What Are Shipping Labels and Why Do You Need Them?
A shipping label is a piece of paper that carries all the details a courier needs to deliver a package. It includes:
- Sender’s name and address
- Recipient’s name and address
- Tracking barcode
- Courier service and delivery speed
- Weight and dimensions
Couriers scan the barcode at every step, updating the sender and customer’s tracking information. Without a proper label, parcels cannot move through the courier network.
Different Ways to Print Shipping Labels
There are multiple ways to print labels, depending on your business size and budget:
- Print at home – Use a thermal or inkjet/laser printer.
- Courier portal – Buy postage through couriers such as USPS, UPS, Australia Post, FedEx, or DHL.
- E-commerce sites – Shopify, Amazon, eBay, and Etsy provide in-house applications.
- Third-party application– Apps such as ShipStation, EasyPost, or sendle can be used to bulk print.
- Local stores – Local stores such as Officeworks (Australia), FedEx Office, or UPS stores print your labels.
Printing Shipping Labels at Home
Small sellers find it easiest to print at home. You have two options:
- Thermal printers (best way to print shipping labels): These printers print 4×6 adhesive labels. They are quick, inkless, and professional. Using thermal labels is a best practice in professional warehouse logistics.
- Inkjet or laser printers: Use A4 paper, cut and paste the label to the package.
Have you ever wondered how to print shipping labels at home?
Here are the steps to guide you through print shipping labels process:
- Buy postage online
- Download the label PDF
- Print it on your printer
- Attach it firmly to your package
No doubt, when you know how to print shipping labels at home, you save time and avoid trips to the courier office.
Platform-Specific Quick Guides
Shipping platforms make the process of creating and printing labels simple. Each marketplace has built-in tools to generate labels quickly. Here’s how to print shipping labels from Shopify, Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.
Shopify
Shopify offers an easy way to manage orders and shipping through its built-in Shopify Shipping tool. Sellers can quickly create labels, choose carriers, and handle postage directly from their dashboard. It saves time and helps streamline the shipping process for small businesses and online stores.
Know how to print shopify shipping labels to simply trading through this platform:
- Go to Orders in your dashboard
- Select the order
- Click Create Shipping Label
- Choose package size and carrier
- Buy and print the label
When asked how to print Shopify shipping labels without a printer, the resolution is simple. You can save the file and print it at a courier or store.
Amazon
Amazon Seller Central provides an integrated shipping solution for sellers. It lets users buy postage, compare services, and quickly print labels. The platform ensures sellers follow Amazon’s fulfilment standards, making shipping more reliable. It also helps reduce errors, ensuring parcels reach customers efficiently and on time.
- Go to Manage Orders
- Select the order
- Click Buy Shipping
- Choose a shipping service
- Download and print the label
The shipping label system offered by Amazon is high-speed, high-accuracy, and platform rules-compliant. Using Seller Central, sellers save time and minimise errors. This combined solution will increase shipping efficiency and improve customer satisfaction due to timely deliveries.
eBay
eBay provides sellers with access to discounted shipping labels and postage. All this is controlled on the seller dashboard; thus, it suits amateur and skilled sellers who want to know how to print labels for shipping.
Delivery is made easy by the labels produced with the correct order details. The system enhances delivery and decreases shipping mistakes to ensure that customers are well served.
- Go to Sold Items
- Click Print Shipping Label next to the order
- Pay for postage
- Print and attach the label
eBay offers clean postage and labelling to give sellers confidence in shipping the items. Labels can be readily printed and stuck with discounted rates and precise order details. eBay gives sellers discounted shipping. From Sold Items → Print Shipping Label → Pay → Attach label. To learn selling best practices, explore how to sell on eBay Australia.
Etsy
Etsy offers shipping opportunities to small business owners. The system allows sellers to purchase postage, select couriers, and print labels. It is made to support handcrafted and creative enterprises, so shipping is not tricky. Etsy handles orders well so sellers can concentrate more on their craft and customers.
- Go to Shop Manager > Orders & Shipping
- Select the order
- Click Get Shipping Labels
- Choose service, buy, and print
Etsy supports shipping for small creative sellers. Go to Shop Manager → Orders → Get Shipping Labels → Print. Having a reliable courier partner ensures smooth delivery lead times.
Carrier Portals (Different Couriers)
Unless you plan to sell on platforms like Shopify or eBay, you can print labels based on the courier-related websites. Most leading couriers offer online solutions to design, purchase, and print shipping labels.
- Australia Post: Buy postage online using MyPost Business. Print 4×6 or A4 and affix it. Small and medium Australian businesses mostly use it for local and international deliveries. Learn more in our eCommerce logistics in Australia guide.
- USPS: Purchase postage on USPS with an account created. Label and print it at home, and put the package in a mailbox or a post office. Online postage purchases are offered at discounts.
- UPS and FedEx: Create a free account on the UPS or FedEx websites. Book shipping, generate a label, and print it instantly. These platforms allow businesses to make bulk shipments and print international labels.
- DHL: Book your shipment on the DHL portal and download the shipping label. DHL offers international coverage with fast courier services. Printing online saves time at the counter and speeds up package handling.
Each courier gives you a PDF that can be printed on any printer.
Step-by-Step: Print a Shipping Label (Thermal 4×6)
Curious about how to print labels for shipping in the most convenient way?
The quickest and most professional method of printing labels is to use thermal printers. They are inkless and printed with solid barcodes to be easily scanned.
- Connect your thermal printer
- Download the 4×6 PDF file
- Open the file in Adobe Reader
- Select printer settings: 100% scale, correct orientation
- Print and peel, and stick the label on the box
- Step-by-Step: Print on A4 (Inkjet/Laser)
Shipping labels can be printed on A4 sheets with a standard printer, even without a thermal printer.
- Download the label PDF
- Open on your computer
- Load A4 sticker paper or plain paper
- Print at 100% scale
- Cut the label if needed
- Tape securely on the package
Troubleshooting: Barcodes, Scale, and Smudges
Even small mistakes can cause delivery issues. Keep these quick fixes in mind when choose the best way to print shipping labels:
- Barcode not scanning? Reprint at 100% scale, avoid resizing.
- Smudging ink? Use a laser printer or tape over the label.
- Wrong size? Always match courier requirements (4×6 or A4).
- Weight mismatch? Use a digital scale before buying postage.
Returns & Reprints
Most platforms and couriers make it easy to fix mistakes or handle returns. Most platforms allow reprinting or return label creation easily. It’s an important part of efficient reverse logistics and inventory management.
- Reprint a lost or damaged label from your account
- Generate return labels for customers. Some are prepaid, and others deduct the cost when used
- Best Practices to Save Time & Money
- These simple habits make shipping faster and more affordable
- Buy a thermal printer if you ship often
- Use bulk printing tools to handle multiple orders
- Always double-check addresses
- Print in batches to save time
- Stick labels on a flat surface for easy scanning
- Compare courier rates before buying postage
Where to Print Shipping Labels if You Don’t Have a Printer
Don’t worry if you don’t own a printer. There are plenty of alternatives:
- Courier counters (UPS, FedEx, Australia Post, USPS)
- Office supply stores like Officeworks or Staples
- Shipping service providers like Pack & Send
- Some couriers offer QR codes. You show the code, and they print the label for you
- This is useful if you search “where can I print shipping labels” near me
Label Sizes & Settings Used in Australia
Shipping labels are accepted in some standard sizes in Australia. The correct format will result in easy scanning, fast processing, and adherence to courier conditions.
4×6 inch (100x150mm): Most couriers use this standard-size thermal label. It fits perfectly on parcels, provides sharp barcodes, and is the best option for regular shippers.
A4 sheets: A practical choice for those using inkjet or laser printers. You can print multiple labels per page, cut them, and tape securely. It is cheaper but less professional.
Conclusion
Shipping labels are the backbone of online selling. Along with selling on Amazon, eBay, or Etsy, you need to know how to print shipping labels to make the process much easier and quicker when managing a small Shopify store. Labels can be printed at home, through the courier portal, or at local stores.
For the best experience, invest in a thermal printer to print shipping labels. Otherwise, printing on A4 paper is no problem. To answer the question of where to print shipping labels when you have no printer, there are always courier counters and office supply stores.
When properly configured, your packages will arrive at customers at a faster, safer, and less hectic location.
