A USPS self-service kiosk, also called an Automated Postal Center (APC), is a touchscreen machine in a Post Office lobby that weighs packages up to 70 lbs., sells postage and stamps, and prints shipping labels without a clerk. Many kiosks are available whenever the lobby is open, often 24 hours a day, and at locations with Label Broker you can scan a QR code to print a label you bought online at no charge.
This guide covers what a kiosk can do, how to find one near you, and how to use it to print a label when you don’t own a printer.
Key Takeaways
- What it is: a self-service postal terminal that handles most retail counter tasks, from weighing a package to buying stamps.
- How many: USPS reported more than 2,883 kiosks nationwide in 2017 and said most are open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
- Weight limit: kiosk scales take letters, flats and parcels up to 70 lbs.
- No-printer labels: at a Label Broker kiosk, you scan the QR code from a label you already paid for, and the kiosk prints it.
- No extra fee: USPS says there’s no extra fee to use a kiosk. You pay only for the postage or services you buy.
What Is a USPS Self-Service Kiosk?
A USPS self-service kiosk is a freestanding touchscreen terminal, usually just inside a Post Office lobby, that takes the place of a retail clerk for routine tasks. USPS’s locations glossary describes kiosks as offering many of the services available at a full-service Post Office counter, and a few are located outside Post Offices.
USPS first rolled the machines out as Automated Postal Centers, so you’ll still see the name APC in older guides and on some lobby signs. Today USPS calls them Self-Service Kiosks, but both names mean the same machine.
What Can You Do at a USPS Self-Service Kiosk?
The USPS kiosk FAQ and the USPS Postal Posts blog list these tasks:
- Weigh a package on the built-in scale, up to 70 lbs.
- Buy postage and print a label for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail. (Older material mentions Retail Ground. That service was folded into USPS Ground Advantage in July 2023.)
- Add extra services such as insurance and Certified Mail.
- Scan a prepaid label to drop off a package that already has postage.
- Print a Label Broker label from a QR code at kiosks that support it.
- Buy stamps, look up a ZIP Code and renew a PO Box.
- Schedule a passport appointment at a Post Office that accepts passport applications.
- Pay by debit, credit or EBT card and print a receipt with your tracking number.
Once your label is on, most lobbies have a package drop slot or bin near the kiosk, so you can leave the package without waiting in line.
How Do You Find a Post Office With a Self-Service Kiosk Near You?
Not every Post Office has a kiosk, so check before you go. On USPS.com, open Find USPS Locations, choose Self-Service Kiosk under location types, and enter your city, state or ZIP Code. The USPS Locations tool, filtered to kiosks then lists the nearest Post Offices that have one.
Open the location’s page to confirm two things. First, check the lobby hours, which can differ from the counter’s hours. Second, if you plan to print a Label Broker label, check whether that location lists Label Broker, because not every kiosk prints them. If none nearby does, the retail counter at a Post Office with Label Broker can scan your code instead.
How Do You Print a Shipping Label at a USPS Kiosk Without a Printer?
You use USPS Label Broker. When you buy a USPS label online and choose Label Broker, you get a QR code with an 8–10 character Label Broker ID underneath. At a Label Broker kiosk you scan the code, or type in the ID, and the kiosk prints the paid label.
- Buy the label online. Enter the package’s weight, dimensions and destination, then choose the USPS service.
- Choose the Label Broker option instead of downloading a PDF, and save the QR code on your phone.
- Pack and seal the box before you go, and bring it to a Post Office with a Label Broker kiosk.
- Scan the QR code at the kiosk, or enter the Label Broker ID, and follow the prompts.
- Attach the printed label and drop the package in the lobby bin or hand it to a clerk.
ParcelPath supports USPS Label Broker, so you can buy a discounted USPS label and print it at the Post Office instead of at home. ParcelPath is free, with up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS, and no subscription or per-label fee. You can create a free ParcelPath account or compare live USPS and UPS rates for your package first.
The Label Broker QR code isn’t the same as the barcode used for tracking. If you’re trying to follow a package that has already shipped, our USPS tracking QR code tips explain how that works. USPS also offers Label Delivery Service, which prints and mails a Click-N-Ship label to you for an added per-label fee. It’s slower than printing at a kiosk.
For every other way to get a label on a box, from home printers to counter printing, see our complete guide to shipping labels and our labels and printers roundup.
Are USPS Self-Service Kiosks Open 24 Hours?
Many are. USPS has said that most kiosks are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because they sit in the lobby rather than behind the counter. So even when a Post Office’s retail counter has closed for the day, you may still be able to weigh, pay for and print a label in the lobby that evening.
Lobby hours are set by each location, and some Post Offices lock the lobby after hours. Check the hours on the location’s page in the USPS locator before you make a late trip.
Can You Buy Stamps at a USPS Self-Service Kiosk?
Yes. Buying stamps is one of the quickest kiosk tasks, and it’s handy when the counter is closed but the lobby is open. If stamps are all you need, grocery stores, pharmacies and online orders are other options, and the USPS shipping hub links to our stamp and postage guides.
Is a USPS Kiosk Faster Than the Post Office Counter?
For a routine domestic package, usually yes, because you skip the line and can use the kiosk outside counter hours. The counter is still the better choice when you need help: international customs forms with questions, items that need special handling, or a Label Broker code that the kiosk won’t scan.
| Task | Self-service kiosk | Post Office counter |
|---|---|---|
| Wait time | Usually none | Depends on the line |
| Hours | Lobby hours, often 24/7 | Retail counter hours only |
| Weigh and buy a label | Yes, up to 70 lbs. | Yes |
| Print a Label Broker label | Yes, at Label Broker kiosks | Yes, at Label Broker counters |
| International customs forms | Limited | Full help from a clerk |
| Buy stamps | Yes | Yes |
If you’d rather not go to the Post Office at all, USPS will collect packages from your door for free, and our guide to scheduling a USPS pickup walks through it. For other drop-off choices, see our guide on where to drop off packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a USPS self-service kiosk?
It’s a touchscreen terminal, usually in a Post Office lobby, that lets you weigh packages up to 70 lbs., buy postage, print shipping labels, buy stamps and renew a PO Box without a clerk. USPS first introduced the machines as Automated Postal Centers (APCs), so both names refer to the same kiosk.
Is there a fee to use a USPS self-service kiosk?
No. USPS says there are no extra fees to use its kiosks. You pay only for the postage and any extra services you buy, such as insurance or Certified Mail. Printing a label you already paid for through Label Broker doesn’t add a charge.
Can a USPS self-service kiosk print a label from a QR code?
Yes, at kiosks that support Label Broker. Scan the Label Broker QR code you got when you bought the label online, or type in the 8–10 character ID under the code, and the kiosk prints your paid label. Check the location’s page in the USPS locator to confirm it offers Label Broker.
Are USPS self-service kiosks open 24 hours?
Most are, according to USPS, because kiosks sit in the Post Office lobby rather than behind the counter. Lobby hours are set by each location, though, and some lock the lobby at night. Check the location’s lobby hours in the USPS locator before you go.
What is the weight limit at a USPS kiosk?
The kiosk scale weighs letters, flats and parcels up to 70 lbs., which is also the maximum weight for most USPS domestic packages. Anything heavier can’t be mailed through USPS, and packages that need special handling should go to the retail counter.
Sources
- USPS FAQ: Self-Service Kiosks
- USPS Postal Posts: Save Time by Visiting a USPS Self-Service Kiosk
- USPS: Label Broker and Label Delivery Service
- USPS: Find USPS Locations glossary
- USPS: Locations tool, filtered to Self-Service Kiosks
Part of our USPS shipping guide. Related: Shipping Labels Guide · Shipping Resources · Schedule a USPS Pickup.
