A shipping label is the carrier-generated sticker or printout on a package that shows the sender’s and recipient’s addresses, the service, and a tracking barcode, and it doubles as proof that postage is paid. You get one by buying postage online or at a carrier counter, then print it at full size and attach it flat to the largest side of the box.
This guide covers what a shipping label contains, how to create and print one with or without a printer, and the USPS and UPS rules that keep a package moving. For UPS-specific steps, see our UPS shipping label guide.
What Information Is on a Shipping Label?
Every shipping label carries the delivery address, a return address, the mail class or service, and a scannable barcode with a tracking number. The USPS Domestic Mail Manual (DMM 602) requires the delivery address on the side of the package that bears postage, with the return address in the upper left corner. The UPS tariff requires a label generated through a UPS shipping system that shows the tracking number, the shipper’s name and address, and the recipient’s name and address.
| Label element | What it does | Carrier rule |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery address | Tells the carrier where the package goes | USPS: name, street and unit, then city, state and ZIP Code, in that order (DMM 602) |
| Return address | Lets the carrier send back an undeliverable package | USPS requires one on Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Ground Advantage and other package services; UPS labels include it |
| Service or mail class | Sets the delivery speed and handling | Printed on every USPS and UPS label |
| Tracking barcode and number | Scanned at each facility to create tracking updates | UPS requires a tracking number on every label |
| Postage or billing data | Shows the package is paid for | UPS prohibits duplicated, reused or altered labels |
The address block is where most problems start. A missing apartment number or wrong ZIP Code can send a package back to you. Our guide on how to address a box for shipping covers the correct format line by line.
How Do You Create a Shipping Label Online?
You create a shipping label online by entering the addresses and package details into a carrier website or shipping platform, choosing a service, and paying for postage. The label file is ready to print right away.
- Weigh and measure the packed box. The price depends on weight, dimensions and distance, so measure after packing, not before.
- Enter both addresses. Type the recipient’s full address, including any apartment or suite number, and your return address.
- Choose the service. Compare options such as USPS Ground Advantage, USPS Priority Mail and UPS Ground on price and delivery time.
- Add extras if needed. Signature confirmation or extra insurance can be added at this step.
- Pay and download the label. The label usually arrives as a PDF or image file sized for a 4×6 label or a letter-size sheet.
Where can you buy a shipping label?
- Carrier websites: USPS Click-N-Ship on usps.com and the shipping tools on ups.com sell labels, mostly at retail prices.
- Shipping platforms: ParcelPath sells USPS and UPS labels at commercial rates, up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS retail, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimums.
- Online marketplaces: Most selling marketplaces let you buy a label from the order page with the buyer’s address already filled in.
- Retail counters: A Post Office or The UPS Store can create and print a label while you wait, at retail prices.
- Prepaid return labels: If a retailer is paying for your return, the label or QR code comes from them.
Before you buy, compare live UPS and USPS rates for your package in the ParcelPath rate calculator. For more carrier and service options, see our roundup of the best shipping services and solutions.
How Do You Print a Shipping Label, With or Without a Printer?
To print a shipping label, open the downloaded file and print it at 100% scale on plain paper or a 4×6 thermal label. Shrinking the page to fit can make the barcode too small to scan.
- Plain paper: Any inkjet or laser printer works. Trim the label and tape all four edges flat with clear packing tape, keeping the tape smooth over the barcode.
- Thermal printer: A thermal printer prints 4×6 adhesive labels with no ink or tape, which saves time once you ship more than a few packages a day. Our guide to the best labels and printers compares models.
- No printer, UPS: ParcelPath’s UPS Mobile Barcode puts a code on your phone, and staff at participating The UPS Store locations scan it and print the label for you. See how to use Mobile Barcode on ParcelPath.
- No printer, USPS: With USPS Label Broker, you get a Label Broker ID as a QR code on your phone. A clerk at a participating Post Office, or a Label Broker self-service kiosk, scans it and prints the label.
If your thermal printer produces blank or misaligned labels, the printer’s label stock setting may not match the roll. Our fix for invalid values in label stock type walks through the settings.
Where Should You Put a Shipping Label on a Box?
Put the shipping label on the largest flat side of the box, away from seams, edges and tape joints that could bend the barcode. The USPS rule is that the delivery address goes on the side with the postage, so keep the label in one piece on one face of the box.
- Remove old labels: The UPS tariff requires previous labels and barcodes to be removed or covered. A second barcode can send the package to the wrong place.
- Don’t reuse labels: UPS prohibits duplicated or reused labels, and each label’s tracking number belongs to one package.
- Keep high-value contents private: UPS says packages holding goods such as jewelry, phones or computers shouldn’t carry labels or markings that reveal what’s inside.
- Don’t rely on “Fragile” stickers: UPS gives no special handling for “Fragile” or “This Side Up” markings, so the packing has to protect the contents.
Before you seal the box, make sure it’s packed tightly and taped well, and open it later with a safe blade such as one of these box cutters.
Can You Handwrite a Shipping Label?
It depends on the carrier. USPS accepts a handwritten delivery and return address on a package paid with stamps, as long as the addresses are legible and in the right places. UPS requires a label generated through a UPS shipping system, so a handwritten address alone won’t work for UPS. For tracking and discounted postage, a printed label from an online platform is the most reliable choice on either carrier.
Once the label exists, tracking shows “Label Created” until the carrier scans the package. Our guide on what “Label Created” means explains that status, and you can find carrier-specific guides through our UPS shipping hub and the wider shipping resources library.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size is a shipping label?
The standard shipping label size is 4 by 6 inches, which is what thermal label printers use. Most carriers and shipping platforms also offer a letter-size version that prints one label on half of an 8.5 by 11 inch sheet. Always print at 100% scale so the barcode stays scannable.
Can I print a shipping label at the Post Office?
Yes. With USPS Label Broker, you buy the label online and receive a Label Broker ID as a QR code. A clerk at a participating Post Office, or a Label Broker self-service kiosk, scans the code and prints the label. You can also have a counter clerk create a new label at retail prices.
Do I need a return address on a shipping label?
For most packages, yes. The USPS Domestic Mail Manual requires a return address on Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, USPS Ground Advantage, Package Services and Parcel Select, among others, placed in the upper left corner of the address side. UPS labels include the shipper’s name and address on every label.
Can I reuse a shipping label?
No. Each label’s tracking number and postage belong to one package. The UPS tariff prohibits duplicating, reusing or altering labels, and requires old labels and barcodes on a reused box to be removed or covered so sorting machines read only the new one.
Sources
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 602: Addressing (address placement 1.2, address elements 1.3, return address 1.5.3 and 1.6)
- USPS: Label Broker
- UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States (8 Packaging and Labeling; 3.1 Items Not Accepted)
- USPS: Ground Advantage
- USPS: Priority Mail
Part of our Labels and Printers guide. Related: Shipping Resources, Invalid Values in Label Stock Type for Label.
