Printing a UPS label costs nothing beyond the postage when you create it online and print it yourself, and it’s included when you buy the shipment at a UPS Store counter. A separate printing charge only comes up when you ask The UPS Store to print a label file you bring in, and because each store is independently owned, that charge varies by location.
If you don’t have a printer, you can skip the file entirely: a label created with a QR code or mobile barcode is scanned at the store and printed as part of the drop-off. The sections below compare each way to print, what affects the cost, and how to avoid paying for printing at all.
How Much Does It Cost to Print a Label at UPS?
The answer depends on who creates the label and who prints it. Here’s how the common options compare, with no fee amounts because store pricing isn’t set by UPS.
| How you print | Printing charge | What you pay for postage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create online, print at home | None (your own paper and ink) | Online rate for the label you bought | Anyone with a printer |
| Buy the shipment at a UPS Store counter | Included in the transaction | UPS Retail Rates | One-off shipments without a label |
| Show a QR code or mobile barcode at The UPS Store | Printed as part of the drop-off; confirm with your store | The rate paid when the label was created | Prepaid labels with no printer |
| Bring a label file by email or USB to The UPS Store | Store print-service pricing, which varies by location | The rate paid when the label was created | Labels that only came as a PDF |
| Retailer return QR code | Usually none to the customer | Paid by the retailer under its return program | Online-order returns |
Our step-by-step guide to creating a UPS shipping label covers the online process from address entry to printing.
Why Does Printing at The UPS Store Cost More in Some Places?
The UPS Store locations are independently owned franchises, and UPS’s own terms describe them as third-party retailers rather than UPS agents. Each owner sets prices for services like printing, packing and supplies, so two stores in the same city can charge differently for printing the same label.
Shipments created and paid at the counter are also billed at UPS Retail Rates, which are higher than the rates you get for a label bought online. Our article on whether The UPS Store charges more than UPS explains that gap, and our look at shipping UPS from Staples compares another retail counter.
How Do You Print a UPS Label for Free?
The cheapest route is to create the label online and handle the printing yourself or through a barcode drop-off. Each of these avoids a store print charge.
Print at Home
UPS labels print on a standard 8.5 × 11 inch sheet on any inkjet or laser printer, or on a 4 × 6 inch thermal label. Fold or trim the sheet so the label lies flat, tape it down on all edges, and keep tape off the barcode so it scans. Our guide to UPS labels and supplies covers label stock and pouches.
Use a QR Code or Mobile Barcode
When you create a shipment without a printer, choose the QR code or mobile barcode option and save it on your phone. At The UPS Store, an associate scans the code, prints the label and attaches it, so you never handle a file. If you print labels from email instead, our walkthrough on adding files to UPS to print shows how to send them to a store.
Use the Retailer’s Return QR Code
Many online stores issue a QR code for returns. You show it at The UPS Store or a participating UPS location and the label is printed there. Our guide to whether UPS prints return labels lists the ways that works.
Is a Thermal Printer Worth It for UPS Labels?
If you ship several packages a week, a 4 × 6 thermal printer usually pays off. It prints with heat instead of ink, makes a peel-and-stick label in one step, and produces sharp barcodes that scan reliably.
For occasional shipping, a regular home printer is fine. Our roundup of labels and printers for shipping compares thermal models, and our collection of shipping resources covers boxes, mailers and other supplies.
What Must a UPS Shipping Label Show?
A label created online fills in the required details for you. Before you attach it, check that it shows:
- The sender’s and recipient’s full addresses, including ZIP codes
- The UPS service level, such as UPS Ground or UPS 2nd Day Air
- The tracking number and a clean, unobstructed barcode
- The package weight entered when the label was created
One label goes on the largest flat side of the box, with any old labels removed or fully covered. If you made a mistake, you can void the label and create a new one rather than reprinting it; our guide on whether UPS labels expire explains how long an unused label stays valid.
How Can You Avoid Printing Fees and Pay Less for the Label?
The printing charge is small next to the postage itself, so the bigger saving is the rate you pay for the label. ParcelPath offers free UPS and USPS labels with up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimum. You can compare live UPS and USPS rates in the ParcelPath rate calculator before you buy.
No printer is needed: a ParcelPath UPS label can be shown as a UPS Mobile Barcode at UPS Store locations, and USPS labels work with USPS Label Broker at the Post Office. If you’d rather not leave home, our article on why UPS charges for pickup compares pickup options, and our roundup of the best shipping services and solutions covers other carriers’ drop-off choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to print a label at UPS?
Printing a UPS label you create online is free if you print it at home, and printing is included when you buy the shipment at a UPS Store counter. If you bring a label file for The UPS Store to print, the store’s own print-service pricing applies, and it varies because each location is independently owned. Ask your store before you print.
Can The UPS Store print a label from my phone?
Yes. If you choose a QR code or mobile barcode when creating the UPS shipment, an associate at The UPS Store can scan it from your phone, print the label and attach it to your box. This avoids emailing a PDF to the store, which is handled as a print job and may carry the store’s printing charge.
Is it cheaper to buy the label online or at The UPS Store?
Buying online is usually cheaper. UPS bills shipments processed and paid at The UPS Store at UPS Retail Rates, while labels created online on an account get UPS Daily Rates, and shipping platforms can offer further discounts. Creating the label online and dropping it off with a QR code gets the lower rate without needing a printer.
Does UPS charge to print a return label?
Usually not for the customer. When a retailer issues a UPS return QR code, you show it at The UPS Store or a participating UPS location and the label is printed there under the retailer’s return program. If you only have a PDF return label, print it at home or ask the store about its printing charge.
Sources
- UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service (third-party retailers; Retail Rates at The UPS Store)
- UPS: Shipping costs and rates (Daily vs. Retail Rates)
Part of our Estimate Shipping Cost guide. Related: How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Bubble Mailer with USPS, Shipping Calculator.
