To add files to UPS to print, you send them to The UPS Store in one of three ways: upload them through The UPS Store’s Print Online service, email them to your local store, or bring them in on a USB drive or your phone. For a UPS shipping label, you don’t need to upload anything at all: show the label’s barcode or the label file at the counter and the store prints it.
The UPS Store locations are independently owned, so accepted file types, email addresses and turnaround times vary by store. The steps below cover each method and the settings that keep a print job, or a shipping label, from coming out wrong.
Table of Contents
What are the ways to send files to The UPS Store?
The UPS Store offers two ordering paths, Print Online and Print In-Store, and in-store jobs can start from an email, a USB drive or your phone. Pick the method based on the job and how soon you need it.
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Print Online | Upload your design or use a template, check out and receive the order by UPS delivery | Business cards, flyers, banners, signs, labels and stickers |
| Email to your local store | Attach the file and instructions; the store follows up with a quote and timing | Documents, resumes, forms and same-day jobs |
| USB drive or phone in store | Bring the file to the counter and the associate prints it | Quick prints and anything you want to proof in person |
| Shipping label barcode | Show the barcode or label at the counter; the store prints the label | Packages when you don’t have a printer |
Not every store offers every option, so call or check your store’s page before you send a large job. The roundup of shipping services and solutions compares what different retail shipping outlets offer.
How do you upload files with Print Online?
The UPS Store’s Print Online service runs on a separate print platform. You choose a product, upload your own file or start from a template, preview it, and check out. Order confirmation and tracking details arrive by email.
- Choose a product: categories include marketing materials, cards, banners, signs and posters, stickers and labels, and custom boxes.
- Upload your file: select “upload your own design” and add a high-resolution PDF, AI, EPS, JPG or PNG.
- Customize and preview: check the size, bleed and text placement in the preview before approving it.
- Check out: estimated delivery dates appear at checkout, and production and shipping times vary by product.
- Watch your email: the confirmation includes tracking once the order ships.
Print Online suits planned jobs. For something you need today, such as a document for an appointment, emailing or bringing the file to a nearby store is usually faster.
How do you email files to The UPS Store?
Many The UPS Store locations accept print files by email. Each store publishes its own contact details on its location page, and staff reply to confirm the job, the price and when it will be ready.
- Find your store with The UPS Store locator and open its location page for the email address and hours.
- Attach the file, ideally as a PDF so the layout doesn’t shift.
- Write clear instructions: number of copies, paper size, single- or double-sided, color or black and white, and any binding or finishing.
- Add your name, phone number and when you’ll pick it up.
- Wait for the store’s reply before you head over, since it confirms the order and timing.
Store hours affect turnaround, especially around holidays when many locations shorten their hours. The UPS holiday schedule lists the dates UPS operations change.
What file types and settings work best?
PDF is the safest file type for any print job, because it keeps fonts, images and page size exactly as you set them. For Print Online, The UPS Store’s print platform accepts PDF, AI, EPS, JPG and PNG and recommends 300 DPI, with fonts outlined and images embedded.
- Resolution: 300 DPI at the final print size keeps text and photos sharp.
- Page size: set the document to the paper you want, such as letter, legal or tabloid, before exporting.
- Fonts: embed or outline them so the store’s computer doesn’t substitute a different font.
- Color: say whether you want color or black and white, since that changes the price.
- Scale: ask for 100% scale on anything with exact measurements, including shipping labels.
Store printing is priced per job, and the cost depends on paper, color and quantity, so ask for a quote when you email the file.
How do you print a shipping label at The UPS Store?
For a UPS shipping label, the simplest route is a mobile barcode instead of a file. When you create a UPS label on ParcelPath, choose UPS Mobile Barcode, bring the code on your phone to a participating The UPS Store location, and the store scans it, prints the label and accepts the package.
ParcelPath is free to use, with no subscription, no per-label fee and no minimums, and it offers up to 85% off UPS retail rates. You can compare live UPS and USPS rates for your package in the ParcelPath rate calculator before you buy the label.
If you already have a label as a PDF, you can email it to the store or show it on your phone, and staff can print it for you. Some stores charge for printing a label you bring in, and the guide on how much it costs to print a label at UPS explains what affects that charge. Shipping from other retail counters can also add cost, as covered in whether it costs more to ship UPS from Staples.
If you’d rather print labels yourself, the UPS shipping label guide covers paper and thermal formats, and the guide to UPS labels and supplies explains how to order free UPS packaging. High-volume shippers weighing a direct UPS account can read how much a UPS business account costs.
What if your file won’t print correctly?
Most print problems come from the file, not the printer. Before you resend a job, check these common causes:
- File won’t open: re-export it as a PDF; uncommon formats and password-protected files often fail.
- Blurry images: the source image is too small for the print size; use a 300 DPI version.
- Wrong fonts or shifted layout: embed fonts or export to PDF instead of sending an editable document.
- Email bounced: large attachments can exceed size limits; send a share link or bring the file on a USB drive.
- Shipping label barcode won’t scan: reprint at 100% scale; a resized barcode is a common reason a label gets rejected.
Once a package is labeled and dropped off, UPS scans it at each step. The guide on whether UPS scans packages explains what each tracking scan means, and the main UPS shipping guide covers rates, tracking and services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I email documents to The UPS Store to print?
Yes, at many locations. Each The UPS Store is independently owned, so find your store with the store locator and use the contact details on its location page. Attach the file, preferably as a PDF, with instructions for copies, paper size, sides and color. The store replies to confirm the job, the price and the pickup time.
What file types can I upload to The UPS Store?
The UPS Store’s Print Online platform accepts high-resolution PDF, AI, EPS, JPG and PNG files, with 300 DPI recommended and fonts outlined. For in-store printing, PDF is the safest choice because it keeps fonts and layout intact. Common document formats usually work too, but check with your local store before sending anything unusual.
Can The UPS Store print my shipping label from my phone?
Yes. If you create a UPS label on ParcelPath with UPS Mobile Barcode, a participating The UPS Store location scans the code on your phone, prints the label and accepts the package. If you already have a label PDF, you can also show it or email it to the store, though some locations charge for printing labels you bring in.
How long does The UPS Store take to print files?
It depends on the store and the job. Simple document prints sent by email or brought on a USB drive are often done while you wait or the same day. Print Online orders are produced and shipped, and The UPS Store’s print platform shows an estimated delivery date at checkout, with timing that varies by product.
Sources
- The UPS Store: Printing Services (Print Online and Print In-Store), theupsstore.com/print
- The UPS Store Print Online platform, upsstoreprint.com (accepted file types and ordering steps)
- The UPS Store location pages: copies and documents services (store-by-store email and file options)
- UPS: Print Shipping Labels
- UPS Location Finder
Part of our UPS Labels and Supplies guide. Related: UPS Shipping Label.
