USPS Click and Ship (officially Click-N-Ship) is the Postal Service’s free online tool for buying postage and creating labels for USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express. You sign in with a free USPS.com account, enter the addresses, weight and size, pay, and then print the label at home or get a Label Broker ID to have it printed at the Post Office. Every Click-N-Ship label gets USPS commercial pricing, which is lower than the retail price at the counter.
This guide covers how to create a Click-N-Ship label step by step, your printing and pickup options, size limits, refunds and how Click-N-Ship compares with other ways to buy postage online.
Table of Contents
- What is USPS Click and Ship?
- Which USPS services can you ship with Click and Ship?
- How do you create a label with USPS Click and Ship?
- Do you need a printer for Click and Ship labels?
- How much does USPS Click and Ship cost?
- How do you schedule a pickup after creating a label?
- What are the weight and size limits?
- Can you ship internationally with Click and Ship?
- How do refunds, tracking and claims work?
- What are the alternatives to USPS Click and Ship?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
What is USPS Click and Ship?
Click-N-Ship is part of USPS.com. It lets you buy package postage without visiting a Post Office, save addresses and package presets, and keep a history of every label you’ve bought. USPS describes it as the easiest way to buy postage for Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express.
The tool includes free Priority Mail shipping supplies, an Advanced Label Manager for working with several labels at once, a Ship Again shortcut for repeat shipments, saved shipping preferences and a Shipping History page where you can track, reprint and request refunds. Business users can also sign up for non-published discounted prices through a business rate card.
Which USPS services can you ship with Click and Ship?
Click-N-Ship is built around the three main domestic package services. The table below compares them, so you can pick the cheapest one that meets your deadline.
| Service | Delivery time | Max weight | Max size (length + girth) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | 2–5 business days | 70 lb | 130 in | Most everyday packages, including light ones under 1 lb |
| Priority Mail | 2–3 business days | 70 lb | 108 in | Faster delivery, Flat Rate boxes and free supplies |
| Priority Mail Express | 1–3 days by 6 p.m., money-back guarantee | 70 lb | 108 in | Deadlines that need a guarantee |
Older guides still list First-Class Package Service and Parcel Select Ground, but USPS replaced both with Ground Advantage in July 2023. Ground Advantage is now the right choice for packages that used to go First-Class. Choosing a service is the same whether you print from USPS.com or elsewhere, and our guide on how to get a shipping label covers the basics of label formats.
Letters that need legal proof of mailing are a separate case: our guide on how to send Certified Mail covers the forms and receipts involved.
How do you create a label with USPS Click and Ship?
Creating a label takes a few minutes once you’ve weighed and measured the package. USPS breaks it into prepare, print and ship.
- Sign in or create a free USPS.com account. You need an account to use Click-N-Ship.
- Enter the return and delivery addresses. Check apartment or suite numbers, because USPS checks the address before you pay.
- Enter the package details. Add the weight, choose the package type, and enter dimensions if the box is large.
- Choose a service and any extras. Compare Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express, and add options such as Signature Confirmation or extra insurance.
- Pay and print. Pay at checkout, then print the label or choose a no-printer option.
- Ship it. Drop the package at a Post Office or schedule a free pickup.
If you make an address mistake after printing, our guide to changing the address on a USPS shipping label explains your options. Labels also have a shelf life, and our article on when shipping labels expire explains how long a printed label stays valid.
Do you need a printer for Click and Ship labels?
No. Click-N-Ship gives you three ways to get the label onto the box.
- Print it yourself: any inkjet or laser printer works on plain paper or adhesive label sheets.
- USPS Label Broker: buy postage, receive a Label Broker ID, and show it at a Post Office location that offers the service, where the clerk prints the label.
- Label Delivery Service: for a per-label fee, USPS mails you a printed label.
When printing at home, print at 100% scale rather than “fit to page,” so the barcode keeps the size USPS scanners expect. Tape over the edges of a paper label but not over the barcode itself, and make sure no old labels or barcodes are visible on a reused box. Our shipping resources library has more label and packaging guides.
How much does USPS Click and Ship cost?
Click-N-Ship itself is free: there’s no subscription or account fee, and you pay only for postage and any extra services you add. USPS says all Click-N-Ship users automatically get commercial pricing, which is lower than the retail price for the same label at a Post Office counter.
Prices still depend on weight, size, zone and service, so the best way to see the difference is to quote your actual package. You can compare live USPS and UPS rates in the ParcelPath rate calculator and check them against the Click-N-Ship price before you buy.
How do you schedule a pickup after creating a label?
After printing, you can drop the package at any Post Office or schedule a free Package Pickup on USPS.com. Your carrier collects it during the regular delivery route, so it just needs to be sealed, labeled and left where the carrier can reach it. Restrictions can apply in some areas, so confirm the date on the pickup confirmation.
If you send packages often, scheduling pickups for days you already expect mail delivery saves a trip. Our how to ship guide covers the full home-shipping workflow, from packing to drop-off.
What are the weight and size limits?
Every Click-N-Ship service accepts packages up to 70 pounds. Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express allow up to 108 inches in combined length and girth, while Ground Advantage allows up to 130 inches. Girth is the distance around the thickest part of the package.
Size also affects price. For packages larger than 1 cubic foot, USPS charges dimensional weight (length × width × height ÷ 139) when it’s higher than the actual weight, and packages longer than 22 inches or larger than 2 cubic feet pay nonstandard fees. Entering accurate dimensions in Click-N-Ship avoids postage-due surprises.
Can you ship internationally with Click and Ship?
Yes. Click-N-Ship also creates international labels, including Priority Mail International and Priority Mail Express International, and it builds the customs form into the label flow. You’ll need the recipient’s full address and phone number, a description of each item, its value and its quantity.
Before you buy, check USPS’s international service alerts for the destination, since service to some countries is limited or suspended. Duties and taxes are separate from postage and are usually paid by the recipient.
How do refunds, tracking and claims work?
If you don’t use a label, request a refund from Shipping History. USPS accepts refund requests for unused Click-N-Ship labels up to 60 days after the print date, as long as the label was never scanned. Return labels you create are free to print, and you’re charged only when they’re used.
Every package label includes USPS Tracking, and our guide to the USPS tracking ID explains where to find the number. To see packages coming to you, sign up for Informed Delivery through our USPS tracking guide. Ground Advantage includes up to $100 of insurance and Priority Mail includes up to $100 on most shipments, and the claims process is explained in our guide to USPS insurance coverage and claims.
What are the alternatives to USPS Click and Ship?
Click-N-Ship works well for occasional USPS shipments, but it only sells USPS postage. If you also want UPS options, or deeper discounts on USPS, a free online shipping platform is the next step up.
ParcelPath is free to use, with no subscription, per-label fee, minimum or contract, and offers up to 89% off USPS retail rates and up to 85% off UPS. It supports USPS Label Broker and free USPS pickups, so you can ship without a printer, and UPS Mobile Barcode for printer-free drop-off at The UPS Store. More than 44,000 customers use it to compare carriers on the same screen.
| Option | Carriers | Pricing | No-printer option |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Click-N-Ship | USPS | USPS commercial pricing | Label Broker ID or mailed label |
| Post Office counter | USPS | USPS retail pricing | Clerk prints the label |
| ParcelPath | USPS and UPS | Up to 89% off USPS and 85% off UPS retail | USPS Label Broker or UPS Mobile Barcode |
If you’re comparing broader options, such as same-day couriers or freight, our overview of delivery services explains how they differ, and the ParcelPath shipping calculator page lets you price a package across carriers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is USPS Click and Ship free to use?
Yes. Creating a USPS.com account and using Click-N-Ship costs nothing, and you pay only for the postage and any extra services on each label. USPS says every Click-N-Ship user automatically gets commercial pricing, which is lower than the retail price at the Post Office counter for the same package.
Can I use USPS Click and Ship without a printer?
Yes. After you buy postage, you can choose USPS Label Broker, which gives you a Label Broker ID to show at a participating Post Office, where the clerk prints the label. You can also pay a per-label fee to have USPS mail you a printed label through its Label Delivery Service.
Can I get a refund for an unused Click and Ship label?
Yes. Request the refund from your Click-N-Ship Shipping History. USPS accepts refund requests for unused Click-N-Ship labels up to 60 days after the print date, as long as the label hasn’t been scanned. The refund goes back to the payment method you used to buy the label.
Which services does USPS Click and Ship offer?
Click-N-Ship sells USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express labels for domestic packages, plus international services such as Priority Mail International. First-Class Package Service is no longer offered because USPS replaced it with Ground Advantage in July 2023, so light packages under 1 pound now ship Ground Advantage.
Sources
- USPS: Click-N-Ship (features, commercial pricing, printing options, pickup, returns)
- USPS FAQ: Click-N-Ship, The Basics
- USPS: USPS Ground Advantage (delivery time, limits, dimensional weight, nonstandard fees)
- USPS: Priority Mail
- USPS: Priority Mail Express
- USPS: Refunds page, usps.com (unused Click-N-Ship label refund window)
