Shipping Labels: How They Work and How to Print Your Own

A shipping label is the printed sticker that tells the carrier where a package is going, what is in it, and how it should be handled. Every package needs one. The label has the sender and recipient addresses, a tracking barcode, the service level, and the carrier-specific routing data. You can buy and print labels yourself online from USPS, UPS, or FedEx, or through a shipping platform like ShipStation. Brands shipping more than a few orders a day usually move to a 3PL or shipping software so they are not doing it one at a time.

What is a shipping label?

A shipping label is the sticker on the outside of a package that the carrier reads to deliver it. It has four main pieces of information: who the package is going to, who is sending it, what service level the carrier should use (ground, express, etc.), and a tracking barcode that lets everyone follow the package through the carrier system.

Every carrier has a slightly different label format, but the basics are the same. Once a label is printed and applied, the carrier scans the barcode at every checkpoint until the package reaches the door.

What information is on a shipping label?

Recipient address: who is getting the package and where they are.

Sender address: who is shipping it (also where it goes back if undeliverable).

Tracking barcode: the unique code carriers scan to track the package.

Service level: ground, 2-day, overnight, express, etc.

Weight: how heavy the package is. Wrong weight here can trigger a reweigh fee later.

Postage paid indicator: shows the carrier the label has been paid for.

Routing barcodes and zip codes: helps the carrier sort the package through their network.

Special handling notes: hazmat, fragile, signature required, etc., when applicable.

How do you print a shipping label at home?

Three steps. First, buy the label online (USPS.com, UPS.com, FedEx.com, or a third-party platform like ShipStation, Pirate Ship, or Shippo). Second, download the label as a PDF. Third, print it on a regular inkjet or laser printer using sticker paper, or on a thermal label printer using 4x6 thermal labels. Cut it out if needed and tape or stick it to the package.

Most carriers also let you print labels at their drop-off locations if you do not have a printer. You generate the label online, get a QR code, and scan it at the carrier kiosk to print there.

What is a thermal label printer and do I need one?

A thermal label printer prints on heat-sensitive label paper without ink. The most popular models are the Rollo and the Zebra ZP/ZD series. They print 4x6 shipping labels in about 1 second per label, do not need ink replacements, and work with most shipping platforms.

You probably want a thermal printer if you ship more than 10 packages a day. Below that, a regular inkjet or laser printer with sticker paper is fine. Thermal printers run $150 to $400 depending on speed and brand.

Where do you buy shipping labels online?

USPS.com / Click-N-Ship: official USPS labels. Cheaper than the post office counter.

UPS.com: official UPS labels. Account required for daily pickup or discounts.

FedEx.com: official FedEx labels. Account required for most services.

ShipStation: third-party platform that connects to ecommerce stores and prints labels for all carriers in one place.

Pirate Ship: free third-party tool with deeply discounted USPS rates. Popular with small ecommerce sellers.

Shippo: third-party platform similar to ShipStation, often used by Shopify stores.

Shopify Shipping / Etsy Shipping / etc.: built-in label printing inside the store platform.

Why are online labels cheaper than at the counter?

Carriers offer commercial pricing tiers for online labels that are lower than retail counter prices. The cheapest USPS rate is called Commercial Plus Pricing. Most third-party platforms automatically apply commercial rates so even one-off shipments save money. The savings range from a few percent to over 30% depending on the service level and weight.

What goes wrong with shipping labels?

Wrong weight on the label. Carriers reweigh packages and bill the difference (plus a fee) weeks later. Always weigh accurately.

Wrong dimensions for dim weight. Same issue. Wrong dimensions can trigger a dim weight reweigh charge.

Damaged or unreadable barcode. If the carrier cannot scan the barcode, they will hand-process the package, which can delay delivery.

Old or expired label. Most carrier labels expire if not shipped within 28 days of purchase. After that the package gets rejected.

Address typos. Especially street suffix mistakes (Ave vs Blvd) and missing apartment numbers. Address validation tools catch most of these.

How does a 3PL handle shipping labels?

A 3PL prints the label as part of the pick and pack process. The brand does not buy or print labels separately. The 3PL has carrier accounts with negotiated rates, so the per-label cost is usually lower than what an individual brand pays. Rate shopping picks the cheapest carrier per package automatically, and address validation catches typos before the label prints.

Why brands trust 3PL Center to handle shipping labels

We rate-shop USPS, UPS, FedEx, and regional carriers at label time, so each package goes through the cheapest path. Two warehouses near the major ports of California and New Jersey cut zones for most U.S. customers. Same-day shipping for orders received by 2 p.m. local. Get a quote or run your numbers in our fulfillment calculator.