How To Make Shipping Labels | [Full Guide] Inside
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With the prevalence of e-commerce, more and more people are printing their own shipping labels. Home-based businesses create items that need to be shipped to their customers. However, it can get extremely cumbersome to take packages to the post office every day, stand in line, get shipping labels, and get the packages sent out. Printing your own labels is a much quicker and easier way to get those items to your customers. But, how do you print your own labels? The process varies slightly depending on which carrier you use, but it is generally easy and straightforward. Keep reading as we give you all the details on printing your own shipping labels.
How To Print Shipping Labels
If you ship a large volume of packages, then printing your own labels will save you a ton of time and money. Even if you only ship a few packages per week, you should be printing your own labels instead of paying the retail shipping rate at the mail counter. That’s right, printing your own labels saves you money because you can get cheaper pricing than purchasing postage at the counter. If you need to know how to ship a package with your own label, then keep reading.
One of the best options is a thermal label printer like the Dymo shipping label printer. This printer will easily print shipping labels just like the ones you get at the post office. You don’t have to worry about cutting out the label from a sheet of paper or taping it onto your package. Simply remove the sticker from the self-adhesive back and affix it to your package. Many software solutions are available that will work with these printers to make printing the labels a breeze. You simply need to determine the size and weight of your package, input the shipping information to your software and click Print. If that all sounds too complicated, you can also print labels directly onto a regular sheet of paper from your carrier’s website. The beauty of this option is that no special equipment is required. We will discuss those options below.
— USPS Shipping Labels
The U.S. Postal Service provides a simple tool called Click-N-Ship. This tool allows you to pay for postage and print your label directly from USPS.com. You can choose either Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express when selecting your shipping option. Determine the weight of your package, and you will then pay for postage online. Enter the shipping address and your return address, and you are ready to print your label. You don’t need a special USPS label printer, as your home printer will work just fine. The label will even include a barcode with a tracking number so that you can track your package as it travels. Drop your package at the post office or schedule a free package pickup, and you are all done!
— UPS Shipping Labels
Many people wonder how to create a shipping label for UPS as well. Printing a UPS label from their website is quick and easy. All you need to do is head over to UPS.com and select “Create a Shipment” from the top menu. You will be required to enter your name and address along with the recipient’s name and address. Provide some details about your package, like the package weight, as well as the type of service you wish to use. Enter your payment information, and your label will be ready to print.
— FedEx Shipping Labels
FedEx provides everything you need on their website to print your own shipping labels. If you ship a large volume of items, they recommend signing up for a free FedEx account which allows you to save money on shipping costs. If you only ship a few packages, then you can create and print a label as a guest and pay with a credit card. Similar to the other major carriers, you need to provide your shipping details and payment information. You can print your label on your own with a laser printer or inkjet printer. However, if you don’t have a printer, you can take your email confirmation to a FedEx location so that they can print the label for you.
— PayPal Shipping Labels
PayPal is one of the largest payment options for small businesses, so printing labels through PayPal only makes sense. Other online marketplaces like eBay are also integrated with PayPal, so it makes the shipping process extremely easy. Once a customer has paid for their item, you can easily print the address label with the click of a few buttons. Plus, PayPal automatically provides you with reduced shipping charges, so it’s a win-win for most small businesses. Currently, only USPS is supported, but other carriers are being added soon. If you are looking to print an online shipping label, then PayPal is a great option. You can also easily print a packing slip from your PayPal account, although that is unrelated to the shipping label itself.
What Is A Shipping Label?
A shipping label is generally an adhesive label that attaches to a package that you need to send. It will contain important pieces of information that allow your shipping service to deliver the package on time to the correct address. The label should contain the delivery address as well as your return address. While there is no standard label size, the label should fit appropriately onto the package. It should also be large enough so that the carrier can easily read it when making the delivery. If you are printing your own label, you can often find label templates online that allow for easy printing.
The label should verify that the appropriate amount of postage has been paid. If you do not affix a proper shipping label to your package, then your shipping carrier likely will not be able to deliver it. It is also important to attach the label properly, as a missing or damaged label will lead to shipping delays or delivery exceptions.
What Is Included On A Shipping Label?
Several key pieces of information are included on a shipping label. If any information is missing, then it can lead to a delay in delivery. The first couple of items are obvious and always need to be included when you address a package. The label needs to include the information required for delivery, such as the recipient’s name and address, along with your name and return address. The label should also contain a barcode that is used for tracking. The barcode allows the shipping carrier to easily scan the package as it travels through a location on its way to the final destination.
Most shipping labels also display the package weight, and they should also show the type of service used. This could be Priority Mail, Overnight, Ground, or some other service type specified by your carrier. Finally, most labels have sorting codes on them so that the workers can easily identify where the package needs to go as it routes through each sorting facility. Some labels also include the shipping date, but not always.
Cost Of Shipping Labels
The cost of your shipping label varies based on a few different factors. First, prices vary by carrier. Generally, shipping a package with USPS is the cheapest option, but you might need to use UPS or FedEx for a particular service. Next, the size and weight of the package will greatly affect the cost of your label. While you might be able to ship a small, lightweight package for $7, it might cost you $50 to send a package that is significantly heavier. Lastly, the distance that the package must travel affects the cost. Sending a package across the country is going to be more expensive than sending it within the same state.
Most carriers do not charge you any additional fees for printing your own labels. In fact, most allow you to get a discount on shipping if you create an account on their website. From your account, you can print shipping labels and manage all your shipments. If you frequently ship items, those savings can add up to a lot of money.
What To Do After You Create Your Shipping Label
Now that you have printed your label, what do you need to do next? You should securely attach the label to your package. If you are using plain paper and tape, make sure that you do not tape over the barcode. Doing so can prevent the machines at the carrier’s facility from reading the barcode properly.
Once your label is attached, then you can either drop it off with your carrier or schedule a pickup. Most major carriers will provide free package pickup, so you never even have to leave home to send your packages. Once the package is in the carrier’s hands, you can keep an eye on the tracking information to make sure that it gets delivered. The process couldn’t be much easier!
The Bottom Line
Printing your own shipping labels from home is quick and easy, and it can even save you money on postage! To make things even easier, you can configure most e-commerce sites with automation to print the labels for you if you have a small business that prints lots of labels. All the major carriers allow you to print your own labels, and they will even provide free package pickup. If you need to ship a package, go ahead and give it a try!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to make shipping labels?
The best way to make shipping labels is with a label printer like the Dymo. These labels look completely professional, and they are adhesive. However, if you don’t want to spend the money on a dedicated printer, you can easily print labels on your home printer on regular paper. You will just need to cut out the label and tape it to your package.
How do I make a shipping label at home?
Head over to your carrier’s website and print the label directly from there. All the major carriers have this functionality, and you can even save a few dollars on shipping costs when you do this. Enter all the details about your package, pay online, and print the label. Once you’re done, the carrier will take your package and deliver it like normal.
What are the most popular shipping labels online?
PayPal shipping labels are one of the most popular shipping labels online. Third-party shipping services are also popular, like Stamps.com. The biggest thing is to find something that works for you. If you need to integrate label printing with an e-commerce site, find the service that makes things the easiest. Automatic label printing will save you lots of time and money in the long run.