Shipping Label Generator
Create professional shipping labels in seconds. Fill in the addresses, choose your service, and download a print-ready PDF.
Label Details
Fill in the sender and recipient information below.
1From Address
2To Address
3Shipping Details
Label Preview
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What is a Shipping Label?
A shipping label is a printed document affixed to a package that contains all the information a carrier needs to deliver it to the correct destination. It serves as the package's identity card — telling the carrier who sent it, where it is going, how fast it should get there, and how to track it along the way.
Standard Shipping Label Size
The industry-standard shipping label measures 4 x 6 inches (100 x 150 mm). This size is used by all major carriers including USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL. Labels are typically printed on thermal printers using direct thermal or thermal transfer technology, which produces smudge-resistant, scannable output without ink cartridges. Some smaller operations use standard inkjet or laser printers with adhesive label sheets in the same 4 x 6 format.
What Information Must a Shipping Label Include?
- Sender (From) Address — The return address including company or individual name, street, city, state, zip code, and country. This ensures the package can be returned if delivery fails.
- Recipient (To) Address — The destination address with recipient name, street, city, state, zip code, and country. This is the primary routing information for the carrier.
- Tracking Number & Barcode — A unique identifier (usually a barcode) that allows both the carrier and the customer to track the package in real time from pickup to delivery.
- Service Type — Indicates the shipping speed and service level (e.g., Standard, Priority, Express). This tells the carrier how to prioritize the package in their network.
- Package Weight — The total weight of the package, which affects routing, pricing, and handling requirements.
- Special Handling Instructions — Flags such as “Handle with Care,” “Fragile,” or “This Side Up” that alert handlers to treat the package with extra caution.
How Nventory Helps
Nventory streamlines your entire shipping workflow by automatically generating shipping labels from order data. When an order comes in from any connected sales channel — Shopify, Amazon, eBay, or your own storefront — Nventory pulls the addresses, selects the optimal carrier and service level based on your rules, and produces print-ready labels in one click. Batch printing, rate comparison, and tracking number sync are all built in, so you spend less time on logistics and more time growing your business.
Want automated shipping labels, rate comparison, and tracking for every order?
Frequently Asked
Questions
Everything you need to know about this tool, how it works, and what to expect from the results.
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Contact SupportA shipping label is a printed document affixed to a package that identifies the sender, recipient, and shipping details needed for delivery. It typically includes addresses, tracking barcodes, weight, and service type. Carriers use the label to route the package from origin to destination.
The standard shipping label size is 4 x 6 inches (100 x 150 mm), which fits most thermal label printers and carrier requirements. Some carriers accept labels as small as 4 x 4 inches for lightweight packages. If printing on standard paper, the label should be clearly legible and securely attached with a packing sleeve or clear tape.
A shipping label goes on the outside of the package and contains addresses and routing information for the carrier. A packing slip goes inside the package and lists the items included in the shipment for the recipient. The shipping label is required for delivery while the packing slip is optional but recommended for order verification.
You can place clear, non-reflective tape over a barcode, but avoid wrinkles, bubbles, or overlapping tape strips that could distort the barcode. Glossy tape can create glare that prevents scanners from reading the barcode. If using a packing sleeve, the plastic should be flat and free of creases over the barcode area.
A shipping label must include the sender address (return address), recipient address with full name and street address, city, state, zip code, and country. It should also include the package weight, tracking barcode, service type (ground, express, etc.), and any special handling instructions.
You can print shipping labels on a standard inkjet or laser printer using adhesive label sheets or plain paper with a packing sleeve. For higher volumes, a 4 x 6 thermal label printer eliminates the need for ink and produces water-resistant labels. Most carrier websites and shipping platforms let you purchase postage and print labels directly.
A tracking number is a unique identifier assigned by the carrier to each shipment, encoded in the barcode on the shipping label. It allows both sender and recipient to monitor the package location and delivery status online. The tracking number is printed as text below or beside the barcode on the label.
International shipments require additional documentation beyond a standard shipping label. You need a customs declaration form listing the contents, their value, and the country of origin. The shipping label must include the full destination country name and postal code in the format used by the destination country.
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