Shipping Label Generator
Type two addresses, pick a common label size, print at 100% scale. The default fills a 4 × 6 in label (101.6 × 152.4 mm) for 5 parcels, numbered 1 of 5 to 5 of 5. It adds no postage or carrier tracking.
No postage. Carriers scan only the label you buy from them. Print this one beside it, or for your own warehouse.
What This Shipping Label Generator Makes
Pick the type with the buttons above the form. The fields stay the same; the layout and the largest block change.
Outbound address label
Recipient prints largest, sender prints as the return address, parcels number 1 of N. The default shows 5 parcels to Joliet, IL.
Return address label
Your returns address prints largest and the customer prints as the sender, with the RMA number as the barcode. The customer still needs paid return postage.
Carton and pallet label
Carton 1 of N in large type, with PO, SKU and units per carton. The default is 6 cartons × 24 units = 144 units.
Address Label Versus Carrier Shipping Label
Search results for this tool mix two jobs. Carrier sites sell postage. Label makers like this one print the address. Here is which one your parcel still needs.
| Element | Label from this generator | Carrier shipping label |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues it | You, from your own order data. | The carrier, marketplace or shipping app, when postage is bought. |
| Postage | None. | Paid for and tied to the label. |
| Tracking number | None. | Issued by the carrier for that parcel. |
| Barcodes | Optional Code 128 of your own reference. | Carrier tracking and routing barcodes. |
| Scannable by the carrier as a label | No. | Yes. That is its purpose. |
| Good for | A readable address panel, returns, carton and pallet ID. | Getting the parcel through the carrier network. |
Use this label when
You already bought postage and want a bigger address panel, you ship on your own van, you label inbound cartons, or the customer needs a returns address.
Buy a carrier label when
The parcel goes through USPS, UPS, FedEx or any courier network. Hand over a parcel carrying only this label and there is no paid service behind it.
Common Shipping Label Sizes
These are common sizes, not carrier requirements. Inches convert at exactly 25.4 mm. Every layout prints at true physical size.
| Layout | Each label | Page or roll size | Labels per page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in thermal label | 101.6 × 152.4 mm (4 × 6 in) | 101.6 × 152.4 mm | 1 |
| A6 label | 105 × 148 mm | 105 × 148 mm | 1 |
| 2 per US Letter sheet | 215.9 × 139.7 mm (8.5 × 5.5 in) | 215.9 × 279.4 mm | 2 |
| 2 per A4 sheet | 210 × 148.5 mm | 210 × 297 mm | 2 |
| 4 per A4 sheet | 105 × 148.5 mm | 210 × 297 mm | 4 |
Sheets needed by parcel count
Sheets = parcels ÷ labels per sheet, rounded up. Blank labels on the last sheet are shown in brackets.
| Layout | 1 parcel | 5 parcels | 12 parcels | 25 parcels | 40 parcels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 6 in | 1 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 40 |
| A6 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 40 |
| 2 per Letter | 1 (1 blank) | 3 (1 blank) | 6 | 13 (1 blank) | 20 |
| 2 per A4 | 1 (1 blank) | 3 (1 blank) | 6 | 13 (1 blank) | 20 |
| 4 per A4 | 1 (3 blank) | 2 (3 blank) | 3 | 7 (3 blank) | 10 |
Five Parcels From Ontario, California to Joliet, Illinois
A US homeware seller ships 5 cartons of glassware to a retail customer's dock. Postage is bought from the carrier first; these labels go on a second panel.
On 4 × 6 in
5 pages, one label each, numbered 1 of 5 to 5 of 5.
On 2 per Letter
3 sheets, with 1 blank half on the last.
On 4 per A4
2 sheets, with 3 blank labels on the last.
Barcode
SO-10482 in Code 128, check value 44, 123 modules wide.
| Field | Value entered | Why it is on the label |
|---|---|---|
| Deliver to | Jordan Mitchell, Prairie Retail LLC | Who signs at the receiving dock. |
| Address | 455 Industrial Drive, Dock 4, Joliet, IL 60431 | The delivery point, not a billing address. |
| Phone | +1 312 555 0148 | Lets the driver call if access is a problem. |
| Return address | Cedar Home Goods, 1420 Sequoia Drive, Ontario, CA 91761 | Where the carton goes if delivery fails. |
| References | SO-10482 and PO-MKT-77821 | Ties each carton to the order and the customer's PO. |
| Parcel | 3 of 5 | Receiving sees at once if a carton is missing. |
| Items and weight | 12 items, 18.5 lb | The count check and the lifting cue. |
| Handling | Fragile, this way up | Glassware should stay upright. |
The carton version of the same job
The supplier labels the inbound stock: 6 cartons × 24 units of MUG-12OZ-WHT = 144 units on PO-55120. On 4 per A4 that is 2 sheets with 2 blank labels.
How to Print Shipping Labels at True Size
A label printed at a reduced scale looks fine on screen and then misses the adhesive stock. Six settings prevent it.
- Scale 100 percentNot a percentage the dialog chose for you.
- Fit to page offAlso turn off shrink to fit.
- Match the paperPick the roll or sheet size that matches the layout.
- Margins noneThe print file already carries a zero margin.
- Headers and footers offSo no URL or date lands on the label.
- Measure oncePut a ruler on the first label before the batch.
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Label prints slightly small | Scaling left on fit to page. | Set scale to 100 percent and reprint one label. |
| Right edge is cut off | Printer paper size does not match the layout. | Select the matching size in the print dialog. |
| A URL or page number appears | Browser headers and footers are on. | Turn them off in the print dialog. |
| Thermal label prints rotated | Driver set to landscape or another roll. | Set the driver to 4 × 6 in portrait. |
| Barcode will not scan | Bars too narrow, or a dirty print head. | Shorten the reference and clean the head. |
| Sheet labels drift down the page | Stock margins differ from the layout. | Use cut guides on plain paper, or match the stock. |
What to Put on a Shipping Label
A good label answers three questions at arm's length: where is it going, which shipment is it part of, and how should it be handled.
Handling Flags and When to Use Them
Handling flags are requests to the people moving the parcel. No wording creates a carrier obligation, so flag only what needs different handling.
| Flag | What you are asking for | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Fragile | Handle without impact; do not throw or drop. | Glass, ceramics, screens. |
| This way up | Keep the marked orientation. | Liquids and anything that settles. |
| Keep dry | Do not leave in rain or on wet ground. | Paper goods, textiles, bare cartons. |
| Do not stack | Nothing placed on top. | Crushable contents. |
| Heavy, team lift | Two people, or equipment. | Cartons past your site's lifting limit. |
| Keep cool | Avoid direct sun and hot vehicle bays. | Candles, cosmetics, adhesives. |
Two panels
Label the top and one side. A carton stacked face down hides a single label completely.
Do not over-flag
If every carton says fragile, none of them stand out. Flag the cartons that need different handling.
The Reference Barcode on the Label
The optional barcode encodes the order, RMA or PO reference you typed, in Code 128 set B with the standard check character. It is for your own scanners.
What it encodes
Exactly the reference you entered. Nothing is added or looked up.
Check character
104 plus each character value × its position, modulo 103. SO-10482 gives 44.
What it is not
Not a tracking number, not a carrier barcode, not a GS1 identifier.
When it is left off
If a bar would print under 0.25 mm wide at your size, the tool drops it and says so.
Need a pallet barcode a retailer will scan?
Retailer pallet labels usually call for a GS1 SSCC, not a free-text reference. Build that with the GS1 barcode generator.
Where the Paid Shipping Label Comes From
Each route below issues the tracking number when the service is bought. That is the moment a label becomes scannable by the carrier.
| Route | Who issues the label | Fits when |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier website or account | The carrier, after you book and pay. | You ship with one carrier, or hold an account. |
| Marketplace shipping | The marketplace, from the order record. | Orders arrive through one or two marketplaces. |
| Shipping app on your store | An app connected to your storefront. | You ship from your own store in small batches. |
| Third-party logistics provider | The 3PL, through its carrier accounts. | Picking, packing and carrier choice sit with a partner. |
| Retail counter | The counter, when you pay for the service. | Occasional parcels with no account. |
- Pack and weigh firstCarrier prices depend on weight and dimensions.
- Buy the serviceThe tracking number and scannable label are created here.
- Attach the carrier labelFlat, with no tape across the barcode.
- Add this labelOn a second panel, for address, references and handling.
Thermal Roll or Office Sheet?
Both print the same content. The choice comes down to volume and the printer you already have.
| Consideration | Thermal roll, 4 × 6 in | Letter or A4 sheets |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware | A dedicated thermal label printer. | Any office printer. |
| Consumables | Label rolls, no ink or toner. | Adhesive sheets, or paper and a pouch. |
| Handling per label | One label per print, peeled off the roll. | Two or four per sheet, cut or peeled. |
| Durability | Direct thermal print can fade with heat and light. | Laser toner holds up on a covered panel. |
| Fits | A packing station printing all day. | Occasional shipments on a shared printer. |
Common Shipping Label Mistakes
Tools and Services Around the Shipping Label
Shipping Label Generator Questions
Need Carrier Labels, Not Just Address Labels?
Talk to Locad about picking, packing and shipping your ecommerce orders, with carrier labels produced in the fulfillment flow.