In our blog, Benefits of Printing Postage Online, we highlighted the advantages that online postage can give a small business. Printing your own postage labels can save you money, speed up your mailing and shipping tasks and help your establishment in other ways. In this blog, we’ll show you the correct and easy way to print shipping labels. CONTENT Why Do Small Businesses Need A Shipping Label? What Information is On a Shipping Label? 3 Best Practices for Shipping Labels What Are the Standard Shipping Label Sizes? What Printers Can I Use For My Shipping Labels? Where On the Package Should I Place My Shipping Label? Other Important Tips to Keep in Mind How To Create Shipping Labels from MS Word, Excel, and Mac FAQ Why do Small Businesses need a Shipping Label? Shipping labels are vital to a business, especially if its small, due to the following reasons: 1. Your Shipping Label Bears Important Details about You and the Recipient Your postage sticker indicates your parcel’s destination, which ensures that it reaches your customer. It also has your address in case a return is necessary. Get Direct Thermal Shipping Labels at 10% OFF! Direct Thermal Shipping Label Labels Per Roll : 220 Labels/Roll Size (inch) : 4″ x 6″ Printer Technology : Direct Thermal AS LOW AS $7.47 / ROLL 2. The Shipping Label Shows the Service Type Used Your package’s postage tag bears proof of the kind of service that you used to send it. This lets the carrier’s employees know how fast they should process and deliver the parcel. It also shows customers that you used the shipping service that they specified and paid for. 3. Computer-Printed Shipping Labels Maintain Your Parcel's Professional Look Shipping addresses can be handwritten or printed on the computer. But computerized labels look neater and can be reproduced without your hand tiring out. Expertly done tags are part of your business packaging. They preserve its professional appearance even as it goes through rugged transport conditions. 4. Shipping Labels Can Help You Promote Your Brand There is at least one area on your postage sticker where you can print your business logo or slogan. Such a tool helps promote your brand and encourage repeat purchases. Its location will depend on your carrier’s label template. 5. They Help You Stay Compliant with USPS Regulations USPS requires businesses to include the IMpb barcode on the shipping label. This tool enhances the parcel’s traceability and ensures that registered small business owners are given postage discounts. The IMpb barcode can be obtained from the office, but aside from spending on travel, it will be given to you at the retail price. However, getting it online will knock off your fuel expenses, and hefty discounts will reduce postage costs for your business. Printing shipping labels can be confusing if you just decided to do it on your own for the first time. Be consoled, however, because it should get better in a jiffy. Most online postage apps are easy to learn and user-friendly. Learn More: Buy now at enKo Products and learn how to print your shipping labels using MS Word. Shop now at enKo Products and start printing your labels from excel spreadsheet. Browse a range of sizes for sheet labels similar to Avery! View all available sizes for fanfold labels in our store. What Information is On a Shipping Label? The information below applies to a standard USPS shipping label. Other carriers have pretty much the same data on their label templates but are just formatted differently. 1. Service icon This is the symbol for the service type used. The service icon can be one of the following: P – Signifies priority mail. The maximum parcel weight is 70 lbs. and it can reach a US recipient in one to three days. F – Indicates first-class mail. The maximum shipment weight is 15.99 lbs. and arrival is within one to three days. E – Symbolizes priority mail express. The package may arrive overnight or in one to two days. – A solid block signifies the use of package services, which include parcel select, media mail, bound printed matter, library mail and retail ground. What are the differences between them? Parcel select – A ground delivery service used by medium- and large-sized shippers. The parcel reaches a US recipient in 2-8 days. Media mail – This service is suitable for sending informational media like books, DVDs, CDs, videotapes, etc. They may reach a US recipient in 2-10 days. Bound printed matter – The service is for sending large volumes of printed material that may be bound by staples, stitches, glue, etc. The parcel may reach a US recipient in 7-10 business days but can take three weeks. Library mail – It is a bulk mailing service used by research institutions, libraries, etc. The shipment reaches a US recipient in 7-10 days. Retail ground – This service is for non-urgent single-piece mail, which may reach a US customer in 2-9 days. However, it may sometimes take 14 business days, depending on the season. – An empty block implies critical mail, a flat-rate delivery class for secure documents such as tickets, gift cards, etc. USPS discontinued this service in 2016. Save up to 80% OFF on Fanfold Shipping Labels! 4″ x 6″ Fanfold Labels (500 / Stack) SHOP NOW 4″ x 6″ Fanfold Labels (2,000 / Stack) SHOP NOW 2. Proof of postage payment This area bears payment information, shipping date, parcel weight and shipping zone. It will indicate whether you paid postage at the post office or online. The post office uses either metered postage or stamps. Online postage is evident when you see a smart code with the service provider’s logo beside it. This sample label was prepared using Stamps.com. Take note of the shipping date indicated here. It is the date on which your carrier shall collect your package. If you’re sending similar packages routinely, you may want to prepare some of your labels ahead of time and postdate them. 3. Service banner This portion spells out the service type and subclass you used. In this example, the two-day priority mail subclass is indicated. 4. Sender's name and address This information is necessary in case the package is returned. It is printed less prominently than the recipient’s information. It may indicate your store’s address or that of your 3PL provider. 5. Ancillary service endorsements This portion has information about some specific services requested, particularly, address service, change service and return service. In this example, return service is indicated, which corrects the recipient’s address and may reroute the mail back to the sender when it is undeliverable. 6. Recipient's name and address This portion indicates the parcel’s destination and is more prominent than the return address. 7. IMpb barcode This has USPS’ regulatory barcode in it. We have earlier explained its significance. 8. Area for additional information or customization This portion has information that is not vital to the shipment service. You may customize it by putting your business logo or slogan, as in this example. Other shippers may allow customization in another part of the label. Now that you’re familiar with your shipping label’s anatomy, you should be able to print one with ease. 3 Best Practices on Labels for Shipping Here are a few important things to remember when using shipping labels: 1. Contents with Special Shipping Instructions Does your package require special instructions? If it does, then it is best to make a note of the instruction on the package. It may involve labeling your package “Fragile,” “Perishable,” or “Flammable” (most carriers will usually ask this as well). On top of that, you may want to note if a package must be “This Side Up.” Keeping these special requirements in mind will help ensure your package arrives at your customer’s doorstep in the best condition. 2. Proper Label Placement You should place your labels on the top section of your package (especially if it has a “This Side Up” instruction). Also, ensure the label is completely visible and isn’t folded over any edge because this may block important information or make it unscannable. Finally, make it a point to level any bump after sticking the shipping label on your package, as this could also make codes unreadable. If you plan on covering your label with transparent tape or intend to place it in a plastic wallet for protection, make sure the whole label is legible. 3. Packing Slips or Waybill Ideally, you want to include packing slips, sometimes called a “waybill,” at all times. The packing slip goes inside the package (or outside, in a plastic wallet) and essentially functions as a receipt. The slip should feature: Your company’s contact details The customer’s address The date and number of the order The items inside the package The quantity of the items inside the package A customer service number Any additional comments or information regarding returns, refunds, etc. Always note these three important things when using a shipping label on a package. What Are the Standard Shipping Label Sizes? When print shipping labels, the standard label sizes that you’re allowed to use are 4″ x 6″ (the “4 x 6”) and 5.5″ x 8.5″ (the “half-sheet”). Rarely, a 4″ x 5″ or 4″ x 4″ is used, but they are not widely accepted. Both the 4 x 6 and the half-sheet are appropriate for the following purposes: Domestic shipments to private recipients International shipments to private recipients APO, FPO and DPO shipments for mail or care packages sent to the army, navy, and US embassies, respectively. Mail to these destinations can only be sent through USPS. The shipping label is landscape-oriented, so a reconfigured 4 x 6 or a half-sheet may be used. The most important label size is the 4 x 6 because it is the most widely accepted by online mailing platforms. It is also big enough to contain all pertinent postage information, including the IMpb barcode. Print Shipping Labels at Super Cheap Prices! Dymo 4XL Shipping Labels Labels Per Roll : 220 Labels/Roll Size (inch) : 4″ x 6″ Printer Technology : Dymo Printer AS LOW AS $5.86 / ROLL What Printer Can I Use to Create a Shipping Label? Looking for helpful tips on how to print your own shipping labels? Because of the standard shipping label sizes, printers must have a print width of 4″ or wider. They can be any of the following: 1. Inkjet Printer You can use any inkjet printer as such machines can process sheet labels. However, printer ink is quite pricey and smudges easily on contact with moisture. Using these printers risks losing your shipping label’s scannability. Get 10% OFF on Sheet Labels for Shipping! Sheet Labels Labels Per Roll : 100/Pack Size (inch) : 5.5″ x 8.5″ Printer Technology : Deskjet & Laser Printers AS LOW AS $11.77/PACK 2. Laser Printer If you have a laser printer instead, you can print your shipping labels with that, too. However, toner is also expensive. Routine labeling with a laser printer may hurt your budget eventually if you’re already shipping dozens of packages daily. 3. Direct Thermal Printer Direct thermal printers are a business owners’ gadgets of choice for making shipping labels. They produce smudge-proof images. They do not use ink, but instead, the special paper they use changes color on contact with their heated print heads. You might find them cost-effective and efficient if you’re shipping dozens or hundreds of parcels daily. If you intend to use this technology, know that not all direct thermal printers can produce the standard shipping label. This is because many of them have print widths less than 4″, and such printers are used for other functions like price tagging, product labeling, retail barcoding, etc. Additionally, you would need a shipping label printer that is accepted by your preferred carrier’s website. American brands like Zebra and Dymo are compatible with most online postage sites in the US. In terms of printer resolution, 203 dpi is enough for making barcodes and QR codes, including those used in shipping labels. Crisper prints are usually not necessary unless they have a special purpose. For example, a resolution of 300 dpi is good for intricate business logos. A 600-dpi resolution is used mostly for tiny prints found in healthcare specimen vials. Higher-resolution machines are not only unnecessary for retailing and most other industries, but they are also relatively slower and more expensive. Direct thermal printers may sometimes print lightly, but you can adjust your computer or mobile device settings to make them print darker images on thermal sticker labels. Where On the Package Should I Place My Shipping Label? After printing your postage sticker, you can attach it on any of your parcel’s prominent surfaces. Just make sure not to bend the label around edges or render any of its parts illegible. It is important to keep your shipping label readable to logistics personnel and scanners at all times. Important Tips in Printing a Label for Shipping Aside from the above guide, you may want to take note of the following: 1. Make Sure to Double-Check Pertinent Mailing Information When you log on to your online postage account and prepare your shipping label, you will be asked to provide the following information: The recipient’s address Your return address The parcel’s weight and declared value Your preferred postage class Additional services that you want Your payment information Review all these before printing your label to ensure their accuracy and prevent waste. 2. Save Your Postage Sticker in PDF Form Just in Case When you’re about to print your label, you can choose to do so immediately or save it in a PDF file first. You may want to do the latter just in case you encounter any troubles during printing. 3. Each Carrier Has Unique Policies on Using Labels for Special Handling Suppose the parcel needs special handling, e. g. when it is fragile or flammable, your carrier may allow you to use additional labels to alert personnel. You can check your service provider’s website to see where you can place yours. 4. You May Cover Your Label Some choose to leave their shipping labels bare to ensure visibility, and that is okay. However, others put plastic tape or stick a cellophane cover on top to keep them from getting damaged during transport. You can protect your shipping labels as long as the cover does not compromise readability. 5. Ship on Your Shipping Date Make sure to schedule your pickup date on the day that you indicated on your shipping label. Failure to do so may trigger confusion and delays during transport, which will not make your customers happy. 6. It Is Best to Use White Labels and Print in Black You may be tempted to print in color when using a multicolor printer, or even use colored labels. You are free to print your logo or slogan in color as it is not critical to shipment information, but your label should always be white. Pertinent mailing information is best printed in black on a white background to optimize contrast and ensure scannability. 7. You May Write Your Label by Hand, But… You are allowed to write your shipping labels by hand if you run out of the right-size ones. Other sizes will just not be compatible, and using them may only lead to printing errors and waste. However, if you write your postage stickers by hand, you will be missing out on the cost- and time-saving features of printing your own shipping labels. 8. A Packing Slip is Optional, But it is Also Good for Marketing You may include a packing slip or a “waybill” in your parcel. Online postage providers have templates on their websites that you can fill out and print. The waybill may contain your customer’s order information, a receipt, parts checklist, etc. You can secure it anywhere beside your shipping label using a plastic covering. How To Make a Shipping Label from MS Word, Excel, and Mac Understanding the importance of labeling will help you create your own shipping labels. And to assist business owners, we have this guide on how to print your labels from MS Word, Excel and Mac using a Dymo printer. Printing Dymo labels from a compatible Dymo LabelWriter printer is pretty straightforward. If you’re looking to print your labels, we have prepared a simple guide to help you out. It includes a step-by-step tutorial on printing a single Dymo label from Microsoft Word or multiple labels from Microsoft Excel and Mac. (a) How to Print a Dymo Label from Microsoft Word Once you install the Dymo software and drivers on your PC, it will include a Word Add-in application. Microsoft Word automatically installs this plug-in and integrates the Dymo Label tab on the main toolbar. With the Dymo Label tab, you can choose the text you want to print without creating a custom label template. Open Microsoft Word from your PC and then type in the text you want to print on your label Select the text you just typed in and click on the Dymo Label tab from the toolbar Open the Dymo Label Add-In box by clicking on “Print Label”. Find and select your Dymo LabelWriter printer and label layout from the “Select Printer” and “Select Label Layout” drop-down menus. Click “Print” to start printing your label. (b) How to Print Multiple Dymo Labels from Microsoft Excel Dymo LabelWriter printers and their integrated software have numerous extra features that make label printing easier. One of them is the ability to set up and print an entire Excel sheet with only a few simple steps. This feature is very useful, especially if you’re trying to print numerous labels at a time from your printer. Open a blank document on Microsoft Excel. Create a list that you can use for printing multiple labels on your Dymo LabelWriter printer. Remember to use each column to segregate all the necessary information you need to print. For instance, column A includes first names, Column B includes last names, and so on so forth. After creating your list, click on “Save” and then exit Excel. Go to the Dymo Label Software and select your label. For this guide, we’ll be using our Dymo 30256 white large shipping label. From the Dymo LablWriter software, go to “Insert” and then select the “Address box”. Select and drag the address box to your label. Adjust the size of your address box according to your Dymo label Click and select the address box. Go to File > Import Data and Print > New and then click “Next” once a pop-up appears. Click on “Browse”, find and select your Excel file and then click “Open”. Click on “Next” and then choose your address box as the destination for your data fields. Drag and drop your columns to your desired output After setting up your Dymo Label, click “Next”. Please select your option for printing, whether it’s the entire list or specific entries. Click on “Print” and the Dymo LabelWriter printer will now starting printing the labels from your Excel file. (c) How to Print Dymo Labels from MacOS Before you begin, be sure that the Dymo LabeWriter is already installed on your computer. It will help you gain access to numerous default label sizes from your Mac OS system. Without the software, setting up the proper label size would be difficult. Go to the mac Preview application and launch your label. To open the print dialog, choose “File” and then “Print”. On the print menu, choose “Show Details” to view additional printing options. Choose the proper paper size – e.g., “4 x 6” for printing Dymo 1744907 4XL Shipping Labels. Click on “Print”, and the Dymo LabelWrinter printer will start printing your label. Make Shipping Label Printing a Breeze Creating shipping labels is part of the nitty-gritty of business, and so printing them correctly is crucial. By following the above guide, you’ll see how to create shipping labels and find out that making your own postage stickers is easy. Doing so also allows you to reduce waste, increase your productivity and personally ensure your goods’ timely delivery. At enKo Products, we help small businesses make inexpensive but quality customized packaging by offering affordable packaging supplies & shipping labels online. We offer the following premium-grade materials at very low prices: Warehouse labels Sheet labels for Shipping Direct thermal labels for Shipping Dymo labels for Shipping Brother labels for Shipping Frequently Asked Questions Can you print shipping labels on a regular printer? Yes, you can. You don’t really need a professional label printer to print high-quality labels, especially if you are only printing occasionally. This is also ideal for beginner shippers. All you need is a standard laser or inkjet printer and computer paper. In fact, you can print one to two labels per one sheet of letter-size paper. The process of printing a shipping label on a regular printer is the same as printing any document. But after you print your label, you need to cut the excess paper before taping it to your packages. Buying a half-sheet sticker paper for 4×6″ label sizes would also be more convenient if you want to keep on printing your labels on a regular printer. Can you print shipping labels for free? Regardless of what type of package you are going to ship, you can easily print any kind of shipping label for free. Shipping services like UPS and FedEx already allow users to do this. For USPS, they used to offer postage-free label printing for Express and Priority mail services but this option is not available anymore. However, you can try Swordfish Express if you are a Mac user and USPS Shipping Assistant if you are a Windows user. Printing postage-free labels is ideal for packages that don’t have actual weight measurements. It makes sure that you don’t overpay for the postage by going to a post office instead and having them weigh your package. How do you print a shipping label if you don't have a printer? One obvious alternative would be to do it by hand. However, if you really need a printed label, you can write the details on a sheet of paper or save your label template on a USB flash drive and take it to a local shipping center. There, you can ask them to print your label for you. You can also use a friend’s printer or go to a printing shop. For USPS labels, you can create a shipping label online through their Click-N-Ship service. After creating your label, an email will be sent to you containing the Label Broker ID. The last thing you need to do is go to a Post Office that supports USPS labels and have your label printed and attached to your package. Is it cheaper to print your own shipping labels? If you are only printing labels occasionally, the answer would be no. But if you are printing in batches or running a small business, printing your own labels will surely be less expensive. In fact, you will get more discounts and cheaper rates when you print a shipping label online compared to buying them outside. Moreover, if you are printing shipping labels in bulk, it would be practical to use label rolls instead of sticker sheets. Buying your own thermal label printer that is designed for shipping labels can also be cheaper. Because, unlike sticker sheets, thermal label rolls are weather-resistant and more durable. This helps in minimizing your business’ expenses. How do I print a shipping label from my phone? Printing shipping labels from your mobile phone is a very convenient method if you are running your business at home. You don’t need to stay in your house always just to print labels because there are a lot of online shipping services and mobile shipping apps that you can use to make the process easier. You can check out Shyp, ShipStation, Shippo, ShippingEasy, and Ordoro but you can also use other apps that you are convenient with. If you already have a copy of your shipping label on your phone, you can also connect your phone to your printer and then print the label there. Where can I get a shipping label? Shipping labels are available from individual carriers, in-person or online. You can also create custom shipping labels at home using personal shipping software. What is a prepaid shipping label? Some companies will cover the shipment cost for items that customers return for repair or refund. There are also non-profit organizations that will pay for the shipping cost for donated items. They will send you a prepaid shipping label that you can put on your package or give you a web address where you can print out the label. Learn more about the process from our blog, How to Send a Prepaid Return Shipping Label & Postpaid Return Shipping Labels How do you fill out a shipping label? Your carrier will usually provide you with instructions on how to fill out your shipping label. If you’re unsure about the meaning of each item on the label, check out the section “What information is on a shipping label.” Can I handwrite a shipping label? Yes, you can hand write a shipping label but make sure your writing is legible. However, specific information, like the barcode, will need to come from the carrier before shipping. For this reason, online tools are much more efficient than handwriting. Can you tape over the labels for shipping? Absolutely. However, make sure to use clear packaging tape and that the shipping label is fully visible. And don’t allow any air pockets underneath the tape to ensure a smooth stick. Where should I put a shipping label on a package or box? You should place your labels on the top section of your package. Learn more about where to put a shipping label on a package from the section “Proper Label Placement.” Do shipping labels expire? Is there a “ship by date” on the label? If there is, and the date has already passed, it means the label expires. Some delivery services may still ship an expired package, although potential problems can arise, so it’s best to take note of the date. Buy your favorite enKo Products now and save money on the best deals in packaging and labeling materials! Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Like & follow our social media pages to see more updates and promotions ! Tags: Shipping Labels TonyTalaguit
