You can get a shipping label in minutes by creating one on a carrier’s website, buying one through a selling platform like eBay or Etsy, or walking into a carrier retail location and having one printed at the counter. The method you choose depends on whether you’re shipping a personal package, fulfilling an online sale, or processing a return.
Create a Label on a Carrier Website
The most straightforward way to get a shipping label is to go directly to the website of the carrier you want to use. USPS, UPS, and FedEx all let you build and pay for a label online, then print it at home.
With USPS, the tool is called Click-N-Ship. You create a free USPS.com account, enter the origin and destination addresses, select a service level (USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, or Priority Mail Express), and enter your package dimensions and weight. The site calculates the cost, you pay with a card, and a printable label generates as a PDF. You can save default settings like your return address, preferred package size, and printing format so future labels are faster to create.
UPS and FedEx follow a similar pattern through their own shipping portals. You’ll need an account, package details, and a payment method. All three carriers let you compare service speeds and prices before you commit, so you can see exactly what you’ll pay for two-day delivery versus ground shipping before buying the label.
Once you print, stick the label on your package and either drop it off at a carrier location or, in the case of USPS, schedule a free package pickup from your door.
Buy a Label Through a Selling Platform
If you’re shipping a sold item on a marketplace like eBay, Etsy, Mercari, or Poshmark, you can purchase a shipping label directly inside the platform. This is often cheaper than buying one on a carrier’s site because these platforms negotiate discounted commercial rates and pass the savings along to sellers.
The workflow is similar across platforms. After a sale, you go to the order details, select “Buy shipping label” or the equivalent option, confirm the package weight and dimensions, choose a carrier and speed, and pay. The cost is either deducted from your seller balance or charged to your payment method. The platform generates a downloadable PDF label, usually formatted at 4×6 inches for a thermal printer or standard 8.5×11 paper. On Poshmark, you can adjust your default label size under Account Settings by navigating to Shipping Label Settings and selecting the format you prefer.
Platform-generated labels also automatically upload tracking information to the order, so the buyer gets notified the moment you drop off the package. You don’t need to copy and paste tracking numbers manually.
Get a Return Label From a Retailer
When you’re returning a product you bought online, the retailer usually provides the shipping label for you. Check your order confirmation email or the returns section of your account on the retailer’s website. Many companies email you a prepaid label as a PDF you can print, while others send a QR code you can take to a carrier location (more on that below). Some retailers include a printed return label right inside the original package.
Whether the return label is free or deducted from your refund depends on the retailer’s policy. Some absorb the cost entirely, others subtract a flat fee (commonly $5 to $8) from your refund once the carrier scans the package.
Ship Without a Printer
Not having a printer doesn’t have to slow you down. USPS offers two options specifically for this situation.
The first is Label Broker. When you create and pay for a label in Click-N-Ship, choose the option to “Print later at Post Office.” USPS emails you a Label Broker ID, which is a QR code followed by 8 to 10 characters. Save that email on your phone, pack your item, and bring both the package and your phone to a Post Office. At the counter, show the QR code to the retail associate and they print and attach the label for you. If the location has a Label Broker self-service kiosk, you can skip the line entirely: scan the QR code at the kiosk, print the label yourself, stick it on your package, and drop it in the designated area. Label Broker printing is free.
The second option is Label Delivery Service. For a $1.65 fee per label, USPS will mail a physical, pre-printed shipping label directly to your address. This adds a couple of days before you can ship, but it works if you can’t get to a Post Office easily.
Retailers and e-commerce platforms also use the Label Broker system for returns. If a store sends you a QR code instead of a printable PDF, take it to a USPS location that supports Label Broker and follow the same process.
UPS and FedEx offer similar no-printer solutions at their retail locations. UPS Stores can print labels from a QR code or a tracking number, and FedEx Office locations can do the same. Fees vary by location.
Third-Party Shipping Software
If you ship frequently, whether for a small business, a side hustle, or regular reselling, third-party shipping platforms like Pirateship, ShipStation, or Shippo can save time and money. These tools connect to multiple carriers and pull in discounted commercial rates, often matching or beating the prices you’d get on a carrier’s own site. Most are free or charge a small monthly fee, and the label-creation process works the same way: enter addresses, pick a service, pay, print.
The real advantage is efficiency. You can import orders from your online store automatically, batch-print dozens of labels at once, and compare rates across USPS, UPS, and FedEx side by side. If you’re only shipping a package or two a month, going directly to a carrier site is simpler. But once you’re shipping regularly, a third-party tool pays for itself quickly.
How to Attach the Label Correctly
A label that peels off, wrinkles, or gets obscured mid-transit can delay or lose your package. Follow these placement rules to avoid problems.
- Place the label parallel to the longest side of the package. This keeps it flat and easy for sorting machines to scan.
- Keep everything on one side. Your return address, delivery address, and postage (or the shipping label that includes all three) should all appear on the same surface.
- Don’t fold or wrap labels over edges. A label that bends around a corner can tear or become unreadable.
- Don’t overlap labels. If you’re reusing a box, remove or completely cover any old labels or barcodes so scanners don’t read the wrong one.
For home-printed labels on regular paper, use clear packing tape to secure the entire label to the box. Cover it fully so moisture can’t smudge the ink, but don’t tape over the barcode with opaque or heavily wrinkled tape. Thermal-printed labels on adhesive stock are more durable and peel-and-stick directly, which is why frequent shippers invest in a thermal label printer.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Regardless of which method you choose, have these details ready before you create your label:
- Recipient’s full address including apartment or suite number, city, state, and ZIP code.
- Your return address.
- Package weight. A kitchen scale works for small items. If you don’t weigh accurately, the carrier may charge you an adjustment fee after delivery.
- Package dimensions. Measure the length, width, and height of the box in inches. For USPS, the maximum size is 130 inches of combined length plus girth (the distance around the thickest part). Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express packages must stay under 108 inches combined. The maximum weight for any USPS package is 70 pounds.
- A payment method. Credit card, debit card, or PayPal depending on the platform.
With those details in hand, generating a label takes about two to three minutes on any carrier site or selling platform. If you’re using a QR code option, add a quick trip to the Post Office or carrier store, and you’re done.