What is the difference between Australia Post Parcel Post and Express Post?

Parcel Post is Australia Post's standard tracked service. Delivery takes 2–8 business days depending on origin and destination zones, with most metro-to-metro parcels arriving in 2–3 days. Express Post uses a guaranteed next-business-day delivery network for parcels sent between major cities listed in the Express Post network. Parcels outside the Express Post network default to the fastest available speed. Both services include tracking. Express Post costs more and uses a distinct yellow-and-red labelling convention, though ShippingLabel.co lets you prepare the address label regardless of which service you choose.

What label size does Australia Post use?

Australia Post accepts both 4×6 inch (100 mm × 150 mm) thermal labels — the global courier standard — and A4 paper labels printed at home. Thermal printers such as Rollo X1040, DYMO LabelWriter 4XL, and Zebra ZD420 all output at this size. ShippingLabel.co generates PDF exports in both formats.

Can I lodge a parcel at a Parcel Locker or 24/7 Parcel Drop?

Yes. Australia Post's 24/7 Parcel Drop boxes accept pre-paid, pre-labelled parcels at any time. Parcel Lockers are for receiving parcels, not sending them. To send via a drop box, your parcel must be pre-paid (booked through MyPost Business, the Australia Post app, or the AusPost website) and clearly labelled — that's where ShippingLabel.co comes in.

Do I need a customs form for interstate shipments within Australia?

No. Customs forms (CN22/CN23) are only required for international shipments leaving Australia. For domestic interstate parcels — Sydney to Perth, Melbourne to Brisbane, etc. — you only need a shipping label with the full sender and recipient addresses including the correct 4-digit Australian postcode and state abbreviation.

What is the maximum parcel size Australia Post accepts?

Australia Post's standard domestic parcel limit is 22 kg and a combined length+girth of 140 cm, with no single dimension exceeding 105 cm. Parcels over these limits require a StarTrack Road Express booking. For heavy items (23–25 kg), StarTrack Premium is available. International parcels via Australia Post have separate weight limits by destination country.

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Q: How do I ship to remote Australia — NT, outback WA, or far north QLD?

Australia Post charges a Remote Area surcharge for postcodes classified as Zone 3 (remote) and Zone 4 (very remote). These surcharges apply to Parcel Post and Express Post. Couriers Please and StarTrack also have remote delivery restrictions — some outback postcodes in WA, SA, NT, and QLD require road freight instead of air. When shipping to a remote postcode, always check your carrier's postcode eligibility before booking, and display the full postcode clearly on your label.

Generate properly formatted shipping labels for every Australian carrier — Australia Post Parcel Post, Express Post, StarTrack, DHL, FedEx, Couriers Please and TNT. Print on 4×6 thermal (100×150 mm) or A4 paper. No account needed.

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Fill in sender and recipient — download a 100×150 mm or A4 PDF ready to print and lodge.

From (Sender)

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Weight (lbs)

Weight (oz)

Package Type

Length (in)

Width (in)

Height (in)

Label Options

Label Size

Carrier Format

Service Type

Reference Number

Scannable Code (from Reference Number)ⓘ

Encodes the Reference Number above as a real, scannable code. Not a carrier tracking barcode — use for your own order IDs, SKUs, or RMA numbers.

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How it works: We format the label with your barcode/QR. Buy postage from your carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL) — they add the tracking barcode at drop-off.

Shipping labels for every Australian carrier

Pre-configured label formats accepted by Australia Post, StarTrack, and all major AU couriers.

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TNT Australia (FedEx)

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Australia Post services explained — Parcel Post vs Express Post vs StarTrack

Australia Post uses a zone-based pricing model. Zones 1–2 cover metro and regional areas; Zones 3–4 are remote and very remote (outback WA, NT, far north QLD). The further the zone, the higher the rate and the longer the transit time. Here is a quick comparison of the main domestic options:

Service	Speed	Tracking	Max weight	Best for
Parcel Post	2–8 business days	Yes	22 kg	Standard e-commerce, eBay, Etsy
Express Post	Next business day (network cities)	Yes	22 kg	Urgent, time-sensitive parcels
StarTrack Express	Next business day	Yes	22 kg	B2B account holders, high-volume
StarTrack Road Express	2–6 business days	Yes	No limit (pallets OK)	Bulky/heavy freight, remote areas
Couriers Please (Aramex AU)	1–5 business days	Yes	25 kg	Price-competitive metro delivery

Note: ShippingLabel.co creates the address label only. Postage must be purchased separately through Australia Post, StarTrack, or your chosen carrier.

Where to lodge your parcel in Australia

Once your label is printed and postage paid, you have four main lodgement options across Australia. Each has its own cutoff times and parcel size restrictions.

Post Offices & Parcel Collect

Drop pre-labelled parcels at any of Australia Post's 4,000+ retail outlets. Staff scan your parcel on the spot and issue a lodgement receipt.

💡 Tip: Arrive before 4 pm weekdays for same-day scanning.

24/7 Parcel Drop Boxes

Located outside major Post Offices, 7-Elevens, and shopping centres nationwide. Perfect for after-hours drops — must be pre-paid and labelled before lodging.

💡 Tip: Check the AusPost app for the nearest drop box.

Parcel Connect Agents

Over 2,000 convenience stores, newsagents, and supermarkets acting as Couriers Please (Aramex) drop-off points. Often cheaper than Post Offices for flat-rate parcels.

💡 Tip: Search agent locations on the Couriers Please website.

Business Pickup (MyPost Business)

Book a paid pickup from your home or warehouse via the MyPost Business platform. Australia Post will collect from your address.

💡 Tip: Minimum charge applies — worthwhile from ~5 parcels per pickup.

Built for Australian shippers — from solo sellers to warehouses

Whether you send 2 parcels a month on Gumtree or 200 a week from a home studio, these features were designed for the way Australians actually ship.

4×6 thermal & A4

100×150 mm thermal labels for Rollo, DYMO LabelWriter, and Zebra. Or print full-page on A4 — accepted at every Australia Post counter.

Live postcode check

Preview updates as you type. Catch a wrong suburb or 4-digit AU postcode before you print and waste a label.

All AU carriers

Australia Post, StarTrack, DHL Express, FedEx, UPS, Couriers Please (Aramex AU), and TNT — pre-configured label layouts for each.

Free forever

5 full labels per month at no cost — no card, no account. Perfect for casual Gumtree and Facebook Marketplace shippers.

CSV bulk import

High-volume Catch, MyDeal, or eBay AU orders? Upload a CSV and get every label in one multi-page PDF — no copy-paste.

No sign-up required

Start immediately. Register only if you want to save addresses, shipping history, or unlock team features.

Shipping for Australian online sellers

Australia has a unique mix of local and global marketplaces. Each comes with its own shipping expectations — and label requirements.

eBay Australia

eBay AU sellers can use eBay-integrated postage (which generates a tracking number automatically) or print a separate address label and buy postage independently at the Post Office or via MyPost Business. The second approach gives you more flexibility on carrier — especially useful when Couriers Please is cheaper for bulky items.

Gumtree & Facebook Marketplace

Peer-to-peer marketplaces in Australia often involve Sendle, Australia Post Parcel Post, or Couriers Please for interstate shipping. Gumtree Shipping (powered by Sendle) creates the label automatically, but for private arrangements you need your own label — that is exactly what ShippingLabel.co is for.

Catch.com.au & MyDeal

Catch and MyDeal marketplace sellers typically fulfil via their own carrier accounts. MyPost Business accounts give volume discounts from 5 parcels per week, while Couriers Please flat-rate satchels work well for lightweight clothing and accessories sold on these platforms.

Etsy (Australian sellers)

Etsy does not integrate directly with Australia Post. Most Australian Etsy sellers print Etsy order slips, then create a separate label via ShippingLabel.co or AusPost Click & Send, buy postage, and ship independently. This also avoids Etsy's US-carrier-only shipping label feature.

Kogan Marketplace

Kogan Marketplace sellers are responsible for their own fulfilment. Most use StarTrack for B2B-volume freight or Australia Post for smaller items. A correctly formatted 100×150 mm label is required — Kogan's own label template is optional, but a clearly printed address label is mandatory.

EOFY & Christmas peak

Australia has two peak shipping seasons: the pre-Christmas rush (November–December, amplified by Black Friday and Cyber Monday), and the End of Financial Year sale period (late May–June). Both periods see Australia Post delivery times stretch. Express Post volumes surge in December — book pickup slots early and pre-print labels in batches using ShippingLabel.co CSV import.

Built for how Australian sellers ship

Marketplace furniture flipping — Melbourne

Selling furniture on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree means a label can be ready before the buyer even pays. Stick it on, drop the parcel at a Parcel Connect point, done — no back-and-forth.

Homewares brand on Catch.com.au — Sydney

A small brand shipping 80–120 orders a week with Australia Post MyPost Business needs address labels that keep up. The 100×150 mm format prints cleanly on Zebra and other thermal printers.

Handmade jewellery from Darwin NT

Shipping from Darwin to customers across Australia and NZ means tricky remote NT postcodes. The live preview lets you double-check the full address before committing to print.

Australia Post shipping label — FAQ

What is the difference between Parcel Post and Express Post?

Parcel Post is Australia Post's standard tracked service — 2–8 business days, priced by weight and zone. Express Post uses a guaranteed next-business-day network between major cities. Both include tracking. Express costs more; use it when the recipient needs the parcel urgently, or between cities clearly in the Express Post network (e.g., Sydney ↔ Melbourne, Brisbane ↔ Adelaide).

What label size does Australia Post accept?

Australia Post accepts 4×6 inch / 100×150 mm thermal labels (the global courier standard used by Rollo, DYMO LabelWriter 4XL, and Zebra ZD420) and A4 paper labels printed on a home inkjet or laser. ShippingLabel.co generates PDFs in both formats.

Can I lodge a parcel at a 24/7 Parcel Drop box?

Yes. Australia Post's Parcel Drop boxes accept pre-paid, pre-labelled parcels around the clock. Your parcel must be booked and paid through MyPost Business, the AusPost app, or Click & Send before lodging — the label is what tells the scanner it is pre-paid. ShippingLabel.co handles the label side; purchase postage separately.

How do I ship to remote Australia — NT, outback WA, or far north QLD?

Australia Post applies Zone 3 (remote) and Zone 4 (very remote) surcharges for outback postcodes. Couriers Please and StarTrack Road Express also have different eligibility for remote areas. Always verify your destination postcode against the carrier's remote surcharge list, and include the full 4-digit AU postcode and state abbreviation clearly on your label.

Do interstate Australian shipments need a customs form?

No. Customs forms (CN22/CN23) are only for international shipments leaving Australia. Domestic interstate parcels — Melbourne to Perth, Sydney to Darwin, etc. — only need a correctly addressed shipping label. Include sender and recipient full names, street address, suburb, state abbreviation (e.g. NSW, VIC, QLD), and 4-digit postcode.

What is the maximum size Australia Post accepts?

Standard AusPost domestic: 22 kg, combined length+girth under 140 cm, no single dimension over 105 cm. Parcels over this threshold need a StarTrack Road Express booking. For international parcels the limits vary by destination — check the Australia Post international guide for your specific country.