How to Print a Shipping Label at Home (Without Going to the Post Office)

The post office is optional. Everything you need to ship a package — creating the label, buying postage, and handing the package off to a carrier — can be done from home. Here's exactly how to do it.

What You Need Before You Start

The short list:

• A printer— Any inkjet or laser printer works. If you ship regularly, a thermal label printer (like the Rollo X1038 or DYMO 4XL) is faster and cheaper per label, but not required to get started.
• Sender and recipient addresses— Full name, street address, city, state, and ZIP for both. Double-check these before printing — a wrong ZIP code on a USPS label can send a package to the wrong city.
• Package weight— Carriers charge by weight (and sometimes dimensions). A postal scale costs around $15 on Amazon and pays for itself on your first shipment if you're currently guessing. Guessing high wastes money; guessing low gets your package returned.
• Package dimensions— Length, width, and height in inches. UPS and FedEx apply dimensional weight to all packages; USPS applies cubic pricing to Priority Mail under 20 lbs. A package that is large but light can cost more than its actual weight suggests.

What Goes on a Shipping Label (and Why)

A shipping label is not just an address sticker. Every element on it has a purpose, and missing any of them can delay or lose your package.

• To address (recipient)— The delivery destination. This is what the carrier uses to route the package.
• From address (sender/return)— Where the package goes if it can't be delivered. Never skip this; without it, an undeliverable package gets discarded rather than returned.
• Barcode / tracking number— The machine-readable code that lets the carrier (and you) track the package through every scan point. This is generated when you purchase postage.
• Service type— Priority Mail, Ground Advantage, UPS Ground, etc. This tells the carrier which speed tier the package is on.
• Weight and postage amount— Some label formats display this explicitly; others embed it in the barcode.

ShippingLabel's free label maker fills in all of this automatically once you enter your addresses and select a carrier format.

Printing Options: Regular Printer vs. Thermal

Regular Inkjet or Laser Printer (Letter-Size Paper)

This works fine for occasional shipments. Print the label on standard 8.5×11″ paper at 100% actual size — never “scale to fit”. Scaling distorts the barcode and makes it unscannable. Cut out the label and tape it to the package. Critical: cover the entire label surface with clear packing tape, not just the edges. Exposed ink can smear or run if the package gets wet, and a smeared barcode means a lost package.

ShippingLabel generates a standard letter-size PDF for free. No account needed — create one here and print in under a minute.

Thermal Label Printer (4×6 Labels)

Thermal printers use heat instead of ink. Labels peel off and stick directly to the package — no cutting, no tape, no smearing. The label stock is waterproof by default. Print speed on something like the Rollo X1038 is 150mm per second, meaning a label is done in about two seconds.

The 4×6 inch formatis the industry standard for shipping labels. USPS, UPS, and FedEx all expect this size. ShippingLabel's Starter planunlocks 4×6 thermal label output (watermark-free) alongside the free letter-size format.

If you're deciding between printer models, see our best thermal label printers guide for a full comparison of Rollo, DYMO, Zebra, and others.

How to Add Postage

ShippingLabel creates the label format — you still need to purchase postage separately, or use a service that bundles label creation and postage together. Here are your options:

USPS: Click-N-Ship

USPS's official site at usps.com lets you buy postage and print labels directly. You get a small discount over counter rates on Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express. Works fine for occasional use. Downsides: the interface is clunky, and you can only ship USPS services.

Pirate Ship (Best Rates for USPS and UPS)

Pirate Ship is free to use and gives you access to USPS Commercial Plus rates (the same rates large shippers get) without a monthly fee. They also offer a 5% discount on top of already-discounted UPS rates. For most individual sellers and small businesses, Pirate Ship is the cheapest way to buy USPS and UPS postage online. No subscription, no hidden fees — they make money from a small cut built into the carrier rates.

UPS and FedEx Direct

Both UPS and FedExhave online label creation tools on their websites. You can ship without an account (pay as you go), or set up a free account for slightly better rates. UPS also offers “UPS Simple Rate” flat-rate boxes that can save money on heavier regional shipments.

How to Drop Off Your Package (Without Going Inside the Post Office)

USPS

• Free carrier pickup— The best option most people don't know about. Schedule a free pickup at usps.com and your mail carrier picks up the package from your door on their next delivery route. Works for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and packages with prepaid postage. No trip anywhere required.
• Blue collection boxes— The blue USPS mailboxes on street corners. Only for packages that fit in the slot. Packages over half a pound with stamps must be handed to a postal employee.
• Post office drop-off— If you want a receipt, hand the package to a clerk. You can also use the self-service kiosk at many post offices to avoid the line.

UPS

• UPS Drop Boxes— Available at UPS Stores, some office supply stores, and standalone kiosk locations. Find them at ups.com/dropoff.
• UPS Store— Drop off without waiting in line if you already have a prepaid label.
• UPS on-demand pickup— Schedule a pickup from your address for a small fee ($6-8 depending on location and service level).

FedEx

• FedEx Drop Boxes— Available at FedEx Office locations, Walgreens, Dollar General, and other retail partners. Find locations at fedex.com.
• FedEx Office— Drop off with a prepaid label at no extra charge.
• Office supply stores— Staples and Office Depot locations often accept FedEx and UPS drop-offs.

Pro Tips for Better Results

• Weigh every package. A $15 postal scale on Amazon is one of the best shipping investments you can make. Even a 1 oz difference can push a package into the next weight tier.
• Measure for dimensional weight.UPS and FedEx calculate dimensional weight as L×W×H ÷ 139 for domestic shipments. If that number is higher than the actual weight, you pay the higher of the two. A lightweight pillow in a large box will cost more than you expect.
• Tape the label correctly.Cover the entire label with clear packing tape — edge to edge. Leaving any part of the label exposed risks the ink running or the paper peeling off in transit. Thermal labels don't need tape at all (they're already adhesive and waterproof).
• Print at 100% actual size.In your print dialog, make sure “fit to page” or “scale to fit” is OFF. Scaled barcodes often fail to scan.
• Keep a copy of the tracking number. Screenshot it or copy it somewhere before you drop the package off. If something goes wrong, tracking is your only way to locate the package.

Ready to create your label? Start with our free label maker — no account needed. Choose letter-size for any inkjet or laser printer, or upgrade to Starterfor watermark-free 4×6 thermal output.