AllPrint

How to Print a Shipping Label Without a Printer

No printer at home? You have several options. USPS and FedEx both offer QR code scanning at retail locations — you show your phone, they print. Public libraries, FedEx Office, UPS Stores, and Staples all print shipping labels from emailed PDFs for a small fee.

Step-by-step

1
USPS QR code (free)
When buying a USPS label via Click-N-Ship, select the QR code option. Bring your phone with the QR to any post office; they print and apply the label for free.
2
FedEx QR code (free)
FedEx Electronic Trade Documents (ETD) offers QR-code printing at FedEx Office and participating retail locations. Free service.
3
UPS Store (paid)
UPS Stores print shipping labels for $1-3. Email the PDF to yourself, show on your phone at the counter, or email it directly to the store.
4
Public library (often free or low-cost)
Most public libraries charge $0.10-$0.25 per page to print. Email the PDF to yourself and use the library's print release station.
5
FedEx Office (paid)
$1-2 per page. Upload via email or USB. They have self-service kiosks for quick printing.

Frequently asked questions

Is QR code label printing free?

Yes, via USPS and FedEx when you use their QR code option. The retail location scans your QR code and prints/applies the label at no extra cost.

Can I print a label at a library?

Yes, most public libraries allow printing. Email the PDF to yourself and print via their release station. Usually $0.10-0.25 per page.

What about FedEx Office prices?

~$1-2 per page for shipping labels. Self-service kiosks are available at most locations.

Can I just show the label on my phone?

For USPS and FedEx QR code shipping, yes. For other labels, you need a physical printed copy attached to the package — screens don't count as applied labels.

Which stores will print my shipping label?

Carrier-owned counters print their own labels: FedEx Office prints FedEx labels from a QR or emailed file, The UPS Store prints UPS labels from a code, and Post Offices with Label Broker print USPS labels from a QR. Office-supply and print shops (Staples, library print services) print any PDF for a small fee — bring the file on email or USB. Call ahead for the small-format 4×6 question; most will print on letter paper, which every carrier accepts.

What's the cheapest long-term fix if I ship weekly?

A used or entry thermal printer pays for itself fast: no ink (thermal paper darkens with heat), roughly a few cents per label, and no store trips. Sellers doing even five labels a week typically recoup the cost within months versus per-page store printing and travel time.

Can I write the address by hand instead of printing?

For carrier-purchased postage, no — the label IS the postage, barcode included. Hand-written addressing only works when you're buying postage at the counter and the clerk prints the label there. If you already bought the label online, it must be printed or presented as a code; handwriting can't reproduce a barcode.