Printing shipping labels at home is straightforward once you know the format your courier uses and how to match it to your printer. Here is everything you need to get it right first time.
What you need
Any home printer will work — inkjet, laser, or thermal. You will also need your label file (usually a PDF from your courier or selling platform) and either plain A4 paper or self-adhesive sticker paper. That is genuinely it.
Step-by-step: how to print a shipping label at home
Download your label as a PDF
Log into your courier account or selling platform and download your shipping label. Most UK couriers (Royal Mail, DPD, Evri, Parcelforce) give you an A4 PDF. US couriers and most platforms (USPS, Shopify, eBay, Etsy) typically produce a 4x6 PDF.
Resize if your label doesn't match your paper
If you have an A4 label but want to print two per sheet on half-page sticker paper, or if you want to convert an A4 label to 4x6 thermal, use the Label Resizer tool first. Upload the PDF, select your target format, and download the resized version.
Load the right paper into your printer
For inkjet or laser: use plain A4 paper (then tape the label on) or self-adhesive A4 sticker sheets. For thermal printers: load your 4x6 thermal label roll.
Print at 100% — never "Fit to page"
Open your PDF and go to Print. Set the scale to 100% or "Actual Size". This is the most important step — using "Fit to page" will shrink or stretch the barcode and it may not scan at the post office or depot.
Attach the label securely to your parcel
If printing on plain paper, use clear sellotape to fix the label to the parcel. Do not tape over the barcode — this can prevent scanning. If using sticker paper, peel and stick. Make sure the label is flat and fully adhered on all edges.
Important: always print at 100% scale (Actual Size). Printing at anything other than 100% distorts the barcode and can cause parcels to be rejected or delayed at the depot.
Which printer is best for shipping labels?
Inkjet / Laser
Your standard home or office printer. Works perfectly well for occasional shipping.
✓ Works with A4 sticker sheets
✓ No extra cost
✗ Labels can smudge if wet
Thermal Label Printer
Dedicated label printer like Rollo or Zebra. Worth it if you ship regularly.
✓ No ink or toner costs
✓ Labels are waterproof
✗ Prints 4x6 format only
No printer at all
Many couriers now support label-free sending via QR code at drop-off points.
✓ No printer needed
✓ Great for occasional senders
✗ Not available everywhere
What paper should I use?
For a quick, free option: plain A4 paper works fine. Print the label, cut it out, and tape it onto the parcel with clear sellotape. Avoid covering the barcode with tape.
For a tidier finish: self-adhesive A4 sticker sheets (often sold as "shipping label paper" or "parcel label sheets") are cheap and easy to find online. They come in full A4, half-page (A5), and quarter-page formats. Half-page sticker sheets are the most popular for UK courier labels, as they let you fit two Royal Mail or DPD labels on one sheet.
For thermal printers: use the thermal label rolls designed for your specific printer model. Most Rollo and Zebra printers take standard 4x6 direct thermal rolls.
Common problems and how to fix them
The barcode won't scan at the post office
Almost always caused by printing at the wrong scale. Reprint at 100% / Actual Size and make sure no tape is covering the barcode.
The label is too small or too large
Your PDF is in a different format to your paper. Use the Label Resizer tool to convert it to the right size before printing.
The ink has smudged
Inkjet labels are vulnerable to moisture. Either use a laser printer, switch to a thermal printer, or cover the label with a clear self-laminating pouch after printing.
Label in the wrong format for your printer?
Resize any shipping label to A4, 4x6 thermal, or half-page sticker format in seconds. Free, runs in your browser.
Resize my label — it's free