Although we’re all used to seeing shipping labels on every package we send or receive, few of us actually know what’s on them. Despite their bland appearance, shipping labels are essential for linking up the virtual websites and stores on the internet to the real world of people’s lives and homes.
Shipping labels are fascinating little documents that contain lots of coded information for the person who knows how to look. They hold a vast amount of information, saying where a package is coming from and going, and even the type of service it’s receiving.
In this blog post, we’ll mostly be taking a look at the question of what is a shipping label, as well as how to print them and label a package.
What is a Shipping Label?
In the most basic terms, a shipping label holds a set of instructions and information necessary for a package to be delivered to the correct recipient. A shipping label’s standard size is 4 by 6 inches, but smaller ones (6 by 3 inches or 4 by 4 inches) can be printed to fit onto smaller boxes. If you’re having trouble picturing it, taking a quick look at a shipping label example will be helpful.
Why are they Important for Ecommerce?
Think for a moment about all the different post offices, Amazon fulfillment centers, and UPS trucks whizzing around America. Printable shipping labels are on every one of these and help organize the parcels’ flow without chaos taking over.
Because anyone can create and print their shipping labels, it’s effortless for small businesses and independent creators on platforms like Etsy to arrange their shipping easily and conveniently.
Larger online retailers like Amazon and large shipping companies are perhaps even more dependent on shipping labels than small businesses. UPS and FedEx alone handle about 34 million packages daily between them. Such a massive amount of packages is challenging to keep track of, and shipping labels make it all work.
What Information is on a Shipping Label?
Shipping labels have seven essential pieces of information that are necessary for a package to navigate the incredibly complex shipping network and reach its destination.
The sender’s name and address.
The recipient’s name and address.
A QR code that’s read by phones and automatic shipping labels. You often see delivery drivers scanning these.
A routing code informs how the package needs to be sorted at each point on the distribution network.
A second barcode called the Postal Barcode holds the zip code of the destination and other important information.
The same tracking number that customers use to track the progress of their package.
The size and weight of the package.
The service level indicates the service the sender has purchased, whether express shipping, standard shipping, or other services.
Types of Shipping Labels
Shipping labels vary depending on the type of shipment, destination, and carrier requirements. Here are the most common types:
1. Standard Shipping Labels
Used for domestic shipments with major carriers such as FedEx, UPS, USPS, and DHL.
Includes essential details like sender and recipient information, barcode, tracking number, and service type.
Helps carriers efficiently sort and deliver packages.
2. International Shipping Labels
Used for shipments crossing international borders.
Includes additional details like customs declarations, export details, and harmonized system (HS) codes.
Often requires accompanying documents like a commercial invoice or customs forms.
May vary based on country regulations and carrier requirements.
3. Return Shipping Labels
Provided by businesses to make returns easier for customers.
Can be pre-printed and included in the original package or generated online when a return is requested.
Helps streamline the reverse logistics process for retailers and fulfillment centers.
How Shipping Labels Are Generated
Shipping labels are created using various methods depending on the sender’s needs, the shipping carrier, and the level of automation in the logistics process. Here’s how they are generated:
1. Manual Creation via Carrier Websites
Most major shipping carriers (FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL) allow users to generate labels through their online portals.
The sender enters shipment details, including recipient address, package weight, and service type.
Once completed, the system generates a printable label.
2. Automated Label Generation via E-Commerce Platforms
These platforms pull order details directly and auto-generate shipping labels based on preset shipping preferences.
3. Carrier API & Fulfillment Software Integration
Businesses with high shipping volumes integrate carrier APIs or third-party logistics (3PL) software.
Shipping labels are automatically generated when an order is processed in the system, reducing manual work.
4. Warehouse Management System (WMS) & Bulk Label Printing
Large-scale operations use WMS to batch-generate shipping labels for multiple orders.
Labels are printed in bulk and matched with the corresponding packages in fulfillment centers.
5. Return Shipping Label Generation
Some companies generate return labels alongside the outbound shipping label.
These can be included in the package or provided as a downloadable file when a return is requested.
How Shipping Labels Are Used in Logistics
Shipping labels play a crucial role in the logistics process, ensuring that packages are efficiently tracked, sorted, and delivered to the correct destination. Here’s how they are used at different stages:
1. Scanning and Tracking Process
Each shipping label contains a barcode or QR code that is scanned at multiple checkpoints.
The barcode provides real-time tracking updates, allowing both shippers and customers to monitor the package’s journey.
Scanning helps carriers ensure that packages are on the correct route and detect any delays or misrouted shipments.
2. Sorting and Distribution at Warehouses & Hubs
Once scanned, packages are automatically sorted at fulfillment centers and distribution hubs based on their destination.
Automated conveyor systems and AI-powered logistics software help route packages efficiently.
Packages are then grouped and loaded onto trucks, planes, or other transport vehicles for further transit.
3. Last-Mile Delivery
The final scan occurs when a package reaches the local delivery center.
The shipping label ensures that the package is assigned to the correct delivery route.
Upon arrival at the customer’s location, the package is marked as “delivered” in the tracking system, sometimes requiring a signature or proof of receipt.
Do Different Couriers have Different Shipping Label Systems?
There are differences between the shipping labels you’ll need depending on the courier you use. However, the information on them will be more or less the same because, unsurprisingly, all the companies need to know basic info like the destination address. Nonetheless, you can’t put a US Postal Service label on a package and drop it off at a FedEx distribution center.
How to Print Shipping Labels
Printing shipping labels is a pretty simple process, though it does differ depending on the company you’re shipping with.
Large companies like FedEx, UPS, and DHL have online systems. After choosing the level of service you’d like to send with, you enter your address, the receiver’s address, and all the other information like weight, package size, and everything else we’ve mentioned. You also pay for shipping at the end of the process.
The USPS also has an online system called Click-N-Ship. It’s much the same as those you’ll find on the websites of commercial shipping companies.
Automated Services
As online shopping has become all but ubiquitous, several businesses have sprung up that automate almost all the steps involved in preparing shipping labels.
Once a customer buys something from your website, a system will take the data they’ve entered and prepare a shipping label for you on the courier of your choice. Then all you need to do is click the print shipping label on your computer and attach it to the package.
Services like these are indispensable for businesses that deal with large volumes of orders. It simply doesn’t make sense to spend hours and hours manually filling in the same form for each customer. Further, using technology will eliminate both the mistakes that can happen during manual data entry and the resulting lost and late packages.
How to Label a Package
Technically, you’re able to put a shipping label on any flat surface of the box you’re shipping. It’s easiest for everyone involved—you, the shipping company, and the customer—if the label is visible on the top of the package.
It’s also worth mentioning a couple of other dos and don’ts regarding actually attaching the label. There’s nothing wrong with covering the entire label with transparent tape so long as it’s legible. This can be a good idea because it reduces the chance the label will become torn or detached, resulting in a lost package.
Another tip often heard from veteran shippers is that you should never skip the step of including a packing slip (also known as a waybill) on the inside of the package. Essentially, it’s a receipt that proves that the sender paid for shipping. Not only is the record potentially beneficial for your customers, but it can also contain important information about returns and customer service.
Summing Up
I hope this guide has made the jumble of information on shipping labels less intimidating. The better you understand all the subtleties of the shipping industry, the easier and more efficient your interactions with it will be. That’s a big deal for those of us with a business that need to get their products to their customers. They may also find signing up to an automated labeling service to be a no-brainer.
