Free Shipping Label Template Generator

What is a shipping label and what information goes on one?

A shipping label is the printed slip on the outside of a parcel that tells everyone who handles it where the package is going, who sent it, and what is inside. A complete label is easy to read at a glance and keeps the most important block, the recipient address, the largest.

A standard shipping label includes:

• Ship-from (sender / return) address - your name or store, street, city, state or province, ZIP or postal code, and country.
• Ship-to (recipient) address - the destination name and full address, printed largest so it is the first thing a courier reads.
• Package details - weight, dimensions (length x width x height), and an order ID or reference.
• Carrier and service - the carrier name and service level (these are visual on this template; real routing comes from carrier postage).
• Tracking number - a reference you can print for your records, optionally encoded as a barcode or QR.
• Special handling - warnings such as FRAGILE, THIS SIDE UP, DO NOT BEND, or PERISHABLE.

Our generator gives you every one of these fields with a live preview, so you can see the finished label update as you type.

Standard shipping label sizes (4x6, half-sheet, Avery 5160)

Picking the right size is the difference between a label that prints cleanly and one that is cut off. These are the sizes merchants use most:

• 4 x 6 inches - the universal thermal label size for Zebra, Rollo, and DYMO printers, and the size most platforms generate. This is the keyword most people search for and the default you want for parcels.
• 4 x 6.75 inches - a 4x6 label with a small tear-off slip, common on integrated postage sheets.
• US Letter half-sheet (8.5 x 5.5 inches) - the eBay and PayPal 2-up style: two labels per Letter page you print on a normal inkjet or laser printer and tape on.
• A6 (105 x 148 mm) and A4 - the international equivalents for label sheets and full-page printing.
• Avery 5160 (30-up) - a US Letter sheet of thirty small return-address labels, ideal for sender or return labels rather than full shipping labels.

This tool offers all of these as one-click presets, plus a custom size in inches, centimeters, or millimeters, and it sizes the exported PDF to the label so it prints at true scale.

How to print a 4x6 shipping label at home (thermal vs inkjet)

There are two common ways to print labels at home, and the right settings matter more than the printer.

Thermal label printer (Zebra, Rollo, DYMO). Load 4 x 6 inch direct-thermal labels, choose the 4x6 preset here, and download the PDF. In the print dialog set the paper size to 4 x 6 and the scale to 100% (never "fit to page" or "shrink to fit"). Thermal printers need no ink, so a high-contrast black-and-white template like our Thermal 4x6 design prints crisp, dark text and a clean barcode.

Inkjet or laser printer with sheets. If you do not have a thermal printer, use the US Letter half-sheet (2-up) preset and print on plain paper or a full-sheet adhesive label, then trim and tape it on with clear packing tape (keep tape off the barcode). Print at 100% scale here too. For return labels, the Avery 5160 preset lays out 30 small labels on one sheet.

The golden rule for any printer: print at actual size / 100% scale. Because the exported PDF page is sized to the label in inches, 100% scale gives you a label at its true physical size every time.

Shipping label vs packing slip vs delivery note

These documents travel with an order but do different jobs, and using the right one looks more professional:

• Shipping label (this tool) - goes on the outside of the box with the From / To addresses so it can be delivered.
• Packing slip - goes inside the box and lists the items shipped (quantities, no prices) so the customer can check the contents.
• Packing list - a fuller itemized contents document for wholesale, freight, and customs.
• Delivery note - confirms what was delivered and often has a signature line for proof of delivery.
• Return form - the RMA slip a customer uses to send an item back.

Most parcels carry a shipping label on the outside and a packing slip inside. Generate both with the matching tools so your fulfillment documents share one clean look.

How to use this shipping label generator in 3 steps

1. Fill From and To. Enter your return address and the recipient address. Country is a full dropdown, and the state field becomes a dropdown for US states and Canadian provinces.
2. Add package details and pick a design. Set the order ID, weight, dimensions, carrier, and any handling badges, then choose one of the twelve templates and a size preset (4x6, half-sheet, Avery, A6, or custom). Optionally switch on a barcode or QR.
3. Download or print. Export a print-ready PDF, PNG, or SVG, or hit Print. To make many labels at once, open the Bulk CSV tab, download the template, and upload a row per recipient.

Tips for a label that ships cleanly

• Placement. Apply the label flat on the largest face of the box, away from seams, tape edges, and corners so scanners get a clean read. One label per parcel.
• Barcode legibility. Keep the barcode area free of tape and printed at 100% scale. The high-contrast Thermal 4x6 template gives the darkest bars; avoid colored backgrounds behind a barcode.
• Make the recipient the biggest block. Couriers read the ship-to address first, so the templates intentionally print it largest. Keep your return address smaller in a corner.
• Always include a return address. If a parcel cannot be delivered, the return address is how it gets back to you.
• Double-check the ZIP / postal code and country before printing a batch - a single wrong code can misroute a shipment.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a real carrier shipping label? No. It produces a printable, formatted label with your addresses and package details. It has no real postage and no carrier tracking. Buy postage from the carrier or your platform when you need a scannable label, and use this for a clean address and package label.

What is the tracking number field for? It prints a tracking number you already have for reference and can encode it as a barcode or QR. That code is self-generated, not a carrier scan code.

Can I print a 4x6 label? Yes - choose the 4x6 preset, download the PDF, and print at 100% scale on a thermal or inkjet printer.

Can I add a barcode or QR code? Yes, built from your tracking number or order ID and baked into the export.

Is it free and is there a watermark? It is free with no email, no signup, and no watermark.

Can I bulk-generate labels from a spreadsheet? Yes - use the Bulk CSV tab to upload one recipient per row and export a multi-page PDF or a ZIP of PNGs.

Sources and further reading

• USPS - Shipping label and address format guidance
• UPS - How to create and print labels
• Avery 5160 template specifications