Shipping labels
Matte stock, permanent adhesive200 minimum · 5 to 7 business daysA shipping label, the way we print it, is a branded roll-fed label carrying your logo, return address and any "thank you for your order" copy, sized to sit on the outside of a mailer or box. It is not a carrier tracking label; your printer or fulfillment platform still lays down the barcode and delivery address from your shipping software. We produce the branded part from 200 units in 5 to 7 business days, in standard rectangle or a custom die-cut shape.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a branded shipping label when you want your return address, logo and a short line of copy to look considered on the outside of every parcel, without redesigning the box itself. It's a fast, cheap way to put a brand mark on a plain kraft mailer or a bulk-bought box, and it doesn't touch how you actually generate the delivery address and tracking barcode. That stays in your shipping software and your own printer.
Choose custom product labels instead if the label is going on the item itself rather than the outside of the shipment, since product labels are sized and finished for a jar, bottle or pouch rather than a flat mailer surface. Choose a printed mailer box outright if you'd rather the branding be part of the box, not a sticker applied after the fact, since a fully printed mailer reads as more finished at a higher unit cost.
Specifications
| Stock | Matte art paper, permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive |
|---|---|
| Format | Roll-fed, wound for hand applicator or automated line |
| Shape | Rectangle, rounded corner, or custom die-cut |
| Digital CMYK, offset available above 5,000 units | |
| Finish | Matte standard, gloss lamination or spot UV available |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 5 to 7 business days after proof |
| Prototype | On request; timing confirmed in your quote |
| Sizes we run | 2 x 3 in 3 x 4 in 4 x 4 in 4 x 6 in any size from 1 x 1 to 6 x 8 in, any die-cut shape |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
Does this print the actual tracking barcode and delivery address?
No. What we print is the fixed, branded part that stays the same on every order: your logo, return address and any message copy. The variable part, the buyer's address and the carrier's tracking barcode, comes from your own shipping software and printer at the time you ship, because that data is unique to every single order.
Where does the label go on the box?
We usually suggest running it on the top or the seam, opposite whatever the carrier's own label ends up covering. If you tell us the mailer or box you're using we can size the label so the two don't collide.
Can it be a shape other than a rectangle?
Yes, any shape a die can cut: a rounded rectangle, a circle, a custom outline. A die-cut shape adds one setup step and no real lead time on a 200-unit order.
What adhesive does it use?
Permanent pressure-sensitive, meant to stay put through transit and not peel in a hot delivery truck. It's not designed to be removed cleanly afterward.
Roll or sheet?
Roll-fed is the default and what most fulfillment setups want, since it feeds through a hand applicator or an automated labeler. Sheets are available on request for a hand-applied small run.
Can I reorder a smaller batch later if my order volume changes?
No. Reorders carry the same 200-unit minimum as the first run, because below that the setup cost makes every unit too expensive. What a reorder saves you is time: the artwork and dieline are already approved, so we can move to production faster.
How are shipping labels different from product labels?
Our shipping labels are branded labels that go on the outside of a mailer with your logo, return address and a thank you line; they do not print the carrier barcode. Product labels go on the product itself and carry its name, contents and information. Both are roll-fed matte art paper with a permanent adhesive, die cut to shape, from 200 units in 5 to 7 business days after proof. If you want a plain box to look branded at the doorstep, the shipping label.
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Ready to price your shipping labels?
Send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day. Your digital proof follows, usually within one business day of your artwork. Design help and the Swatch Book of materials are free.