How to create a shipping label: Steps and best practices
To create a shipping label, verify the recipient’s address, weigh and measure your package, compare carrier rates, pay for postage, then print the label and attach it flat to the largest side of the box. You can do this on a carrier’s site like USPS Click-N-Ship or UPS.com, or in shipping software that compares carriers and prints labels in batches.
A missing or incorrect label is one of the most common causes of delayed, misdelivered, and returned packages. This guide walks through each step, what every label must include, and the best practices that keep shipments moving.
Key takeaways
- A shipping label is the carrier’s instruction sheet: sender, recipient, tracking number, shipping date, weight, and a scannable barcode.
- Missing or inaccurate shipping labels cause delays, misdeliveries, and lost packages that damage customer trust and add avoidable cost.
- Fishbowl ShipExpress lets you compare carrier rates, buy labels, validate addresses, and print in batches from one platform.
- Best practices include verifying every field, placing labels flat on the largest surface, and using specialized labels for hazardous or fragile goods.
What is a shipping label?
A shipping label is a carrier-issued label attached to a package that shows the sender and recipient addresses, service level, package weight, and a scannable barcode tied to a tracking number. Carriers scan it at every handoff to route the package and update tracking.
What information goes on a shipping label?
A shipping label contains several important sections, each with a designated use throughout the transportation and supply chain process. Here’s an overview of each element:
- Sender information: The sender’s full name and address, used as the return address when a package can’t be delivered.
- Recipient information: The full name and address of the person receiving the package. Accuracy ensures the shipment reaches the correct destination.
- Tracking number: A unique identification number from the carrier that lets both sender and recipient monitor the shipment’s progress.
- Shipping date: Tells both parties when the item shipped, which supports tracking and delivery-time estimates.
- Expected delivery date: An estimated arrival date, though carriers don’t always provide one.
- Package weight and dimensions: These set shipping rates and affect how freight is handled, since dimensions guide storage and weight drives the delivery charge.
- Barcode: Codes linked to your tracking number, scanned at several points during delivery to update shipment status.
Below is an example of a United States Postal Service (USPS) shipping label so you can see these elements in action.
Why are shipping labels important?
Whether packages come from a warehouse or a fulfillment center, an accurate shipping label is essential. It communicates the details carriers need about each package. Americans send millions of packages a day; the USPS alone processes nearly 361 mailpieces a day, so tracking them requires a robust system.
If a shipping label is absent or incorrect, several problems can arise:
- Delays in transit: Packages with missing or inaccurate labels can stall at sorting facilities. Borders add customs compliance or duties snags.
- Misdeliveries: An incorrect label can send a package to the wrong address, complicating retrieval and rerouting of the goods.
- Lost packages: Without the correct label, a shipment can disappear from the system and never reach its destination.
Any of these issues can create a poor customer experience. Possible consequences include:
- Negative customer reviews: Unhappy customers may leave negative online reviews, damaging your company’s reputation.
- Critical social media posts: Dissatisfied customers may vent on social media, creating negative impressions of your business.
- Customer defection: Customers who experience delivery problems may look to competitors for more reliable shipping.
How do you create a shipping label?
You can create a shipping label in a few steps, and it’s easier with Fishbowl ShipExpress in Fishbowl Advanced, which keeps the process precise and efficient. Follow these steps to create labels like a pro:
1. Compare shipping rates from multiple carriers
To choose the most reasonably priced solution, start by comparing carrier shipping prices. Select the option that works best for your delivery timetable and budget.
The Fishbowl ShipExpress plugin connects to Shippo to integrate with United Parcel Service (UPS), FedEx, USPS, DHL, and more. This makes it easy to compare prices and select the best carrier for your requirements.
2. Add insurance, signature confirmation, and other optional extras
Next, consider any further services you might need, such as signature confirmation or insurance. For standard eCommerce deliveries, leaving packages at the door is often fine. For high-value items, a signature confirms delivery.
You can add these options directly in the Fishbowl platform, giving valuable shipments extra protection and peace of mind.
3. Validate the Ship To address
Verify the recipient’s address to avoid mistakes before you print labels.
Fishbowl’s verification function confirms the address is accurate and complete, preventing delivery problems.
4. Purchase a shipping label
After choosing your shipping carrier and any extras, buy a prepaid shipping label.
This is easy to do in Fishbowl. Just click the Purchase Label button once you’ve filled out the information. If you’re sending several shipments, the Batch Shipping feature lets you purchase multiple labels at once.
5. Review and print the label
Once you’ve verified the Ship To address, review the label for accuracy. Confirm that the recipient’s name and address, tracking number, and special instructions match all other elements.
Print shipping labels using Fishbowl’s integrated printing capability once everything looks good.
6. Schedule a carrier pickup (optional)
Arranging a carrier pickup is optional. It simplifies your process and saves trips to a post office or shipping facility.
Fishbowl lets you schedule USPS shipment pickup straight from the platform.
What are the best practices for creating a shipping label?
A few best practices help ensure your packages arrive on time and without damage. They matter even more for international shipments, which face extra checks before delivery. Follow these guidelines to improve the dependability of your shipping process and avoid common mistakes.
1. Ensure information is accurate
Make sure the information on your shipping labels is accurate. Double-check all elements, including sender and recipient addresses, contact details, and package specifics.
2. Orient and attach labels properly
Proper placement drives effective scanning and processing. Lay the label flat on the biggest surface of the box or pouch. Avoid corners or edges where it can become hidden or damaged, and fasten it securely to avoid lost or delayed goods.
Cover paper labels with clear tape to guard against damage and moisture. This keeps the label readable throughout shipping.
3. Employ specialized labels when needed
Some shipments require specific labeling to comply with safety regulations. Packages carrying hazardous goods such as chemicals or flammable compounds must be labeled in accordance with regulatory standards.
Likewise, fragile or perishable goods might need specialized labeling to ensure proper handling in transit. Always check whether your package has extra regulatory criteria and that you meet them.
4. Plan for return shipping
If your shipment may need to be returned, consider adding a return shipping label. This step lets recipients return goods without extra hassle.
Keep in mind that carriers have different policies for labeling shipments. For instance, FedEx and USPS shipping labels might include a QR code. Visit the carrier’s website to learn its label policies and ensure your package isn’t rejected or delayed.
You can easily print a return label to include with a package with Fishbowl ShipExpress.
Streamline your shipping process with Fishbowl
Fishbowl helps you build an ecommerce shipping strategy and simplify how you create a shipping label. Powered by Shippo, Fishbowl’s ShipExpress plugin connects with major carriers to keep order tracking accurate and label printing reliable.
Keeping order and shipping data in one place means faster order prep and fewer shipping errors. Wholesale Boutique used Fishbowl to decrease the time required to prepare orders for processing and shipping by 35%, proof that consolidating the workflow speeds real fulfillment.
Frequently asked questions about shipping labels
Can I create a shipping label myself at home?
Yes, you can create a shipping label at home using a carrier’s website, such as USPS Click-N-Ship, or shipping software like Fishbowl ShipExpress. Enter the sender and recipient addresses, package weight, and dimensions, then pay for postage online. The platform generates a label you can print at home, so you skip the post office counter entirely.
Is it cheaper to create your own shipping label?
Creating your own label online is usually cheaper than buying postage at a retail counter. Carriers and shipping platforms often offer commercial or online rates that fall below the walk-up prices you pay in person. Comparing carriers before you buy helps you find the lowest rate for each package. Fishbowl ShipExpress does this through Shippo, weighing size, weight, and destination.
Can you handwrite a shipping label instead of printing one?
For some domestic packages, you can handwrite the destination and return address on the box. But that is not the same as a carrier label with a scannable barcode and tracking number. Handwriting also raises the risk of misreads and lost packages. Printed labels scan cleanly at every sorting point, so they move faster and give you reliable tracking.
Can you print a shipping label on regular paper?
Yes, you can print a shipping label on standard 8.5-by-11-inch paper and attach it to the package with clear tape. Adhesive label stock or a thermal label printer is more durable and faster for high volume. Regular paper works fine for occasional shipments. Whatever you use, keep the barcode flat, uncreased, and fully readable so carriers can scan it.
How do you create shipping labels in bulk?
To create labels in bulk, use a batch shipping feature instead of buying one label at a time. Fishbowl ShipExpress includes Batch Shipping, which lets you buy and print several labels in a single run from your open orders. Batching saves time during busy periods, keeps rates consistent, and reduces the manual entry errors of processing orders one by one.
Related posts
Explore more Fishbowl guides on shipping and fulfillment:
- What Is Freight Shipping? Basics and Best Practices
- What is a Shipping Invoice? A Guide to Bill of Landings
- How to Turn Shipping from a Cost Center to a Revenue Contributor
- Choosing the Best Shipping Strategy for Your Online Store
- 4 Tips For Optimizing Your Logistics And Shipping Processes
- Delivered duty paid (DDP): Key components explained