How to Print Postage Labels at Home
Printing postage labels at home is now easier than ever. Here are some of the best options for printing postage at home.
Online marketplaces, auction sites and ecommerce platforms make it possible for anyone to start a home-based business. Best of all, the shipping processes involved in getting your product into your customers’ hands have been simplified with the ability to buy and print postage labels online.
To purchase and print postage at home, all you need are a few essentials that your business is probably using already: a computer with internet access, a printer and paper.
From there, the question is which of the many options available for printing postage from home is best for your business. Many marketplaces and auction sites offer a way for you to print postage and shipping labels. PayPal Shipping is an option for members of PayPal’s payment service. Major carriers like USPS®, UPS® and FedEx® all offer a way to print postage through their websites. And then you have online shipping services that can address all your shipping and fulfillment needs. We’ll break down the basics so you can print postage labels in whatever way works best for your business.
Your options for printing postage at home
Online marketplaces and auction sites
What could be easier than printing postage and shipping labels through the platform that you sell on? If your business is new and you sell exclusively through one marketplace, this can be a great way to start out.
The downside is that marketplaces often negotiate postage rates with a single carrier. This can limit the choice of services available to you and your customers. Plus, you want to make sure your marketplace is passing those negotiated savings on to you by comparing prices for that service on the carrier’s website.
PayPal Shipping
PayPal has revolutionized the way consumers pay for products online and in the real world. Now, PayPal Shipping offers home-based sellers an easy way to print USPS and UPS postage online. This service works especially well if you sell through eBay, but it can be used by anyone with a PayPal account.
PayPal Shipping has its limitations. Not offering FedEx as a carrier is one—sometimes you need to get that package out overnight. PayPal Shipping only offers the option to ship via USPS and UPS.
Carrier websites
USPS, UPS and FedEx all offer a way to print postage and shipping labels from home through their websites. For example, with USPS, you can ship any Priority® or Express Mail® package using their easy-to-navigate Click-N-Ship® platform.
Getting postage from the United States Postal Service at home
Click-N-Ship® connects you directly with online printing options for USPS Priority mailing. To create USPS shipping labels for USPS Priority Mail®, Priority Mail International®, Priority Mail Express®, or Priority Mail Express International®, you simply log in to your account, enter the package specifications, select a service, and print your USPS postage. USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate® is great for more predictable postage costs, especially with heavier items. Flat Rate’s motto is “If it fits, It ships®.” The 70 lb. weight limit on domestic packages is more than enough for many small businesses. You can order pre-paid Flat Rate shipping boxes online so they’re ready to send, or stock up on free boxes and print postage labels when you’re set to ship.
The downsides of printing postage directly through a carrier
An obvious disadvantage going the carrier route is that you are limited to the services of that one carrier—and each carrier’s services are limited online, too. A not so obvious disadvantage? You can often find deeper discounts for these same services elsewhere.
Subscription-based shipping solutions
Printing postage at home has given rise to a whole new industry: subscription-based online shipping solutions. These solutions or platforms are dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes meet their shipping and fulfillment needs in one interface—from printing postage to viewing consolidated reports.
How shipping software can help
For businesses, every dollar saved is a huge win. Shipping solutions offer a choice of carriers, allowing you to choose the best service for each order. Most importantly, they can provide substantial postage discounts above what the carriers offer online.
Don’t forget that time is money as well. The convenience of all-in-one shipping software means fewer tedious tasks such as trips to the post office or consolidating tracking information. Instead, you can focus more energy on driving profits—and that’s priceless.
Subscription-based implies fee-based. And yes, you do have to pay for many of these services. Prices vary, but they are manageable for even a fledgling home-based business. A subscription with PitneyShip starts at only $4.99, a cost easily recouped with the discounts you receive on First-Class letters, Priority Mail packages and UPS daily rates. How does it stack up to some of the other leading providers? Take a look for yourself.
How does PitneyShip compare to Stamps.com?
| Feature | PitneyShip $14.99/mo | ShipStation Starting at $9/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Print USPS shipping labels and mail postage | ✅ | ✅ |
| Access discounts of UPS daily rates | ✅ | x |
| Add FedEx account and compare rates across carriers | ✅ | x |
| Access to same day delivery services | ✅ | x |
| Delivery Assurance option for USPS Priority Mail packages | ✅ | x |
| Consolidated shipment tracking and reporting | ✅ | x |
| Access to mobile app to ship and track on-the-go | ✅ | x |
| Award-winning customer support | ✅ | x |
How does PitneyShip compare to ShipStation?
| Feature | PitneyShip $14.99/mo | Stamps.com$17.99/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Print USPS shipping labels and mail postage | ✅ | ✅ |
| Access discounts of UPS daily rates | ✅ | ✅ |
| Add FedEx account and compare rates across carriers | ✅ | ✅ |
| Access to same day delivery services | ✅ | x |
| Delivery Assurance option for USPS Priority Mail packages | ✅ | x |
| Consolidated shipment tracking and reporting | ✅ | ✅ |
| Access to mobile app to ship and track on-the-go | ✅ | ✅ |
| Award-winning customer support | ✅ | x |
How does PitneyShip compare to Pirate Ship?
| Feature | PitneyShip $14.99/mo | Stamps.com$17.99/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Print USPS shipping labels and mail postage | ✅ | ✅ |
| Access discounts of UPS daily rates | ✅ | ✅ |
| Add FedEx account and compare rates across carriers | ✅ | x |
| Access to same day delivery services | ✅ | ✅ |
| Delivery Assurance option for USPS Priority Mail packages | ✅ | x |
| Consolidated shipment tracking and reporting | ✅ | ✅ |
| Access to mobile app to ship and track on-the-go | ✅ | x |
| Award-winning customer support | ✅ | x |
Other considerations for printing postage at home
Shipping volumes
The more you mail and ship the more options you need. Being able to compare and choose between carriers, services, and classes of mail allows you to identify the least expensive and most timely option for each of your orders.
The ability to batch print shipping labels is also an important consideration for high-volume shippers who send more than 20 packages per week. Batch printing allows you to print postage for multiple recipients at once, saving you loads of time and frustration.
Payment options
All major carriers, online marketplaces and online shipping services accept credit cards when you buy and print postage labels online. You might be charged a minimal service fee for the transaction, but this pay-as-you-go option is used by many home-business startups.
Need more options? Look for an online shipping service that offers a prepaid deposit account that lets you deposit money in advance and draw on funds as needed or one that offers a line of credit that lets you consolidate sending expenses into one monthly bill. For example, PitneyShip subscribers can apply for a line of credit through the Pitney Bowes Bank and use it to pay for postage, meter rentals, shipping and supplies.
How do I print stamps at home?
Printing official USPS-approved stamps online is super simple through PitneyShip. You can print rolls of stamps to mail letters and other individual parcels. Even better, you can skip the stamps entirely by printing postage labels and affixing them directly to your items.
Convenient postage only scratches the surface of what PitneyShip can do. You’ll get access to exclusive USPS and UPS discounts, the Best Match tool for comparing carrier rates, and the ability to plan and track shipments on-the-go. It all adds up to more time and money to spend on leveling up your business