What kind of printer do I need to print shipping labels?
You know those official-looking mailing labels you see on your inbound letters and packages? You can save time and money by printing the same mailing labels from home.
First, it’s important to understand the difference between mailing labels and shipping labels. The process of “mailing” an item refers to mail sent in envelopes through USPS®. With mailing labels, you can print the sender’s and recipient’s addresses in one convenient step. Mailing labels look professional and are easy for USPS to read.
Shipping refers primarily to packages and can be handled by any carrier, including USPS, FedEx® and UPS®. Shipping labels contain more information than mailing labels, including carrier-specific postage and tracking barcodes.
The distinction between the two is important but doesn’t impact the type of printer you need. If it works for a shipping label, it works for a mailing label.
Can you print shipping labels with any type of printer?
It depends! You don’t necessarily need a special printer to print shipping or mailing labels. Whether you need an inkjet printer, a laser printer, or a thermal label printer depends on the results you want to achieve and the money you are willing to invest. But remember, what you pay upfront can impact what you pay in the long run.
Printing shipping labels with an inkjet printer
Odds are you already have an inkjet printer in your home or office. That means you can start printing shipping labels today. But if your shipping volumes are high, you’ll want to invest in a laser or thermal printer for long-term savings.
The advantages of an inkjet printer:
- They’re readily available and inexpensive to purchase.
- Their compact footprint works well in any environment.
The disadvantages of an inkjet printer:
- Ink is expensive to replenish, even the non-OEM options.
- Print speeds are slow and media tray capacity is low.
Printing shipping labels with a laser printer
A laser printer will print shipping labels much faster than an inkjet. If you print more than a couple of labels a day, you’ll appreciate the difference. Printed text is sharper, even at tiny font sizes (which shipping labels use). The upfront investment is steeper than that of an inkjet, but you can print more labels for less cost over time.
The advantages of a laser printer:
- They print faster with sharper, cleaner results than an inkjet.
- They print more shipping labels for roughly the same price as an inkjet.
The disadvantages of a laser printer:
- They weigh more and have a larger footprint than an inkjet.
- Replenishing the toner is expensive and only works with laser-compatible print media.
Printing shipping labels with a thermal printer
Thermal label printers are distinct from inkjet and laser in one important way: they are purpose-built to print shipping labels. You can see that in features like built-in label-roll cutters and feeds designed specifically for rolls of 4x6 shipping labels.
Thermal technology means no messy, expensive ink or toner cartridges to deal with. Thermal is also the most expensive option of the three printer types, though affordable options are available. You’ll need to consider whether you ship enough orders to determine if thermal printing is the right approach for you.
The advantages of a thermal label printer:
- They have one job to do, and they are very fast and good at it.
- No ink or toner to replenish. It’s worth repeating: No ink or toner.
The disadvantages of a thermal label printer:
- Other than their higher upfront cost and singular purpose, there really aren’t any disadvantages.
Be sure to compare all your options to determine what the best shipping label printer is for your business.
How do you print your own shipping labels?
Different carriers will give you the option to print shipping labels online, and they can even be created using word processing programs. To optimize the process, many businesses with high shipping volumes opt for multi-carrier shipping software such as PitneyShip® to easily create and print shipping labels. If you want a thorough rundown of the printing process, read our guide on how to print your own shipping labels.
Can you print shipping and mailing labels on regular paper?
Absolutely. You don’t need to spend extra on paper to print your shipping and mailing labels. The same paper you use in your inkjet or laser printer is perfectly fine. You can also print postage directly onto an envelope, but you do need special USPS-approved paper to print stamps. We cover the details in How to create and print USPS® shipping labels.
Creating your shipping and mailing labels in-house can help you control shipping costs. With PitneyShip®, you can push the savings further with exclusive discounts and rate comparison tools.
If you run a small ecommerce business, combining the PitneyShip software with the PitneyShip Cube shipping label printer allows you to weigh and print shipping labels using standard 4×6 label paper. Using the PitneyShip Cube, you can also print self-adhesive stamps to place right on your envelope. If you sell online using Amazon, Shopify, eBay, WooCommerce, or Magento, the printer can also automatically import order details, saving you even more time. It’s the perfect solution for getting orders out the door quickly and efficiently.
For even more on the advantages we can bring to your shipping strategy, check out our FedEx, UPS, and USPS pages.
Can you handwrite shipping and mailing labels?
You can easily handwrite mailing labels – if you don’t mind the extra work. For shipping labels, you can handwrite the shipping address, but you’ll need to take it to your local post office to be measured, weighed, and stamped with a special shipping barcode.
Better yet, you can just print your shipping and mailing labels at home with the proper barcodes and postal information automatically generated by your sending service or software.
Can you save money printing your own shipping and mailing labels?
Yes! Ask any do-it-all ecommerce retailer or high-volume shipper, printing your own labels can be a surefire way to make shipping more affordable if you know how to print them online by accessing discounted rates. The other key to unlocking savings is finding tools that streamline the shipping process. Many printers can create labels. With PitneyShip® Cube, printing is only the start. Combined with PitneyShip software, it can weigh items, capture package dimensions, compare carrier costs to select the best rate, and even track your shipments. Explore the benefits of PitneyShip Cube and get ready to say goodbye to post office visits, ink cartridges, and paper jams.