Address and Shipping Labels

Which shipping labels do small brands use?

Most parcels carry a carrier label with the tracking barcode, printed by the seller on the day. Everything else on the outside of the box can be branded: a return address label, a logo label on a plain mailer, a seal over the flap, a fragile or handle-with-care label, or a note asking the courier to leave it somewhere safe.

We print those branded labels in advance, so you can keep plain, inexpensive mailers on the shelf and make them yours with one label.

What size should each label be?

Size each label by the face it sits on. A plain mailer has a large lid that takes a bold front label, while a padded envelope has less flat space and suits a smaller oval or circle.

Keep branded labels clear of where the carrier label will go, so nothing covers the tracking barcode.

Can I print the address myself onto your labels?

Yes. A common set-up is a pre-printed label with your logo and a blank panel, which you fill with the customer's address on a desktop printer or by hand. Matt paper takes ballpoint, marker and most office printer inks well.

Tell us the printer you plan to use and we will advise on the stock and the sheet size before you order. For printing at home, sheets usually suit better than rolls.

Many sellers send a small batch of test prints through their printer before the full order arrives. We can tell you on the quote whether a few sample sheets can be included.

Branding a plain mailer box

Printed mailer boxes look wonderful but tie up money in boxes you have not sold yet. A plain kraft or white mailer with a good front label and a matching seal gives most of the effect at a fraction of the outlay, and you can use the same boxes for every product.

An oval or a large rectangle on the lid, plus a long seal across the opening, is the most popular combination. The seal doubles as a simple tamper check, as it tears when the box is opened.

A plain box with a well-placed label also leaves you free to change your branding later. Updating a label is a short print run; updating a printed box means a whole new stock of boxes.

• A logo seal across the flap of a mailer box
• A return address label with your logo
• A thank-you label on the inside of the lid
• A handle-with-care label for fragile items
• A small circle sealing the tissue inside

Paper or film for parcels?

Paper is the usual choice for parcels, because the label is used once and stays dry for most of its journey. Matt paper is easy to write on. Kraft paper suits brown boxes and a natural look.

If parcels sit outside in the rain or travel in damp vans, white BOPP holds up better and the print stays clean. Our water-resistant film labels explain the difference.

Gloss paper looks bright on white mailers but can be slippery to write on, so if you add anything by hand choose matt.

Setting up your parcel labels

1. List the labels you want on every parcel and where each one goes.
2. Measure the mailer or box faces and the opening flap.
3. Decide whether you will write or print addresses yourself, and leave a blank panel if so.
4. Send your logo and wording, and say rolls or sheets.
5. Check the free proof, which shows every label at real size, and approve it.

Printing takes 3 to 5 working days after you approve the proof.

Once approved, the proof becomes the master for every reorder, so the labels you buy next year match the ones you send out this month.

Do you print carrier labels with tracking codes?

No. Tracking labels are generated by your carrier when you book each parcel and contain codes unique to that parcel, so they are printed on the day by you. What we print is everything around them: your branding, return details and seals.

If you print carrier labels on a thermal printer, keep our branded labels separate. Thermal printers need their own heat-sensitive stock.

What do parcel labels cost?

Prices start from £0.05 a label. Return address labels and small seals are among the most economical labels we print. Size, stock and quantity set the final figure, and the quote comes back by email within one working day with a free proof.

Ordering return address labels and box seals together keeps your colours consistent and usually costs less per label than two separate orders.

Delivery and reprints

Labels travel to UK mainland addresses by free tracked delivery in 2 to 3 working days, rolls upright and sheets flat between card.

If any labels arrive misprinted or damaged, tell us within 10 days and we reprint them or refund you.

Keep a few labels from each batch with your packing supplies. When you reorder, they make it easy to check that the new run matches what your customers already know.

How many parcel labels should I order?

Count the parcels you send in a typical month and multiply by the number of labels on each. Most sellers order two or three months' worth at a time. The price per label drops as quantities rise, but storing too many ties up shelf space and money.

If your branding may change soon, order a shorter run of the branded labels and a longer run of plain return address labels, which rarely change.