The global ecommerce industry ships over 100 billion packages every year. For online sellers, quickly and accurately labeling those packages is critical for efficient order fulfillment and delivery. Fortunately, with ready-made shipping label templates and online label generators, creating professional-grade labels has never been simpler.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore the top shipping label solutions to use in 2023, including both templates you can customize yourself and generators that create labels for you.
Why Well-Designed Shipping Labels Matter
Before diving into the solutions, let‘s discuss why putting some effort into your shipping labels matters:
Streamlines Order Fulfillment
Manually addressing dozens or hundreds of packages per day is tedious and inefficient. Label templates and generators automate the process so you can scale your throughput.
Prevents Errors
Copying addresses manually leaves room for typos and missing information that lead to delivery failures. Templates minimize this by pulling data directly from order information.
Brand Building
A clean, professionally-printed label makes a good first impression on customers and elevates your brand image.
Supply Chain Tracking
Accurate origin and destination data on labels enables package tracking and inventory management through the delivery process.
Now let‘s look at some recommended shipping label solutions for ecommerce stores and small businesses.
Top 10 Shipping Label Templates
Shipping label templates allow you to quickly make customized labels by populating ready-made designs with your order data. Here are 10 top templates to consider:
1. Shopify Shipping Label Template
As the leading ecommerce platform, Shopify offers hundreds of free label templates right within your store admin.
Key Features
- 100+ size and layout options
- Customizable with logos, images etc.
- Direct thermal printer integration
Benefits
- No additional software needed
- Designed for ecommerce order workflows
- Easy batch label printing
Downsides
- Only for Shopify merchants
- Limited flexibility compared to standalone tools
2. Avery Shipping Label Templates
Avery offers a massive selection of commonly-used label formats like USPS and UPS that work with any printer.
Key Features
- 3,000+ label designs
- For laser, inkjet or thermal printers
- Customizable backgrounds & layouts
Benefits
- Huge variety for any label need
- Microsoft Word integration
- Clean results with any printer
Downsides
- Material costs add up over time
- Limited automation features
3. Canva Shipping Label Templates
The popular Canva design platform includes ready-made shipping label layouts alongside other custom designs.
Key Features
- Modern, professional designs
- Drag-and-drop customization
- PDF or image output
Benefits
- Free basic templates
- Easy to tailor to brands
- Multi-use label maker
Downsides
- Limited automation & integrations
- Exporting high volumes tedious
4. AfterShip Label Templates
AfterShip offers basic label templates in multiple sizes focused on domestic and global shipping.
Key Features
- International delivery formats
- Add tracking codes
- Simple customization
Benefits
- Specialized for shipping
- Good for high volume
- Free to use
Downsides
- Very basic formatting
- Limited template selection
5. Microsoft Office Label Templates
Microsoft Office includes handy built-in label templates for common applications like envelopes, packaging and name badges.
Key Features
- For Word, Excel and Publisher
- Hundreds of categories
- Editable designs
Benefits
- Easy to access and use
- Great for envelopes
- Free for Office users
Downsides
- Clunky customization
- Not optimized for high volumes
6. OnlineLabels Template Gallery
This label manufacturer offers a big selection of shipping label templates from simple to very specialized.
Key Features
- Categories for all carriers
- Label sheets for many printers
- Customization tools
Benefits
- Specialized shipping formats
- Optimized for OLN supplies
- Handy design features
Downsides
- Pushing you to buy supplies
- No automation
7. SheetLabels Template Gallery
Like OnlineLabels, SheetLabels provides downloadable label templates across many common shipping applications.
Key Features
- UPS, USPS, FedEx + generic
- Most popular label sizes
- Customization options
Benefits
- Specialized carrier formats
- Hundreds to choose from
- Free templates
Downsides
- Very basic formatting
- Pushing own label stock
8. SwiftLabel Shipping Label Gallery
SwiftLabel offers a good range of free shipping label templates covering various standard sizes and layouts.
Key Features
- Includes tracker fields
- Generic and carrier-specific
- Interactive editor
Benefits
- Lots of options to choose from
- Optimized for SwiftLabel
- Handy customization
Downsides
- Pushy upsells
- Very simple designs
- Limited label sizes
9. Worldlabel Shipping Label Templates
Worldlabel provides an array of ready-made shipping label templates for applications like USPS Priority Mail.
Key Features
- Postal standardized designs
- Common label sizes
- Customization options
Benefits
- USPS compliant formats
- Hundreds of free templates
- Established provider
Downsides
- Very plain designs
- Stock promotion focus
10. Free Label Templates
This site offers downloads for basic shipping label layouts along with other labels.
Key Features
- Blank and custom formats
- Includes common fields
- Editable in Word
Benefits
- Simple no-fuss option
- Nothing to install
- Free to use
Downsides
- Very dated visuals
- Limited label sizes/styles
- Few design controls
Top 10 Online Shipping Label Generators
If you want a fully automated labeling solution, check out these top shipping label generators that create printer-ready PDFs on demand:
1. ShipStation Label Generator
The popular ShipStation platform allows creating batches of labels from order imports and individual labels on the fly.
Key Features
- Integrates w/ shopping carts
- Rate shopping across carriers
- Customizable templates
Benefits
- Automates the entire workflow
- Shipping discounts via ShipStation
- 30-day free trial
Downsides
- Can get expensive for large volumes
- Steep learning curve
2. Shippo Label Generator
Leading multi-carrier platform Shippo makes label generation a breeze from any device.
Key Features
- APIs for developer integration
- Rate comparison engine
- Customs paperwork automation
Benefits
- Simple web interface
- Discounted USPS rates
- 7-day free trial
Downsides
- Transaction-based pricing adds up
- Weak tracking features
3. ShipWorks Label Generator
The ShipWorks platform offers extensive label creation and customization capabilities.
Key Features
- Hundreds of label templates
- Multi-user access tiers
- Rules-based automation
Benefits
- Broad integration ecosystem
- Graphical label designer tool
- 30-day free trial
Downsides
- Can get very pricey
- Steep learning curve
4. ShippingEasy Label Generator
Cloud-based ShippingEasy makes label printing fast whether you ship 10 or 10,000 packages a month.
Key Features
- Direct connections to shipping carriers
- Custom package profiles
- Batch label printing
Benefits
- Simple labeling workflow
- USPS commercial discounts
- 30-day free trial
Downsides
- Limited reporting features
- Requires paid plan
5. Shopify Label Generator
Shopify merchants can create shipping labels one-by-one or in batches directly within their store dashboard.
Key Features
- Tied to order information
- Print through regular printers
- Some customization options
Benefits
- No extra tools needed
- Discounted USPS rates
- Optimized for ecommerce
Downsides
- Limited flexibility
- Pricing adds up at higher volumes
6. PayPal Label Generator
PayPal sellers can instantly create labels via PayPal Ship Now and save on USPS rates.
Key Features
- Simple web interface
- Batch label printing
- Basic customization
Benefits
- Discount USPS rates
- Fast label creation
- Familiar PayPal platform
Downsides
- Very limited features
- Confusing interface
7. eBay Label Generator
eBay sellers can access special USPS discounts when printing labels from new orders or within order management.
Key Features
- Special USPS rates
- Tight platform integration
- Templating options
Benefits
- Discount shipping costs
- Streamlined order workflows
- Easy batch printing
Downsides
- Ebay merchants only
- Limited customization
- Buggy interface
8. Etsy Label Generator
Alongside discounted USPS rates, Etsy provides straightforward tools for sellers to create shipping labels.
Key Features
- Simple generation process
- Label history tracking
- Decent customization
Benefits
- USPS commercial pricing
- Optimized for Etsy workflows
- Bulk label printing
Downsides
- Etsy sellers only
- Could use more features
- Occasional bugs
9. Postmen Label Generator
API-based platform Postmen offers programmatic label generation along with other shipping capabilities.
Key Features
- Developer-friendly APIs
- Rate shopping
- Custom label fields
Benefits
- Flexible integration options
- Free sandbox account
- Discounted USPS rates
Downsides
- Technical complexity
- Expensive accounts
10. EasyPost Label Generator
Popular shipping API EasyPost allows creating dynamic labels on the fly with discounted rates.
Key Features
- Developer-oriented
- Rating and address verification
- Label customization and tracking
Benefits
- API simplicity
- Discounted rates
- Test accounts available
Downsides
- Not standalone tools
- Costly scaled usage
Recommended Label Printers for Ecommerce
To generate quality shipping labels suitable for long journeys and repeated scanner scans, investing in the proper label printer is highly advisable. Here are two excellent models suitable for high-volume ecommerce fulfillment:
Rollo Commercial Label Printer
The enterprise-grade Rollo printer delivers speed, durability and reliability.
Key specs:
- 105 mm/second print speed
- Direct thermal technology
- 203 dpi print quality
- WiFi + USB connectivity
Best for: High volume shipping departments
Downsides: Expensive upfront cost
Price: $599.99
Munbyn 4×6 USB Label Printer
The compact Munbyn printer punches above its weight with exceptional print quality rivaling more advanced models.
Key specs:
- 80 mm/second print speed
- 203 dpi resolution
- Handles label rolls up to 5” diameter
- USB-powered
Best for: Medium volume sellers
Downsides: Slower than industrial models
Price: $173.98
For more guidance, see our guide comparing the best shipping label printers.
Final Thoughts
Implementing a quality shipping label solution yields dividends for ecommerce sellers through faster fulfillment, reduced errors, improved customer experience and more.
This guide outlined top-rated templates and generators that balance ease of use with customization flexibility for businesses large and small. Coupled with a reliable label printer, these solutions streamline order workflows to keep commerce flowing smoothly even during periods of intense demand.
No matter which option you choose, allocating attention to polish your labeling process is time well invested as scale places strain on order operations.
