How to create and print your own shipping labels from home or the office

Print shipping & postage labels from home or office. Save time, compare rates, access USPS & UPS discounts, and streamline shipping with PitneyShip.
SendTech Staff Pitney Bowes
11/17/2025 Carrier News

Stop wasting time at the post office. Create and print shipping labels right from your home or office—no special equipment required.

Shipping from home is easier than ever. Whether you’re managing ecommerce orders, sending customer returns, or printing shipping labels for clients, you can now create, print, and compare shipping rates in just minutes. From carrier websites and online marketplaces to all-in-one shipping platforms like PitneyShip®, creating shipping labels is simple and affordable for any business. This guide covers how to print shipping labels, how to create shipping labels, and even how to print postage labels—so you can master printing shipping labels and ship smarter wherever you work.

Table of Content:

What is a shipping label?

A shipping label contains the essential details—addresses, tracking number, barcodes, and service type—that carriers need to deliver and track your package accurately. It’s a crucial part of every shipping workflow, ensuring each parcel reaches the right destination. For a deeper look, explore our full guide on what is a shipping label

What you need to create and print shipping labels

Getting started with shipping from home is easier than you might think. Most of the tools you need to create and print shipping labels are already in your workspace — and you don’t need any fancy setup to begin.

At minimum, you’ll want a computer or mobile device, a printer, and paper or adhesive labels. A digital scale is a smart addition for weighing packages accurately, which helps you get the best USPS,UPS, or FedEx rates without overpaying.

You can print shipping labels on standard 8.5x11 paper or on 4x6 thermal labels using a label printer or thermal label printer for a more professional look. These options make it simple to match your printing setup to your shipping volume and budget.

To take things further, consider using shipping software like PitneyShip®, which helps compare carrier rates, validate addresses, and track deliveries—all while accessing discounted postage across carriers. For the ultimate upgrade, the PitneyShip Cube™ combines a built-in scale and label printer in one compact device, perfect for fast, accurate, and affordable label creation.

Use a carrier website (USPS, UPS, FedEx)

Carrier websites are one of the most straightforward ways to create shipping labels and manage postage online. If you already have a USPS account, you can use USPS Click-N-Ship® to prepare Priority Mail®, Priority Mail Express®, and international shipments directly from your browser. Flat Rate options—like Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes®—are great for flat rate shipping since you pay one set price regardless of weight, as long as it fits the box.

UPS.com and FedEx.com offer similar tools to help you generate postage labels, compare packaging supplies, and even schedule package pickups. Each of these shipping carriers supports domestic and international label creation and lets you print labels at home or in your office for quick drop-offs.

While these platforms offer convenience and reliability, they’re limited to one carrier’s services and discounts. For greater flexibility and savings, third-party shipping software like PitneyShip® lets you compare rates across carriers, print prepaid shipping labels, and access exclusive discounts—all from a single dashboard.

Use an online marketplace (eBay, Etsy, Amazon)

If you sell through an online marketplace like eBay, Etsy, or Amazon, you can create shipping labels and print shipping labels directly from your seller dashboard. These marketplaces include built-in tools for order fulfillment, making it easy to manage sales, track shipments, and fulfill orders all in one place. Each platform partners with at least one shipping carrier—often USPS or UPS—and offers discounted postage or shipping discounts through negotiated rates.

This approach is fast, familiar, and beginner-friendly, especially for part-time sellers or those just starting their ecommerce journey. However, it can limit flexibility since you’re typically tied to one carrier and set of rates. For growing businesses that ship higher volumes, using shipping software like PitneyShip lets you compare rates across multiple carriers, automate fulfillment, and scale beyond marketplace tools for greater savings and efficiency.

Use PayPal Shipping

PayPal Shipping is a convenient option for anyone with a PayPal account, not just eBay sellers. It lets you print labels and purchase postage for USPS shipping labels and UPS shipping labels directly within your PayPal dashboard—no separate store setup required. You can easily manage shipments, track deliveries, and handle basic order management tasks in one familiar interface.

This tool is great for home-based or casual shippers who need quick, reliable shipping options for smaller or occasional ecommerce operations. However, it doesn’t support FedEx or offer expedited shipping, batch label creation, or multi-carrier rate comparison. In short, PayPal Shipping is a fast and simple starting point, but not scalable enough for growing businesses that need advanced automation or broader carrier integration.

Use a shipping software platform

For growing ecommerce businesses and busy home offices, using a shipping software solution is one of the smartest ways to simplify your fulfillment process. Instead of managing multiple carrier accounts separately, platforms like PitneyShip® and ShipAccel™ bring everything together—helping you compare retail shipping rates, access shipping solutions from USPS, UPS, and FedEx, and automatically track packages from one dashboard.

With tools for print postage, address verification, and real-time rate comparison, these platforms make it easy to choose the best shipping service for every order. Businesses save time through automation and batch label creation, while gaining better visibility across all shipments. Subscription plans for PitneyShip start as low as $17.99 per month, and the cost is often offset by the built-in discounts you get on carrier rates.

Whether you’re running daily operations or scaling to handle high-volume orders, a modern shipping platform helps you ship faster, save money, and stay organized. Want to see how PitneyShip compares to other tools? Keep reading for a breakdown of the leading options.

PitneyShip vs other shipping software options

When evaluating shipping software, features and pricing can vary. Here’s how PitneyShip® compares to other popular platforms—Pirate Ship, ShipStation, and Stamps.com—based on the capabilities small businesses rely on most.

Feature / Platform

PitneyShip®

Pirate Ship

ShipStation

Stamps.com

Starting price

$17.99/mo

Free

$9.99/mo

$19.99/mo

Carriers supported

✅

✅

✅

❌

Rate comparison

✅

❌

✅

❌

Shipping discounts

✅

✅

✅

✅

Batch label printing

✅

✅

✅

✅

Tracking & reporting

✅

❌

✅

❌

Address verification

✅

❌

✅

❌

Label printing options

✅

✅

✅

✅

Extra features (scale, postage, reporting)

✅

❌

✅

❌

Key takeaway

While Pirate Ship and ShipStation deliver helpful tools for casual sellers, PitneyShip® stands out for combining ease of use, professional features, and access to multi-carrier discounts. Whether you’re comparing PitneyShip vs Pirate Ship or Stamps.com vs ShipStation, PitneyShip offers the most complete, affordable, and scalable option for small businesses and home offices looking to ship smarter.

How to print shipping labels at home or in the office

Printing shipping labels from home or your office is fast and easy with PitneyShip®. You don’t need any special equipment—just your computer, printer, and a few simple steps to create and print shipping labels right from your browser.

Here’s how to print your shipping label using PitneyShip:

  • From your dashboard, select Shipping & Mailing → Create Shipping Label.
  • Enter the recipient’s address manually or choose from your saved contacts.
  • Add the package type, dimensions, and weight.
  • Choose your shipping service (USPS, UPS, or FedEx) and delivery date.
  • Add any optional details—such as insurance, cost accounts, or reference notes.
  • Review the summary, then click Print Label. You can print directly using DeviceHub or save the label as a PDF to print later.

You can print shipping labels online on standard paper or adhesive labels. Make sure your label is secure, flat, and scannable—avoid taping over barcodes or wrapping it around package edges. Once printed, simply schedule a package pickup or drop it off with your carrier.

Best methods for printing labels

There’s no single best way to print shipping labels—the right setup depends on your budget, volume, and how often you ship. Here are three popular options small businesses and ecommerce sellers rely on most:

Option 1: Thermal label printer + 4x6 adhesive labels

A thermal label printer or other thermal printers are the go-to for fast, professional printing labels. They don’t require ink or toner and work perfectly with 4x6 shipping labels, making them ideal for high-volume shippers. The upfront cost is higher, but you save in the long run with speed and efficiency.

Option 2: Inkjet or laser printer + 8.5x11 standard paper

If you’re just starting out, a laser printer or inkjet printer works great with regular paper. It’s the most affordable option, though you’ll need to cut and tape each label carefully—avoid covering barcodes with tape to keep them scannable.

Option 3: Inkjet or laser printer + half-sheet adhesive labels

This hybrid option is a step up for standard printers. Half sheet adhesive labels eliminate the need for tape while keeping costs low—perfect for medium shipping volumes.

Pro Tip: The PitneyShip Cube combines a built-in scale and printer for seamless, professional label creation. For a deeper comparison, read our guide to thermal vs. laser printers.

Shipping in bulk? Use batch label creation tools

If you’re shipping in bulk—say, 20 or more packages a week—batch label tools can save serious time. Instead of processing orders one by one, you can generate shipping labels in groups, batch print them, and track everything from one dashboard.

Platforms like PitneyShip® integrate seamlessly with leading ecommerce platforms, making it easy to import order data using CSV files and manage multiple shipments at once. You can print shipping labels, monitor delivery performance, and even analyze shipping spend through consolidated reporting.

Whether you’re scaling up or handling a busy season, batch label creation tools streamline fulfillment so you can focus on growing your business—not juggling shipments.

Where to print shipping labels

Wondering where to print shipping labels if you don’t have a printer? You’ve got options. Most carriers and public services can help. You can print labels at your local library, office supply store, or print shop, or use in store label printing at USPS, UPS, or FedEx locations. USPS even offers a USPS Label Broker QR code—just show it to a clerk, and they’ll print your label on the spot. UPS and FedEx also support QR-based printing, and if you prefer, you can forward your PDF label to a friend or team member who has a printer.

If you do have access to a printer, a shipping platform like PitneyShip® makes it easy to print shipping labels, compare shipping rates, and even schedule same day delivery. It’s perfect for remote workers, mobile business owners, or anyone running early-stage ecommerce operations from home.

How to print stamps at home

If you regularly mail letters, invoices, or lightweight packages, learning how to print stamps at home can save you countless post office trips. With PitneyShip®, you can easily print postage stamps at home that are fully approved by USPS—ideal for everyday mailing needs. You can choose from multiple formats, including rolls, sheets, or direct envelope printing, making it easy to customize based on your workflow.

Beyond printing USPS stamps, PitneyShip also helps small businesses streamline postage management. You’ll automatically access USPS and UPS discounts, compare carrier rates in real time, and track shipments from one dashboard. Whether you’re managing routine correspondence or sending customer packages, PitneyShip brings professional-grade tools to your home office—combining convenience, savings, and smarter printing stamps for every task.

Check out our complete guide for buying and printing stamps

Final thoughts: Create, print, and ship smarter

Creating and printing shipping labels or postage labels from home or your office is one of the simplest ways to streamline your shipping process. With tools like PitneyShip®, you can manage every step—whether you’re shipping customer orders or managing returns—without leaving your desk.

PitneyShip makes it easy to:

  • Compare carriers with real-time shipping rates
  • Access UPS and USPS discounts automatically
  • Batch print and track multiple shipments
  • Ship from anywhere with one intuitive dashboard

For ecommerce sellers managing fulfillment at scale, ShipAccel extends those same advantages—helping you store, pick, pack, and ship efficiently from a single platform. It’s never been easier to create, print, and ship smarter.