How to ship a package from home in five easy steps

Ship packages from home with or without a printer. Print labels, schedule pickups & save on USPS, UPS, FedEx rates with PitneyShip & PitneyShip Cube.
SendTech Staff Pitney Bowes
11/14/2024 Carrier News

Working from home? Learn how to handle all your shipping tasks — from printing labels to scheduling pickups — without ever leaving your home office.

Standing in line at the post office takes time most small business owners don’t have. Whether you’re an Etsy shop owner, eBay seller, or consultant shipping materials to clients, learning how to ship a package from home can save hours every week. It’s easier and more affordable than you might think — especially with tools designed for small home offices.

This guide will show you how to ship a package in five easy steps, including how to ship a package from home without a printer, compare rates across carriers, and streamline every shipment using PitneyShip™ and the PitneyShip Cube™. Let’s get started and make your next shipment simple, professional, and stress-free.

Table of Content:

Gather your home office shipping essentials

Before you send a package from home, make sure your home office shipping setup has everything you need for a smooth, stress-free process.

Here’s a quick checklist of your shipping station must-haves:

✅ Computer or smartphone with internet access
✅ Printer — A standard ink jet printer or laser printer works well for most shipping labels, but thermal label printers are faster, eco-friendlier, and never need ink.
✅ Shipping scale — ensures you can apply the right postage and avoid overpaying. Many shipping platforms like PitneyShip™ include one with your plan.
✅ Shipping boxes or padded mailers — right-sized for your products
✅ Packing materials — bubble wrap, kraft paper, or air pillows
✅ Labels or plain printer paper + tape
✅ Shipping info — sender and recipient addresses & phone numbers

You could handwrite shipping details, but handwritten labels can cause delays or failed scans.

Pro tip: Store tape, labels, and filler in one organized cabinet or cart so every shipment is quick and efficient.

Pick the right packaging for your products

Smart packaging protects your items and helps control shipping costs. Follow the Goldilocks rule: not too big, not too small. The ideal fit is a box or mailer with just enough space for padding so your packages stay secure in transit.

For soft goods like shirts, padded envelopes or poly mailers work perfectly. Fragile items such as mugs or electronics need sturdier flat rate boxes or corrugated cartons with bubble wrap, kraft paper, or air pillows.

Reusing boxes is fine—just make sure they’re in good condition and strike through old barcodes or shipping labels. Major carriers like USPS®, UPS®, and FedEx® offer free packaging supplies online and in-store. If you’re using a flat rate label, remember to ship in the official carrier box or envelope.

Finally, keep an eye on weight and size limits. USPS accepts parcels up to about 70 pounds, while UPS and FedEx allow heavier or oversized packages, often with added fees. Choosing the right materials keeps shipments safe, professional, and cost-effective.

Buy & create your shipping label

Once your package is packed and ready, it’s time to create your shipping label. Whether you own a printer or not, there are simple ways to handle this step from home. You can easily buy a shipping label online, compare carrier rates, and choose the most affordable option without leaving your desk.

Printing shipping labels at home

Printing shipping labels at home is one of the easiest ways to streamline your home office shipping process. Once your package is ready, simply create your shipping label online through your preferred shipping carrier—like USPS®, UPS®, or FedEx®—or use multi-carrier shipping software such as PitneyShip™ to handle everything in one place.

Enter your package’s weight and dimensions, then compare shipping options side by side. PitneyShip automatically finds the best delivery speed and price across carriers and applies commercial shipping rates that are often up to 40% lower than retail. Those savings can quickly pay for your printer—especially if you ship frequently.

To save even more time, batch-print labels for multiple shipments at once instead of pausing to print each order separately. If you use thermal label printers, you’ll skip the ink and toner entirely while keeping your setup clean and eco-friendly.

With the right tools, printing labels from your home office is fast, affordable, and completely hassle-free.

Shipping without a printer

No printer? No problem. You can still ship confidently and professionally from your home. Many home businesses successfully send packages every day using simple alternatives for creating and attaching shipping labels. From carrier print services to library or store printing, there are plenty of flexible options that fit your routine and budget.

Print at the carrier drop-off location

USPS, UPS, and FedEx all offer free or low-cost label printing at their physical locations. Simply create your shipping label online using carrier tools like USPS Click-N-Ship or FedEx Ship Manager. Then save the file to a USB drive or email it to yourself and visit your local post office, UPS Store, or FedEx Office. Staff there will print and affix the label to your package for you. This is a great no-cost or low-cost solution for regular shipments.

Schedule a pickup with UPS On-Call Pickup

UPS allows you to schedule a pickup even if you don’t have a label. UPS On-Call Pickup® service lets the driver bring the shipping label with them and print it at your doorstep. This is convenient for home-based businesses but note that a small UPS residential surcharge may apply. It’s an excellent option for those who want to skip trips to the drop-off locations but don’t have printing capability.

Visit your local library

Many libraries offer low-cost printing services, making them a handy option for printing shipping labels in a pinch. While libraries typically use standard printers, they are perfect for occasional shipments or emergency label printing when your home printer isn’t available. Just bring your label file on a USB or access it via email.

Print your labels at a print shop

Local print shops like Staples or Office Depot can produce crisp, professional-looking adhesive shipping labels that make a great impression on customers. These stores use high-quality standard printers capable of handling multiple formats and materials, making them ideal for bulk or branded label runs.

While more expensive than printing at home or the library, it’s worth it when you need a polished finish or are preparing a large batch of shipments. For frequent shippers, though, it’s less sustainable long-term compared to having your own printer.

Phone a friend

If all else fails, just email the label PDF to a family member or friend with a printer. Printing on plain paper will work fine, and you can tape the label securely to the box, covering all edges. It’s a quick, low-cost fix that’s ideal for occasional or one-off shipments.

Hire a courier

If you need a package out the door fast and have no access to a printer, hiring a courier can be a convenient—though pricey—solution. Many couriers can print your label, attach it, and handle the entire drop-off or delivery process for you. This option is best reserved for urgent, high-value, or rural-area shipments where time and reliability matter most. Think of it as a last-resort backup when other methods aren’t available.

Quick Printing Alternatives Summary

Printing alternative

Cost

Best for

Carrier drop-off printing

Usually free or very low cost

Frequent shippers using USPS, UPS, or FedEx who prefer in-person assistance.

Library or print shop

Small per-page fee

Occasional shipments or when your home printer is unavailable.

UPS pickup with label printing

Includes small surcharge

Home-based businesses that value door-to-door convenience.

Friend or family printer

Free

One-off or emergency shipments when you just need a quick print.

Courier service

Most expensive option

Urgent or rural shipments requiring same-day pickup and professional handling.

Attach your label like a pro

You’ve packed your box, but placement matters when it comes to your shipping label.

  • The best place to put the shipping label is on the largest, flattest side of your box or mailer.
  • Don’t let it wrap over corners or cover any seams.
  • If you printed on regular paper, cut the label to size and secure all four edges with clear tape, keeping tape off the barcode so scanners can read it easily.
  • For fragile items, add a “Fragile” sticker nearby to alert carriers.

Stock your home office shipping station with a cutting mat, tape dispenser, and a small squeegee or even an old gift card to smooth down tape evenly. Neat, scannable labels not only look more professional but also help ensure every delivery arrives on time.

Schedule a pickup or drop it off

The final step in shipping packages from home is getting your parcel on its way. Most carriers make it easy to schedule a pickup online or through their apps.

  • USPS pickups are completely free if you’re using Priority Mail®.
  • UPS® and FedEx® offer scheduled pickups, though there may be small residential fees.
  • With PitneyShip™, you can manage everything in one place. The platform lets you coordinate pickups across multiple carriers from a single dashboard—a huge time-saver for small home offices.

Prefer a drop-off? Carriers also offer 24/7 lockers, kiosks, and counters for quick handoffs, giving you flexibility to ship whenever it fits your schedule.

Smart shipping tips for home businesses

Running a small business from your home office means managing plenty of moving parts—but your shipping process doesn’t have to be one of them. With a few smart routines, you can lower shipping costs, stay organized, and create a professional experience that delights customers.

Set up a dedicated packing station with a shipping scale, tape, bins for labels, and branded inserts like thank-you cards or stickers. Keeping everything in one spot makes shipping from home faster and less stressful.

Try processing batch orders once or twice a day instead of stopping for each sale—it’s more efficient and helps maintain focus. Track shipping expenses regularly with PitneyShip™ or a simple spreadsheet to uncover savings and simplify tax prep.

Finally, elevate your unboxing experiences with small, personal touches. A note, tissue paper, or a sticker can turn ordinary deliveries into brand moments. With these shipping tips, your home businesses setup can look every bit as polished as a pro fulfillment center.

Why a dedicated label printer & shipping software pays off

Now that you’re comfortable shipping from home, it’s time to take things up a notch. Investing in a reliable label printer and intuitive shipping software can streamline your workflow, cut costs, and give every package a polished, professional look that builds customer trust and loyalty.

Lower costs & less stress

Printing labels at home is more than a convenience — it’s a profit booster. By using PitneyShip, you can access commercial postage rates that are up to 40% lower than standard retail rates.

If your business ships just 15–20 packages a month, these savings often pay for your printer in under three months. Plus, you skip the lines, keep your brand looking polished, and simplify your workday.

Simplify returns with prepaid labels

Handling returns doesn’t have to be complicated—or costly. Including a prepaid return label with each order gives your customers peace of mind and keeps you in control of the shipping process. With PitneyShip™, you can automatically generate prepaid shipping labels for any carrier and only pay if the prepaid labels are actually used.

This small step can go a long way toward building trust and loyalty. It ensures that your customers enjoy a hassle-free experience while you maintain control over carrier choice, delivery speed, and rates. In short, better-managed returns mean happier customers and fewer logistics headaches for you.

PitneyShip Cube: The home office power tool

For small businesses and home offices that ship frequently, the PitneyShip Cube™ is a game changer. This all-in-one shipping label printer features a built-in scale and thermal printer technology that connects through an easy-to-use mobile app to weigh, print, and track every shipment.

Say goodbye to library trips, paper jams, and costly ink cartridges. With PitneyShip Cube, you can manage postage, compare rates, and handle all your shipping tasks from one compact device—saving time, money, and valuable workspace.

Start shipping smarter from your home office

Shipping from home has never been easier—or more rewarding. With the right setup, you can save time, cut shipping costs, and deliver a professional experience that helps your business stand out. Whether you’re sending a handful of packages or fulfilling dozens of orders each week, modern tools make it simple to handle it all from your home office.

Platforms like PitneyShip™ turn your desk into a full-service shipping hub, giving you instant access to carrier discounts, tracking tools, and label printing in one place. It’s faster, cheaper, and smarter—everything a growing business needs to run efficient, professional shipping right from home.

Ship Packages From Home FAQ

Can you send a package without a shipping label?

Without a clear shipping label, you cannot ship a package. Carriers need a label to identify where an item is headed and, if needed, return address information. If you attempt to ship a package without a shipping label, it will likely be discarded. The failed deliveries (or even delays) can harm brand loyalty and drain your sales revenue. To ensure your items reach customers in a timely fashion, a legible shipping label is vital.