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How to Order Custom Shipping Labels: A Step-by-Step Checklist

02/24/2026

Ordering custom shipping labels is simple once you know what to bring to the conversation. The projects that move fastest and come out best are the ones where the buyer arrives with a few basics decided — and the ones that stall are usually missing a printer spec, a barcode data file, or a deadline.

Here’s the short checklist we wish every first-time buyer had before requesting a quote.

1. Nail down size, format, and quantity

Know your label size (4×6 is the carrier standard), whether you need rolls, fanfold, or sheets, and roughly how many. Quantity drives pricing and format drives compatibility with your equipment, so having both in hand lets us quote accurately on the first pass instead of trading emails.

2. Identify your printer or applicator

Tell us the make and model of your label printer or applicator — Zebra, Rollo, DYMO, Brother, or an inline unit — plus the core size and winding you need. This determines direct-thermal vs. thermal-transfer, roll spec, and facestock, and it’s the detail most often missing when an order stalls.

3. Gather your artwork and barcode data

A vector logo (AI, EPS, SVG, or PDF) is ideal for any branding. If you only have a PNG, our designers recreate it production-ready at no charge. For barcodes, send your symbology (UPC, GS1-128, etc.) and the data or numbering scheme, and note any retailer or carrier compliance requirements.

4. Match facestock to conditions

Tell us what the label faces: dry in-transit parcels take coated paper; moisture, cold, oil, or abrasion call for BOPP or weatherproof polyester; a boutique unboxing might want Kraft. If you’re unsure, describe the surface and the journey and we’ll recommend a facestock and adhesive.

5. Know your deadline, then request the quote

Standard production runs 5–7 business days after you approve the mockup, so count back from any hard in-hands or peak-season date and add a few days of buffer. Send everything through the quote form; we reply within one business day with pricing and a photo-real mockup, revise it free until you approve, and start production the same day you sign off.

Ready to start? Get a custom quote — free mockups in 24 hours. Learn more about how we work, or browse more guides.

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