Shipping Label

What Is a Shipping Label?

A shipping label is the label attached to the outside of a package that tells the carrier where it is going and how to handle it. It includes the recipient's address, the sender's return address, the carrier service, the package weight and a scannable barcode tied to the tracking number. Carriers rely on the label to sort and route the package automatically.

How It Works

Labels are generated through carrier systems or shipping software once the order's address, package weight, dimensions and service level are known. Creating the label calculates the postage and assigns a tracking number. In a warehouse, the packer weighs the sealed box, the system creates the label and it is printed on a thermal label printer, typically in a standard 4 by 6 inch format, then applied to the package.

A typical label includes:

• Ship-to and return addresses
• Carrier service and routing codes
• Tracking number and barcode
• Package weight and, for some services, reference numbers

Why It Matters for Ecommerce Brands

The shipping label is where data accuracy turns into real cost. A wrong address means a correction fee or a return. An incorrect weight or dimension can trigger a carrier adjustment. A label placed over a box seam or crumpled can be hard to scan and slow down delivery.

For example, a brand that manually enters package weights might regularly underestimate them and receive adjustment charges on later invoices. Weighing each package at packing and generating labels from that data avoids the problem. Brands shipping wholesale orders should also know that retailers may require their own carton labels in addition to the carrier label.