Seller Handbook

Purchasing shipping labels on Etsy gives you access to a variety of benefits, from postage discounts to integrated tracking for many of the labels available. If you’re in the United States you can even save up to 30% compared to retail postage rates by purchasing USPS or FedEx shipping labels on Etsy! In addition to tracking, shipping labels on Etsy help automate a variety of important steps in the fulfillment process. When you buy a domestic or international label on Etsy, we’ll fill in the buyer’s address and automatically mark the order as shipped. Plus, purchasing a shipping label on Etsy is a great way to help ensure your order’s eligibility for Etsy’s Purchase Protection program.

To learn more, we talked to experienced sellers about why they regularly choose to purchase shipping labels on Etsy, and how it helps them save time and money while keeping their customers happy.

Time saving features to keep things moving

“I like the discounts offered [on US shipping labels] and that I don’t have to leave the Etsy interface,” says architectural designer Dan. He and his partner Lexie use shipping labels on Etsy to fulfill orders from their Chicago-based shop, Plantopo, which features 3D-printed lighting, vases, and planters. The pair has made over 2,200 sales since launching their business in 2021, and have earned a Star Seller badge that signals a positive customer experience in store for potential buyers.

“Scheduling package pick ups saves me a lot of time instead of going to the post office,” says Dan. If you purchase a USPS shipping label on Etsy, you may be able to schedule a free pickup from your USPS postal carrier right from your Shop Manager, or bring orders by a USPS postal drop-off location. Another thing that stands out to Dan is that the address is already added automatically from the order. “There’s no extra typing and the label’s formatted to my label printer,” he says.

Simplifying order fulfillment

Designer Sarah Cambio of Flower Lane appreciates how simple shipping labels on Etsy make getting new orders out the door. “They’re easy to purchase and the process is very streamlined and user friendly,” says the Gambrills, Maryland-based Star Seller. “It’s simpler than connecting to an outside service since all of the information is connected in one place!”

Since opening her shop in 2020, Flower Lane has continued to flourish, with buyers seeking out her personalized linen crowns for special occasions. Now with over 13,000 sales, a smooth order fulfillment process is essential to sustaining her growth. “Having a scale and organized shipping area helps my business stay streamlined,” says Sarah. She emphasizes the importance of having the correct weight for your items in order to calculate prices accurately—whether you’re recovering shipping costs within your item price or shipping prices are shown to buyers before they complete their purchase.

Another one of Sarah’s favorite features of shipping labels on Etsy? She’s able to save frequently used package details using label presets to make it even easier to generate shipping labels for popular products. Shipping label presets are helpful if you consistently ship items of a similar size and weight, and use the same type of package.

When you purchase a label, you can save the settings (ie: package type, weight, size, etc.) as a new label preset. Then, for future orders when purchasing a label you can apply this preset from the dropdown “label preset.” Review your package preferences.

Keeping customers informed with automated notifications

Carl Gardner and Luciana Petrochi launched their Miami-based shop Urban Troos in 2020, looking to transition away from jobs in the corporate world. They’ve since made nearly 6,000 sales of their vibrant throw pillow designs, and have a record of providing smooth shipping and glowing customer reviews. Using shipping labels on Etsy is one important way they’re able to streamline their fulfillment process.

“Shipping labels on Etsy are easy to generate and flexible when it comes to requesting refunds or purchasing return labels,” says Carl. “Plus, we appreciate the notifications it generates for customers!” When you purchase your postage, just choose the date you plan to drop off the package (up to two days in the future) and we’ll automatically mark the order as complete on that date. As their shop has grown, Carl says they’ve also found it helpful being able to purchase and print labels in bulk as a way to save time.

Get started with shipping labels on Etsy: To purchase a label, you’ll just navigate to the Orders & Shipping section of your Shop Manager, where you can then print your shipping label from the comfort of your own home or office. To learn more, read How to Make the Most of Shipping Labels on Etsy.

Note: Shipping labels on Etsy are currently available for sellers based in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and India. For sellers in other countries, you can purchase shipping labels directly through your preferred shipping carrier. Many shipping carriers offer shipping labels that you can purchase online and print at home!