A Complete Guide to Shipping Label Sizing

Get the right size labels for parcels, envelopes, returns and more — with practical tips and FAQs. From blank sheets for easy at-home/at-work printing to a selection of customisable labels and stickers, we have lot's of options that work great in sizes that work great for all shipping needs!

Picking the right shipping label size isn’t just about aesthetics — it affects:

  • Carrier compatibility: Labels need to be machine-readable (especially barcodes).

  • Print accuracy: Avoid scaling, cut-offs or misaligned prints.

  • Clarity of information: Enough room for destination address, return details, barcodes and tracking codes.

  • Professional presentation: Neat, correctly-sized labels build trust with your customers.

Most couriers and e-commerce platforms expect a standard size that works reliably for scanning and sorting. And as users, who doesn't prefer a neatly labelled package showing professionalism, care and intent.
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Print shipping label sizes

What size should a shipping label be?

  • One of the most common shipping label sizes is 4x6 inches, which is 10x15 in centimetres. This size is ideal for containing all of your shipping information on it.

What is the right size for Royal mail shipping labels?

  • When shipping with Royal mail, or using their click and drop service it is best to use a label 6x4 inches, and you can print up to 4 labels per A4 sheet. Or you can use an alternate A4 size label and print the delivery label with or without a delivery invoice. This size is also a good option for other postage couriers.

What is a good size label for small packages?

  • Small packages are handled in a similar way to regular parcels. As long as the package has the delivery address and shows the postage payment (either franking or stamps), then any appropriately sized label that fits on the packaging will work.

At Avery, we have a long history of helping companies with their shipments through the use of our labels, perfect for use on envelopes, packages or other shipment items. Our label sizes are designed to fit on a variety of different sized postage items and come in a variety of materials, fitting whatever your needs are. We also have some of the strongest label adhesives for labels, meaning that you can be sure that your labels won’t get lost in shipping, compared to labels made with cheaper materials. Our size guide has been prepared to help you visualise the size of labels before purchasing, so you can be sure that you are ordering what you need.

The most widely used size for shipping labels in the UK is approximately 100 × 150 mm (4″ × 6″), primarily because it fits all necessary delivery info and barcodes has become somewhat the go to size by lot's of shipping platforms.

You can use smaller labels for smaller packages as long as all delivery details and tracking codes are clearly readable and scannable. Use common sense and check for legibility, if you struggle to see it, chances are a scanner or reader will too!

Yes — as long as the label meets any size requirements (commonly 100 × 150 mm) and includes a clear barcode and address. Any label with clearly legible text will be accepted. Make sure the label is applied nicely with no creases going through any barcodes or important codes that might impact how it is scanned. Choose a good adhesive, so label stays stuck through the journey and is durable and waterproof if the package is likely to be exposed to harsh conditions.

Look for label sheets in an A4 size, this refers to the dimensions of the sheets itself. The labels then on the sheet can vary - but any label sheet wider than A4 (such as a SRA4) may not be compatible with your home printer. Choose labels formatted to A4 sheet sizes (e.g., 4 per sheet parcel labels or address labels) so they print cleanly without scaling issues.

Most platforms recommend 100×150 mm (4×6″) labels because they’re widely supported by postage systems and are easy to print on standard label rolls or A4 sheets. But it's always worth checking the platform for any specific requirements. Usually, as a business platforms have a specific requirement, but as individuals specific requirements are less, with the main test being clear legibility.