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How to Print Shipping Labels From Any Printer

A shipping label arrives as a 4×6 PDF from Etsy, eBay, Shopify, PayPal, or the carrier, and then the browser or PDF viewer wants to fit it onto letter paper, shrinking the barcode until it won't scan. Here's how to print that 4×6 at its real size on a thermal printer.

Printing steps

  1. Save the shipping-label PDF (or keep it open). It's 4×6, though some carriers place that 4×6 in the corner of a letter-size page.
  2. Save the label as a PDF, PNG or JPEG. For a marketplace shipment, use the prepaid label supplied by the marketplace; PaperReady does not create postage.
  3. Open Print a label file and choose your file. For a PDF, select the page you need.
  4. If the label occupies part of a larger page, drag around the label to crop it. Rotate if needed, then select the output dimensions (for example 4 × 6 inches). Keep every barcode and its white margin inside the crop.
  5. Check the preview and choose Download PDF. Print on matching paper at 100% / Actual size. For direct printing, choose a printer connected through a supported Print Bridge. Test one label before a larger run.
Choose matching paper dimensions and print at 100% / Actual size. Individual label PDFs and five-label batch proofs work without an account. Complete batches require Pro. Direct printing depends on your printer driver and current platform support. PaperReady does not purchase postage.
Try this workflowConnect a printer

Frequently asked

Why does my 4×6 shipping label print small in the middle of a big page?
The browser or PDF viewer is fitting the 4×6 to letter paper. PaperReady sends it to the thermal printer at the label's real size, so it fills the 4×6 stock and the barcode scans.
Does it work with Etsy, eBay, Shopify and carrier labels?
Yes, any 4×6 shipping-label PDF, from a marketplace or a carrier like USPS, UPS, or FedEx. PaperReady prints the file at true size to your thermal printer.
Do I need a special shipping-label printer?
Any 4×6 direct-thermal printer works: Rollo, Zebra, MUNBYN, and others. PaperReady detects whichever your OS already sees; no per-label fees.