Shipping Labels 101: What Every Small Business Needs

As a small business owner, particularly as an online retailer, you're well aware that having quality merchandise is merely half the battle in making your new venture an unequivocal success. It also has everything to do with your ability to deliver it to your customers as efficiently and error-free as possible. One such detail that is often overlooked is the importance of shipping labels. These small pieces of adhesive paper do wonders to facilitate your packages' delivery to their destination.

This comprehensive guide tackles the different information related to shipping labels, from the dimensions and material used to the printers and the proper guidelines, and puts the spotlight on tools and products that can ensure the entire process from labeling to delivery is made more convenient and speedy for small businesses.

What is a Shipping Label? Why does it Differ Form Other Labels?

In essence, a shipping label is a sticker labeled on an adhesive paper sheet to be put on a package to indicate to transport companies where it is destined. Generally speaking, it must be composed of: Addressee address, the return address of the sender. A tracing bar code. And critical routing data (Carriers and type of service required).

Although this appears to be elementary, improperly printed and/or formatted shipping labels can sometimes translate to problems with package scans, delivery issues, and/or returns, all resulting in time and money being wasted.

Due to these specific functions and reliability, the shipping label is certainly different from other labels. Generally, Shipping labels often have a larger size to contain some information about logistics. Also, because the logistics environment is always quite harsh, this type of label is designed for waterproof, oilproof, and so on characteristics, so that it can be complete and lossless before it reaches the recipient’s hands.

Why Shipping Labels Matter for Small Businesses

On the face of it, a shipping label may appear to be nothing more than a piece of paper. But if you look a little closer, you’ll find these labels end up being quite important in several ways:

1. Efficiency in Order Fulfillment

With proper labeling on ship-out boxes, your fulfillment process will be faster and more efficient. Barcodes, addresses, and carrier details printed clearly facilitate faster routing and transit of your packages.

2. Professional Presentation

Nicely printed shipping labels will give your parcels a clean, professional appearance, which will enhance customer confidence right from the start as the customer hears about their order arrival.

3. Compliance with Carriers

For carriers such as USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, there are requirements regarding the format and information to be included on the shipping labels. Using the correct label sizes, such as 4x6 shipping labels, can prevent information loss and scanning issues.

4. Tracking and Accountability

Shipping labels include vital tracking details. Quality printing enables the barcode to be readable throughout its entire distribution chain, which is an essential component for tracking and ensuring consumer satisfaction.

Common Shipping Label Sizes (and Why 4x6 Is the Standard)

Shipping labels come in several sizes, but one dominates the small business world.

Why 4x6 Shipping Labels Are the Most Popular

4x6 shipping labels are widely considered the industry standard—and for good reason:

✔ Accepted by all major carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL)

✔ Perfect size for barcodes and address information

✔ Fits standard shipping label printers

✔ Works for most boxes, poly mailers, and envelopes

Because of their universal compatibility, 4x6 shipping labels are the easiest choice for beginners and high-volume shippers alike.

Other Shipping Label Sizes You May See

While 4x6 is the most common, you may also encounter:

★ 3x2 labels – Often used for barcodes or warehouse organization

★ 3x5 labels – Used for fragile mark or other pattern of notice

★ A4 or Letter-size sheets – Typically used with inkjet or laser printers (higher costs)

For most small businesses, especially eCommerce sellers, 4x6 remains the most efficient and cost-effective option.

Key Features to Look for in Shipping Labels

Not all labels are created equal. Here’s what to prioritize:

✔ Material Quality

Look for labels that are: smudge-resistant, waterproof, and ultra-clear print (to improve barcode scanning).

Many MUNBYN 4x6 shipping labels are designed with protective coatings that resist smudges, scratches, and stray moisture.

✔ Adhesive Strength

Labels should stick securely to a variety of packaging materials. A good adhesive prevents peeling during transit.

✔ Chemical Safety

Labels that are free from chemicals like BPA and BPS are safer for frequent handling by staff.

✔ Compatibility

Whether you’re using a MUNBYN thermal printer, check that your chosen labels are supported and fit the roll or stack format correctly. Most of the MUNBYN thermal printers supports wide range of label sizes.

The Best Shipping Label Printer for Small Business

Now that you know what labels you need, let’s talk about printing them. Choosing the best shipping label printer for small businesses comes down to workflow, volume, and budget. Here are key factors:

1) Printing Technology: Thermal

Thermal printers are ideal for shipping labels because they:

• Require no ink or toner
• Are fast and reliable for bulk printing
• Provide crisp, barcoded labels that carriers can scan easily

Thermal is the standard for most e-commerce and logistics workflows. For most small businesses, cost is a significant problem to solve; therefore, a thermal printer kit can save a lot of unnecessary bills and is even good for future commerce.

2) Connectivity Options

Look for printers that support:

• USB (for computers)
• Bluetooth (for mobile or tablet printing)
• Wi-Fi (for shared office environments)

For example, the MUNBYN Bluetooth Thermal Label Printer RW411B supports both Bluetooth and USB connections, compact and portable shape, allowing you to print from desktops, smartphones, and tablets everywhere, anytime.

3) Label Size Support

Ensure the printer supports a wide range of label widths (especially 4x6). Many MUNBYN printers support label sizes up to 4.3″ wide and will automatically detect the loaded label size.

4) Speed and Efficiency

Time is Money. If you’re printing multiple orders a day, speed matters. Fast printers reduce fulfillment time and improve efficiency. Some MUNBYN thermal printers (like RW 941BP) even support 300dpi printing level of clarity for small icons and text.

5) Additional Features

Good printer software can help with:

• Batch printing
• Custom label designs (logos, QR codes, etc.)
• Integration with shipping platforms

MUNBYN includes free apps or cloud tools to help with label creation and workflow automation.

Printing Your First Shipping Labels

Once you’ve chosen your printer and labels, here’s how to make your first printed shipment label:

Step 1: Choose Your Label Design

Most shipping platforms (USPS, UPS, FedEx) allow you to generate a PDF 4x6 label when you buy postage. Make sure the PDF is formatted as 4×6 before printing

Step 2: Load Labels into the Printer

Follow your printer’s instructions to load 4x6 labels. For fan-fold or roll-style labels, ensure the edges click into place, and the printer senses the label size correctly.

Step 3: Connect Your Printer

Whether using Bluetooth, USB, or Wi-Fi:

• Pair the device with your laptop or smartphone
• Open the printer app
• Make sure the correct label size setting is selected

Step 4: Print

Open your shipping PDF and send it to your thermal printer. The printer will heat the label surface and print graphics or text without needing ink.

Step 5: Apply Label to the Package

Stick the label flat on your box or envelope. Avoid creases or folds — carriers prefer flat, readable labels.

Final Thoughts

Shipping labels are one of the most important yet overlooked elements of small business operations. Choosing a proper size and type of shipping label material and printer can help a business save a tremendous amount of time and even simplify things for you and your clients.

For small businesses, 4x6 shipping labels with a thermal shipping label printer provide the ultimate combination of simplicity, functionality, and professionalism. With high-quality shipping labels like MUNBYN shipping labels combined with the Bluetooth shipping label printers, shipping with confidence is not a problem, even when the business is growing very rapidly.

If you are ready to improve your shipping process, then it is time to use labels that work as hard as you do.