You can create both outgoing shipping labels and return labels through either the Rate Calculator or the Customers tab-- without making orders!
Even though many of ShipStation's functions are centered around orders, there are several reasons to create shipping labels when there aren't related orders in ShipStation. For example, you might want to do a one-off personal shipment to a family member, or maybe you need to make a return label for an order you originally fulfilled outside of ShipStation.
Click one of the links below to jump to the instructions you need:
(Keep in mind that making a label without an order doesn't have all the bells and whistles of our normal label creation processes!)
Start from a Shipping Quote in the Rate Calculator
First, click the Rate Calculator icon in the top center of ShipStation, enter the shipping settings relevant to your shipment, and click Get Rates.
Make sure your desired shipping carrier is selected using the tabs on the left side of the calculator, and you'll see a list of available services, quotes, and links to create labels.
On the row with the desired service and rate, click Create Label.
You should see a dedicated Create Label window, pre-filled with the shipping settings selected in the calculator. If you want to make a return label, be sure to check the "Return Label" checkbox in the top left of this window.
Return or not, you'll need to enter a customer's details to serve as the 'Send to' or 'Return from' information, and then Get Rate in order to proceed.
You have to option to See Rate Details if you want additional shipping options, and when you're ready, click the green Create Label button.
Start from an Existing Customer Record
First, go to the Customers tab, check the box associated with your customer, and click the Create Label button to bring up a Create Label window, pre-filled with that customer's information.
If you want to make a return label for this customer, be sure to check the "Return Label" checkbox in the top left of this window.
Either way, you'll need to select shipping settings and then Get Rate in order to proceed.
You have to option to See Rate Details if you want additional shipping options, and when you're ready, click the green Create Label button.
Additional Notes on Creating Labels Without Orders
Outgoing Labels
- Can't create International labels, or any labels requiring customs information
- Can't create documents such as Packing Slips and Pick Slips
- Can't create USPS test labels
- Counts against your subscription plan's shipment limit (just like regular labels)
Return Labels
- Can't create International return labels (our system has never allowed this)
- Can't specify a custom RMA number, one will be auto-generated
- Counts against your subscription plan's shipment limit even if unused (just like regular return labels)
- Since each of these labels is a standalone label, a return label cannot be made from the shipment record for an outbound label that doesn't have an order. A unique, standalone return label would have to be made following the steps in this article.