Label Print Settings

ShipStation allows you to determine how your labels print on both an account-wide and individual basis by setting label Document Options. Learn how to set up your printers for Windows and macOS for label printing.

Account-wide settings include label layout, label messages, print sequence, and cutoff time.

The Ship From Location and Return Address is account specific.

Label Document Options

The Document Options screen allows you to set the following options:

Option

Details

Shipping Label Format

The printer you use for labels will determine your Label Format. Details provided in the Configure Label Layout section. 

Label DPI

Label DPI is the resolution at which your labels are printed. You can choose 203dpi and 300dpi.

300dpi is the most common, but if you are unsure or your labels are printing out too large or too small, check your printer documentation to see which DPI to use for your model printer. Also, make sure to set the same DPI in your printer preferences. 

Order Labels By

Determines the sequence your labels and packing slips print when printing multiple shipments simultaneously (what we call Batch Shipping).

Options include: 

  • None (as selected). This behavior differs depending on if you print from a normal batch or an ad hoc batch. An ad hoc batch occurs when you select and create multiple labels outside of a normal batch.

    • Normal batch: Labels and packing slips print in the sequence you added the records to the batch, not the sequence they appear in the batch's grid. Printing will ignore any grid sorting you have done.

    • Ad hoc batch: Labels and packing slips print in the sequence they appear in the grid, from top to bottom. Printing will respect any grid sorting you have done.

  • Order Date: Most recent first / last

  • Paid Date: Most recent first / last

  • Buyer Name: a to z or z to a

  • Order Number: Lowest first or highest first

  • Item SKU: a to z or z to a

  • Item Name: a to z or z to a

  • Warehouse Location: a to z or z to a

Label Branding

This setting is only supported for certain carriers in the US or CA.

Allows you to print your store logo on your labels.

This setting uses the logo uploaded in the Branding tab of your Store Settings. 

For the carriers that support this feature, the logo will print approximately a 1 in x 1 in image in a predetermined spot on the label. The carrier sets size and location requirements for the logo and cannot be modified. 

Label Messages

Define up to three messages to print on shipping labels, including dynamic information about each order (like the order number or customer notes). 

Label messages are limited to 26 characters each. Not all carriers support all three label messages and some do not support any at all. Please visit our Integrations Help guide to find out about label message support for specific carriers.

Shipping Cutoff

Sets the time of day after which the ship date advances to the next day for labels created after that time.

This option is useful when you know what time of day your carrier picks up your packages and you want to continue to create labels for shipments that will be picked up the following day. This sets accurate expectations for your customers when tracking their shipments.

Note

If ShipStation is not respecting your set cutoff time according to your account's time zone setting, please contact ShipStation support to open a support ticket.

A batch created in ShipStation when you create labels for multiple orders without first adding them to a normal batch. With ad hoc batches, ShipStation creates a batch in the background to process the shipments in a single action, and that allows you to print the labels all at once. Ad hoc batches are numbered and can be found in Shipments > Batches for further review.

Configure Label Layout

ShipStation creates 4" x 6" labels (approximately 100mm x 150mm) suitable for thermal label printers. If you use an inkjet or laser printer to print multiple labels on a standard A4-size sheet (approximately 8.5" x 11", or "letter" sized), ShipStation adjusts the label orientation by 90 degrees to print two 4" x 6" labels horizontally on a sheet of A4 paper.

Before you create labels, make sure ShipStation knows which layout to use. The printer you use to print labels determines which layout you should select and whether you want to print the label's corresponding packing slip simultaneously. If you have configured your label layout and the labels are printing incorrectly, review the Print Troubleshooting Overview for a list of articles that may help.

Label Formats with Packing Slips

If you select a label layout that includes a packing slip, your label and packing slip will always print together when printing a label. You can still print packing slips separately, but the label's format setting sets the packing slip format. You will not be able to set a unique packing slip format for printing individual packing slips.

Configure Label Messages

Use the Label Messages in Document Options to print additional information on your shipping labels. You can add up to three messages with a maximum of 26 characters if your selected carrier and service supports them

You can type a custom message into the fields or use ShipStation Field Replacements to print order-specific information (like order numbers or customer notes) on the labels. 

The steps to add these messages vary depending on if you want to use one field replacement per message line or multiple field replacements. Each process is outlined in it's own section below.

Enable One Field Replacement per Message

To set your label messages, do the following in the Document Options screen:

  1. Scroll to the Label Messages section.

    Label Printing Setup popup. Red box highlights Label Messages panel with 3 message fields
  2. Type in your message or select a field replacement from the drop-down.

    Label Messages popup. Red arrow points to Message #2 dropdown menu options. SKU #1 selected.
  3. Click Save Settings

field replacement

Enable Multiple Field Replacements per Message

To set your label messages and include multiple fields per line, do the following in the Document Options screen:

Set_PrintOptions_LabelMessage.png
PrintOptions_LabelMessage_Multiple.png
  1. Scroll to the Label Messages section.

    Label Printing Setup popup. Red box highlights Label Messages panel with 3 message fields
  2. Choose the Please Select option in the drop down menu.

  3. Type in the field replacements exactly as they appear in the Label Message Field Replacements list below, including the square brackets. You may include separators, like commas, if desired.

  4. Click Save Settings

Label Message Field Replacements

You can add the following order data to the Label Messages fields by selecting the field replacement from the Label Message field drop-down menu or typing it in the Message field exactly as it appears below:

  • [Order #]

  • [Store Company Name]

  • [Ship Date]

  • [Order Date]

  • [SKU #1], [SKU #2], [SKU #3]

  • [Product #1], [Product #2], [Product #3]

  • [Dimensions]

  • [Weight]

  • [Notes from Buyer] (this field corresponds to Customer Notes)

  • [Custom Field #1], [Custom Field #2], [Custom Field #3]

  • [Fill SKU #1], [Fill SKU #2], [Fill SKU #3]

  • [Warehouse Location #1], [Warehouse Location #2], [Warehouse Location #3]

  • [Buyer Name]

The following field replacements are not available from the drop-down menu, but you can still use them by typing them into the Label Message fields:

  • [Store Name]

  • [Carrier Name]

  • [Internal Notes]

  • [Recipient Name]

  • [Recipient Phone]

Notes About Label Messages

  • Label messages are account-wide, which means ShipStation will print label messages on all labels that support them.

  • Label messages cannot be customized per store or per carrier.

  • Not all carriers or services support printing label messages. When available, label messages will print on the label in the location determined by each carrier, which can vary between carriers and services.

  • Some carriers also support adding label messages to customs forms (CN22 and CN23) or commercial invoices.

    Visit the carrier articles in the Integrations Help guide for details on how each carrier prints label messages.

Carriers That Support Label Messages

The carrier you use may have restrictions on what you can include on the shipping label.

Refer to the tables below to see if your carrier supports adding Label Messages or a Store Logo on their labels.

🇺🇸 US Carriers

🇨🇦 Canada Carriers

🇬🇧UK Carriers

🇦🇺 🇳🇿 Australia & New Zealand Carriers

🇫🇷 France Carriers

🇩🇪 Germany Carriers

field replacement

A batch created in ShipStation when you create labels for multiple orders without first adding them to a normal batch. With ad hoc batches, ShipStation creates a batch in the background to process the shipments in a single action, and that allows you to print the labels all at once. Ad hoc batches are numbered and can be found in Shipments > Batches for further review.

field replacement
Was this article helpful?
0 out of 0 found this helpful

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

Contact our technical support team.
Contact us