Key takeaways
- 1Etsy labels cost nothing extra to use; postage comes out of your Etsy balance, and Etsy says sellers get access to some postage discounts.
- 2USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express labels include $100 of insurance; Media Mail includes none.
- 3Print on 8.5 × 11 paper or label sheets; only USPS labels can be formatted for 4 × 6 label printers.
- 4Unused labels can be refunded: USPS within 30 days, UPS and FedEx within a shorter window (10 to 15 days on Etsy’s pages).
- 5USPS is charging a temporary 8% increase on its main parcel services, expected to last until January 17, 2027.
The short answer
In Shop Manager, open Orders and click the van icon on an order. Check the addresses, enter the weight, package type and dimensions, choose a service and buy. Etsy adds the tracking to the order and takes the postage from your Etsy balance. Labels are available to sellers in the US, Canada and the UK; US sellers can choose USPS, UPS, FedEx and Global Postal Shipping.
Details below come from Etsy’s Help Center, checked November 10, 2026.
How to buy an Etsy label, step by step
The process is the same for one label or many.
- 1. Weigh and measure the packed parcel.
- 2. Go to Shop Manager > Orders and click the van icon on the order.
- 3. Check the Shipping from and Ship to addresses.
- 4. Enter the weight, package type and length, width and height. Save common boxes as presets.
- 5. For international orders, fill in the customs details.
- 6. Choose a service, review and purchase, then pick your print options.
Bulk labels and printing
You can buy labels for several orders at once. After a bulk purchase Etsy offers a USPS SCAN form, which lets the carrier scan one form instead of every parcel at drop-off or pickup.
Etsy says labels must be printed on 8.5 × 11 inch white paper or self-adhesive label sheets, and only USPS labels can be formatted for 4 × 6 label printers. You can download a label again as often as you need until its ship date.
Paying, discounts and adjustments
Labels come out of your current Etsy balance. If label costs are more than your sales, the rest is added to your next monthly bill. Etsy says sellers get access to some postage discounts but does not give a percentage.
Postage depends on the weight and size you enter. USPS refunds the difference if you overestimated and charges you if you underestimated, and some non-standard packages carry a $4 fee. USPS is also adding a temporary 8% increase to Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select, which Etsy expects to last until January 17, 2027.
Free toolEtsy fee calculatorRefunds for unused labels
If you bought a label you will not use, request a refund from the order before you cancel it. The label must be unused, and the refund appears as a credit on your Etsy bill once the carrier approves it, which takes 15 to 30 days.
| Carrier | Request within |
|---|---|
| USPS | Less than 30 days after purchase |
| UPS | Less than 15 days |
| FedEx | 10 to 15 days (Etsy’s pages differ; request early) |
Insurance included with Etsy labels
USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express labels bought on Etsy include $100 of insurance; Priority Mail International and Priority Mail Express International include $200. Media Mail includes none. FedEx and UPS labels include up to $100 of carrier liability.
Etsy’s Purchase Protection for sellers also covers eligible refunds of up to $250 when you ship on time with tracking, and Etsy recommends buying insurance for orders over $250. Our guide to shipping insurance explains when extra cover is worth it.
Free toolPacking slip generator
