Depop gives sellers a choice: use Depop's integrated shipping labels, or buy your own postage and mark the item shipped manually. Each route has different costs and tracking behaviour, and the right choice depends on what you sell and where your buyers are. Here's how the options actually work.
Depop's integrated labels
When you sell with Depop shipping, Depop issues a label through its courier partners, and you print and attach it. The postage cost is either folded into the item price or charged to the buyer depending on how you've set the listing, and Depop handles the tracking integration automatically.
Using your own postage instead
Alternatively, you can ship on your own terms, buy postage yourself through Royal Mail or a courier, and upload the tracking number to Depop. This gives you control over carrier and cost, which matters if you've negotiated rates or prefer a specific service like Tracked 24 or 48.
Tracking and seller protection
Depop's seller protection relies on tracking, so whichever route you take, the parcel needs a tracking number that shows delivery. Integrated labels handle this automatically, while self-shipping means you're responsible for entering the tracking number and keeping the proof of delivery on file.
Label size and format
Depop's labels print in the standard 100 × 150mm format used across UK couriers, so they work directly on a 4x6 thermal printer. The same sizing and scaling rules apply as with Evri or any other courier: set the paper size correctly and print at 100% so the barcode stays at full size.
Pricing: integrated versus self-shipped
Depop's integrated labels are priced at standard courier rates, which are convenient but not always the cheapest. If you send in volume, buying your own postage with account or marketplace rates can undercut Depop's labels, at the cost of a little more manual tracking work. The trade-off is convenience versus margin.
The same thermal printer logic as other marketplaces
Everything we cover for Vinted and eBay applies to Depop too. A 4x6 direct thermal printer removes the ink and smudging problems of an inkjet, and makes printing labels at volume effortless. Our Vinted guide and eBay guide cover the shared mechanics.
Choosing the right shipping setup
For casual sellers, Depop's integrated labels are the path of least resistance. For regular sellers, self-shipping with a thermal printer and a tracking number entered per order usually wins on cost. Most sellers land somewhere between: integrated labels for simplicity, self-shipping when a listing's margin needs protecting.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use Depop's shipping labels? No, you can buy your own postage and upload the tracking number to Depop, which gives you more control over carrier and cost.
What size are Depop shipping labels? Depop labels use the standard 100 × 150mm format, so they print directly on a 4x6 thermal printer.
Does Depop require tracking for seller protection? Yes, Depop's seller protection relies on tracking that shows delivery, whether you use integrated labels or your own postage.
Depop labels, printed clean
Print Depop's 100 × 150mm labels on a direct thermal printer and skip the ink cartridges, smudges and shop trips entirely.
Shop 4×6 Labels