Etsy's shipping labels are generated in the standard 100 × 150mm format most UK couriers use, so they print directly on a 4x6 thermal printer. The recurring problem isn't the label format, it's the print settings, because a label that's scaled or shifted even slightly will have a barcode that fails to scan.
The standard 4x6 label format
Etsy labels, whether through Royal Mail or another carrier, are produced at 100 × 150mm, or 4x6 inches. That's the same format as eBay and Vinted, which is why one thermal printer serves sellers across every marketplace.
Set the paper size correctly
The first setting to check is the paper size in your printer driver and print dialog, which must be 100 × 150mm. If it's left at A4 or Letter, the label will be scaled or clipped, and a clipped Etsy label can lose part of the barcode or address.
Print at 100%, not 'fit to page'
When you download an Etsy label as a PDF, print it at 100% scale with 'fit to page' disabled. Any automatic scaling shrinks the barcode, and a shrunken barcode is the classic cause of a parcel that won't scan at the depot, the exact failure our barcode guide explains.
Driver and darkness settings
Thermal printers need their manufacturer's driver, not a generic fallback, to handle label sizes and print density. Set the darkness so barcode lines are solid without blurring, and scan-test a label before your first real batch, the same routine covered in our Zebra driver guide.
When Etsy uses a different format
Some Etsy orders, particularly international ones or those through specific couriers, may include a customs form or a differently sized label alongside the main 4x6 label. Print the shipping label at 100 × 150mm and handle any customs form separately, rather than trying to fit both on one label.
Bulk printing Etsy orders
If you fulfil multiple Etsy orders a day, printing labels individually on a thermal printer is far faster and more reliable than laying them out on A4 sheets. It's the same volume workflow we describe in our bulk printing guide, and it keeps every barcode at full size.
One printer across all marketplaces
Because Etsy, eBay, Vinted and Depop all use the 100 × 150mm format, a single 4x6 direct thermal printer and one roll of labels covers your entire marketplace operation. You change the label source, never the equipment or the stock.
Frequently asked questions
What size are Etsy shipping labels? Etsy labels use the standard 100 × 150mm, or 4x6 inch, format, which prints directly on a 4x6 thermal printer.
Why is my Etsy label printing too small? The paper size or scale is usually wrong. Set the driver to 100 × 150mm and print the PDF at 100% with 'fit to page' off.
Can I use the same printer for Etsy and eBay labels? Yes, both use the 100 × 150mm format, so one 4x6 direct thermal printer handles every marketplace.
Etsy labels at full size, every time
Print Etsy's 100 × 150mm labels on a direct thermal printer with no ink, no scaling and no smudges.
Shop 4×6 Labels