Detailed Steps to create and print Shipping Labels on WooCommerce

Creating and printing shipping labels on WooCommerce is a game changer for eCommerce businesses. Customers are naturally attracted to fast-paced online marketplaces, where they can effortlessly place their orders with just a few clicks.

Creating an efficient system for generating shipping labels within a WooCommerce store can streamline order fulfillment, minimize manual tasks, and provide customers with a smooth delivery experience.

Let’s examine how WooCommerce shipping label features simplify the shipping process, saving time and ensuring accuracy for every order.

Table of Contents

Step-by-Step Guide to Create and Print Shipping Labels on WooCommerce

Step 1: Set Up WooCommerce and Choose a Shipping Plugin

After setting up WooCommerce, it is crucial to use a shipping plugin for efficient management of shipping labels. These plugins streamline the label creation process by automating tasks that would otherwise be time-consuming and prone to errors, such as calculating rates, generating tracking information, and creating printable labels. With the right plugin, businesses can handle their shipping operations from one dashboard, making order fulfillment faster and more reliable.

For instance, you might select plugins such as the ELEX EasyPost WooCommerce Shipping Plugin, which supports multiple carriers and offers automated label creation and printing features, helping businesses save time and ensure accuracy in their shipping processes. Once installed, they integrate seamlessly into WooCommerce, allowing you to choose and configure shipping options for each carrier directly from your WooCommerce settings.

Step 2: Configure Shipping Carrier Options

Once you’ve chosen a shipping plugin, the next step is to configure your carrier settings within WooCommerce. Proper configuration allows the plugin to generate shipping labels accurately, calculate real-time rates, and ensure orders are routed correctly.

1. Access the Carrier Settings in WooCommerce

Go to your WooCommerce Dashboard.
Navigate to Settings > Shipping and select the shipping plugin you installed, such as ELEX EasyPost WooCommerce Shipping Plugin.

2. Enter Carrier-Specific Credentials

Each carrier (like USPS, UPS, FedEx) requires unique credentials, such as an account number, API key, and password, to access their shipping rates and label generation features.
Locate the API Settings section within the plugin settings.
Enter the necessary credentials for each carrier you want to enable. You can usually obtain these credentials by creating a business account with each carrier.

3. Customize Carrier Options

After entering the credentials, customize the carrier settings according to your business needs. You may set options for shipping services, handling fees, delivery options, and label formats.
Save the settings to activate the carrier-specific options for automated label generation.

Supported carriers vary by plugin, but many ELEX plugins support USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, covering both domestic and international shipping needs. Configuring these options ensures that your WooCommerce store can generate accurate shipping labels and provide real-time shipping rates for your customers.

Step 3: Enable Label Printing Features in the Plugin

After configuring your carriers, the next step is to enable label printing within the chosen shipping plugin. Most shipping plugins for WooCommerce, offer label printing features that streamline the shipping process and make it easy to create and print labels with a single click.

1. Enable Label Printing Settings

Go to the Plugin Settings in WooCommerce.
Find the Label Printing or Shipping Label Settings section, which varies slightly depending on the plugin.
Enable the option to Generate Labels Automatically, allowing labels to be created as soon as an order is processed.

2. Customize Label Options

Label Size and Format: Select from standard label sizes compatible with popular printers. Common formats include PDF, which can be printed from most devices, and ZPL (Zebra Programming Language) for use with specialized label printers.
File Format: Choose a format based on your setup. PDF is versatile, while ZPL is ideal for high-speed printing on thermal label printers.

Customizing these settings ensures each label is print-ready and aligned with your business’s branding needs. Once these options are configured, you can generate labels in a format and style that best fits your shipping setup.

Step 4: Set Up Shipping Rates and Zones

Setting up accurate shipping rates and zones in WooCommerce is crucial for two reasons: it ensures customers are charged the correct amount for shipping, and it provides accurate information for shipping label creation. By defining these settings, you can streamline your shipping operations and avoid undercharging or overcharging customers, which can impact customer satisfaction and business profitability.

Why Shipping Rates and Zones Matter

Transparency for Customers: Setting clear shipping rates at checkout prevents surprises for customers, reducing cart abandonment.
Accurate Label Information: When shipping rates and zones are correctly set up, the shipping plugin calculates the correct label details (like dimensions, weight, and destination), minimizing errors.
Optimized Shipping Costs: Accurate rates ensure that your costs are covered without charging excessively, making your business more competitive.

Automating Rate Calculations with Plugins

Most WooCommerce shipping plugins, such as those by ELEXtensions, integrate directly with carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL to provide real-time rate calculations. This automation pulls carrier data based on package weight, size, and destination, ensuring accurate and up-to-date rates.
Set Up Shipping Zones: In the Shipping section of WooCommerce, you can create zones based on regions or countries you ship to. By assigning specific carriers or methods to each zone, you ensure that customers in different areas are charged appropriately based on your business’s shipping costs and carrier services.

By using plugins to automate rate calculations, you improve the accuracy and efficiency of your shipping process, saving time and minimizing manual adjustments. This setup helps keep your shipping label information consistent with customer selections, ensuring labels are processed smoothly for each order.

Step 5: Test Label Generation with a Sample Order

Before fully relying on your WooCommerce setup for live orders, it’s essential to test label generation with a sample order. This step helps ensure that everything is functioning correctly, from plugin integration to carrier communication. Testing allows you to troubleshoot and resolve any issues before they affect real customer orders.

1. Create a Sample Order

In the WooCommerce dashboard, go to Orders and select Add Order to create a new sample order.
Fill in the order details, including customer address, item weights, and dimensions, as this information impacts the shipping label.
Choose the shipping method you configured, and confirm that the details match the settings from your plugin.

2. Generate the Shipping Label

Once the sample order is created, go to the order page and select the option to Generate Shipping Label using your chosen plugin.
Review the label details, including the shipping carrier, rate, and label format, to ensure they are accurate.

Print or download the label to verify that it matches the size and format you selected in your settings.

Step 6: Process and Print Labels for Customer Orders

Once you’ve verified that your label generation settings are working, you’re ready to start processing and printing labels for customer orders. WooCommerce makes it easy to manage this from the dashboard, especially when using a shipping plugin that supports automated label creation.

1. Access Order Details in WooCommerce

Navigate to WooCommerce > Orders in your dashboard.
Select a specific order to open its details. Here, you’ll see customer information, shipping details, and the products in the order—all of which are essential for creating an accurate shipping label.

2. Generate and Print the Shipping Label

In the order details page, locate the option to Generate Shipping Label provided by your shipping plugin.
Once generated, the label will typically appear as a downloadable PDF, ZPL, or another format, depending on your settings.
Click Print Label to print immediately or Download Label to save and print it later.

3. Bulk Printing Labels (if supported)

For high-volume businesses, many plugins offer a Bulk Label Printing feature. This lets you generate and print multiple labels at once, saving time when processing large batches of orders.
To use this feature, select multiple orders in the Orders list, then choose the Bulk Label Generation option from the plugin menu.
Once all labels are generated, you can print them collectively, which is particularly helpful for processing orders efficiently during busy periods.

By following these steps, you can ensure every order has an accurate shipping label ready to go, whether you’re processing orders individually or in bulk. This streamlined process helps you manage order fulfillment efficiently, keeping customer deliveries accurate and on time.

The Last Shot

Using WooCommerce with a shipping label plugin streamlines the entire shipping process, making order fulfillment faster, more accurate, and less labor-intensive. With automated rate calculations, easy label printing, and customization options, these plugins save valuable time and reduce errors, helping businesses scale efficiently while providing a smooth shipping experience for customers.

For those looking to simplify and automate their shipping needs, ELEXtensions plugins offer versatile options that integrate seamlessly with WooCommerce.

FAQs

Can I customize my shipping labels on WooCommerce?
Yes, many shipping label plugins allow customization options. You can typically choose label size, and format (PDF, ZPL, etc.), and add branding elements such as a logo if the plugin supports it.
Is it possible to bulk print shipping labels on WooCommerce?
Yes, many WooCommerce shipping plugins support bulk label printing. This feature is especially useful for businesses with high order volumes, as it allows multiple labels to be generated and printed at once, saving time.
Are there additional costs for generating shipping labels on WooCommerce?
While WooCommerce itself doesn’t charge for shipping labels, using certain carrier services through plugins may come with fees depending on the carrier’s policies. Some plugins also have premium versions with enhanced features.
Can WooCommerce shipping labels include customer signature requirements?
Some plugins allow you to select additional services like “Signature Required” during the label creation process. This is helpful for high-value shipments, ensuring secure delivery.
Can I print packing slips or invoices along with shipping labels on WooCommerce?
Yes, many WooCommerce shipping plugins, including some by ELEXtensions, allow you to print packing slips or invoices alongside shipping labels. This feature helps streamline your packaging process by including both documents with each order.