Should I Handwrite A Shipping Label Or Print It?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You are sending a handful of personal packages from home and your carrier accepts handwritten addresses without requiring a barcode.
• Good fit: You lack a printer or ink but need to ship a time‑sensitive item, and the carrier’s local office can scan a clearly written label.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You ship high‑volume or commercial orders where speed, tracking accuracy, and professional appearance matter.
• Warning sign: The carrier mandates machine‑readable barcodes (e.g., UPS, FedEx) – a handwritten label could be rejected or cause delays.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• No need for printing equipment or supplies, saving immediate costs.
• Flexibility to create a label on the spot when a printer is unavailable.

Cons

• Higher risk of misreading or transcription errors, which can delay delivery.
• Lack of barcode readability may require manual entry by carrier staff, slowing processing.

Decision Checklist

• Do I have a reliable printer and compatible shipping software available?
• Does my carrier require a scannable barcode for the service I’m using?
• Will a handwritten label affect the professional image of my business or the speed of delivery?

Alternatives to Consider

If you lack a printer, you can use a local copy shop, a carrier’s drop‑off kiosk that prints labels, or a prepaid label service that ships a printable PDF to your email. For occasional shipments, a label‑printing service (e.g., ShipStation, Pirate Ship) can generate and mail the label for you.

Final Recommendation

For occasional, low‑value, personal shipments, handwriting a label is acceptable if the carrier accepts it and you write clearly. For any regular, business‑oriented, or time‑sensitive shipping, printing a label with a barcode is the safer, more efficient choice. When in doubt, check your carrier’s specific requirements or consult a shipping specialist.