4x6 vs A4 4-Up: Which Shipping Label Size Should You Print?

Quick comparison

The volume figure below is a rule of thumb, not a measured limit. Your own break-even depends on your printer and paper prices.

When 4×6 is better

Use 4 × 6 in for most thermal printers, or 100 × 150 mm if your roll is labelled in millimetres. Exact label size makes each page the shape of the label with no white margins.

• You ship every day and want labels that stick straight on the parcel.
• You do not want to cut paper.
• Your courier prefers sticker labels on the parcel face.

When A4 4-up is better

Choose A4 portrait · 4 per page. Light dashed guides are drawn between labels; switch them off under More options if you print on pre-cut sticker sheets.

• You do not own a thermal printer.
• Your volume is low and a printer roll is not worth it.
• You print on adhesive A4 sheets and want four stickers per sheet.

What about 2 per page?

A4 landscape · 2 per page enlarges each label compared with 4-up, which helps if barcodes are dense, at the cost of using twice the paper.

Tip

Whichever you pick, print one test label first and scan the barcode with a phone. Settings are in thermal printer settings for shipping labels.