Every package shipped from an e-commerce store carries a small but critical piece of paper: the shipping label. It tells the carrier where the package is going, who it is from, and how to handle it. Without an accurate shipping label, packages get lost, delayed, or returned.
For e-commerce businesses, shipping labels are a daily operational tool. Whether you are shipping 10 orders or 10,000, understanding what goes on a shipping label, how to generate one correctly, and how to avoid the most common mistakes will save you time, money, and customer complaints.
This guide covers everything about shipping labels in 2026: what they are, what information they must include, the different types, size requirements, how to create and print them, and the best practices every merchant should follow.
What is a Shipping Label?
A shipping label is a document attached to the outside of a package that contains all the information a carrier needs to deliver it correctly. This includes the sender's address, the recipient's address, the tracking number, the shipping method, the weight and dimensions of the package, payment details if applicable, and any special handling instructions.
Shipping labels are used by all carriers (Aramex, DHL, SMSA, Naqel, FedEx, and others) to sort, route, and track packages from pickup to delivery. Every label includes a barcode or QR code that is scanned at each checkpoint in the carrier's network, updating the shipment status in real time.
If you are wondering about:
What Does B/L Mean on a Shipping Label?
The abbreviation B/L on a shipping policy stands for the English term Bill of Lading. It is translated into Arabic as a "Shipping Bond" or "Shipping Policy" and corresponds to the English term (Shipping Label). It is a legal document issued by the carrier or the shipping company.
The shipping policy gains significant importance as it provides a documented record of information that protects the rights of both the sender and the recipient by ensuring the completion of pre-agreed purchase transactions. It performs three fundamental functions:
Proof of receipt of goods from the shipper.
Documentation of the transport contract between the parties.
Identification of the ownership and negotiability of the shipments during the shipping process.
What is an Electronic Shipping Label(e-B/L)?
It is an electronic version of the paper shipping document, allowing for the automation or digitalization of the functions of the traditional paper shipping policy. Consequently, it offers much better solutions than the traditional document for ensuring the accuracy of data elements and the speed of their circulation. It is accepted like the traditional policy as a receipt for the transport process or as one of the documents proving the ownership of the shipment.
The electronic shipping policy requires two essential and closely related elements:
A legal agreement or a rulebook.
A software application or a technical solution to generate it.
The policies issued by specialized e-commerce companies are among the most prominent examples of this modern type of shipping document, such as Salla's shipping policies, which are delivery policies available to merchants at special prices in cooperation with some active shipping companies in Saudi Arabia.
Key Information Contained in a Shipping Label
The shipping policy contains numerous data points that guarantee the rights of all parties, including:
The order number and date of registration.
The shipping date or the scheduled time for sending the shipment.
The agreed-upon payment method, and the amount due from the customer that needs to be collected by the shipping company.
Sender's information (usually the merchant), which must include the name, address, and mobile number.
Recipient's information (usually the end customer), which must include the name, address, and mobile number.
The total value of the order.
The items to be transported, and the tracking number (their quantity and detailed weight may also be mentioned).
Information about the shipping company and/or the shipping intermediary performing the transport.
Some shipping labels also include special handling instructions (fragile, keep upright, do not bend) and storage requirements for temperature-sensitive shipments. The exact information on a label varies slightly between carriers, but the core fields above are standard across all major shipping companies.
[caption id="attachment_1573" align="aligncenter" width="491"] Elements of a shipping label generated from the OTO shipping gateway 👆[/caption]
What is the Shipping Label Number?
The tracking number on a shipping label is a unique identifier assigned by the carrier when the shipment is created. It consists of two parts: a carrier code that identifies the shipping company, and a sequence of digits (usually 6 to 12 characters) that identifies the specific shipment. This number is what customers use to track their order and what the carrier's system uses to route the package at every scan point.
The first part is the name of the carrying company or a distinctive code identifying one company from another.
The second part is a sequence of numbers, ranging from 6 to 12 digits, the length of which varies based on who issued it.
[caption id="attachment_1574" align="aligncenter" width="534"] An example of a shipping policy from the OTO gateway 👆 You will notice that order numbers usually start with the code OID.[/caption]
This number is highly important given that the majority of shipping policies are negotiable documents, so this negotiation must take place according to precise rules to identify the parties, the nature of the goods being dealt with. Therefore, the shipping policy number identifies both the sender and the recipient, or the exporter and the importer, which facilitates tracking the ownership of the shipment through its number.
This number also contributes to simplifying commercial exchanges by allowing quick recognition of each policy and identifying it among thousands or even millions of others within company databases. It also enables international exchange operators to track the movement of their goods along supply chains from point to point, and provides a standard for security in the document transfer process.
How Long is a Shipping Label Valid?
Shipping labels are not valid indefinitely. Most carriers set an expiry period of between 5 and 14 days from the date the label is generated. If a package is not handed over to the carrier within this window, the label expires and a new one must be generated.
This is important for e-commerce businesses that pre-generate labels in bulk. If labels are created too far in advance and not used within the validity period, they will need to be regenerated, which may also mean the shipping cost is charged again.
Always check your carrier's specific validity policy. Some carriers, especially for international shipments, may have shorter validity windows.
Types of Shipping Labels
Standard Shipping Label:
The most common type used in e-commerce. Printed and attached to an outbound package, it contains all the delivery information the carrier needs. Used for both domestic and international shipments.
Return Shipping Label:
A pre-generated label included in the package or sent to the customer digitally, allowing them to return an item. Return labels are typically prepaid by the merchant. They follow the same format as a standard label but with the sender and recipient addresses reversed.
Prepaid Shipping Label:
A label where the postage cost is paid in advance by the sender. The recipient does not need to pay anything at pickup or drop-off. Prepaid labels are standard in e-commerce and are what most customers receive with their orders.
Thermal Shipping Label:
Refers to the print format rather than the label type. Thermal labels are printed using a thermal printer (no ink required) and are the industry standard for high-volume shipping operations. They are faster to print, more durable, and do not smear or fade.
Air Waybill (AWB):
Used specifically for shipments transported by air, whether domestic or international. An AWB functions as a non-negotiable contract of carriage between the shipper and the airline. It is required for all air freight shipments and includes flight details alongside the standard label information.
International Shipping Label:
Used for shipments crossing borders. In addition to the standard fields, international labels must include the customs declaration, HS (Harmonized System) code for the goods, declared value, and country of origin. Incorrect or incomplete international labels are a leading cause of customs delays.
Domestic vs International Shipping Labels: Key Differences
Yes, international shipping labels differ from domestic ones:
Domestic Shipping Labels:
Cover deliveries within the same country. They require the sender's address, recipient's address, tracking barcode, carrier information, and weight or dimensions. The format is straightforward and most carriers generate them automatically when an order is created through a logistics platform.
International Shipping Labels:
Cover cross-border shipments and require additional information beyond the standard domestic label. This includes:
A customs declaration (CN22 or CN23 form) describing the contents, quantity, and value of the shipment
The HS (Harmonized System) code for the type of goods being shipped.
The declared value of the shipment for customs assessment.
Country of origin of the goods.
Any applicable import restrictions or required certifications.
Incomplete international shipping labels are one of the most common causes of customs delays and returned shipments. Using a logistics platform that auto-populates the required fields for your target country significantly reduces the risk of errors.
Can Shipping Labels Be Purchased?
Labels are not purchased but rather issued. Their value is then deducted from the balance of your store's wallet or your account with the contracted shipping company.
This means that to be able to use shipping policies in your store, you must fund your wallet balance with an amount that covers the value of the policies you intend to use in the future.
Let's take a practical example from the OTO shipping gateway. Suppose you want to ship a shipment via Aramex—let its cost be 30 Saudi Riyals—and you want to print the Aramex shipping label. You can easily do this by creating the order, then selecting this order, and clicking the "Print" button.
Here, you will find that the price of the policy is the same as the cost of the shipment (30 Riyals).
As you notice 👇 you can create and print a normal shipping label or a return shipping label for a returned shipment with a click of a button via OTO.
Thus, it can be said that if you want to purchase an Aramex shipping label or buy shipping labels for SMSA, DHL, or other shipping companies, you can complete this process through the OTO shipping software, by creating a free account and executing the shipping process via the OTO portal.
And you will get the shipping policy as an essential part of the shipping process itself. There is absolutely no need to buy them separately from any of the alleged providers of these deceptive services.
How to Create and Print a Shipping Label with OTO
As mentioned earlier, OTO—the leading shipping gateway in the Arab world and Turkey—allows you to create and print domestic and international shipping policies, whether you are shipping with your own contracts after linking them to your account, or issuing shipping policies at discounted rates with more than 25 local and international shipping and delivery companies.
All you need to do is:
Create the order through your control panel in OTO.
Then go to the "Shipments" section from the side menu and select the "Awaiting Pickup" page.
Next, select the order or orders for which you wish to print the shipping labels.
Then click on the "Print" button, and choose the Shipping Policy (AWB) from the list.
You will then be able to download and print the policy with a single click, whether it is for a new shipment or a returned shipment, which makes it easy for you to manage shipping operations and saves you time and effort.
What are the Discounted Shipping Labels Provided by OTO?
The discounted shipping labels from OTO are smart solutions that allow merchants and individuals to benefit from shipping rates significantly lower than regular prices. This is thanks to the contractual agreements OTO has concluded with more than 25 local and international shipping companies. These discounts can reach up to 90%, without the user needing a direct contract or prior commitment with any company.
These labels aim to:
Reduce operational costs for merchants and e-commerce stores.
Provide high flexibility in choosing the appropriate shipping company based on price and duration.
Complete management from a unified control panel that facilitates printing policies and tracking orders.
📦 Realistic Example: When shipping from Jeddah to Mecca through OTO, you can obtain a shipping label at a price starting from only 13 Saudi Riyals, compared to a higher price when contracting directly and obligatorily with shipping companies.
This price includes shipment tracking, technical support, and the use of the platform and its technical features that organize your shipments and operational processes.
Conclusion: With OTO, you are not just buying a policy; you are benefiting from an integrated system that reduces costs and gives you complete control over shipping operations.
How Do I Know the Shipping Cost?
You can find out the shipping cost by using the price calculators provided by shipping companies, or through OTO's shipping price calculator—also attached to this article—which gives you the ability to compare prices between different shipping companies and estimate the cost based on several factors such as the shipment's weight, dimensions, the distance between the delivery and pickup points, and the type of shipping service required (domestic or international, standard or express).
Conclusion
Shipping labels are small in size but carry significant operational weight. A correct, complete label means your package moves through the carrier network without friction. An incorrect or incomplete one means delays, returns, and frustrated customers.
For e-commerce businesses shipping at any volume, generating labels through a logistics platform like OTO is the most efficient approach. It eliminates manual data entry, connects you to carrier networks at discounted rates, and ensures every label is formatted correctly for the destination and carrier from the start.
The goal is simple: every package that leaves your warehouse should have a label that gets it to the right place, at the right time, with zero manual intervention.
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