An Indian courier shipping label carries the AWB number and barcode, a routing or sort code, the consignee's name, full address, pincode and phone, your return address, the order ID, prepaid or COD with the amount to collect, weight and dimensions, and invoice details. Print it on a 4 × 6 inch thermal label or four-up on A4.
You rarely design the layout yourself. The courier or your shipping platform generates it once the order is booked. What you control is the data that fills it and how the label is printed and stuck on, and that is where most misroutes, failed scans and wrong COD collections start.
What does a shipping label format in India include?
| Field | Why the courier needs it | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| AWB number and barcode | Scanned at pickup, every hub and delivery; it is the parcel's identity in the courier's system. | A smudged or low-contrast barcode, or a label printed for a cancelled booking. |
| Routing or sort code | Tells sorters which destination hub or lane the parcel belongs to. Each courier uses its own code. | Reusing an old label after the address or courier changed, so the code no longer matches. |
| Consignee name, full address and pincode | Drives last-mile routing; the pincode decides the delivery hub. | Missing flat number or landmark, or a pincode that doesn't match the city. |
| Consignee phone | The delivery agent calls before arriving and for OTP-based delivery. | A missing digit or an office landline nobody answers. |
| Return (RTO) address | Where undelivered parcels come back to. | An old warehouse address left on the pickup location after a move. |
| Order ID and barcode | Links the parcel to your order for returns, claims and disputes. | Leaving it off, so returns can't be matched to orders. |
| Prepaid or COD, and COD amount | Tells the agent whether to collect and how much. | COD amount not updated after a partial prepayment or a discount. |
| Weight and dimensions | Basis for freight; audited against the courier's own measurement. | Product dimensions entered instead of the packed box. |
| Invoice number and value | Links the parcel to the GST invoice and the courier's liability. | Label value different from the invoice value. |
| E-way bill number, if applicable | Required when the consignment value exceeds ₹50,000. | Generated but never added, or expired before pickup. |
| Product description and quantity | Used at screening and for the buyer's handover. | Vague entries like 'goods' or 'gift' that invite a hold. |
| Seller name, address and GSTIN | Identifies the shipper; needed when the label doubles as an invoice. | Pickup location name printed instead of the brand. |
Two fields deserve extra care. The AWB is the one thing every scan depends on, so never hand-write over it or stick a second label on top. Weight and dimensions on the label become evidence if the courier later raises a discrepancy, so enter the packed box, not the product. For any consignment over ₹50,000, add the e-way bill number; our guide to e-way bills for ecommerce shipments covers when you need one.
Is a shipping label the same as an invoice?
Not by default. The label tells the courier where the parcel goes; the tax invoice is your GST document. Rule 138A of the CGST Rules requires the person in charge of the vehicle to carry the invoice, bill of supply or delivery challan, which is why most couriers ask for an invoice copy in a pouch on the box or inside it. Where you issue e-invoices, the QR code with the IRN can be shown electronically instead of a paper copy.
Some couriers now merge the two. Since March 2026, Delhivery's label-cum-invoice format adds the HSN code, GST type, rate and amount, plus your signature and stamp, so the label can serve as a GST-compliant invoice. One more distinction: declarations such as MRP and net quantity under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 belong on the retail product package. They are not shipping label fields, and the courier label on the outer box doesn't replace them.
Which label size and printer should you use?
| 4 × 6 inch thermal | A4, four labels per sheet | |
|---|---|---|
| Printer | Direct thermal label printer | Any laser or inkjet printer |
| Consumables | Self-adhesive label rolls or fanfold stacks; no ink or toner | A4 sticker sheets, or plain paper taped on |
| Barcode quality | Sharp and consistent | Good on laser; inkjet can smudge if the box gets wet |
| Handling | One label per print, peel and stick | Cut or peel four labels per sheet, easy to mix up |
| Best for | Daily volumes beyond a few dozen orders | Starting out, or occasional orders |
Delhivery's panel, for example, offers both: a 4 × 6 inch format for thermal label printers and an A4 format that prints four labels per sheet for desktop printers. Its packaging guidelines state that thermal-printed labels are strongly recommended over regular ones. If you buy a thermal printer, check that it takes 4-inch-wide media and works with your shipping panel's print settings. Store direct thermal labels away from heat and sunlight, which darken them.
How do you print shipping labels in bulk?
- 1Pull orders from your store or marketplace in one import and fix bad addresses, pincodes and phone numbers before booking.
- 2Check serviceability and pick the courier and service for each order, keeping COD and prepaid orders correctly flagged.
- 3Enter the packed weight and box size, using saved package presets for your common box sizes.
- 4Book the orders in bulk to generate AWB numbers for the whole batch.
- 5Print labels in one run, sorted in the same order as your pick list, and print invoices alongside unless you use a label-cum-invoice.
- 6Pack each order and stick its label on immediately, matching the order ID on the label to the packing slip so labels never swap between boxes.
- 7Generate the pickup manifest, have the pickup agent scan every AWB, and reconcile the scanned count against the manifest before the vehicle leaves.
- 8Share tracking links so buyers can follow the parcel on a page like universal tracking instead of calling you.
The step that costs the most when skipped is step 6. Printing 200 labels and then labelling 200 boxes later is how a ₹4,999 COD order ends up on a ₹499 prepaid box. Label as you pack, one order at a time.
Where should you stick the label on the parcel?
- On the largest flat face of the box, away from seams, edges and corners, so the barcode isn't folded or split.
- On flyers, flat and fully visible, with every field readable. If the flyer has a label pocket, tape its opening shut.
- One label per parcel. When reusing a box, remove or fully cover old labels and barcodes.
- Don't put glossy tape directly over the barcode; glare can stop scanners reading it.
- Put handling marks such as 'Fragile' or 'This way up' on other faces, not over the address or barcode.
- Keep the invoice pouch on a different face from the label so neither covers the other.
Frequently asked questions
The common size is 4 × 6 inches, printed one label at a time on a thermal label printer. If you use a regular laser or inkjet printer, most courier panels also offer an A4 layout with four labels per sheet. Thermal labels are generally preferred for barcode quality and speed once you ship more than a few dozen orders a day.
Yes. Choose the A4 format in your courier or shipping panel and print four labels per sheet, ideally on A4 sticker sheets. A laser printer gives sharper barcodes than inkjet, which can smudge if the box gets damp. Make sure the barcode prints with strong contrast and isn't scaled down, or hub scanners may fail to read it.
No, unless your courier offers a label-cum-invoice format that includes the HSN code, GST details and your signature. Otherwise the label handles routing and the tax invoice is a separate GST document. Rule 138A of the CGST Rules requires the invoice, bill of supply or delivery challan to travel with the goods, so keep a copy in a pouch.
Reprint the label for the same AWB from your panel rather than booking a new shipment, and stick it over or in place of the damaged one. A parcel whose barcode can't be scanned needs manual handling at hubs, which commonly means delays or a misroute. Check that the reprinted barcode scans before pickup.
Sources
Shipping operators and engineers who build RouteOneX's courier integrations, NDR and COD workflows for Indian D2C sellers. Every guide is reviewed against courier terms and official sources before publishing, and dated when it is updated.
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