Overview
There are three reliable ways to get shipping labels out of WooCommerce:
- Manual export → carrier portal: Export orders from WooCommerce and import into your carrier’s portal (Royal Mail Click & Drop, Evri Business, DPD Local/DPD). Best for very low order volumes.
- Carrier plugins/integrations: Connect WooCommerce directly to each carrier’s system and generate labels from the order admin. Good for single‑carrier stores.
- Automation platforms: Route each order to the best carrier and auto‑create/print labels as you pick and pack. Best for growing stores or multi‑carrier shipping. This is where ParcelOffice helps.
Heads‑up: Carrier UI labels and plugin names change over time. The steps below focus on the workflow and the settings that matter (label size, printer DPI, service mapping), so you can adapt quickly even if the screenshots or menu names move.
Before you start
- WooCommerce is installed and orders are coming in.
- You have business accounts (or approved access) for the carriers you’ll use: Royal Mail, Evri, DPD.
- Thermal printer (recommended) that supports 100×150 mm / 4×6″ labels at 203 DPI or 300 DPI. See best label printers for WooCommerce.
- Weights & dimensions stored for products so services and pricing can be calculated accurately.
Royal Mail: WooCommerce → Click & Drop
Connect WooCommerce
- Sign in to Royal Mail Click & Drop and go to Settings → Integrations.
- Add a new channel and select WooCommerce. Authorise access to your store.
- Choose how orders import (paid/processing), and map order fields if prompted.
Generate labels
- In Click & Drop, select imported orders and choose Apply postage.
- Pick services (e.g., Tracked 24/48, International), set package size/weight.
- Click Generate labels, then Print. Set label format to 6×4″ (100×150 mm).
Pro tip: If you’re batch‑printing, keep a saved preset per package type to avoid re‑selecting services.
Evri (Hermes): WooCommerce → Evri Business
Connect or import
- From your Evri Business portal, connect WooCommerce (if a direct integration is available) or use CSV import.
- Ensure product weights and dimensions are correct—Evri services hinge on size tiers.
Generate labels
- Select orders, choose the appropriate service (e.g., Next Day, Standard, ParcelShop).
- Confirm label format 100×150 mm and print to your thermal printer.
If you’re moving from manual CSV imports to a plugin/integration later, keep your SKU and order‑number conventions consistent to avoid duplicates.
DPD (UK & DPD Local): WooCommerce → DPD
Connect WooCommerce
- Use your DPD or DPD Local business account to enable API access (request credentials from your account manager if needed).
- Install your preferred WooCommerce connector or use the DPD web portal import workflow.
- Map WooCommerce shipping methods to DPD services (e.g., Predict, Classic, Saturday).
Generate labels
- Create consignments from selected orders, confirm package details and service.
- Print labels at 100×150 mm; test one label before batch printing.
Pro tip: If you ship multiple parcels per order, enable multi‑parcel consignments so DPD produces one label per parcel automatically.
Option: Automate everything with rules
If you’re juggling multiple carriers, or you simply want labels to appear automatically as you pack, consider an automation approach:
- Auto‑routing: Choose Royal Mail/Evri/DPD based on weight, size, region, delivery speed, and cost.
- Hands‑free printing: Labels print when an order is scanned on the pick line.
- Status sync & notifications: Send tracking numbers back to WooCommerce and customers.
ParcelOffice: WooCommerce labels on autopilot
ParcelOffice connects your WooCommerce store to multiple carriers and decides the best option for each order—then generates labels automatically. Start with one carrier and add more as you grow.
// Example routing idea
if (destination == "UK" && weight_kg <= 1) use RoyalMail.Tracked48;
else if (destination == "UK" && weight_kg <= 15) use Evri.NextDay;
else use DPD.Classic;
// ParcelOffice evaluates rules per order and prints automatically.Printer setup & label size
- Set label size to 100×150 mm (4×6″) in both the carrier portal/plugin and your printer driver.
- Use 203 DPI (most thermal printers) or 300 DPI if your model supports it—just keep settings consistent.
- Disable any “fit to page” scaling in the browser print dialog; use 100% scale.
Choosing hardware? Read Best Label Printers for WooCommerce.
Troubleshooting
Label prints too small/large
- Set the print dialog scale to 100% (Chrome: Ctrl/Cmd+P → More settings → Scale).
- Ensure the label format in the portal/plugin is set to 100×150 mm.
Blank or rotated labels
- Switch output to PDF instead of ZPL/EPL if your printer doesn’t support it natively.
- Update your printer driver/firmware; test from another browser or device.
Wrong service selected
- Double‑check product weights & dimensions in WooCommerce.
- Map WooCommerce shipping methods to the correct carrier services.
Note: Carriers periodically rename services. Re‑review your mappings every quarter, or switch to dynamic rules so services are selected based on constraints instead of names.
FAQs
Do I need a thermal printer?
No, but it’s recommended. A laser/inkjet can work if you print on sticker sheets, but thermal is faster, clearer, and cheaper per label.
Can I batch print labels from WooCommerce?
Yes. Most carrier portals and integrations let you select many orders and generate a label batch. For hands‑free printing tied to your pick flow, consider ParcelOffice.
Which carrier is cheapest?
It depends on weight, dimensions, destination, and your contract rates. Many stores use multiple carriers and route orders accordingly. See Compare Shipping Plugins for considerations.
Will this work with my 3PL?
Yes—if your 3PL exposes a label or shipping API, you can align WooCommerce status updates and tracking. Read WooCommerce ↔ 3PL and Smart 3PL Workflows.