The most common shipping label size in Australia is 100 x 150mm, the thermal-printer format equivalent to a 4 x 6 inch label. Sheet-based alternatives include A6 at 105 x 148mm and A5 integrated labels at 148 x 210mm for desktop printers.
- Thermal roll label: 100 x 150mm (4 x 6 inches)
- A6 sheet label: 105 x 148mm
- A5 integrated label: 148 x 210mm (label + packing slip)
- A4 integrated label: 210 x 297mm (label + full packing document)
- Return address label: typically 25 x 50mm to 50 x 100mm
- Custom sizes: enquire at printshop@paperlust.co
The 4 x 6 inch thermal label: Australia’s default format
The 4 x 6 inch format converts to 101.6 x 152.4mm. Labels sold in Australia as “100 x 150mm” are cut 1 to 2mm smaller than the precise inch conversion. This is a manufacturing convenience: thermal printers have a tolerance of 1 to 2mm, and labels at either dimension feed without adjustment.
This format works with direct-thermal and thermal-transfer printers from brands including Zebra, Brother, TSC and DYMO. It is wide enough to carry a machine-readable barcode, a sender address, a recipient address and handling instructions on one label face, without the text becoming too small to scan reliably at a depot or sorting facility.
When carriers generate a label through their online portals, the 4 x 6 thermal format is the standard output for label-printer users. A roll of generic thermal labels at 100 x 150mm will accept the generated PDF without trimming.
A6 sheet labels: 105 x 148mm
Not every business operates a dedicated thermal printer. A6 sheet labels (105 x 148mm) are the standard alternative for printing carrier-generated labels on a regular A4 inkjet or laser printer. Two A6 labels fit on a single A4 sheet, which is how most self-adhesive A6 label sheets are sold.
The A6 format is slightly shorter than the thermal 4 x 6 label in both dimensions: 105mm versus 100 to 102mm in width, and 148mm versus 150 to 152mm in height. Carrier portals that offer “A6 / 1 label per page” as a print option scale the label to fit this dimension. The result is the same scannable output.
A common error is downloading a 4 x 6 PDF and printing it on A4 at full scale. The label lands centred on the sheet and the printer wastes the surrounding paper. Always match the downloaded format to the label size in your print driver settings.
Key measurement to remember: 105 x 148mm. This is the ISO A6 paper dimension and the label dimension used across carrier portal settings that name A6 as a format option.
A5 integrated labels: 148 x 210mm
An integrated label combines the shipping label and a packing list or invoice on a single sheet, joined by a perforation or peel line. The label sticks to the parcel; the packing document stays with the picker or travels inside the package.
The A5 format (148 x 210mm) is a common integrated-label size where the label takes up roughly half the sheet. A4 integrated labels (210 x 297mm) are also produced, with the label occupying the top third or half and the packing slip running below it.
Integrated labels are sheet-fed products for office laser or inkjet printers. They are not compatible with thermal roll printers and are sold as self-adhesive sheets rather than rolls.
Carrier-generated thermal labels versus printed branded labels
There are two distinct types of label that travel on a parcel, and they serve completely different purposes.
The carrier label (the 100 x 150mm or A6 label described above) is generated by the carrier’s system. It carries the tracking barcode, the destination postcode, the routing code and the recipient address. You do not design this label. You generate it through the carrier portal, print it and stick it on. Its appearance is set by the carrier’s template.
A branded label is a label you design and produce yourself, separate from the carrier label. It might be a return address label on the back flap of the satchel, a “Fragile, please handle with care” sticker on a corner, a “Thank you for your order” seal across the tape line, or a brand-coloured sticker on the front face of a box beside the carrier label.
Branded labels are where a business controls how its parcel looks when it arrives at the door. They do not interfere with the carrier label and the carrier does not generate them. They sit alongside it, on a different part of the parcel surface. That controlled brand surface also works inside the parcel, where branded tissue paper becomes the next thing the customer sees after the box opens.
Paperlust prints the branded-label side of this equation. The two types of labels are different products serving different purposes.
Branded shipping labels from Paperlust
For the branded labels that make parcels feel intentional, Paperlust prints on White Cast Paper with matte laminate. The matte surface accepts a pen cleanly if you need to add a reference number by hand, and the cast paper stock holds colour accurately without the oversaturation common on gloss finishes.
Rectangle labels are the natural format for return address labels and handling instructions. The default size is 25 x 50mm, which sits neatly on a satchel flap or box corner. Production is 48 hours from artwork approval, with a minimum order of 500 labels.
Pricing starts at $0.49 per label at 500 and falls to $0.09 per label at 5,000. For a subscription-box or product-based business running 500 labels per month, the per-unit cost at 5,000 works out to under 10 cents per parcel.
Circle labels suit closure seals and “thank you” branding on satchel flaps. The default diameter is 30mm, sitting neatly on the back of a flat satchel without overlapping the seam. Minimum 500 labels, at $0.49 each at 500 and $0.08 at 5,000.
For sizes outside the standard options, the spec line on both product pages reads: “For custom size enquiry, please contact printshop@paperlust.co.” That email reaches the print team directly.
Choosing the right label size for branded labels
The carrier label occupies one face of the satchel or one side panel of a box. Branded labels live on whatever surface remains.
A few practical sizing guides:
- Return address labels for flat satchels: 25 x 50mm to 50 x 100mm covers most satchel flap sizes. Start with the 25 x 50mm default and measure your flap before ordering a custom size.
- Closure seals (circle or rectangle): 30mm to 50mm diameter fits across kraft, white and poly satchels without looking out of scale.
- Handling labels such as “Fragile” or “This way up”: 50 x 75mm to 50 x 100mm is large enough to read at arm’s length in a depot, small enough not to cover the carrier label.
If none of the standard sizes fits your packaging, email printshop@paperlust.co with your satchel or box dimensions and the print team will quote a custom size.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard shipping label size in Australia?
The most widely used format is 100 x 150mm, the thermal-printer equivalent of a 4 x 6 inch label. This size is the default output from most carrier portals when you select a label-printer option.
Is a 4 x 6 label exactly 100 x 150mm?
4 inches by 6 inches converts to 101.6 x 152.4mm. Labels sold as 100 x 150mm in Australia are cut 1 to 2mm smaller than the precise inch conversion. Thermal printers treat the two as interchangeable within normal tolerance.
What is A6 label size in mm?
A6 is 105 x 148mm. Two A6 labels fit on a single A4 sheet. It is the standard sheet-based alternative to the 100 x 150mm thermal roll format and is listed as a size option on most carrier portal print settings.
What is an integrated label and what size is it?
An integrated label combines a shipping label and a packing slip or invoice on one sheet, separated by a perforation or peel line. Common sizes are A5 (148 x 210mm) and A4 (210 x 297mm). The label portion peels away and sticks to the parcel.
What is the difference between a carrier label and a branded label?
A carrier label is generated by the courier’s system and carries the tracking barcode and routing information. A branded label is a separately printed sticker or seal designed by the sender, used for return addresses, handling notes or brand presentation. They sit on different parts of the parcel and serve different functions.
Can I print custom return address labels for my business parcels?
Yes. Rectangle labels from Paperlust start at 500 units at $0.49 each, printed on White Cast Paper with matte laminate and produced in 48 hours. Custom sizes outside the standard range can be quoted by emailing printshop@paperlust.co.
What size should a return address label be for a satchel?
A range of 25 x 50mm to 50 x 100mm works for most satchel flap sizes. Measure your satchel flap and allow a margin around the printed text before committing to a size. For custom dimensions, contact printshop@paperlust.co.
Where can I get custom-sized shipping labels printed in Australia?
Paperlust prints rectangle labels, circle labels, oval labels and custom cut labels from a minimum of 500 units. Standard sizes are available at printshop.paperlust.co. Custom dimensions can be quoted by emailing printshop@paperlust.co.
