Label layout
Shipping labels (A4, 4 per sheet)
Four large labels per A4 sheet, each 99.1 × 139 mm — sized for parcel shipping slips, e-commerce fulfilment labels and large product information stickers. The 2 × 2 grid leaves a 2 mm gap between cells so cuts do not need to be perfectly precise.
Exact layout values
| Page size | A4 (210 × 297 mm) |
| Grid | 2 × 2 (4 labels) |
| Label size | 99.1 × 139 mm |
| Top margin | 8 mm |
| Left margin | 5 mm |
| Horizontal gap | 2 mm |
| Vertical gap | 2 mm |
When this format makes sense
- · E-commerce parcel shipping
- · Return shipping slips
- · Large product or jar labels
- · Event passes and visitor badges
- · Warehouse bin and shelf identification
Designing for barcodes
For Code-128 or QR barcodes, keep at least 5 mm of quiet zone (clear margin) on all sides of the code. A 25 × 25 mm QR code at 300 DPI scans reliably with most modern phones. Place barcodes vertically centred and away from where adhesive labels typically curl.
Print on a laser printer if possible — inkjet output can smear when handled while wet, which damages barcode readability.
Getting the scan to pass first time
The failures are almost never the printer: they are scaling (barcode resized), gloss (some films glare under red scanners — matte stock scans better), and placement (label wrapped around a box edge splits the barcode). Flat face, matte finish, 100 % scale — three rules, near-zero rescans.
If the carrier supplies a PDF label, print it directly at actual size onto one of these labels rather than reconstructing it — their layout already encodes the quiet zones and minimum module width their scanners assume.
Frequently asked questions
What size is each shipping label?
Each label is 99.1 × 139 mm (approximately 3.9 × 5.47 inches). Four labels fit on one A4 sheet in a 2 × 2 grid.
Is this the same as a "quarter A4" label?
Effectively yes. Each label is just under one quarter of an A4 sheet, with small margins and a 2 mm gap between rows and columns to allow for cutting tolerance.
Will this fit common carrier label slips?
Most international carriers accept 4×6 inch (102 × 152 mm) or A6-sized (105 × 148 mm) shipping labels. The 99.1 × 139 mm format here is close to A6 and works with most carrier upload tools, but always check the carrier's exact label specification before printing in bulk.
Can I print only one of the four labels?
Yes. Print the full sheet on a label sheet and only the cells you have populated will be filled. The remaining label spots stay blank and can be used in another print run.
What is the right resolution for barcodes on these labels?
Print barcodes at 300 DPI minimum. At lower resolutions the bar widths can drift by a pixel, which is enough to make some scanners reject the code.
Sheet labels or a thermal printer — which do carriers expect?
Carriers’ native format is the 4 × 6 in thermal label, and any serious volume justifies a thermal printer (no ink, no fuser, waterproof stock). Sheet labels like these are the right answer for occasional shipments — every major carrier accepts them as long as the barcode scans.
How much clear space does a barcode need?
Keep a quiet zone of at least 3 mm on every side of the barcode — no borders, no text, no fold lines. Print barcodes at 100 % scale, never resampled: a barcode that has been scaled by “fit to page” can fail the scanner even when it looks fine to the eye.
Will the label survive rain?
Laser toner is fused plastic — effectively water-fast on its own. Inkjet output smears when wet unless the stock is coated; for inkjet shipping labels either use weatherproof film sheets or the courier trick: one strip of clear packing tape over the address and barcode.