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Label Printer & Shipping Scale Recommendations
Label Printer & Shipping Scale Recommendations

Cost effective label printer and shipping scale options

Updated over a week ago

To use Pirate Ship, you need a scale to weigh your package (plus a ruler or a tape measurer to measure your package), and a printer to print the shipping label.

You can use any kind of scale, including kitchen scales, as long as it gives accurate weight measurements to the nearest ounce. You can also use any kind of standard inkjet or laser desktop printer. If you use a desktop printer, you can use regular printer paper and simply tape it to the box, or you can get some half-sheet label sticker paper. Note that we don't currently support Avery or other label templates, unless it's just 2 stickers that are exactly half-sheet size (8.5x5.5" each).

However, if you're looking to get more professional with your shipping when it comes to scales and printers, there's some great equipment that really doesn't cost very much. We've tried everything, so we're happy to make the recommendations below:

Recommended shipping postage scales:

ACCUTECK All-in-1 Series
This is the cheapest, most versatile postal scale we've come across. It has a capacity of up to 50lb, and can also run on batteries so it's more portable.

Accuteck ShipPro 110lb
This is a great choice with a capacity of up to 110lb and is much more durable than its cheaper counterpart. If you're shipping big boxes, the external display makes it easier to see the weight.

If you're big fans like us, the official USPS postal scale is fun office decor 📬

Recommended 2x7" shipping label printer

Brother QL800
This powerful little USB printer works great on both Mac and Windows computers, as long as you're not shipping internationally or to military addresses (but you can just use your normal desktop printer for those!) It's super fast, very high-quality, and the coolest thing is it automatically cuts each label so you don't have to tear it off yourself. Make sure to get the 2" or 2.4" continuous-roll labels to go with it, and follow our Mac instructions (especially the CUPS section to set the quality right) or our Windows instructions for getting it set up.

Note: You can't print customs forms on 2x7" labels, so you can't use them for international shipments 😅 If you need to make an international label, just switch back to the 4x6" label size and use a regular desktop printer or a 4x6" label printer.

You also can't print UPS® labels on 2x7" labels, either...just USPS labels. You'll need either a desktop printer or a 4x6" label printer to print UPS labels.

Recommended 4x6" shipping label printers

Brother QL1110NWB
If you're looking for the highest-quality printer that can handle any shipping situation, this Brother printer blows every other printer out of the water! It offers every connection method possible, so you can hook it up to Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android via WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, or USB. Those wireless connection options are great, as you can just stick it in a corner and it doesn't have to be plugged into anything.

If you don't need the wireless connection options that the more expensive model has, this is the same great functionality for $100 less. Just plug the USB cord into your computer and you're ready to print!


Any other printer will work with Pirate Ship, we just don't recommend them 😉

The labels Pirate Ship creates are PDF files that you can print with any printer that supports 4x6" or 2x7" (or larger) paper sizes, so you can really use ANY printer, but some printers aren't as good as others 😜 This includes the Dymo 4XL and Zebra label printers.

Got any questions? Use the chat on the bottom right and we're happy to help 💬

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