What size is a Etsy shipping label?
For most Etsy sellers, the practical target is a 4 × 6 inch shipping label because it matches common thermal printers and carrier scan workflows. If you use a laser or inkjet printer, print the downloaded label PDF on Letter or A4 paper at 100% / Actual Size, then cut or fold only outside the barcode and address area.
Best print settings for Etsy
Start with 100% scale, portrait orientation and the paper size that matches the PDF or label roll. Avoid browser headers, footers, Fit to Page, Shrink Oversized Pages and driver defaults that silently resize PDFs. If the preview looks centered but the paper output is off, run a blank template first to separate printer alignment from label-file problems.
Common Etsy printing problems
Tiny labels usually mean the print dialog shrank the PDF. Cut-off labels usually mean the paper size, roll width or orientation is wrong. Blurry or unscannable barcodes usually come from low print density, tape glare, poor thermal paper or missing quiet-zone whitespace. Use the checker above before buying postage in volume.
What to verify before shipping
Confirm the carrier name, tracking barcode, recipient address and return address are readable. Measure the printed 4 × 6 boundary with a ruler if this is a new printer, new label roll or a new computer. Reprint the same label PDF after fixing settings rather than buying duplicate postage when your platform allows reprints.