1
Consistent offset
Every label starts too far left, right, high or low.
Print a calibration sheet to separate driver offset from marketplace label layout.
Print calibration sheettroubleshooting guide
My Shipping Label is Not Centered — How to Fix It
Fix shipping label printing problems: my shipping label is not centered. Check scale, paper, margins, orientation and barcode quiet zones.
Best next step
Follow the symptom-led steps before buying or reprinting postage.
Start with the tool or template that matches this guide before printing paid postage again.
Quick answer
Off-center labels are usually caused by printer driver offsets, roll alignment or page margin settings. Run a blank template to separate alignment problems from label-file problems.
- Recommended size
- 4 × 6 in
- Print scale
- 100%
- Orientation
- Portrait
Symptom-led fix
Find the cause before reprinting
Follow the symptom that best matches your bad print. Each step points to the safest next tool before you buy postage again.
Print one test at 100% / Actual Size first.
2
Wrong media size
The preview is centered but the physical output is shifted or rotated.
Check platform, carrier, paper and printer combination before editing margins.
Check label setup3
Template also off-center
A blank 4×6 test has the same alignment problem.
Fix printer guides, roll loading or driver offsets before reprinting postage.
Download 4×6 templateStep 1: Check print scale
Open the print dialog and choose 100% or Actual Size. Avoid Fit to Page because it can shrink the barcode and label boundaries. If you printed from a browser preview, download the PDF and retry from a PDF viewer.
Step 2: Check paper and orientation
Confirm the paper in your printer matches the label PDF. A 4×6 roll should not be printed as Letter, and Letter sheets should not crop the label area. If the output is rotated, switch portrait/landscape before changing scale.
Step 3: Run a calibration print
Print a blank template before buying new labels or reprinting postage. If the template is wrong, the carrier label will also be wrong. Measure the printed border and compare it to the target size.
Step 4: Decide what to fix next
If the whole label is the wrong size, fix scale. If only one edge is missing, fix paper size, margins or roll alignment. If the size is correct but scans fail, inspect print density, barcode quiet zone, tape glare and label damage.
Source notes
This guide is based on recurring seller-support patterns: labels printed from browser previews, PDF viewers resizing files, thermal rolls loaded off-center, and barcodes losing quiet-zone whitespace.
When a platform or carrier offers a specific label-format setting, follow that official setting first, then use the checker and templates here to confirm print scale, paper size, orientation, and barcode quiet zone before shipping.
For troubleshooting, prioritize fixes that include printer model, paper size, PDF viewer, and scale setting before reprinting paid postage.
FAQ
Should I re-buy postage?
Usually no. First fix the print settings and reprint the original PDF if your platform allows it.
Why does Actual Size matter?
Barcode scanners expect the bars and quiet zone to remain within tolerance. Shrinking can make scans fail.
Can tape cause scanning problems?
Yes. Glossy tape over a barcode can reflect light and reduce scan reliability.
What should I try first if I am in a hurry?
Download the label PDF, print from a PDF viewer at 100% / Actual Size and make sure the selected paper size matches the paper in the printer.
How do I know whether the printer or the label file is the problem?
Print a blank template at 100%. If the template is also wrong, fix printer settings before changing the label file or buying new postage.