How to Print Shipping Labels for Envelopes Without Tracking

If you’re a small business owner or solo creator selling physical goods like decals, stickers, or handmade cards — and you ship them in envelopes with a simple stamp — you’ve probably hit this wall: Etsy doesn’t let you buy postage for envelopes. You’re forced to buy package postage (minimum $4), which doubles your shipping cost and feels unfair to your customers. Worse, you’re stuck hand-writing addresses — messy, slow, and unprofessional.

But here’s the good news: you can print clean, professional shipping labels for envelopes — even without tracking — using tools you already have. No extra fees. No complicated software. Just a simple, repeatable system that saves you time and looks great.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

How to create a reusable 4x6 shipping label template (Mac or Windows)
How to auto-fill customer addresses from Etsy or Shopify
How to print labels that fit perfectly on envelopes
When and why to skip tracking (and how to explain it to customers)
How AI tools like Flowtra can automate parts of this process

Let’s get you shipping smarter — not harder.

Why You Can’t Buy Envelope Postage on Etsy (And What to Do Instead)

Etsy’s shipping system is built for packages — boxes, padded envelopes, USPS Priority Mail. When you click “Buy Shipping,” you’re buying a tracked, insured label that gets scanned at every step. That’s great for big items… but overkill for a $3 decal shipped in a standard envelope.

The problem? Etsy doesn’t offer “stamp-only” postage. You can’t buy a $0.68 First-Class stamp through their system. So if you want to ship cheaply and simply, you’re stuck either:

Hand-writing addresses (messy, slow, unprofessional)
Paying $4+ for tracked package postage (cuts into your profit)
Using a third-party tool (which may not integrate cleanly)

The solution? Create your own printable shipping labels.

This isn’t about hacking the system — it’s about working around it with tools you already own. You don’t need fancy software. Just a word processor, a printer, and 10 minutes to set up a reusable template.

And if you’re shipping 5+ envelopes a week? This system will save you hours — and make your brand look more polished.

How to Create a Printable Shipping Label Template (Mac or Windows)

You don’t need Canva or Adobe. You can do this in Pages (Mac) or Word (Windows) — both free and built-in.

Here’s how to build a 4x6 label template that fits perfectly on standard envelopes:

Step 1: Open a blank document

In Pages: File → New → Blank (choose “Letter” size)
In Word: File → New → Blank Document

Step 2: Set page size to 4x6 inches

In Pages: Go to Document → Page Size → Custom → Enter 4” x 6”
In Word: Layout → Size → More Paper Sizes → Set Width: 4”, Height: 6”

Step 3: Add your return address

Insert a text box in the top-left corner (about 0.5” from top and left edge)
Type your return address (name, street, city, state, ZIP)
Use a clean, readable font (Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman)
Size 10–12 pt

Step 4: Add the customer address box

Insert another text box in the center of the page
Make it about 3” wide x 2” tall
Leave space above and below for the stamp and envelope flap
Center-align the text box

Step 5: Save as a template

File → Save As → Name it “Envelope Shipping Label”
Save as .pages (Mac) or .docx (Windows)
Keep it on your desktop for quick access

Now you’ve got a reusable template. Every time you ship, you just open this file, paste the customer address, and print.

Pro Tip: Print a test label on regular paper first. Hold it up to an envelope to check alignment. Adjust margins if needed.

How to Auto-Fill Customer Addresses from Etsy or Shopify

Manually typing addresses is a time-suck — and error-prone. Here’s how to copy-paste them in seconds:

From Etsy:

Go to your Orders page
Click the order → expand the “Ship to” section
Click the customer name → copy the full address (Cmd+C on Mac, Ctrl+C on Windows)
Open your label template → click inside the customer address box → paste (Cmd+V or Ctrl+V)

From Shopify:

Go to Orders → click the order → scroll to “Shipping Address”
Click the three dots → “Copy Address”
Paste into your template

Bonus Hack: Use a text expander tool like TextExpander or Keyboard Maestro to save your return address as a shortcut (e.g., type “@@addr” and it auto-fills your info).

This method cuts label prep time from 2–3 minutes per order to under 30 seconds. And since you’re pasting directly from the platform, you avoid typos — which means fewer lost packages and fewer customer complaints.

How to Print Labels That Fit Perfectly on Envelopes

Printing is easy — but alignment matters. A crooked label looks unprofessional. Here’s how to get it right:

Step 1: Use the right paper

Use 4x6 photo paper or label paper (like Avery 5160)
Avoid regular printer paper — it’s too thin and may jam
If using label sheets, make sure your template matches the layout (e.g., 2 labels per sheet)

Step 2: Set printer margins

In Pages/Word: Go to File → Page Setup → Set margins to 0.25” on all sides
In printer settings: Choose “Borderless” or “Full Page” if available

Step 3: Print a test label

Print on plain paper first
Cut it out and place it on an envelope
Check if the return address is in the top-left corner and customer address is centered
Adjust template if needed

Step 4: Apply the label

Peel and stick (if using label paper)
Or tape it down gently (if using photo paper)
Place a stamp in the top-right corner
Fold the envelope flap and seal

Pro Tip: If you’re shipping 10+ envelopes a week, consider investing in a label printer like the Dymo LabelWriter 450. It prints directly on adhesive labels — no cutting, no pasting.

When and Why to Skip Tracking (And How to Explain It to Customers)

Let’s be honest: tracking is nice. But for small, lightweight items shipped via First-Class Mail, it’s often unnecessary — and expensive.

When to skip tracking:

Items under $10
Lightweight items (under 1 oz)
Items shipped within the same state or region
Items with low replacement cost (stickers, decals, cards)

Why skip tracking?

Saves $3–$4 per shipment
Reduces customer cost (you can offer “free shipping” without losing money)
Speeds up fulfillment (no waiting for carrier pickup)
Less clutter (no tracking numbers to manage)

How to explain it to customers:

Add a simple note to your product description or shipping policy:

“All orders under $10 ship via USPS First-Class Mail with no tracking. This keeps shipping costs low for you — and ensures your item arrives in 2–5 business days. If you need tracking, please select ‘Priority Mail’ at checkout.”

This is transparent, honest, and gives customers a choice. Most will appreciate the lower cost — especially if you’re selling small, affordable items.

How AI Tools Like Flowtra Can Automate Parts of This Process

If you’re shipping 20+ envelopes a week, manual label printing gets tedious. That’s where AI tools come in.

Flowtra (and similar tools) can help you:

Auto-generate shipping labels from your order data
Fill in return and customer addresses with one click
Format labels for perfect envelope alignment
Export to PDF or print directly

You don’t need to code or design. Just connect your store (Etsy, Shopify, etc.), pick a template, and let AI do the rest.

Example Workflow with Flowtra:

Connect your Etsy store
Select “Envelope Shipping Label” template
AI pulls customer address from order
Auto-fills return address
Generates PDF label → print or save

This cuts label prep time from 30 seconds to 3 seconds. And since it’s automated, you never miss a detail.

Note: Flowtra is not required — you can do this manually with Pages or Word. But if you’re scaling, automation is a game-changer.

Summary + CTA

You don’t need to overpay for tracked postage or hand-write addresses. With a simple 4x6 template, you can print professional, clean shipping labels for envelopes — no tracking required.

Here’s what you’ve learned:

Etsy doesn’t offer stamp-only postage — so create your own labels
Use Pages or Word to build a reusable 4x6 template
Copy-paste customer addresses from Etsy or Shopify to save time
Print on photo or label paper for best results
Skip tracking for small, low-cost items — and explain it to customers
Use AI tools like Flowtra to automate label generation at scale

Ready to put these ideas into action? Try creating your first AI-powered label with Flowtra — it’s fast, simple, and built for small businesses. Use promo code SQZPVT9QUJ for 20% off your first month.