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The first few orders are exciting. By order twenty, printing labels on paper, taping them on and guessing package weights at the post office gets old fast. This guide covers the shipping supplies for small business sellers that actually save time and money, whether you sell on Etsy, eBay, Poshmark or your own store: what to buy first, what can wait, and which cheap options are good enough.
How I chose: I haven’t tested every product below. The picks are based on manufacturer specs, the label and ink costs you pay after purchase, and what experienced sellers recommend. Prices change constantly, so I show price tiers ($ budget, $$ mid-range, $$$ premium) instead of exact prices. Check the current price before you buy.
Shipping Supplies for Small Business: The Short List
| Item | Why you need it | Tier | Buy when |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4×6 thermal label printer | Prints shipping labels in seconds, no ink | $$–$$$ | About 10+ orders a week |
| Digital shipping scale (0.1 oz) | Stops you overpaying postage | $ | From your first order |
| Poly mailers | Cheap, light packaging for clothes and soft goods | $ | From your first order |
| Padded (bubble) mailers | Small items that need a little protection | $ | From your first order |
| Boxes in 2–3 sizes | Fragile or heavy items | $ | When you sell breakables |
| Packing tape and tape gun | Faster, neater sealing | $ | From your first order |
| 4×6 fanfold thermal labels | Label stock for the printer | $ | With the printer |
| Tape measure | Dimensional weight for bigger boxes | $ | When you ship boxes |
1. A Thermal Label Printer (the Biggest Time Saver)
A thermal label printer uses heat instead of ink, so the only running cost is labels. You print a 4×6 label straight from Etsy, eBay, Shopify or a shipping app, peel it, and stick it on. No cutting, no tape over paper, no ink cartridges.
The three names you’ll see most:
- Rollo ($$$): a popular choice with high-volume sellers. It comes in USB and wireless versions and takes generic 4×6 labels from any brand, so you’re not locked into one supplier. Best if you ship every day.
- MUNBYN ($$): a lower-cost alternative that also accepts generic labels, with USB and wireless models. The best value for most sellers shipping a few dozen orders a week.
- DYMO LabelWriter ($$): reliable and compact, but the current 550-series models only accept DYMO-brand labels (they read a chip in the roll). Factor in the higher label cost over time before choosing one.
My pick for most beginners: a MUNBYN or Rollo that takes generic labels. Labels are the cost you pay forever, so avoiding brand lock-in matters more than a few dollars on the printer.
Can’t justify a printer yet? Print on plain paper with your home printer and tape the label on with clear packing tape (don’t cover the barcode with a crease). Upgrade once you’re shipping about 10 or more orders a week.
2. A Digital Shipping Scale
If you guess the weight, you either overpay postage on every package or risk a package coming back for insufficient postage. A basic digital shipping scale that reads in 0.1 oz steps pays for itself quickly.
- Budget pick ($): a digital postal scale from a brand like Accuteck with a 50 lb or higher capacity is enough for almost every small seller.
- Look for: 0.1 oz increments, a tare button (to subtract the box), and a hold function so you can read the weight when a big box covers the display.
3. Mailers and Boxes
Match the packaging to what you sell. Lighter, smaller packages cost less to ship, so don’t use a box when a mailer will do.
| Packaging | Best for | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Poly mailers | Clothing, textiles, soft goods | Buy a size up from what you think; bulky items need room |
| Padded (bubble) mailers | Jewelry, cards, small accessories, books | Flat items ship cheaper than small boxes |
| Corrugated boxes | Ceramics, glass, electronics, heavy items | Keep 2–3 standard sizes instead of dozens |
| Free USPS Priority Mail boxes | US sellers using Priority Mail | Order them free from USPS; use them only for Priority Mail |
- Poly mailers ($): the cheapest packaging you’ll buy. 10×13 inches is a common all-round size for clothing.
- Padded mailers ($): buy in bulk packs; the price per mailer drops sharply.
- Shipping boxes ($): plus void fill such as packing paper or air pillows for fragile items.
4. The Small Stuff That Makes Packing Faster
- Tape gun and packing tape: seals a box in one pass instead of three.
- 4×6 fanfold thermal labels: fanfold stacks are usually cheaper per label than rolls. Check they fit your printer first.
- Tape measure: carriers charge by dimensional weight for larger boxes, so measure before you buy postage.
- Thank-you cards or stickers: optional, but a small branded touch helps with reviews and repeat buyers.
How to Set Up a Simple Shipping Station
- Pick one spot for packing, even if it’s a corner of a desk or a shelf.
- Keep supplies within reach: mailers and boxes on one side, scale and printer on the other.
- Batch your shipping: pack and print all orders once a day instead of one at a time.
- Use your platform’s labels: Etsy, eBay and Shopify sell discounted postage directly, and apps like Pirate Ship offer discounted USPS and UPS rates if you sell elsewhere.
- Schedule pickups: USPS offers free package pickup from your door for many services, which saves the trip to the post office.
What to Buy on a Budget
If you’re just starting, you don’t need every piece of shipping supplies for small business sellers at once. Here’s the order that makes sense:
| Stage | What to buy | Skip for now |
|---|---|---|
| First sales | Shipping scale, mailers, packing tape | Label printer, branded packaging |
| Around 10+ orders a week | Thermal label printer, fanfold labels, tape gun | Premium printer models |
| Steady daily orders | Wireless printer, bulk packaging, packing station shelves | — |
Shipping Supplies FAQ
What shipping supplies does a small business need to start?
A digital shipping scale, the right mailers or boxes for your products, and packing tape. A thermal label printer is the next upgrade once you ship around 10 or more orders a week.
Is a thermal label printer worth it for Etsy sellers?
For most sellers shipping regularly, yes. It prints labels in seconds with no ink, and you peel and stick instead of cutting paper and taping it on. If you ship only a few orders a month, plain paper labels are fine.
Do thermal label printers need ink?
No. Direct thermal printers use heat-sensitive labels, so the labels are the only ongoing cost. The trade-off is that the print can fade over time if exposed to heat or sunlight, which doesn’t matter for shipping labels.
Which label printer is best for beginners?
A 4×6 thermal printer that accepts generic labels, such as a MUNBYN or Rollo, is the safest choice. Current DYMO LabelWriter 550-series models only accept DYMO-brand labels, which costs more over time.
Where can I get cheap shipping supplies?
Buy mailers and labels in bulk packs, reuse clean boxes for your own shipments, and US sellers can order free USPS Priority Mail boxes for Priority Mail packages.
Your Next Step
The best shipping supplies for small business sellers are the ones that match your volume. Start with a scale and the right mailers, and add a label printer once orders pick up. If you’re still choosing what to sell, see our list of best products to sell on Etsy, or our guide on how to start an e-commerce store from scratch. If you want your own store instead of a marketplace, Shopify includes discounted shipping labels on its plans.
Sell Digital Products While You Sleep
Don’t let a clunky checkout process kill your sales. Shopify makes it incredibly easy to sell digital downloads, manage inventory, and get paid whether you are awake or asleep.
Not sure your product idea will sell? My Side Hustle Idea Validator ($9) scores an idea on demand, competition and startup cost before you spend money on stock and supplies. Or start with the free 50 AI Side Hustle Ideas list.
Writes and tests every guide on hustle&passive. Everything here is something we have actually run — including the parts that did not work.
