How to Print a Vinted Shipping Label (and What to Do Without a Printer)

It was a Sunday afternoon in November and I had four items to ship that week. My printer decided to stage a protest - the ink cartridge had run dry, and the nearest shop that sold replacements was a forty-minute round trip. I had parcels to get out.

I knew InPost was QR-code-only, so the two InPost shipments were fine. The Evri one was trickier - I ended up using the local library printer the next morning for 15p per page. The fourth turned out I could print at the post office self-service kiosk. Crisis averted, but only because I already knew these alternatives existed.

If you're setting up as a Vinted seller for the first time, here's everything you need to know about labels - whether you have a printer or not.

How Vinted Shipping Labels Work

When a buyer purchases your item and selects a carrier, Vinted generates a shipping label specifically for that shipment. This label contains the carrier's tracking barcode and delivery information. You must use this label - you cannot substitute your own postage.

The label is available in the Vinted app and can usually be downloaded as a PDF for printing. Some carriers also offer a QR code alternative, where you show the QR code at the drop-off point and the carrier (or a ParcelShop) prints the label for you.

You cannot generate your own label externally. Even if you have a Royal Mail account, for example, you must use the label Vinted provides. Using a different label voids Vinted's compensation coverage.

How to Download Your Vinted Shipping Label

1. Open the Vinted app
2. Tap the profile icon → "My Sales"
3. Tap the sold item to open the order
4. Tap "See shipping details"
5. Tap "Download label" or "View label"
6. The label opens as a PDF - save it to your phone or email it to yourself
7. Print the PDF at home or wherever you have access to a printer

Labels are typically A6 size (postcard-sized). You can print on A4 paper and attach the label portion to your parcel, or invest in a label printer if you're selling at volume.

Carrier-by-Carrier Label Options

This is the key table. Whether you need to print depends entirely on which carrier your buyer chose:

Carrier	Service	Print Required?	QR Code Option	Notes
InPost	Locker-to-Locker	No	Yes - QR only	Fully QR-based. No printer ever needed.
InPost	Locker-to-Home	No	Yes - QR only	Same as above - QR only.
Evri	ParcelShop Drop-Off	Usually	Sometimes	Some ParcelShops print from QR. Check in app.
Evri	Home Collection	Yes	No	Courier needs printed label at collection.
Yodel	Store-to-Store	Yes	No	Print required - take to Yodel store.
DHL	eCommerce	Yes	No	Print at home or DHL ServicePoint.
DPD	Shop-to-Shop	Yes	No	Print required for DPD Pickup shops.
Royal Mail	2nd Class	Yes	No	Print required for Post Office drop-off.
Royal Mail	1st Class	Yes	No	Print required.
Relay	Standard	Yes	Limited	Check Relay instructions in the Vinted app.

Key takeaway: InPost is the only carrier that is fully and reliably QR-code-only. For any other carrier, you'll likely need a printed label.

If You Have a Printer: Step-by-Step

Step	Action
1	In Vinted app, go to "My Sales" → open the order
2	Tap "See shipping details" → "Download label"
3	The PDF opens - check it looks correct (address, carrier details, barcode)
4	Print on plain A4 paper - no special label paper needed
5	Cut to size or fold so the label portion is what's visible
6	Attach firmly to the largest flat surface of your parcel
7	Cover with clear tape (not over the barcode - it can make scanning harder)
8	Drop off at your carrier's drop-off point

Label printer vs standard printer: If you're selling ten or more items per month, a thermal label printer (like a Dymo LabelWriter or Munbyn) is worth the £40–£60 investment. Labels look professional, stick directly to the parcel, and never smudge or run if the parcel gets wet. For occasional sellers, plain A4 and sticky tape is completely fine.

What to Do Without a Printer

Option 1: Use InPost (Best Solution)

If you don't have a printer, the simplest answer is to only use InPost. It requires no printing whatsoever - just a QR code on your phone screen. InPost covers most of the UK with over 5,000 lockers, it's the cheapest option for sub-1kg items at £1.99, and the whole drop-off process takes under two minutes.

As a seller, you can't control which carrier the buyer picks at checkout. But if a buyer picks a carrier that requires printing, you'll need one of the other options below.

Option 2: Evri ParcelShop In-Store Printing

Some Evri ParcelShops have a label-printing service. When you select Evri in the Vinted app, check if the option says "show QR code at ParcelShop" - if so, the shop assistant can scan your QR code and print the label on-site. This isn't available at every ParcelShop, but it's increasingly common. Call ahead if you're not sure.

Option 3: Library Printing

Every UK local library with a PC suite can print documents. Most charge 10p–20p per black-and-white page. The process:

1. Email the label PDF to yourself
2. At the library, open the email on their computer and print
3. Cost: around 10–20p

The label doesn't need to be in colour. A crisp black-and-white print is absolutely fine for all carriers.

Option 4: Print at a Print Shop or Post Office

Ryman, Staples, WHSmith, many corner shops and convenience stores offer printing services. Some post offices have self-service printing kiosks. Cost is typically 10p–50p per page. You can either email the file or put it on a USB drive.

Option 5: Print at Work

If you work in an office with a printer, printing a single shipping label on work equipment is fairly innocuous. Just make sure you're not violating any company policy.

Option 6: Ask a Neighbour or Friend

If you've sold a handful of items and need a label printed once, asking someone nearby with a printer is genuinely the simplest option. Print shops and libraries are for when you're doing this regularly without home printing.

Label Quality and Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why It's a Problem	Fix
Printing on very thin paper	Label may tear or peel off in transit	Use standard 80gsm copy paper minimum
Covering the barcode with opaque tape	Scanner can't read the barcode	Leave barcode uncovered, or use clear tape only
Label partially peeling	Carrier can't scan → delayed delivery	Use strong adhesive or cover with full-width clear tape
Wrong size print (too small)	Barcode may not scan at some distances	Print at 100% scale - don't "fit to page" if it shrinks
Damp or smudged label	Ink runs → unreadable	Keep parcel dry before collection; use thermal printer to avoid this
Label on curved surface	Difficult to scan	Always apply to the largest flat surface

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Want to know if your sale is worth the effort? Run it through the Vinted profit calculator before you even package it up.

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For a full guide on how Vinted's shipping labels, compensation, and carrier system works, read the Vinted shipping guide. And if you're setting up as a Vinted seller for the first time, the guide to how to sell on Vinted UK covers everything from listing to postage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to print a label to sell on Vinted? Not necessarily. If you use InPost - either locker-to-locker or locker-to-home - the entire process is QR-code-based and requires no printing at all. For most other carriers, a printed label is required. Since buyers choose their carrier at checkout, you can't always control this.

How do I get my Vinted shipping label? Go to "My Sales" in the Vinted app, tap the sold item, then tap "See shipping details." Your label is available to download as a PDF from there. You can also access it as a QR code for InPost shipments.

Can I sell on Vinted without a printer? Yes - easily. If you're willing to use InPost, you'll never need a printer. InPost lockers are QR-code-only and cover most of the UK. Some Evri ParcelShops also offer in-store label printing from a QR code. Libraries and print shops handle the rest.

What size does a Vinted label need to be? Vinted labels are typically A6 (148mm × 105mm). You can print on A4 and cut to size, or leave it full A4 and fold it so the label portion is face-up on the parcel. Most carriers just need the barcode to be scannable - the exact dimensions aren't critical.

Can I write the address by hand instead of printing a label? No. You must use the Vinted-generated label with its carrier barcode. Handwritten addresses won't work with Vinted's shipping system and won't generate tracking. Using anything other than the Vinted label also removes Vinted's compensation protection.

What happens if I use the wrong label? Using a label not generated by Vinted voids the integrated shipping protection. Your parcel won't be trackable through Vinted, compensation claims won't be valid, and the carrier may refuse to accept it. Always use the Vinted-generated label.

Can I print my Vinted label at the Post Office? Some post office branches have self-service printing kiosks. You can email the label PDF to yourself and print it there for a small fee. Call ahead to check if your local branch offers this - it varies by location.