Where should I place a thermal label on a package to facilitate scanning?

Attach the thermal label to the largest flat surface of the package, fully visible, without crossing an edge, closure, or crease. The barcode must remain flat, clear, and unobstructed. Remove old labels and avoid covering the new shipping label with tape, documents, or another sticker.

This simple rule applies to both boxes and shipping pouches. However, the correct placement does not replace correct printing: before attaching, ensure that the address, tracking number, and all barcodes are complete and legible.

The best placement on a box

On a rectangular box, prioritize the top or largest flat side. Place the label away from corners and the central seam of the flaps. It must fit entirely on a single panel, without extending over the side.

Official recommendations converge. FedEx advises placing the shipping label on the largest surface and avoiding corners, edges, and seams of the package. DHL also specifies, in a guide published on July 17, 2026, that the label must remain fully visible on a single side and not cover a closure.

If the box does not have a large enough area, first rotate the label to find an orientation that keeps the barcode on a flat surface. Never fold the barcode around an edge. For very small or irregularly shaped packages, consult the carrier's specific instructions before shipping.

Where to place the label on a shipping pouch?

Prepare and close the pouch before applying the label. Remove excess air without crushing the product, then smooth the chosen area. Place the shipping label on the flattest part, away from the adhesive flap, a significant crease, or an area where the content forms a bump.

An empty pouch changes shape when filled. Attaching the label too early can therefore create creases or place it on a curve. For a textile item, distribute the content evenly before closing the pouch. For a rigid object, avoid the label resting directly on a sharp corner.

To prepare this type of shipment, Metashopper grey shipping pouches provide a suitable packaging surface, provided you choose the correct size and attach the shipping label to a smooth area.

Areas to absolutely avoid

Area	Risk	Solution
Edge or corner	Barcode folded or distorted	Move or rotate the label to keep it on a single side
Gap between flaps	Shipping label cut during opening or detached during handling	Leave a margin around the closure
Bulging surface	Creases and uneven barcode reading	Distribute content or choose another panel
Old label	Confusion between multiple addresses or codes	Remove or completely obscure old markings
Under adhesive tape	Reflections, creases, or less legible barcode	Leave the thermal shipping label uncovered, unless specifically instructed

Should you put adhesive tape on a thermal label?

In general use, avoid covering the barcode and essential information. Transparent tape can create reflections, wrinkle, or retain dust. FedEx's European recommendations indicate that tape, film, or any other covering can make the barcode unreadable. DHL also requires that no tape, documents, or other labels obscure the shipping label.

A correctly applied self-adhesive thermal label generally does not need to be fully laminated. If the packaging is damp, dusty, greasy, or very cold, wipe it clean and allow the surface to return to a state compatible with the adhesive before applying. When transport conditions require a document pouch, follow the carrier's instructions and ensure the transparent side remains smooth.

How to attach the label in seven steps

1. Completely close the box or pouch with the appropriate closing method.
2. Remove all visible old labels, addresses, and barcodes.
3. Choose the largest flat area that does not cross any edge.
4. Quickly clean dust and ensure the surface is dry.
5. Peel off a portion of the backing without touching the entire adhesive area with your fingers.
6. Position one edge, then gradually smooth from the center outwards.
7. Press down on all four edges and check that nothing lifts.

Avoid peeling and re-sticking the same label multiple times. Its adhesion may decrease, and the paper may deform. In case of incorrect positioning, it is generally safer to reprint the same shipping label from the order, destroy the incorrect copy, and apply a new label.

Check printing before attaching

Once the label is affixed, any correction becomes more complicated. Therefore, examine the shipping label immediately after printing. The barcode must be whole, without a white strip in the middle, without too pale an area, and without smudges. The address and tracking reference must remain legible.

If the file is integrated into an A4 page, do not reduce the entire page to a 100 × 150 mm label. Use our method to print an A4 PDF as a 100 × 150 mm label. To choose the correct dimensions according to the document, also consult the thermal label size guide.

A blurry, white, cut, or misaligned print must be corrected before package preparation. Our guide to thermal label troubleshooting presents the checks in the correct order: paper direction, format, guides, calibration, density, and maintenance.

Avoiding errors when preparing multiple packages

Placement can be perfect but still applied to the wrong package. To limit this error, keep only one order open at a time or organize orders in separate bins. Compare the order ID, recipient, and tracking just before attaching.

Adopt a consistent sequence: pick products, pack, weigh, generate the shipping label, print, check, attach, then move the package to a "ready to ship" area. Our guide to organizing an efficient e-commerce shipping station helps you separate pending, in-progress, and completed packages.

For a series of labels, leave the prints in the same order as the displayed orders. Do not form a stack that could tip over. If you need to interrupt work, place a marker between orders already processed and those yet to be prepared.

What to do if a label peels off?

Do not ship a package if a corner of the shipping label is already lifting. First, check the surface: dust, humidity, very rough texture, or curvature can prevent the adhesive from holding properly. Simply repositioning the same label is not always enough.

If the shipping label is still valid, reprint it on a new Metashopper 100 × 150 mm thermal label, then choose a flatter and cleaner area. Destroy the old copy so that only one tracking number remains visible. Never apply two competing shipping labels to the same package.

Special cases: small package, tube, and irregular packaging

On a small box, test portrait and landscape orientation without folding the barcode. If the label extends beyond, check with the carrier if they provide a smaller format compatible with the chosen service. Do not modify only the width of the PDF, as this would distort the proportions.

On a tube, roll, or cylindrical object, the curvature can prevent the barcode from remaining in the same plane. A rectangular outer packaging is often simpler to label. If the carrier accepts irregular packaging, use the method or label holder they officially indicate.

For an international shipment including customs documents, do not place these documents over the barcode. Use the designated pouch and keep the main shipping label visible. Requirements vary by carrier and destination, so consult the instructions displayed at the time of shipment creation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a thermal label be affixed to the side of a box?

Yes, if that side is large, flat, and clear enough. The shipping label must fit entirely on a single surface without crossing an edge or closure.

Should the label be affixed before or after closing the package?

After closing. This avoids cutting the label with tape, changing the shape of the pouch, or having to reopen the package under the shipping label.

Can a new label be affixed over an old one?

It is better to remove or completely obscure the old label. No old barcode, tracking number, or recipient should remain visible.

Why should the barcode not be folded?

A barcode that crosses an edge is no longer in the same plane and can wrinkle during transport. Place it flat to facilitate scanning.

What to do if the label extends beyond a small package?

Do not fold the barcode. Look for another orientation or check if the carrier offers a suitable format for this type of shipment.

Is a thermal label rain resistant?

Resistance depends on the paper, adhesive, and duration of exposure. Use appropriate packaging and follow the carrier's instructions, without arbitrarily covering the barcode with tape.