What are the costs of printing address labels in your e-shop?

Most of you who run an e-shop are dealing with how to print address labels for packages. I come across similar questions very often in discussions and elsewhere. If you are just starting with an e-shop, you surely have your head full of everything: where to get goods, how to price them, where to store them, how to pack them, how to fill the e-shop, connect to carriers, and at least another billion things. Most of you are completely confused by it. I don't blame you. I went through the same thing as well.

What if I could at least make one of these worries easier for you? Are you in favor? Let's do it.

I recently wrote an article on how to print shipping labels for packages.

Today, I will therefore focus only on the financial aspect. For comparison, I chose the 10x15 cm size. For one thing, it is a very common size, because it can accommodate all kinds of labels from all conceivable carriers. And it is also one of the few that exists in all variants. Of course, it is possible to choose a smaller size according to your carrier. For example, 10x13 cm is also very popular. And if you only use Zásilkovna, it is possible to use even smaller labels.

 

1. As you already know, you can buy labels (stickers) to stick onto A4 and print them on your regular printer.

Such labels are sold in packs of 100 sheets and the price per pack is 169 CZK including VAT.

There are 4 labels placed on one A4 sheet. The package therefore contains 400 labels, and with a simple calculation, the price per one comes out to CZK 0.42.

But that's not all, the labels need to be printed somehow. I will choose the most widespread HP laser printer and use a compatible toner for 249 CZK. It is stated that it prints 2,000 pages. But at 5% coverage. And the labels have a barcode and a bolder font, so I’d rather assume the coverage is 10% and that the toner will print “only” 1,000 pages. So I will add another CZK 0.25 to the price of the label.

So the total comes to CZK 0.67 per printed label.

The price is quite nice. Comfort during printing is already lagging. Therefore, this solution is mostly suitable for small or newly established online stores.

 

2. Due to the more complex use, we are skipping point 1 and moving on to a more convenient solution – Brother label printers

In this case, the labels are on the roll, where there are 200 of them. They are in a plastic holder, thanks to which they can be placed in the printer very easily.

If you choose an original label roll directly from Brother, you will pay CZK 656 per roll.

Because you certainly don't want to throw money out the window, you'll choose a smart solution and get compatible labels from our company for only CZK 395 (almost 40% savings).

Let's fire up the calculators and find that one label will cost you CZK 3.28, respectively.CZK 1.97.

What about printing costs? This is great news….. NONE. ZERO. NONE. FREE :-) The printer uses the so-called thermal printing and the paper changes color when heated. So no toner, cartridge, nothing.

So the total is still CZK 1.97.

 

3. We’re becoming pros and sending dozens or hundreds of packages per month and…. We are procuring a Zebra, TSC, or Honeywell label printer.

These printers can handle all types and sizes of labels.

Our popular 10x15cm are back in stock, this time in rolls of 350 pieces for the price of CZK 145. We calculate, calculate, and it comes out to CZK 0.41 per label.

And yet more printing costs? What do you think? ZERO again :-) The same principle as in point 2.

So we remain at the price of CZK 0.41 per label.

 

All in all, clearly summarized in the table:

Label 10 x 15 cm	Package size	Package price including VAT	Price per 1 label	Additional printing costs	Total costs
A4 sheets (100 sheets)	400,00	169,00	0,42	0,25	0,67
Original rolls for Brother QL-1100	200,00	656,00	3,28	0,00	3,28
Rolls for Brother QL-1100 compatible	200,00	395,00	1,98	0,00	1,98
Roll for Zebra/TSC/Honeywell	350,00	145,00	0,41	0,00	0,41

 

Does Zebra now seem like the clear winner to you? It doesn't have to be that way.What about acquisition costs?

1. A regular laser or inkjet printer, which you may already have or can also use for printing invoices and other things. Let's say a price of 1000-3000, depending on the equipment.
2. Brother label printers. This is more complicated. If you print 10x15 cm, you need the Brother QL-1100 for the price of 5.599,-. However, if a label width of 62 mm is sufficient for you, you can get the QL-700 for only 2.039,-. That’s a hell of a difference
3. If you’re interested in printing costs, go for option 3. and get yourself a Zebra label printer, for example the ZD420 for 8.172,-. Or do you want to save money and get the Honeywell PC42t 6.248,- (which, by the way, we use ourselves in our warehouse).

 

So what should you actually get? I see it this way

4. If you print up to 10 packages a day, use A4 labels. It is not worth investing in a label printer.
5. Is a label width of 62 mm sufficient for you, and do you print, say, up to 20 packages a day? And labels on A4 no longer suit you because of the complexity? Buy a Brother QL-700 or a similar printer. Printing labels is more expensive, but the investment in a better printer would take a long time to pay off.
6. Do you print 50 or more packages a day? Then the obvious choice is a Zebra, Honeywell, or TSC label printer.

 

Take this article as a general perspective.The best solution is a little different for everyone. That is also why we offer a FREE customized solution for a specific customer.

We will be happy to advise YOU.

 

Denis from CDRmarket.cz