From Avery to Zebra: Choosing the Right Label Paper for Your Shopify Store

When running a Shopify store, every detail matters from product listings to packaging and fulfillment. One detail that’s often underestimated is label paper. Labels are not just stickers; they are a critical part of inventory control, barcode accuracy, shipping efficiency and brand presentation.

Choosing the right label paper can dramatically reduce printing errors, speed up order fulfillment and make your Shopify store look more professional. In this guide, we will explore label paper types, printer compatibility and supported brands from Avery to Zebra and beyond using the same options available in your app.

Why Label Paper Choice Is Important

The paper brand and type you choose directly affects how smoothly your Shopify operations run.

1. Scanning Accuracy

Poor-quality labels or incorrect paper settings can lead to:

• Barcodes that won’t scan
• Checkout delays
• Inventory mismatches

Using compatible, high-quality paper ensures sharp barcode printing and reliable scanning across warehouses and POS systems.

2. Durability

Labels must survive:

• Handling during packing
• Shipping and courier transport
• Storage in warehouses or backrooms

Thermal and synthetic labels perform better in high-volume and long-distance shipping environments.

3. Printing Efficiency

Correct paper selection helps:

• Prevent printer jams
• Avoid misaligned prints
• Reduce wasted sheets or rolls

This is especially important for Shopify stores processing multiple orders daily.

4. Branding & Professional Appearance

Product labels are part of your customer experience. Clean, well-aligned labels signal trust, quality, and professionalism.

Paper Brands Supported in the App (And How to Use Them)

Your app supports a wide range of global label paper brands, covering inkjet, laser and thermal printing needs. Here’s how to understand and choose among them.

Inkjet & Laser Sheet Label Brands

These brands are best for product labels, branding stickers and low-to-medium volume printing.

Avery Family

• Avery A4 / A5
• Avery Standard
• Avery US Letter
• Avery Dennison
• Avery Other

Best for:

• Product labels
• Address labels
• Color branding
• Small Shopify stores

Why choose Avery?

Avery is globally recognized, easy to source and offers hundreds of predefined layouts that align well with template-based printing.

Other Sheet Label Brands

• A-One
• OfficeSmartLabels
• Pimaco
• Staples®
• APLI
• Herma
• Decadry
• Zweckform / True Ally

Best for:

• Office printers
• Regional availability
• Cost-effective alternatives to Avery

These brands are ideal when you know your label dimensions and want reliable results on inkjet or laser printers.

Thermal Label Brands (High-Volume & Shipping)

Thermal labels are the backbone of **modern Shopify fulfillment **especially for shipping and barcode printing.

Zebra

• Industrial-grade thermal labels
• Includes Direct Thermal, Z-Select, Z-Perform, RFID, wristbands

Best for:

• High-volume Shopify shipping
• Warehouse barcodes
• Long-term inventory labels

Why Zebra?

Zebra labels are built for speed, durability and accuracy which is ideal for scaling businesses.

Other Thermal Brands Supported

• Dymo
• Brother
• Betckey
• MUNBYN
• NIIMBOT
• Rollo
• Uline / U-Line
• BCW
• Phomemo
• Nelko
• NOVAJET
• Zinta
• BAR-CODING TECH

Best for:

• Shopify shipping labels (4×6)
• Barcode rolls
• Budget-friendly or portable printers

These brands are excellent for growing Shopify stores that want thermal efficiency without enterprise-level costs.

Generic & Category-Based Options

Your app also supports broader paper categories, useful when exact branding isn’t required:

• Thermal
• Direct Thermal
• Thermoetiketten
• Tag Label
• Essential
• Ecotherm
• BarcodeFactory

Best for:

• Custom-sized labels
• International suppliers
• Generic roll stock

Matching Paper Brand to Your Printer

Thermal Printers

(Zebra, Dymo, Brother, MUNBYN, NIIMBOT, Rollo)

• Use Direct Thermal or Thermal rolls
• No ink or toner required
• Ideal for shipping labels and barcodes

Inkjet & Laser Printers

(Avery, Staples, Herma, A-One)

• Use adhesive-backed label sheets
• Great for color printing
• Better for branding and small batches

Never mix paper types

Inkjet labels in laser printers can melt and damage hardware.

Label Size & Compatibility Matters

Before printing, always confirm:

• Label size (e.g., 4×6 shipping labels, 20×40 mm barcode labels)
• Gap and margin spacing
• Printer-supported dimensions

Matching the paper brand, model and size prevents alignment issues and wasted supplies.

Shopify Integration with Label Apps

With apps like Retail Force Barcodes & Labels, you can:

• Auto-generate barcodes and SKUs
• Choose predefined templates for **Avery, Zebra, Uline, Dymo **and more
• Customize labels with Logos, Prices, Product names & QR codes
• Save templates for repeat printing

This ensures consistent, error-free printing across your entire Shopify catalog.

Specialty Label Options

Some supported brands also offer advanced labeling solutions:

• RFID labels (Zebra) → advanced inventory tracking
• Tag labels → apparel and accessories
• Wristbands → events and healthcare
• Eco-friendly labels → sustainability-focused brands

How to Choose the Right Paper Brand (Quick Guide)

Choose Avery or Sheet Labels if:

• You print small batches
• You need color and branding
• You use inkjet or laser printers

Choose Zebra or Thermal Brands if:

• You ship daily
• You print barcodes often
• You want speed and reliability

Choose Budget Thermal Brands if:

• You are scaling up
• You want lower upfront costs
• You use portable or desktop thermal printers

Major Label Paper Brands Compared

Final Thoughts

From Avery’s versatile sheet labels to Zebra’s industrial-grade thermal rolls, the right label paper depends on your printer, order volume, durability needs and workflow.

Shopify merchants who align their paper brand with their printing setup enjoy:

• Fewer barcode errors
• Faster fulfillment
• Cleaner branding
• Lower long-term costs

Labels may be small but they quietly power your entire Shopify operation.

Updated on: 28/01/2026