Can I use a smaller-than-4x6 shipping label for Etsy letter mail envelopes?

Hi! For Etsy/USPS “Letter” (Pitney Bowes) labels, the safest rule is: don’t shrink the label—even if it looks readable—because scaling can change the barcode dimensions and Etsy considers labels not allowed to be altered/modified. USPS might still deliver it, but the barcode may not scan correctly (so tracking can fail or you could risk a postage adjustment).

Since your envelopes are about 11 cm × 14.5 cm (roughly 4.3" × 5.7"), a true 4"×6" label physically won’t fit, so you’ve basically got three practical options:

1. Use a bigger envelope (so you can print the label at 100% / actual size and keep the barcode intact).
2. Don’t use an Etsy shipping label for those small envelopes—mail them as regular letter mail with a stamp (no Etsy tracking).
3. If you want to keep using Etsy labels: print the Etsy label at full size on plain paper, cut it out, and tape it on a larger mailer (again: no shrinking).

About the “full-page PDF” part: Etsy shipping labels are downloaded as PDFs, but you can change the label format so it’s not an 8.5"×11" page layout.

To format Etsy labels for a 4"×6" label printer:

• Shop Manager → Settings → Shipping settings → Shipping Label Options
• Under downloading/format, choose Label printers (4"×6") and save

That said, even in 4"×6" format, your envelope is still smaller than the label—so the formatting fix helps with printing convenience, but it doesn’t solve the “won’t fit on the envelope” issue.

If you tell me whether you’re buying Etsy Letter labels (with Pitney Bowes tracking) or just printing an address for stamped mail, I can suggest the cleanest setup for your workflow (and what buyers should expect for tracking).