Do USPS Labels Expire?

Many people prefer to purchase USPS labels online via Click-N-Ship or third-party services rather than have them printed at a post office because it saves time and money. However, there are several things you should know about printing your own shipping labels, such as whether USPS labels expire.

One of the best things about printing your own shipping labels is that you can print them in advance and drop off your package later, giving you more flexibility. However, prepaid shipping labels can expire, so you shouldn’t wait too long. So, how long are USPS shipping labels valid, and how much time do you have after printing a label to ship your package?

Prepaid USPS shipping labels typically expire 28–30 days after the issue date. After this period, the labels are generally considered invalid for shipping. Despite this official policy, USPS often allows a two- to three-day grace period beyond the expiration date. This grace period is not applied consistently across all post offices and depends on the discretion of each location. Some post offices may accept labels several weeks after the printed ship date, while others may enforce the expiration policy more strictly.

Note that you will not be refunded for an expired shipping label. You can request a refund for a label you printed but didn’t use within 30 days of its creation. However, if a label is older than the allowed refund period, USPS generally will not issue a refund. You should also keep in mind that a refunded shipping label becomes invalid. If you request and receive a refund, you won’t be able to use the label, even within the 30-day window.

The above information concerns regular prepaid shipping labels, which can be purchased by individuals and businesses alike. Scan-based return shipping labels are another matter. With these labels, postage is charged only when the label is scanned into the USPS system. Online stores use these labels to streamline the return process. They include a physical copy of a return label in each order or email one to customers upon request, and only incur shipping costs if the package is actually returned.

Scan-based return labels typically have a longer validity period to accommodate merchants with flexible or lengthy return policies. While the USPS does not clearly publish an exact expiration period in its official public sources, multiple shipping industry resources state that USPS scan-based return labels typically remain valid for up to one year (365 days) from the date they are generated.