Route one costs nothing and is the right answer most of the time. The rest of this page is for when route one is unavailable.
Route 1: the prepaid label the seller already sent
Search your inbox for the order number before you do anything else. Most large retailers issue a label or a QR code the moment you open a return in their app, and it is already paid for. Print it, tape it over the old barcodes, drop the box at the carrier named on the label, and keep the receipt with the tracking number on it.
Our page on retailer return labels lists what six large sellers publish about theirs, read 2026-07-28. If you have one of those in hand, you can stop reading here. We do not improve on a label somebody else paid for.
Route 2: the QR code, when there is no printer
A QR code is the same prepaid label without the printing step, and every major carrier now runs a version of it.
- FedEx publishes that nothing needs printing at your end: the code goes on your phone, a team member at a FedEx or participating retail location prints the label on the spot. Checked on fedex.com 2026-07-28.
- UPS describes scanning and printing by mobile barcode at a UPS location, and separately suggests emailing the label to yourself or a friend to print later. Checked on ups.com 2026-07-28.
- USPS runs Label Broker, where a retail associate scans the QR code, or a self-service kiosk accepts either the code or the 8 to 10 character Label Broker ID. Printing at participating Post Office locations is free. Retrieved from usps.com 2026-07-27.
The mechanics of QR labels get their own treatment on our QR code label page, which is the better read if the code itself is what is confusing you.
Route 3: buy the label yourself
This is the route for private sales, expired windows, warranty items, marketplace sellers taking stock back, and anything else with nobody on the other end paying. One box, three starting cities, priced through the SMKlog calculator on 2026-07-28 at the full checkout price.
| Carrier | Service | Price | Window returned |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $8.48 | 5-6 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $12.07 | No window supplied |
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $12.42 | 5-6 business days |
| UPS | Ground | $12.47 | 2-3 business days |
| UPS | 2nd Day Air | $21.05 | 2-3 business days |
The same box from Los Angeles into Newark quoted $11.04 on USPS Ground Advantage that day, and from Chicago it matched Atlanta exactly at $8.48. Distance moves the number less than most people expect on a light box. You need the destination address, the box measurements and a rough weight; there is no account to create and tracking comes with it.
Route 4: refuse it at the door
If the parcel has not been opened and you know you do not want it, telling the driver you are refusing delivery sends it back through the carrier's own return-to-sender process at no cost to you. It only works before the box is opened and before it has been sitting on your porch for days.
The catch is that a refused parcel takes the slow road and arrives at the seller with no return authorisation attached, which can stall a refund while somebody works out what the unexpected box is. Message the seller the moment you refuse it. We cover what happens next on our returned to sender guide.
Cover the old barcodes
Whichever route you take, a box with two live labels on it is a box that scans wrong. Peel the old one off or cover it completely with paper before the new one goes on, and make sure the new label sits flat on the largest face.
Photograph the contents before you seal
Returns go missing and arrive damaged at roughly the rate anything else does. A photo of the packed box and a photo of the drop-off receipt cost nothing and settle almost every dispute that follows.
Reuse the box it came in
Carriers price cardboard by size and weight, not by how new it looks. The box the item arrived in is already the right size for the item, which is the single biggest lever on what the return costs.
Returning a package: common questions
What is the cheapest way to return a package?
Using the prepaid label the seller sent, because it costs nothing. When no prepaid label exists, the cheapest paid route is whichever carrier quotes lowest for your box on your lane. On 2026-07-28 a 13 x 8 x 5 in box at 3 lb going from Atlanta, GA to Newark, NJ came to $8.48 with USPS Ground Advantage against $12.47 with UPS Ground.
Can I return a package without a printer?
Yes, through a QR code. FedEx says you can go straight to a FedEx or participating retail location, show your QR code, and a team member will print the label for you on the spot. UPS describes scanning and printing by mobile barcode at a UPS location. USPS prints Label Broker codes free at participating Post Offices and at self-service kiosks.
What happens if I refuse a delivery?
An unopened parcel refused at the door goes back through the carrier's return-to-sender process without you paying postage. The downside is that it arrives at the seller with no return authorisation attached, which can delay a refund, so message the seller as soon as you refuse it.
Do I need an account to buy a return label?
No. Our checkout takes the addresses, the box measurements and a weight, then sells you a parcel label as a guest with tracking included, US domestic or international to Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia with the customs declaration completed at checkout. We do not sell fulfillment or platform integrations, and a cross-border return outside those four lanes needs a different route.