> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.goshippo.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

> ## Agent Instructions
> Shippo is a multi-carrier shipping API. For agent integrations that execute shipping operations (rates, labels, tracking, address validation, customs), connect the hosted Shippo MCP server at https://mcp.shippo.com (per-user OAuth; setup at /guides/mcp-server). To search and read this documentation from an agent, a docs search MCP is available at https://docs.goshippo.com/mcp. Shipping workflow knowledge (agent skills and a knowledge pack) is published at https://github.com/goshippo/ai. For REST integrations start at /guides/api-quickstart; test mode uses shippo_test_ API keys.

# Shipping label sizes

> Choose from multiple shipping label formats and sizes including PDF, PNG, and ZPL when purchasing labels through Shippo.

Use this guide to learn how to use the Shippo API to create different label sizes for your application.

## Setting your label format

Specify your preferred label format by setting the `label_file_type` parameter to one of the [label tokens](#shipping-label-format-sizes) when calling the [transaction endpoint](/api-reference/transactions/create-a-shipping-label) to purchase your label.

Each carrier supports different label size options. Refer to our [carrier capabilities](/carriers/carrier-capabilities) for carrier specific details.

If you don't set the `label_file_type`, the Shippo API will use the default format set in the [Shippo dashboard](https://apps.goshippo.com/settings/labels).

```shell cURL theme={null}
curl --location --request POST 'https://api.goshippo.com/transactions' \
--header 'Authorization: ShippoToken <API_TOKEN>' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
--data-raw '{
  "rate": "a5c9d1bec93149f5bedc3a9374b50970",
  "async": false,
  "label_file_type": "PDF"
}'
```

## Shipping label format sizes

| Label type         | Dimensions (imperial) | Dimensions (metric) | Token         |
| ------------------ | --------------------- | ------------------- | ------------- |
| 2.3 x 7.5 inch PDF | 2.3 x 7.5 inch        | 59 x 191 mm         | `PDF_2.3x7.5` |
| 2.3 x 7.5 inch PNG | 2.3 x 7.5 inch        | 59 x 191 mm         | `PNG_2.3x7.5` |
| 4 x 8 inch PDF     | 4 x 8 inch            | 100 x 200 mm        | `PDF_4x8`     |
| 4×6 inch PDF       | 4 x 6 inch            | 102 x 153 mm        | `PDF_4x6`     |
| 8.5×11 inch PDF    | 8.5 x 11 inch         | 210 x 279 mm        | `PDF`         |
| A4 PDF             | 8.3 x 11.7 inch       | 210 x 297 mm        | `PDF_A4`      |
| A5 PDF             | 5.8 x 8.3 inch        | 148 x 210 mm        | `PDF_A5`      |
| A6 PDF             | 4.1 x 5.8 inch        | 105 x 148 mm        | `PDF_A6`      |
| ZPL II             |                       |                     | `ZPLII`       |
| PNG                |                       |                     | `PNG`         |