Franking machine labels are self-adhesive labels you print your postage onto when an item is too big, too thick or too awkward to feed through the machine itself. You frank the label, peel it off and stick it to the parcel or large envelope, and it carries exactly the same Mailmark postage as mail printed directly onto an envelope. For any UK business sending packets and parcels alongside letters, keeping a supply of labels to hand is the simplest way to avoid trips to the Post Office and keep every item moving at franked rates.
This 2026 guide explains when to reach for a label instead of printing on the envelope, how to choose the right label for your machine, and how to keep costs and waste down. Green Franking supplies genuine and compatible franking labels for every major machine brand, so you can restock in a couple of clicks.
What are franking machine labels?
A franking label is a blank, gummed or self-adhesive strip that passes through your franking machine so the machine can print its postage impression onto it. That impression is the Mailmark indicia: the sender details, the postage value, the date and a 2D barcode that Royal Mail scans as the item travels through its network. Because the label carries the same indicia as a franked envelope, Royal Mail treats it identically. You are simply moving the print from the envelope to a sticker.
Labels usually come in two formats. Single labels are used for standard packets and most large letters, while double labels give a larger print area for heavier parcels or where two impressions are needed. Most machines take one or the other, so it is worth checking your handbook or asking your supplier before you buy in bulk.
When should you use a label instead of the envelope?
The rule of thumb is simple: if the item will not feed cleanly and flatly through your machine, use a label. In practice that covers most of the following.
Parcels and packets are the obvious case, since a boxed item cannot pass through the feed deck at all. Thick or padded envelopes, such as bubble mailers holding several items, are usually too bulky to frank directly and are far safer with a label. Rigid or board-backed envelopes used for documents, photographs and certificates will jam a machine but take a label without fuss. Very large items that exceed your machine's maximum envelope size also need a label, as do any items where the surface is glossy, laminated or otherwise unlikely to hold ink well.
For everyday letters and standard large letters that feed through comfortably, printing straight onto the envelope is quicker and cheaper because you use no consumable label at all. Labels are there for the items the machine cannot handle, not as a default for everything.
Mailmark labels and why compatibility matters
Since Royal Mail completed its move to Mailmark, only Mailmark-enabled franking machines are certified for use, and older non-Mailmark meters have been decertified. Your labels must be able to carry a crisp Mailmark impression, including that scannable 2D barcode, or the item can be delayed or surcharged. This is why buying labels made to the correct specification for your machine matters more than it did in the past.
The safest approach is to match labels to your machine brand and model. Green Franking stocks brand-specific inks and labels for Quadient and Neopost machines, Pitney Bowes machines and FP Mailing machines, so you can be confident the label size and finish are right for your model. If you want to read more about the Mailmark standard itself, Royal Mail keeps its current requirements and prices on the official Royal Mail prices page, and there is a plain-English overview on the Mailcoms Mailmark franking guide.
Do labels cost you anything in postage?
No. A franked label carries exactly the postage you dial into the machine, so the Mailmark saving still applies. Under the rates that took effect on 7 April 2026, a first class letter up to 100g is £1.77 by Mailmark franking against £1.80 with a stamp, and a second class letter is 88p franked against 91p as a stamp, saving 3p per item either way. Whether that impression lands on the envelope or on a label makes no difference to the price you pay Royal Mail, which is why sending parcels on labels through a franking machine still beats buying stamps at the counter.
The only extra cost is the label itself, a few pence that is easily outweighed by the postage savings. For a fuller picture of where franking beats stamps across the whole price list, see our companion piece on whether franking is cheaper than stamps in 2026.
Getting a clean print every time
A smudged or faint label is worse than no label, because Royal Mail's scanners need to read the barcode. Two things drive print quality: the label and the ink behind it. Store labels flat, somewhere cool and dry, and keep them in their packaging until you need them, as damp or curled labels feed badly and lift at the edges. Keep your ink cartridge topped up and genuine or a good-quality compatible, since a tired cartridge that is fine on plain envelopes can leave gaps on the more absorbent label surface. Our guide to franking machine ink cartridges explains how to keep impressions sharp and make each cartridge last.
It also pays to run a quick test frank, or a zero-value test print if your machine offers one, before you frank a batch of expensive parcel labels, so you catch any feed or print fault early.
Cutting waste and keeping labels sustainable
Labels are a consumable, but they need not be wasteful. Frank only what you need rather than pre-printing a pile that may go unused, since a franked label with a printed date is harder to reuse later. Recycle the backing paper and any spoiled labels through your normal paper recycling where your local authority accepts it. And pair labels with right-sized packaging so you are not paying large-letter or parcel rates on half-empty envelopes; our envelopes range can help you match the wrapper to the contents. If you refill and reset your cartridges through our ink refilling and recycling service, your whole franking setup, labels included, ends up leaner and greener.
Buying labels, and where machines come in
Green Franking specialises in the supplies side: labels, ink and envelopes that keep your existing machine running. Ordering the correct labels for your model is a matter of picking your machine brand from the collections above and adding a pack to your basket.
If you are actually shopping for a machine, rather than the labels for one, that is where our sister company Mailcoms comes in. Mailcoms buys, leases and services Mailmark franking machines across the UK, and its franking machine labels overview is a useful companion read if you want to see how labels fit a specific model. For supplies to feed the machine you already own, though, Green Franking has you covered.
Frequently asked questions
What are franking machine labels used for?
They are self-adhesive labels you frank when an item is too big or thick to pass through the machine, such as parcels, packets and padded or rigid envelopes. You print the postage onto the label, peel it off and stick it to the item, which then travels at normal Mailmark franked rates.
Do I pay more postage when I use a label?
No. The label carries exactly the postage value you set on the machine, so the Mailmark saving still applies. The only additional cost is the label itself, which is a few pence, and that is easily offset by franking below stamp prices.
Are franking labels Mailmark compatible?
Labels bought to the correct specification for your Mailmark machine are compatible and will carry the full Mailmark indicia, including the scannable 2D barcode. Matching labels to your machine brand and model is the safest way to avoid delays or surcharges from a poor impression.
Can I use any label in my franking machine?
It is best not to. Machines are designed for specific label sizes and formats, single or double, and the wrong label can jam the feed or print off-register. Choose labels listed for your machine brand and model to be sure of a clean, scannable result.
How should I store franking labels?
Keep them flat, cool and dry, and leave them in their packaging until needed. Damp, curled or warm labels feed unreliably and can lift at the edges, which risks a smudged barcode that Royal Mail cannot scan.
Where can I buy the right labels for my machine?
Green Franking stocks genuine and compatible labels for all major brands, including Quadient, Neopost, Pitney Bowes and FP Mailing. Select your machine brand from the relevant supplies collection to find labels made for your model.