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The Daily Insight

Where is the reference number on a UPS label?

Author

William Smith

Published Apr 01, 2026

Where is the reference number on a UPS label?

Select the Shipping tab and enter your shipping or return information on the Begin Your Shipment screen. On this screen, you’ll see a text box that includes the package’s reference number. Just below this text box is a checkbox.

What is shipment reference for UPS?

For UPS Mail Innovations® shipments, a shipment reference is a unique package ID that you assign through barcoded information for each of your mail pieces. This information can be up to 30 characters in length and be alpha and/or numeric with no spaces or symbols.

How do I print a UPS shipping label with tracking number?

To reprint package labels:

  1. From the Shipment History window, select the appropriate Package by highlighting the tracking number to reprint a label for a specific package.
  2. On the Printing Activities tab, select Labels, and then select Package Label(s).

What information needs to be on a shipping label?

As seen above, shipping labels generally include the following information:

  • Origin/return address.
  • Destination address.
  • Package weight.
  • Shipping class (Next Day Air and Priority Mail, respectively, in the examples above)
  • Electronic tracking number and shipping barcode (automatically generated by the carrier)

What is the UPS reference number?

UPS can track a package by its reference number (rather than a UPS tracking number). This reference number is the Defender Order Number you received in your order shipment confirmation email.

Is a reference number the same as a tracking number?

Only a reference number can be used to track an item, other information such as a name or address cannot be used to track items.

What is an example of a UPS tracking number?

UPS Tracking number is eighteen alpha-numeric characters. It starts with ‘1Z’ and ends with check digit. For example, 1Z 999 AA1 01 2345 6784. Checkdigit shows whether UPS tracking number contains a mistype.

Can’t print label from UPS?

What are my options if I am unable to print a label during the UPS Create a Shipment process? If your label does not print during the Create a Shipment process, you have the option of reprinting the label from Shipping History in the area at the left within 24 hours.

How do I print a tracking number on a label?

USPS

  1. Go to usps.com and select “Ship a Package” followed by “Print a Label with Postage.”
  2. Choose the geographic designation from the drop-down menu and click the “Print a Shipping Label Now” button.
  3. Log in or sign up for a new account.

Can I print my shipping label at UPS?

The UPS Stores are all printing centers, too, so yes, they will help you print just about anything, including a shipping label.

How do you format a shipping label?

The key elements of a shipping label are: destination address, originator return address, purchase order number, shipping date, and contents of package. Purchase order number in particular is very important because it provides a key cross reference for the intended recipient of the shipment.

How do I get a UPS reference number?

How To Create Reference Numbers

  1. Select the Administration tab, and go to Manage Reference Numbers.
  2. A Reference Number Information page displays.
  3. Enter the reference code in the Reference Number Value field.
  4. Once you have entered all the information, select Continue.

How does ups track a shipment by reference?

Track by Reference When creating a shipment, you can assign a reference like a purchase order number or customer number (up to 35 characters) to help track shipments without entering tracking numbers.

What do the numbers mean on a UPS label?

The first two letters will indicate the state, the first three numbers represent the first three digits of the zip code and the 9-03 indicates an internal UPS region and district. 4. This indicates the carrier and service. It can say “UPS GROUND”, “UPS NEXT DAY AIR”, “UPS EXPRESS MAIL” or any other shipping service the carrier provides. 5.

Where do you find address on UPS shipping label?

Here’s a simple break down for a common UPS shipping label: 1. This section is probably the most simple. It contains the “shipping from” address information in the top left corner and the “ship to” address information in the middle.

What does a ups pickup reference number mean?

A Pickup Reference Number is a set of numbers or characters used by one or more parties to the shipment to identify the order and to help UPS Freight® secure the correct shipment. A Pickup Reference Number may be selected from a variety of sources, including Return Authorization numbers, load numbers and SID numbers.

What is a shipment reference identifier in ups?

A shipment reference is an identifier that you define by completing the “reference” fields during the shipping process.

The first two letters will indicate the state, the first three numbers represent the first three digits of the zip code and the 9-03 indicates an internal UPS region and district. 4. This indicates the carrier and service. It can say “UPS GROUND”, “UPS NEXT DAY AIR”, “UPS EXPRESS MAIL” or any other shipping service the carrier provides. 5.

Here’s a simple break down for a common UPS shipping label: 1. This section is probably the most simple. It contains the “shipping from” address information in the top left corner and the “ship to” address information in the middle.

Can a UPS label be voided by a third party?

UPS charges for each and every shipping labels generated on your UPS account. Even when a third-party creates an unused label that is billed to your UPS account, you pay for the label. And while the shipping labels can be voided, only the shipper, has the ability to void the label.