Occasionally a downloaded label file from a marketplace contains more than one order's label combined onto a single page, rather than the one-label-per-page format you might expect. Printing this directly, without separating them first, risks the two labels ending up on the same physical printed page or being cut incorrectly.
Why this happens
Some marketplaces batch multiple orders' labels into a single downloaded file by default, particularly when generating labels for several orders at once rather than individually. If your label cropping and printing workflow expects one label per page or file, this combined format needs an extra splitting step before it fits your usual process.
Steps to separate combined labels
- Open the downloaded file and confirm how many separate labels are actually combined on the page.
- Use Split PDF if the labels are on separate pages within one file, or crop each label out individually if they're combined side by side on the same physical page.
- Save each separated label as its own file, clearly named to match its corresponding order.
- Print and apply each label individually, checking it matches its correct package before affixing it.
Matching each separated label to the correct package
After splitting, double-check that each individual label file clearly corresponds to the right order — cross-referencing the recipient name or order number visible on the label itself — before printing and applying it, since a mix-up at this stage sends the wrong label to the wrong package.
Avoiding this by adjusting how you request labels
If your marketplace offers an option to generate labels individually per order rather than batched together, switching to that approach going forward avoids needing to split combined files after the fact. Check your marketplace's label generation settings if this keeps coming up regularly.
What to do for a genuinely large batch of combined orders
For a marketplace that only offers batched label downloads and you're processing many orders at once, working through the combined file methodically — splitting and labelling each one before moving to the next — rather than trying to split the entire batch first and match everything up at the end, reduces the risk of a mismatch partway through.
Checking your printer setup handles the separated files correctly
Once labels are properly separated into individual files, confirm your usual printing and cropping setup handles them the same way it handles a normally single-order download, since a workflow built around one specific file format can sometimes need a small adjustment for files that originated from a split rather than a direct single-order download.
Recognising the pattern across multiple downloads
If this happens consistently with a specific marketplace rather than as a one-off occurrence, it's worth recognising the pattern and building the splitting step into your regular workflow for that marketplace specifically, rather than being caught off guard by it fresh each time a batch of orders comes through.
Communicating with your team if more than one person handles labels
If someone else on your team also processes shipping labels, make sure they're aware this can happen and know the correct splitting process, rather than each person having to independently discover and solve the same issue the first time they encounter a combined label file.
Checking whether your printer settings might also be a factor
Beyond the file itself containing combined labels, double-check that your printer isn't separately configured to print multiple items per physical page, since this is a distinct, compounding cause that can make the problem worse even after you've correctly split the file into individual label documents.
Keeping a simple log of which marketplaces do this
If you work with several different marketplaces, keeping a quick note of which ones tend to batch labels together by default versus which provide them individually helps you anticipate and plan for the extra splitting step specifically where it's actually needed, rather than treating every marketplace's downloads the same way by default.
Confirming your printer’s paper size setting matches your label stock
Beyond the file and printer's per-page item settings, double-check the configured paper size itself matches your actual label stock, since a mismatch here can independently contribute to unexpected combined or misaligned printing regardless of how the source file itself is structured.
Flagging a persistent pattern to the marketplace directly
If a specific marketplace consistently and unexpectedly combines labels in a way that seems inconsistent with their own stated process, it's worth raising this directly with their seller support, since it may reflect an account-specific setting worth correcting at the source.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my downloaded label file contain more than one order?
Some marketplaces batch multiple orders into a single file when labels are generated together rather than individually.
How do I separate combined labels?
Use Split PDF if they're on separate pages within one file, or crop each label individually if they're combined on the same physical page.
How do I avoid mixing up which label belongs to which order after splitting?
Cross-reference the recipient name or order number on each label before printing and applying it to a package.
Can I avoid this happening in the first place?
Check whether your marketplace offers a per-order label generation option instead of batching multiple orders together.
What's the best approach for a large batch of combined orders?
Work through them methodically, splitting and matching one at a time, rather than splitting the whole batch first and matching everything at the end.
Does this affect how I print the separated labels afterward?
Generally no, but it's worth confirming your usual print setup handles the split files the same way it handles normal single-order downloads.
Are the tools used for this free?
Yes. No sign-up, no watermark, and files are removed from the server automatically about an hour after processing.