Warehouse Equipment for a Small Shopify Store: What to Buy
A small Shopify store needs four pieces of warehouse equipment first: a label printer Shopify supports (or a desktop printer to start), a shipping scale, a way to scan barcodes (a phone with the Shopify app is enough at the beginning), and shelving with labeled bins. If you buy only one thing first, buy the scale; add the rest as volume grows. Everything else, such as dedicated barcode scanners, can wait until packing becomes the bottleneck.
Compatibility details come from Shopify’s Help Center pages on supported label printers, choosing a barcode scanner, the inventory scanner and barcodes (read October 23, 2026). We quote no prices; check current ones with sellers.
The starter kit
| Item | Why you need it | Shopify-specific note |
|---|---|---|
| Label printer | Prints shipping labels in one step, without cutting paper | Shopify lists supported models by country; a desktop printer on 8.5 × 11 inch paper also works |
| Shipping scale | The weight on the label decides the price you pay | Weigh the packed parcel; save real weights to products with Save weight to product details when buying labels in bulk |
| Barcode scanning | Checks items at packing and speeds up stock counts | The Shopify app’s inventory scanner uses your phone’s camera |
| Shelving and bin labels | Pickers find items without searching | Shopify supports bin locations per location, set by inventory CSV |
| Packing bench | One place where parcels get packed in order | Layout covered in our packing station setup |
| Boxes in 3 or 4 sizes | Fewer choices, faster packing | Save each as a package in Shopify with outside dimensions |
The scale comes first because a label bought on a guessed weight is priced on that guess.
Label printers Shopify supports
Shopify’s Help Center lists these label printers as supported, each with its own availability:
| Printer | Model | Available in | Works with |
|---|---|---|---|
| DYMO LabelWriter 5XL (USB) | 2112554 | United States, Canada | Windows, Mac |
| Brother QL Label Printer (wireless) | QL-1110NWB | United States, Canada, Australia | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| Zebra Label Printer (USB) | ZD220 | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand | Windows, Mac |
| Zebra Label Printer (wireless) | ZD421 | United States, Canada | Windows, Mac |
| Rollo Label Printer (USB) | X1038 | Rollo website | Android, iOS, POS Go |
The Brother and Rollo models are marked as working with Ship from store. If your country is not in the list, a standard desktop printer with 8.5 × 11 inch paper prints Shopify labels too, which is enough for a few orders a day.
Barcode scanners or your phone
Start with the phone. The inventory scanner in the Shopify app (iOS, iPadOS and Android) scans product barcodes to assign a barcode to a product, add one unit to stock, or adjust or set the stock level. It flags problems as you scan, such as a barcode assigned to more than one product, an item not stocked at the current location, or a product without inventory tracking.
Add a scanner when scanning becomes constant. Shopify’s hardware page names scanners for 1D and 2D barcodes: the Socket Mobile S740, CHS 7Qi, Zebra DS2208 and Zebra DS2278 read both; the Socket Mobile S700 and CHS 7Ci read 1D. Product barcodes (UPC, EAN) are 1D; 2D codes are used for things like gift cards and receipts in Shopify POS. For a warehouse, a 1D scanner covers products, while 2D models also cover POS uses if you have a shop. Shopify suggests connecting USB hardware through the Shopify POS Hub for the most reliable connection. With the Shopify POS app’s camera scanner, hold the barcode 10 to 15 inches away.
In batch fulfillment, the Pack step’s Scan to verify action uses scanning to check each order before it ships.
Print barcodes that scan
If you print your own barcode labels, Shopify’s guidelines are practical:
- print at 300 DPI or higher, and test one sheet before a large batch;
- make each barcode at least 1.5 inches wide and 1 inch tall;
- print the number below the symbol, so the product can be identified if the bars are damaged;
- use black or another dark ink, not red or brown;
- give each variant its own barcode.
For placement: keep labels flat and unfolded, away from edges, staples, tape, shrink wrap and nearby stickers, one barcode per product. Labels suit small businesses without direct printing; hangtags suit apparel; packaging suits boxed goods.
Barcodes matter most when products pass through marketplaces, wholesale buyers or a fulfillment service; GTINs such as UPC (North America) and EAN (elsewhere) come from GS1, the organization that maintains the barcode standards. How barcodes, SKUs and inventory fit together is in our guide to Shopify SKU and barcode. For more on stock and catalog, see the inventory and catalog hub.
FAQ
Do I need a label printer for Shopify? A desktop printer with 8.5 × 11 inch paper can print Shopify labels. A supported label printer saves time and paper once you ship more than a few orders a day.
Which barcode scanner works with Shopify? Shopify lists the Socket Mobile S740, CHS 7Qi, Zebra DS2208 and DS2278 for 1D and 2D barcodes, and the Socket Mobile S700 and CHS 7Ci for 1D. The Shopify app can also scan with your phone’s camera.
Can I use my phone as a barcode scanner for inventory? The inventory scanner in the Shopify app for iOS and Android scans barcodes to assign them to products, add stock or set stock levels.