In the Sold section of My eBay, click 'Print postage label' next to the item you need to send.

All the information you need to create your label is already on the Print Postage Label page.

From My eBay you're taken to the 'Print postage label' page. Start at the top of the page and check the buyer's user ID, the transaction details, the amount paid for postage and the date by which your buyer expects to receive the item.

Your buyer's address will automatically displayed. Unless your buyer has asked for delivery to an alternative address, there should be no need to change it.

When you listed your item, you probably specified the delivery service (for example, Royal Mail First Class) you planned to use. The 'Print postage label' page will display this service.

Check that the delivery service will still deliver your item on time. If it won't, select a faster service so you can meet your buyer's expectations.

Weigh your item to make sure you are buying sufficient postage

Once you have packaged your item, weigh it. For Royal Mail services your item's weight will determine the cost of the postage label. Even if you are not using Royal Mail, weighing your item will ensure that you pay for sufficient postage.

Enter the weight in kilograms. If your item weighs less than a kilogram, enter the appropriate fraction (for example, 700 grams is 0.7 kilograms).

Check the type of package. Most items will be packet or parcel-sized, but some will meet the Royal Mail's dimensions for letter or large letter, and postage may be less expensive.

Once you have entered the weight, click 'Calculate' and the cost of your postage label will display.

If your item is heavier than you expected and exceeds the maximum weight of the delivery service you originally offered, go to step 12.

When you print your postage label, eBay will send an email to your buyer describing how the item is being prepared for delivery. Buyers like these emails since they create the confidence that the item will soon be delivered. eBay will not indicate how much you have spent on your postage label within this email. You can add an extra message to your buyer, even a simple 'Thank you', by selecting 'Add message to buyer email' and entering it in the box that appears.

Choose a different delivery service if you need to

You may need to choose a delivery service because you did not specify one when you listed your item for sale. Or you may need to choose an alternative because you need a faster service or one that will handle a different weight.

Click the Compare delivery services link to see all services for which postage labels are available. Enter the weight and dimensions (this is optional) to see which are appropriate. Check the estimated delivery date will meet your buyers needs. Select the service and click 'Save'.

Print your postage label with your regular printer and paper

With your item's weight, package type, an appropriate delivery service and the cost all known, click 'Purchase postage'.

When you click 'Purchase Postage' you can choose to link your PayPal account to eBay Postage Labels automatically with a billing agreement. This means that after logging in to PayPal initially to agree to the billing agreement, your PayPal account will be used automatically for future postage payments, making purchasing postage labels even quicker. To set up a billing agreement just click the box next to 'Purchase postage' and then the 'Purchase postage' button itself.

If you'd prefer to logi n to PayPal each time you buy a postage label, just click 'Purchase postage'.

The next screen you'll see will confirm the successful purchase and invite you to print the postage label. You'll also see suggestions about how to drop off your item with your chosen carrier.

After clicking 'Print postage label', your label will appear automatically with a new Adobe Acrobat window (or another PDF viewer). Just click the printer icon, or select 'File' and then 'Print' to print your label.

If your browser is not set-up to open Adobe Acrobat or another PDF viewer automatically, save your label to your PC then open it in your usual PDF viewer to print it.