# Create a manual label

Source: https://docs.emelia.io/docs/inbox-api/create-manual-label

Guide: [Inbox API](https://docs.emelia.io/docs/inbox-api.md)

`POST https://api.emelia.io/inbox/api/v1/labels`

Creates a manual label. Names are unique per workspace across manual and AI labels. To have the AI apply a label automatically, create an AI label rule instead. Supports `Idempotency-Key`.

## Authentication

Send your API key in the `Authorization` header: `Authorization: <your API key>`.

## Request body

Content type: `application/json`, required.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `name` | string | yes | Min length 1. |
| `color` | string | yes | Min length 1. |

```json
{
  "name": "Quotes",
  "color": "#16a34a"
}
```

## Example request

**cURL**

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.emelia.io/inbox/api/v1/labels" \
  -H "Authorization: $EMELIA_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
  "name": "Quotes",
  "color": "#16a34a"
}'
```

**JavaScript**

```js
const response = await fetch('https://api.emelia.io/inbox/api/v1/labels', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { Authorization: process.env.EMELIA_API_KEY, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    "name": "Quotes",
    "color": "#16a34a"
  }),
});
console.log(await response.json());
```

**Python**

```python
import os
import requests

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.emelia.io/inbox/api/v1/labels",
    headers={"Authorization": os.environ["EMELIA_API_KEY"]},
    json={
        "name": "Quotes",
        "color": "#16a34a"
    },
)
print(response.json())
```

## Responses

### 201: Created.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `label` | object | yes |  |
| `label.id` | string | yes |  |
| `label.name` | string | yes |  |
| `label.color` | string | yes | Free string (usually a hex color). |
| `label.isAiLabel` | boolean | yes | Applied by the AI pipeline, managed through `/ai-label-rules`. |
| `label.createdAt` | string (date-time) | yes |  |

```json
{
  "label": {
    "id": "cmtgacme0000000000000001",
    "name": "Quotes",
    "color": "#16a34a",
    "isAiLabel": false,
    "createdAt": "2026-10-01T10:00:00.000Z"
  }
}
```

### 400: `VALIDATION_FAILED`: missing or invalid field.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 401: Missing, malformed, unknown or disabled key. No `X-RateLimit-*` headers.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 403: `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`: the Emelia subscription has expired.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 409: `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME` (name already used) or `CONFLICT` (idempotency).

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 413: `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`: JSON body above 256 KB.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 429: `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`: per minute limit of the workspace (wait `Retry-After`). `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`: monthly quota exhausted until the 1st of next month UTC (in Emelia the plan cannot be upgraded).

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```

### 500: `INTERNAL_ERROR`: unexpected failure. The message is generic in production.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `code` | enum: `INVALID_API_KEY`, `WORKSPACE_SUSPENDED`, `FORBIDDEN`, `PLAN_REQUIRED`, `VALIDATION_FAILED`, `REQUEST_ERROR`, `PAYLOAD_TOO_LARGE`, `NOT_FOUND`, `EMAIL_NOT_FOUND`, `DRAFT_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_NOT_FOUND`, `LABEL_NOT_FOUND`, `VIEW_NOT_FOUND`, `RULE_NOT_FOUND`, `FILTER_NOT_FOUND`, `SIGNATURE_NOT_FOUND`, `MAILBOX_INACTIVE`, `INVALID_SENDER_ALIAS`, `NO_TRASH_FOLDER`, `INVALID_TAG`, `CONFLICT`, `DUPLICATE_TAG_NAME`, `DUPLICATE_RULE`, `DUPLICATE_FILTER`, `SCHEDULED_SEND_IN_PROGRESS`, `DRAFT_ALREADY_EXISTS`, `QUERY_TIMEOUT`, `RATE_LIMIT_EXCEEDED`, `QUOTA_EXCEEDED`, `INTERNAL_ERROR` | yes | Codes that the Inbox API can return, as found in the code. Branch on `code`, never on `error`. The HTTP status is derived from the code (unknown business codes are 400). |
| `error` | string | yes | Human readable. |
| `details` | object | no | Optional context: faulty fields, bounds, ids. |

```json
{
  "code": "INVALID_API_KEY",
  "error": "string",
  "details": {}
}
```