How to Make Labels in Google Docs (Step by Step)

Google Docs has no label maker. There is no "Labels" option in the menus, and no label template to pick. You can still make labels, but you have to build the layout yourself with a table. Each cell becomes one label. Here is how to make labels in Google Docs, step by step.

This method works well for a few labels, or a short list you type by hand. For a long list of guests or customers, it is slow. Each address has to be typed or pasted into its own cell. Later in this guide, we show a faster way.

Before you start: find your sheet

Labels come on sheets. Avery® 5160 is a common one. It has 30 labels per sheet, 3 across and 10 down, and each label is 1 inch by 2⅝ inches.

Find your sheet code on the label sheets page, or check the measurements on the Avery® 5160 page. Note these three things:

• the label width and height,
• the number of labels across and down,
• the gap between labels, if there is one.

Step 1: Set the page size

1. Open a new document in Google Docs.
2. Click File, then Page setup.
3. At the top of the dialog, select Pages. Page setup does not work in pageless documents.
4. Set Paper size to Letter for US sheets, or A4 for sheets such as L7160.
5. Set Margins to match the sheet's guide. If you cannot find the margins, start with 0.5 inches on each side and test first.
6. Click OK.

Step 2: Insert a table

1. Click Insert, then Table.
2. Move the pointer over the grid to pick the size. For Avery 5160, that is 3 columns by 10 rows.
3. Click the grid to add the table.

Google Docs tables can be up to 20 by 20 cells. For a bigger sheet, insert a table with fewer rows and add more later.

Step 3: Set the label sizes

This step makes the table match your sheet.

1. Click anywhere in the table.
2. Click Format, then Table, then Table options. You can also right-click the table and choose Table options.
3. Under Column, enter the width of one label.
4. Under Row, enter the height of one label.
5. Click Ok.

If your sheet has a gap between labels, add a narrow empty column between the label columns. Set its width to the gap. Use the measurements on the sheet's page to get these numbers right.

Step 4: Type the addresses

1. Click into the first cell and type the first label.
2. Press Tab to move to the next cell.
3. Press Enter for a new line inside a cell, such as between the name and the street.
4. Stop at the last label. Do not press Tab after the last cell, because that adds a new row and can push your labels onto a second page.

To use the same text in many cells, copy and paste it. Then change the parts that differ.

Step 5: Print a test page

Always test first. Labels are not cheap, and a wrong setting can waste a whole sheet.

1. Click File, then Print. You can also press Ctrl+P on Windows or Cmd+P on a Mac.
2. Choose plain paper in your printer.
3. Look for a scale or size option. Choose 100% or Actual size. Do not choose a setting that shrinks or fits the page.
4. Print the test page.
5. Hold the test page over a real label sheet and hold both up to a window or a light. The lines should line up with the label edges.

If the lines do not match, change the margins or the cell sizes, then test again.

Other ways to make labels in Google Docs

Google Docs does not have a mail merge for labels. You have three main options.

• Build the table yourself. This is the method above. It is free and works for small jobs.
• Use Avery's online design tool. Avery runs its own online design site for its label sheets.
• Install a label add-on. Add-ons for Google Docs and Sheets include Labelmaker, Avery Label Merge and Foxy Labels. To install one, open a document, click Extensions, then Add-ons, then Get add-ons. Check each add-on's page for what it does and what it costs. Prices and features change, so check them before you install.

Common problems

The labels do not line up with the sheet. Print at 100% or Actual size. Check that the paper size is Letter or A4, and that the margins match. Print a test page on plain paper and hold it over the sheet.

The text is cut off. The text is too big for the cell. Make the text smaller, or make the label taller in Table options.

You get a blank page at the end. You probably pressed Tab after the last label, or a row is too tall and spills onto a new page. Delete the extra rows.

Some labels are empty. Check that the table has enough cells for your list. Count the labels, then compare them with the number of cells.

The order is wrong. Type the list in the order you want the labels to print. Google Docs fills cells from left to right, then top to bottom.

Making a long list faster

If you have 30 or more labels, or you want a list that changes, a label tool is faster. Paste the rows from your spreadsheet with the heading row, or upload the file. LabelPeel makes one label for each row, using the sheet you choose.

Try it on the home page without an account, or start free. The tool is free while in beta. You do not need a card.

For Word users, see how to print labels in Word. If your list is in Google Sheets, read how to print labels from Google Sheets. For a full list of sheet sizes, see the Avery label sizes chart. You can also browse all label sheets.

Shipping labels too

For parcels, the Avery® 5163 page shows a sheet with 2 inch by 4 inch labels and 10 per sheet. Use the same steps, with the table set to 2 columns by 5 rows.