How to print labels: label sheets or print and cut

There are two ways to print labels at home. For rectangular labels, such as address labels, print on pre-cut label sheets using a template. For labels in a custom shape, print on a full sticker sheet and cut round each one with a cutting machine such as a Cricut or Silhouette.

You want	Use
Address, return or shipping labels	Pre-cut label sheets and a template
Rectangular product labels	Pre-cut label sheets and a template
Round or custom-shaped labels	Sticker sheets and a cutting machine

How do you print on pre-cut label sheets?

1. Find the code on the pack, such as Avery 5160 or L7160. Unbranded sheets usually say which Avery code they match. If not, measure a label and count how many are on a sheet. Avery label template codes lists the common ones.
2. Open the matching template. In Word, go to Mailings → Labels → Options and pick the code. There are also free templates as PDFs and PNGs for Canva.
3. Add your text or design to each label. For addresses from a spreadsheet, use Word’s mail merge (Mailings → Start Mail Merge → Labels).
4. Print a test on plain paper and hold it against a label sheet up to the light. If it lines up, print on the labels.

To print addresses from Etsy or Shopify orders, see Print Etsy and Shopify addresses on Avery labels.

How do you print and cut labels with a Cricut?

Upload your design to Design Space, set it to Print Then Cut, flatten it, and print it on sticker paper. Design Space prints cut sensor marks round your design, which the machine scans to find where to cut. Keep bleed on, so a cut that lands slightly off doesn’t leave a white edge. Cricut Print Then Cut with your own image covers each step, the size limits and calibration.

How do you print and cut labels with a Silhouette?

In Silhouette Studio, size your design to its finished size, add cut lines round it, then turn on registration marks in the Page Setup panel. Print the sheet at 100%, load it on the mat the same way round as it shows on screen, and the machine reads the marks before cutting. Keep designs out of the shaded areas round the marks, and don’t change the file between printing and cutting.

MagLab can fill a sheet with your labels in one click and print Silhouette registration marks on it. In Silhouette Studio, turn on registration marks with the same inset, length and thickness, open that sheet’s cut file and send it to cut.

Why won’t my Cricut or Silhouette read the marks?

• Light. Sunlight or a lamp shining on the machine can stop the sensor working. Close the blind or move the light.
• Shiny or dark paper. Glossy, holographic or dark sticker paper can stop the sensor reading the marks. White matte paper scans most reliably.
• Faint marks. Print at a normal or high quality setting, so the marks come out solid black.
• Position. Put the sheet straight, in the top-left corner of the mat.

If a Cricut finds the marks but cuts in the wrong place, calibrate it: in Design Space, open the menu and choose Settings → Machines, pick your machine, then Calibrate → Print Then Cut. If a Silhouette can’t find the marks, the Send panel lets you move the blade over the first mark by hand and register it.

Which printer settings stop jams and smudges?

• Paper type: choose “Labels”, or a heavy or matte paper setting. Label sheets are thicker than paper.
• Paper feed: if your printer has a rear or straight-through feed, use it for thick sheets, and feed one sheet at a time.
• Scale: print at 100% or “Actual size”, not “Fit to page”.
• Drying: let inkjet prints dry before you cut or stack them. Glossy and vinyl sheets take longer than matte paper.

Use inkjet label sheets in an inkjet and laser sheets in a laser printer. Inkjet ink smears on laser sheets, and a laser printer’s heat can damage inkjet sheets and jam the printer.

Can you print labels without a cutting machine?

Yes. Pre-cut label sheets need no cutting at all. For shaped labels, you can print on sticker paper and cut them out with scissors, a craft knife or a punch. Leave a little gap between them and extend the background past the cut line, so a slightly off cut doesn’t show white.