Word Labels: Create 10 Per Page and Print a Label Sheet

To make ten labels on one page in Microsoft Word, open Mailings > Labels, choose Options, select the label product that matches your pack, and click New Document. For example, Avery 5163 or 8163 labels are commonly arranged as two columns by five rows on US Letter paper. Check the number and dimensions on your label packaging before choosing a template, then print a test page to confirm alignment.

The steps below are for Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows. Word for Mac has similar label and mail merge tools, though dialog details can vary by version. The key is to select the exact product number—or enter accurate dimensions for a compatible custom sheet—rather than trying to force a ten-label layout onto a different label stock.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Word, preferably with the document open on a computer connected to your printer.
A pack of ten-per-sheet labels, or the manufacturer, product number, and measurements for the label sheets you already have. Many common ten-up sheets use US Letter paper and have two columns and five rows, but not all do.
Your label text. For one repeated address, have the text ready. For ten different names or addresses, prepare a list in Excel or another source Word can use for mail merge.
Plain paper for a test print, plus a ruler or the label package specifications if you need to verify alignment.

Step-by-Step

Check the label package. Find the manufacturer and product number on the box or wrapper. Confirm the sheet size and the number of labels per sheet. A product described as ten per sheet often uses a 2-by-5 grid, but the label width, height, margins, and gaps can differ. Do not select a template based on the count alone. If you have loose sheets without packaging, measure the label and the distances from the paper edges and between labels.
Open the label setup in Word. In Word for Windows, open the Mailings tab and choose Labels. If your version shows the label command under Start Mail Merge, choose Labels there. Word opens the Envelopes and Labels dialog. Select the Labels tab if it is not already active. You can enter the label wording now, or set up the sheet first and fill it in afterward.
Choose the matching label product. Click Options. In the Label Options window, select the printer type that matches how you will print, usually Page printers for a standard home or office laser or inkjet printer. Open the Label vendors list, choose the manufacturer, and select the exact product number. Check that the description or dimensions correspond to your package and that the preview indicates ten labels per page. Click OK to return to the Labels dialog.
Set up one repeated label or a sheet of different labels. For ten copies of the same text, leave the Address box filled with the wording and select Full page of the same label. For ten distinct labels, do not copy one address across the whole sheet; instead, use mail merge as described in step 7. The dialog’s Address box is intended for repeated label content, not for entering ten separate records.
Create the label document. Click New Document to make a separate Word document using the chosen sheet layout. Word usually displays the labels as a table with ten cells. If the gridlines are faint or invisible, click inside the document and use Table Layout > View Gridlines if that command is available; gridlines help you see cell boundaries but do not print. Save the document with a clear name before editing or printing.
Format and review the label text. Click in a label cell and adjust the font, size, alignment, or line spacing using the Home tab. Keep text within the label’s printable area and avoid reducing margins or using oversized type just to fit more information. With a repeated-label sheet, Word applies the same content to all ten positions. Check that long names, apartment numbers, or postal codes wrap cleanly and are not clipped.
For ten different labels, use mail merge. Make a recipient list with one record per label and clear column headings, such as Name, Street, City, and PostalCode. In Word, choose Mailings > Start Mail Merge > Labels, select the matching vendor and product number, then choose Mailings > Select Recipients and connect the list. Insert the fields you need into the first label with Insert Merge Field, arranging them on separate lines as appropriate. Choose Update Labels so Word repeats the field layout across the sheet. Use Preview Results to inspect records, then choose Finish & Merge to print or create an editable document. If your list has fewer than ten records, remaining positions may be blank.
Print a test on plain paper. Choose File > Print and check the preview for a two-column, five-row page. Print one page on plain paper using the same paper size and printer settings planned for the label stock. Hold the test page over a label sheet toward a light. Each block of text should sit inside its label boundaries, with consistent margins above, below, and on both sides.
Load and print the label sheet. If the test aligns, load one label sheet according to the printer’s instructions; printers differ in which side faces up and which edge enters first. In File > Print, confirm the correct printer, paper size, orientation, and scale. Use actual size or 100% scaling where available; do not choose fit-to-page if it changes the label dimensions. Print one sheet first. Once it looks right, print additional copies as needed.

Common Mistakes

Choosing a template with the same count but different dimensions: Ten labels per page is not a complete specification. Two products can both use a 2-by-5 grid while having different label sizes, gaps, or edge margins. Match the product number whenever possible. If it is unavailable, compare every measurement, not only label width and height.

Printing without checking the stock orientation: Loading the sheet upside down or feeding it from the wrong edge can put ink or toner on the backing, or place the text on the wrong labels. Check the printer’s paper-feed diagram and test with one sheet.

Using the repeated-label setting for different addresses: The full-page option duplicates the same text. To print unique names or addresses, use a recipient list and mail merge, or carefully enter the labels into the individual cells in a prepared ten-cell document.

Changing the page size or scaling after setup: A template made for US Letter may not align on A4 paper, and a print setting that shrinks or enlarges the page can shift every label. Match Word’s paper size to the actual stock and print at the template’s intended scale.

Editing the layout table casually: Deleting a row, changing cell margins, or dragging a border can disrupt alignment for the entire page. Edit the text and its formatting first. If the structure is damaged, it is often quicker to create a fresh document from the correct label template.

Tips

Keep the product number with the saved Word file, especially if you use the same stock only occasionally. You can add a note at the top of a separate instruction document or include the number in the filename. That makes it easier to recreate the sheet without guessing later.

For a clean address label, use a readable font and keep line breaks consistent: recipient name, street address, then city, region, and postal code. Leave enough space around the text for the label’s edges and any printer variation. If the wording is close to the edge, reduce the font slightly or shorten optional wording rather than moving the whole label cell.

When printing from a mail merge, preview several records, not just the first one. Check a long company name, a multi-line street address, and any record with a blank field. This catches awkward line breaks and unwanted empty lines before you use adhesive stock.

Save the original label-layout document as a reusable template file or keep an untouched copy. Make a working copy for each new batch, then replace the text or recipient list. For sheets with labels already removed, use the printer manufacturer’s recommendations; feeding a partially used label sheet can cause jams or loose labels to come away inside the printer.

Troubleshooting

The label product number is not listed. Look for the manufacturer’s Word template or downloadable template for that exact stock. Alternatively, click New Label in the Label Options window and enter the label height and width, number across and down, top and side margins, and horizontal and vertical pitch from the package specifications. Pitch is the distance from the start of one label to the start of the next, including the gap. Measure carefully: an approximate custom template can drift across the sheet.

The text prints too high, low, or to one side. First confirm the selected product number, paper size, orientation, and 100% print scaling. Then verify that the test sheet was loaded the same way as the label sheet. If every label is shifted by a similar amount, a wrong template or printer feed setting is likely. If the first row aligns but later rows drift, the label height or vertical pitch may not match the stock.

Only one label appears in the document. Return to the Labels dialog and check that Full page of the same label is selected before choosing New Document. If you are working with different addresses, start a label mail merge and use Update Labels after arranging the first label so the layout is copied throughout the sheet.

The table borders disappear or print unexpectedly. Table gridlines are editing guides and normally do not print. If borders are visible in the print preview, check the table’s border formatting and remove borders if you do not want them. Do not confuse nonprinting gridlines with the actual outlines of your adhesive labels.

The printer feeds multiple sheets or jams. Remove the stack and inspect the label sheets for bent corners, curled edges, or labels lifting from the backing. Load only the number of sheets recommended by the printer, and use the appropriate paper or label setting if your printer offers one. Do not reuse a sheet with missing labels unless the printer maker says it is safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make ten different labels on one page?
Use a label mail merge. Connect a list containing up to ten records, insert the required fields in the first label, choose Update Labels, and preview the page before printing. Each record supplies a different label.

Can I create ten copies of the same label?
Yes. In Mailings > Labels, select the correct product, enter the text in the Address box, choose Full page of the same label, and click New Document.

Which Word template makes ten labels per page?
There is no single template for every ten-up sheet. Select the manufacturer and product number printed on your package. Avery 5163 and 8163 are examples of commonly used ten-per-sheet products, but verify the number and sheet size before printing.

Can I use the same steps in Word for Mac?
Word for Mac also includes label and mail merge tools, but dialog names and placements can differ by release. Look on the Mailings tab for Labels and choose the matching product. If a product is missing, check the label maker’s Mac-compatible template or enter the stock dimensions in the available custom-label settings.

Why should I print on plain paper first?
A plain-paper test lets you check position and scaling without wasting adhesive sheets. Compare the print with a label sheet held against a light, and adjust the product selection or printer settings before printing on the actual stock.

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