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How to print labels so they line up

When tags print off the edge of the labels, it is almost always one of three things: the page was scaled, the wrong paper size was selected, or the printer feeds the paper slightly off. Here is how to fix each one.

1. Print at Actual size / 100%

In the print dialog, find the scale setting and choose Actual size, 100% or Scale: Default (100). Do not use “Fit to page”, “Shrink oversized pages” or “Fit to printable area”. Scaling shrinks the whole page a little, so each row lands a bit higher than the label it belongs to, and the error grows toward the bottom of the sheet.

• Chrome and Edge: More settings → Scale → Default; Margins → None; uncheck Headers and footers.
• Firefox: Scale 100; Margins None; turn off Print headers and footers.
• Safari (Mac): Scale 100%; in Show details, turn off Print headers and footers.
• Adobe Reader (PDF templates): Page Sizing → Actual size.

2. Check the paper size and feed

• Choose Letter (8.5 × 11 in), not A4.
• Set the paper type to Labels or Heavy paper if your printer offers it, so it feeds more slowly and evenly.
• Load label sheets the way the printer manual says (face up or face down), and push the paper guides against the edge of the stack so the sheet can’t twist.

3. Print a test page

1. In the shelf tag maker, sale tag maker or UPC generator, choose your label sheet and click Print alignment test page.
2. Print it on plain paper, not on your labels.
3. Measure the red 1-inch square. If it is not exactly 1 inch, the page was scaled: go back to step 1.
4. Hold the test page on top of a label sheet against a window or bright light. Each numbered box should sit right over a label.

4. Fix a shift with the alignment setting

If every box is off by the same amount, your printer feeds slightly off. Open Printer alignment fix and enter how far to move everything, in inches. Positive numbers move right and down; negative numbers move left and up. For example, if the boxes print 1/16 in too high, enter Move down: 0.06. The setting is saved in this browser and used by all the tools on this site.

If the boxes at the top fit but the bottom ones are off, the page is being scaled (step 1). If the left column fits but the right one doesn’t, check the paper size (step 2).

5. Leave a little room

Every printer has a small margin it can’t print in, and feeding can vary a little from sheet to sheet. The tools keep the text a small distance inside each label so a small shift doesn’t cut anything off. For plain paper strips, print the cut lines and cut on them.

Label printers (thermal rolls)

For DYMO, Zebra, Brother or Rollo label printers, choose a “Thermal roll” size in the tools. Each label prints on its own page, and the page is the size of the label. In the print dialog: choose the label printer, set the paper size in the driver to the label you loaded, Scale 100%, Margins None. If it prints sideways, switch Portrait / Landscape. Zebra and Rollo printers may need a calibration after you load a new roll (see the printer manual). Supported roll sizes.

Using the Word or PDF templates

The same rules apply: print at 100% / Actual size on Letter paper. In Word, don’t let it “fit” or change the margins if it warns that the margins are outside the printable area; choose Ignore. Download the templates.