How to Print Labels That Line Up (Test Page and Printer Settings)

Step 1: Set the print size to 100%

This is the cause of most labels that print slightly off. If the printer shrinks the page to fit its margins, every label moves a little toward the center, and the labels near the edges miss by the most.

• Word (Mac): in the print window, open Paper Handling and make sure Scale to Fit Paper Size is switched off and the paper size is US Letter. If the scale was changed before, check File > Page Setup and set Scale to 100%.
• Word (Windows): in File > Print, the last setting should say No Scaling.
• PDF (Adobe Acrobat or Reader): under Page Sizing & Handling, choose Actual size, not Fit or Shrink oversized pages.
• Canva: download as a PDF with the Print preset, then print the PDF at Actual size as above.

Step 2: Check the paper size

Every Dashleigh label sheet is US Letter, 8.5 x 11 inches. Make sure the print window says US Letter, not A4. A4 is slightly taller and narrower, so the design drifts down the sheet. Turn off Borderless printing if your printer offers it; it enlarges the page.

Step 3: Print a test page on plain paper

1. Print your finished design on a sheet of ordinary paper, using the same settings you'll use for the labels.
2. Hold the printed page on top of a label sheet and look through both against a window or a bright light.
3. Check the labels at all four corners, not just the first one. If they all sit inside the label edges, print on the label sheet.

No design yet? Your template page has a PDF of just the label outlines (under Or download for Word, Pages and PDF). Print that on plain paper and lay it over a label sheet to check your printer before you design anything.

Step 4: Choose the right paper type

In the print window, find Paper Type or Media Type (on a Mac it is under Media & Quality or Printer Features; on Windows, under Printer Properties).

• Waterproof vinyl and clear gloss (inkjet only): set the paper type to Labels or Glossy and the quality to the highest setting. If the ink pools or smudges, try a lighter paper type or turn down the ink density.
• Paper labels (kraft, recycled, white matte, pastel and other uncoated colors): plain or matte paper settings. These work in inkjet and laser printers.
• Let inkjet prints dry for 10-15 minutes before you peel the labels.

Your template page lists the exact margins and label size for your sheet under Print it right the first time.

Step 5: Load the sheet the right way

• Load one label sheet at a time, printing side the way your printer prints (do a quick mark-and-print test on plain paper if you're not sure which way up it goes).
• Slide the paper guides in until they just touch the sheet. A loose sheet goes through at an angle.
• If your printer has a rear or manual feed, use it. The straighter paper path keeps the sheet from shifting.

Still off? What the test page tells you

• Every label is off by the same amount in the same direction: the settings are right and your printer has a small offset. Move the whole design by that amount in the template, or adjust the top and left margins in the printer settings.
• Labels near the top are fine but get worse lower down: the print is still being scaled. Recheck Step 1 and the paper size.
• The design is crooked: the sheet went in at an angle. Tighten the paper guides.
• Only half the page prints: see why the printer stops partway through the sheet.
• Faint, streaky or smudged prints: work through the printer troubleshooting checklist.

Printers can shift a sheet by up to about 1/16 inch, so keep text and logos at least 1/8 inch inside the edge of each label. Background colors can run to the edge.

Designing in Word? See how to add text boxes and images to a Word label template. In Canva? See how to design your labels in Canva. Looking for your template? Find it by number or size.

Still stuck? Email customerservice@dashleigh.com with your template number, your printer model and a photo of your test page, and we will help.