Label layout
Address labels (A4, 21 per sheet)
The standard European address-label layout: 21 labels at 63.5 × 38.1 mm on a single A4 sheet, arranged 3 columns × 7 rows. Used for mailing lists, return addresses, mail merges and any situation where you need a moderate-density label format.
Exact layout values
| Page size | A4 (210 × 297 mm) |
| Grid | 3 cols × 7 rows (21 labels) |
| Label size | 63.5 × 38.1 mm |
| Top margin | 15.15 mm |
| Left margin | 7.2 mm |
| Horizontal gap | 2.5 mm |
| Vertical gap | 0 mm (rows touch) |
Typical uses
- · Address labels for letters and parcels
- · Return-address sheets for envelopes
- · Mail-merge campaigns from spreadsheets
- · Office filing labels and folder spines
- · Small product information labels
Designing the content
Leave a 2 mm internal margin on each label so that text never touches the cut edge. For multi-line postal addresses use 9–10 pt; for single-line return addresses you can go up to 12 pt. Avoid setting type too close to the bottom edge, where slight printer drift is most visible.
Calibration in one test print
Print the template once on plain paper at 100 % scale, then hold it against a label sheet up to a light: every outline should sit inside its label. If the whole grid is shifted uniformly, the tray guides are loose or the printer adds an origin offset — nudge the margins in the generator rather than fighting the driver.
Keep the scale at 100 % forever after; “fit to page” shrinks the grid a few percent and rows drift progressively down the sheet — the signature failure where row 1 is perfect and row 7 prints on the gap.
Frequently asked questions
What is the size of each label?
Each label is 63.5 × 38.1 mm (2.5 × 1.5 inches). There are 21 labels arranged in 3 columns and 7 rows on an A4 sheet.
Is this the same as the common European address-label format?
Yes — 21 labels per A4 sheet at 63.5 × 38.1 mm is the most widespread European address-label layout. Many manufacturers produce die-cut sheets to these dimensions under different brand names.
How do I align it with my pre-cut sheet?
Print one sheet on plain paper and overlay it on a real label sheet against a window. Adjust top and left margins in 0.5 mm increments until the printed rectangles match the die cuts.
Can I print this on US Letter?
Not at its current values — the margins assume A4 (210 × 297 mm) and labels would shift off the bottom of an 11-inch sheet. For US Letter use the 30-per-sheet preset instead.
What font size fits comfortably in each label?
For a typical 4-line postal address, 9–10 pt body text fits comfortably with a 2 mm internal margin. Names and headlines work at 11–12 pt.
Do I need brand-name label sheets for this template?
No — template codes describe geometry, not brands. Any 63.5 × 38.1 mm, 21-per-A4 stock (the L7160-style layout) matches this template regardless of manufacturer. What must match exactly are the numbers: label size, margins and gaps.
Laser or inkjet label sheets — does it matter?
Yes, materially. Laser stock is built to survive the fuser’s heat; inkjet stock has an absorbent coating for liquid ink. Run inkjet sheets through a laser printer and the adhesive can soften and peel inside the fuser — the classic cause of expensive jams. “Universal” sheets exist but check the box, not the hope.
Can I reuse a partly-used label sheet?
Officially no — a second pass exposes the cut edges of missing labels to the rollers and fuser, and lifted edges jam. In practice people do it; if you must, feed the sheet so intact labels lead, and accept the risk. Printing full sheets and storing spares flat is the boring, correct answer.