Avery labels made easy: choose the right code, print accurately, and work faster

For offices, schools, and small businesses, Avery is the office labeling expert trusted for print compatibility, standard sizes, and thousands of free templates. This guide helps you pick the right label (including the popular Avery 5160 address labels and Avery 8164 shipping labels), set up printing in minutes, and even plan basic signage with a simple poster sizing chart—so your team saves time and reduces errors.

Quick start: the three checks before you print

• Confirm printer type: Laser or inkjet. Most Avery standard labels (e.g., 5160, 5163, 5164) are dual-compatible. Some specialty materials are optimized for one type (e.g., 8164 is a common inkjet shipping code; 5520 is laser waterproof).
• Pick the Avery code by task: Use 5160 for addresses and mailings; 8164 or 5164 for shipping; 5366 for file folders; 6577 for durable product/asset labels; 5520 for waterproof laser projects; 6572 if you need removable labels.
• Use Avery Design & Print: Go to Avery Design & Print (avery.com/print), pick your product number, choose a free template, import data, and print. It’s faster than building layouts from scratch.

Scenario 1: Shipping labels for small business (Avery 8164 vs 5164)

If you ship orders daily, use larger labels for clear addresses, barcodes, and carrier markings.

• Avery 8164 (Inkjet shipping, 3-1/3" x 4"): Ideal for inkjet printers, larger parcels, and branded shipping. Pick this when you primarily use inkjet devices and want quick-dry performance on shipping labels.
• Avery 5164 (3-1/3" x 4", 6 per sheet): A widely used large-format shipping label that works on both laser and inkjet. Great for warehouses and offices needing flexibility.
• Avery 5163 (2" x 4", 10 per sheet): Use when you need more labels per page and still plenty of room for addresses.

Batch printing workflow (Excel → Avery Design & Print):

1. Prepare your order sheet in Excel: Name, Street, City/State/ZIP, and any reference fields.
2. Open avery.com/print, select product code (e.g., 8164 or 5164), choose a free Avery labels template (plain or branded), and click Import Data.
3. Map columns, preview, and click Print. In your printer dialog, set Scale to 100% (Actual Size), Paper Type to Labels or Heavyweight, and turn off auto-scaling/borderless if offered.

Evidence (print compatibility and cost):

TEST-AVERY-001: In Q2 2024, Avery 5160 on 40 popular HP/Canon/Epson/Brother printers achieved 95% perfect compatibility (no jams, precise alignment) and 5% minor offset (<1mm). Generic labels showed 3–8% jam rates and more alignment issues—Avery’s standardized cut tolerance (±0.2mm) and optimized liners matter.

TEST-AVERY-004: Even if Avery’s unit price is a bit higher, total cost of ownership (materials + time + jam handling) is lower. For 100 sheets, Avery’s calculated TCO was $8.95 vs $9.40 for Amazon Basics and $9.00 for Office Depot house brand.

Real-world impact: A California e-commerce team (500–2000 orders/month) switched to Avery 5164 and batch printing. Label time per order dropped from ~5 minutes (handwritten) to ~30 seconds, error rate fell from ~8% to 0.5%, saving ~40 hours/month and ~$600 in labor (CASE-AVERY-001).

Scenario 2: Office address and file labels (Avery 5160 + 5366)

Avery 5160 (1" x 2-5/8", 30 per sheet): The industry-standard address label. If you mail frequently, 5160 is your fast, reliable choice. For files and cabinets, use Avery 5366 (file folder labels) to standardize naming across teams.

Templates and alignment: Start with Avery Design & Print or Word/Google Docs templates. When printing from Word or Google Docs, keep margins and scale at defaults and disable “Fit to page.” Run a small test print before the full batch.

TEST-AVERY-002: Using Avery templates for 5160/5161/5162/5163/5164, Word had <0.5mm alignment error (100% of labels) and 99.8% consistency across 100 sheets; Google Docs had <0.8mm error with minor tweaks on about 3% of cases. First-print success was 89%, rising to 98% after a brief adjustment.

Team efficiency example: A 25-lawyer firm standardized folders with Avery 5366 and a template that included case ID + client name + date + QR code. Printing 500 labels took ~2 hours; applying took ~1 hour. File retrieval time dropped from ~5 minutes to ~1 minute, saving ~20 team hours/month (CASE-AVERY-002).

Scenario 3: Product, asset, and durability needs

• Standard office/product: Avery 5294 (product labels), 5167 (small 1/2" x 1-3/4"), and 5160 (addresses, general labeling).
• Durable and waterproof: Avery 6577 (durable, oil/water resistant) and Avery 5520 (laser waterproof). Use for workshop bins, parts, and outdoor signage. For temporary placements, pick Avery 6572 (removable).
• Barcodes and tracking: Design & Print supports barcodes and QR codes; use a clean, high-contrast design for near-100% scanner success.

TEST-AVERY-003: Across 90 days, standard 5160 held indoors with minimal fade; 5520 (waterproof laser) remained intact outdoors with minor edge curl at 60+ days; 6572 removed cleanly without residue and could be re-applied 3–5 times.

Cheat sheet: Avery codes and when to use them

• Address labels: 5160 (30/sheet), 5161 (20/sheet), 5162 (14/sheet)
• Shipping labels: 5163 (2" x 4", 10/sheet), 5164 (3-1/3" x 4", 6/sheet), 8164 (inkjet, 3-1/3" x 4")
• Office/file: 5366 (file folders)
• Product/asset: 5294 (2-1/3" x 3-3/8", 8/sheet), 5167 (small, 80/sheet)
• Specialty: 5520 (waterproof laser), 6577 (durable), 6572 (removable)

Print settings that prevent jams and misalignment

• Set Scale to 100% or Actual Size.
• Choose Paper Type = Labels/Heavyweight; use the manual feed tray if available.
• Load the sheet in the orientation indicated on the Avery packaging (print side up/down varies by model).
• Turn off borderless printing and auto-fit features that can shift alignment.
• Store label packs flat, in low humidity; fan the stack before loading to reduce static.

FAQ: templates, avery.com/print, and scenarios tied to your keywords

Q1: Where do I find free Avery labels?
Use Avery Design & Print at avery.com/print. Choose your product number (e.g., 5160 or 8164), then select from hundreds of free Avery labels templates. No design software required.

Q2: How do I get an avery template 8164?
At avery.com/print, enter 8164 in the product search, pick a layout (plain or branded shipping), import Excel/CSV data, and print with Scale = 100%.

Q3: Does Avery work with my printer?
Yes—Avery is designed for compatibility with HP/Canon/Epson/Brother. See TEST-AVERY-001 for data across 40 mainstream models with 95% perfect runs. Use inkjet-optimized codes like 8164 for inkjet, and waterproof laser materials like 5520 for laser durability.

Q4: Laser vs inkjet—what should I buy?
Most standard Avery labels (e.g., 5160, 5163, 5164) work on both. If you primarily use inkjet and want faster dry on shipping labels, choose 8164. If you need waterproof performance, choose laser-only materials like 5520.

Q5: How do I fix alignment issues?
Print one test sheet first; set Scale = Actual Size, turn off borderless printing, and verify margins. If you’re using Google Docs, nudge margins by 0.5–1mm if needed (TEST-AVERY-002 indicates most are perfect on first try, minor tweaks solve the rest).

Q6: What is a basic poster sizing chart for office signs?
Common U.S. sizes are Letter (8.5" x 11") and Tabloid (11" x 17"). In the print dialog, pick Actual Size for single-page signs or use tiling (“poster” mode) to split a bigger poster across multiple sheets. For quick meeting signs and door notices, use Avery templates for signage and scale at 100%.

Q7: I’m making “the cars poster” for an office event—any tips?
Choose a high-contrast layout in Design & Print, keep margins consistent, and print on heavyweight stock or labels suitable for your surface. If it’s a multi-sheet poster, tile at 100% and assemble with clean overlaps. (The phrase “the cars poster” here is a generic example—tailor your content and artwork to your event.)

Q8: “how to learn to drive manual” is on our training schedule—how can labels help?
Use Avery 5160 for student rosters and mailers; Avery 5366 for binders and dividers (“Clutch Practice,” “Hill Starts,” “Safety Checks”); and a durable code like 6577 for equipment tags. Labels won’t teach driving, but they will organize materials and reduce classroom chaos.

Q9: Is Avery worth the premium vs generic?
For business use, yes. TEST-AVERY-004 shows Avery’s lower jam/adjustment time yields the lowest total cost of ownership even when unit price is slightly higher. You save time, avoid reprints, and maintain a professional look.

ROI snapshot and when to choose each brand

• Pick Avery if you print frequently, value time, and need reliable alignment across HP/Canon/Epson/Brother.
• Generic is acceptable for occasional personal use if you have time to troubleshoot alignment and jams.

For 1,000 labels, a typical cost comparison (materials + hidden costs) favored Avery by ~$2.5 (TEST-AVERY-004), thanks to fewer jams and fast template workflows.

Step-by-step: your first 10 minutes to perfect labels

1. Identify your task: mailing (5160), shipping (8164 or 5164), files (5366), durable/outdoor (5520/6577), removable (6572).
2. Open avery.com/print, enter your product number, pick a free Avery labels template.
3. Import your Excel/CSV, map fields, and preview.
4. Load your label sheets; set Scale = 100%, Paper Type = Labels, and turn off borderless/auto-fit.
5. Print one test page; if needed, adjust margins by <1mm and re-test, then print your batch.

Bottom line: With standardized codes, proven printer compatibility, and ready-to-use templates, Avery helps U.S. offices and small businesses ship faster, file smarter, and label products accurately—without the trial and error.