Test Pages & Partially Used Label Sheets
Print a plain-paper test page, skip used label positions, and safely reuse partially used Avery or custom label sheets
Before printing on real label stock, use a plain-paper test page. If the first labels on a sheet have already been used, use Start printing at label to skip those positions.
These two habits prevent most wasted Avery sheets, product label sheets, name badge inserts, and custom sticker paper.
Print a Test Page First
- Export the PDF.
- Print one page on plain paper.
- Place the plain-paper test over a real label sheet.
- Hold both sheets up to a bright light.
- Check whether the text, barcodes, QR codes, and borders align with the die-cut label positions.
- Only print on label stock after the test lines up.
Use the same printer, paper size, orientation, and scale settings you plan to use for the final run.
Print at Actual Size
In your PDF viewer or printer dialog:
- Select
Actual Size,100%, orCustom Scale: 100. - Avoid
Fit to Page,Shrink to Fit, andFit to Printable Area. - Make sure the printer paper size matches the layout, such as Letter or A4.
If the first row aligns but lower rows drift, print scaling is usually the cause.
Start Printing at a Specific Label
Use Start printing at label when part of the sheet has already been used.
Count label positions from left to right, top to bottom.
For example, if the first 5 positions are already gone, set:
Start printing at label: 6The export leaves the first 5 positions blank and starts the first current label on position 6.
Example: Avery 5160
Avery 5160-style sheets have 30 labels per Letter page: 3 columns by 10 rows.
Positions are counted like this:
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
...If the first row is used, start at label 4. If the first five labels are used, start at label 6.
Safety Notes
Partially used sheets can peel, curl, or drift in some printers. This is especially true after labels have been removed from the leading edge of the page.
Use partially used sheets carefully:
- Test on plain paper first.
- Avoid running a badly curled sheet through the printer.
- Do not use label stock that is peeling.
- For expensive or glossy stock, run a one-page proof before the full batch.