Formatting Issues

How to Change the Font Used in Word Envelope Addresses

Guest Writer Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to change the default fonts used for the return and delivery addresses when printing envelopes in Microsoft Word.

How to Change the Font in Word Envelope Addresses

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing or creating envelopes where the address text format does not match the desired default document font.
Observed behavior: Word applies its own dedicated styles (Envelope Address and Envelope Return) to envelope addresses instead of the standard Normal style, resulting in a mismatched font.

Before you start

Ensure you have a blank document open in Word, as this provides a clean workspace to locate and modify the global envelope styles without affecting existing document formatting.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify the Envelope Address and Return Styles

Adjusting the dedicated envelope styles allows you to permanently or temporarily change the font for all envelope prints.

Word uses specific built-in styles called 'Envelope Address' and 'Envelope Return' to format text on envelopes. Because they operate independently from your default paragraph font, you must modify these specific styles to ensure your envelopes always use your preferred font.

Open the Styles pane

In a blank document, navigate to the 'Home' tab. Click the small diagonal arrow icon in the bottom-right corner of the 'Styles' group to open the Styles pane.

Display all styles

Click on 'Options...' at the bottom of the Styles pane. In the Style Pane Options dialog, change the 'Select styles to show' dropdown to 'All styles' and click 'OK'.

Locate the Envelope Address style

Scroll through the alphabetical list in the Styles pane to find 'Envelope Address'. Hover your cursor over it, click the drop-down arrow that appears, and select 'Modify'.

Change the font formatting

In the Modify Style dialog box, click the 'Format' button at the bottom-left corner and select 'Font'. Choose your desired font, font style, and size, then click 'OK'.

Apply changes to future envelopes

To ensure this font is used on all future envelopes, select the 'New documents based on this template' radio button in the Modify Style dialog box before clicking 'OK'.

Modify the Return Address style

Find the 'Envelope Return' style in the Styles pane and repeat the same modification steps to change the font for your return address.

Modify the Envelope Address and Return Styles

Template Saved Successfully: If prompted to save changes to the Normal.dotm template when closing Word, click 'Save' to ensure your new envelope font settings are permanently applied.

Professional Document Creation

Easily Format Envelopes and Letters with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface for managing styles, formatting envelopes, and creating professional mailings. It provides robust style management to easily customize your document and envelope fonts seamlessly.

1. Open the Envelopes Tool: Open WPS Writer, navigate to the 'References' or 'Mailings' tab on the top ribbon, and click on 'Envelopes'.
2. Enter Address Information: In the Envelopes and Labels dialog box, type in your Delivery address and Return address in the respective fields.
3. Customize Envelope Options: Click the 'Options...' button to open the Envelope Options dialog, where you can select the envelope size and adjust the specific font settings for both addresses.
4. Print or Add to Document: Once your fonts are customized, click 'Print' to send it directly to your printer, or 'Add to Document' to insert the customized envelope as the first page of your current file.

Free and lightweight word processing softwareFully compatible with Microsoft Word documents (.docx)Intuitive Envelopes tool under the Mailings tabEasy-to-use Style modification pane for global formatting

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my envelope text not match the rest of my document?

Word applies special built-in styles ('Envelope Address' and 'Envelope Return') specifically for envelopes. These styles operate independently of your document's Normal style, meaning they can have completely different default fonts.

Can I change the envelope font for just one specific document?

Yes. When modifying the Envelope Address or Envelope Return style, simply select 'Only in this document' instead of 'New documents based on this template' in the Modify Style dialog box.

How do I add a logo to my return address on the envelope?

Instead of using the standard Envelopes dialog box directly, you can click 'Add to Document' in the Envelopes dialog. This inserts the envelope as page 1 of your document, allowing you to manually insert an image or logo next to the return address before printing.

Document & File Issues