Printing Problems

How to Fix Avery Label Printing Alignment on A4 Paper

Huma Ashraf Ch Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing progressive text misalignment when attempting to print on Avery label sheets.

How to Fix Avery Label Printing Alignment on A4 Paper

Product: Word Processing / Printer
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Printing a document onto an Avery label sheet formatted for A4 paper size.
Observed behavior: The first row of printed labels aligns correctly, but subsequent rows progressively drift out of alignment further down the page.

Before you start

Prepare several sheets of standard A4 plain paper to test your print alignment before using actual label sheets to avoid wasting supplies.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Exact Template and Scaling Settings

The most common cause of progressive misalignment is incorrect scale or fit-to-page settings in the print dialog.

When the first row aligns perfectly but the bottom rows do not, the printer is likely stretching or shrinking the document. Ensuring a true 1:1 scale is critical for label printing.

Verify Document Template

Ensure the document is using the exact Avery product number corresponding to your A4 label sheet rather than a generic or letter-sized template.

Check Page Size

Go to your Page Layout or Page Setup settings and confirm the paper size is explicitly set to A4 (210 x 297 mm), not Letter.

Adjust Print Scaling

Open the print dialog and navigate to the scaling options. Ensure scaling is set exactly to '100%' or 'Actual Size'.

Disable Fit to Page

Turn off any automatic adjustments such as 'Fit to Page', 'Scale to fit paper', or 'Borderless printing'.

Pro Tip: Always save your document as a PDF before printing, and double-check that your PDF reader's print scaling is also set to 100%.

Solution 2

Test Alignment with a Plain Paper Overlay

Avoid wasting expensive label sheets by diagnosing the feed or template issue on standard A4 paper first.

Professional Document Creation

Design and Print Labels Flawlessly with WPS Office

WPS Writer provides comprehensive tools to set up custom page sizes, manage margins, and print perfectly aligned labels without formatting headaches.

1. Open Your Label Template: Launch WPS Writer and open your downloaded Avery label template document.
2. Confirm Page Layout: Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab and click 'Size' to ensure 'A4' is actively selected.
3. Set Print Margins: Click on 'Margins' and select 'Custom Margins' to verify they match the exact Avery specifications.
4. Print at Actual Size: Go to 'Menu' > 'Print' (or press Ctrl+P). Ensure that the print scale is set to 100% and no 'Fit to margins' scaling is applied.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) label templatesAccurate scaling and page setup options for standard A4 and custom sizesBuilt-in mail merge capabilities for bulk label creationFree, lightweight, and user-friendly interface

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my text shift down gradually on the label sheet?

This progressive misalignment usually occurs when the printer automatically applies a 'Fit to Page' scaling adjustment or if the document's paper size is mistakenly set to Letter instead of A4. Changing the print scale to 100% resolves this.

Can I adjust margins to fix overall label alignment?

Yes, if the entire print area is uniformly shifted (e.g., all rows are too high or too far to the left), adjusting the top or left margin slightly in the Page Setup menu can center the text. However, if the shifting is progressive, you must fix the scale settings.

Does the printer's feed mechanism affect label printing?

Absolutely. Label sheets are thicker and heavier than standard paper, which can cause them to slip in the printer rollers. Changing the 'Paper Type' setting in your printer preferences to 'Labels', 'Heavy Paper', or 'Cardstock' forces the printer to feed the sheet more slowly and accurately.

Why do my labels print correctly on plain paper but not on the actual labels?

If the plain paper test works perfectly but the label sheet does not, the issue lies with how the printer hardware grips the thicker label material. Try using the manual feed tray instead of the main paper cassette, as it provides a straighter paper path.

Document & File Issues