Printing Problems

How to Fix Blank Envelopes Printed in a Word Mail Merge

Nimra Malik Oct 16, 2026 868 views

Question details

An empty envelope is printed after every populated envelope during a mail merge process.

How to Fix Blank Envelopes Printed in a Word Mail Merge

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Executing an envelope mail merge to bulk print recipient addresses.
Observed behavior: The printer outputs a completely blank envelope immediately following every correctly printed envelope due to unintended breaks in the main document.

Before you start

Before making structural changes, save a copy of your main mail merge document so you do not accidentally lose your connected recipient fields.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove Hidden Page or Section Breaks

Reveal hidden formatting marks to locate and delete the unintended breaks that force the printer to output a blank envelope.

Often, Word inserts or retains hidden page breaks or section breaks at the end of a document. In a mail merge, this extra break gets processed for every single record, resulting in an alternating pattern of printed and blank envelopes.

Show Formatting Marks

Open your mail merge main document. Go to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon and click the 'Show/Hide ¶' button in the Paragraph group.

Locate the Extra Breaks

Scroll to the bottom of your envelope layout. Look for a dotted line labeled 'Page Break' or 'Section Break' immediately after your merge fields.

Delete Unwanted Breaks

Place your cursor at the beginning of the break mark and press the 'Delete' key on your keyboard to remove it.

Clear Empty Paragraphs

If you see multiple empty paragraph symbols (¶) below your text, delete them until no extra lines remain at the bottom of the envelope layout.

Test with a Small Batch: Always click 'Preview Results' and test print a small batch (e.g., records 1-3) to confirm the blank pages are gone before printing the entire list.

Solution 2

Adjust Envelope Size and Margins

Ensure the document's page setup exactly matches your physical envelope size to prevent content from spilling over and creating a blank second page.

Efficient Mail Merge

Create Flawless Envelope Mail Merges with WPS Office

Avoid frustrating formatting glitches by using WPS Writer to create and print your envelope mail merges. WPS Office offers a highly compatible and intuitive Mail Merge wizard with precise layout controls to prevent accidental blank pages.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Writer and navigate to the 'Mailings' tab on the top ribbon menu.
2. Start Mail Merge: Click on 'Mail Merge' and choose 'Envelopes' to set up your document layout properly.
3. Connect Data Source: Click 'Open Data Source' to link your Excel spreadsheet or address list.
4. Insert Merge Fields: Place your cursor in the address block area and click 'Insert Merge Field' to add names and addresses.
5. Merge to Printer: Preview your results to ensure formatting is correct, then click 'Merge to Printer' to print your envelopes without blank pages.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.docx)Intuitive step-by-step Mail Merge wizard for envelopes and labelsPrecise layout and formatting controls to eliminate blank pagesFree and lightweight Office alternative

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my mail merge keep adding a blank page at the end of the document?

This usually happens if there is an empty paragraph or an invisible section break at the very end of your main mail merge document. Turning on formatting marks will help you visually spot and delete the extra carriage returns.

Can I test my envelope mail merge without wasting physical envelopes?

Yes. Instead of selecting 'Print Documents', choose 'Edit Individual Documents' or 'Merge to New Document'. This generates a standard digital document showing exactly how the envelopes will print, allowing you to easily spot and troubleshoot blank pages before using your printer.

What if deleting the section break messes up my envelope layout?

If deleting a break severely alters your layout, the issue might be tied to your paragraph settings. Highlight your text, open Paragraph settings, navigate to the 'Line and Page Breaks' tab, and ensure 'Page break before' is unchecked.

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