Mail Merge in Google Docs: How to Make Labels

Google Docs does not have a mail merge for label sheets. You will not find a Labels option in the menus, and Google's mail merge feature is built for email. You can still print a list of addresses on sticker sheets. You just need a different tool to do the merge.

This guide explains what Google offers today, and then shows four ways to make labels from a list.

What Google's mail merge does

Gmail has a mail merge feature. You write one email, add merge tags such as @firstname, and Gmail sends a separate copy to each person on your list. Google's help page lists the Google Workspace plans that can use it, including Business Standard, Business Plus and the Enterprise and Education editions. Standard personal Gmail accounts are not on that list.

Gmail mail merge sends email. It does not print. It also does not place text into the cells of a label sheet. If you search for "mail merge google docs" and want labels, the Gmail feature will not help you print them.

Google Contacts has a feature called labels too. Those are contact groups, not sticker sheets. Adding a contact group to the To line in Gmail fills in every person in that group.

Option 1: Build a table by hand

This is free, and it works for a short list. Google Docs can make a table the same size as your label sheet, and you type one label in each cell.

The steps are in our guide to how to make labels in Google Docs. In short:

1. Find the label size and the number of labels across and down. For example, Avery® 5160 has 3 columns and 10 rows, with labels 1 inch by 2⅝ inches.
2. Click File, then Page setup, and select Pages. Set the paper size to Letter or A4.
3. Insert a table with the same number of rows and columns.
4. Click Format, then Table, then Table options, and enter the width and height of one label.
5. Type one label in each cell.

This method is slow for a long list. Every address has to be typed or pasted into its own cell.

Option 2: Use a Google Workspace add-on

An add-on adds a label tool inside Google Docs or Sheets. Three add-ons people search for are Labelmaker, Avery Label Merge and Foxy Labels. We name them only so you can find them. We have not tested them, and we cannot promise their prices or features.

To find an add-on, open a document, click Extensions, then Add-ons, then Get add-ons. Read the add-on's page before you install it, and check what data it asks to read.

Option 3: Use Avery Design & Print Online

Avery® Design & Print Online is a free tool from Avery, and it runs in your browser. Avery's help pages say you can import a spreadsheet for mail merge. The supported file types are .xls, .xlsx and .csv.

The import steps, from Avery's help article, are:

1. Click Import Data in the left menu, then Start Import/Merge.
2. Click Browse for File and choose your spreadsheet.
3. In Choose Fields, clear the header checkbox if your top row holds headings.
4. Drag the fields onto the label, then click Next, then Finish.

To use a Google Sheet, Avery's help says you can connect Google Drive as the source. If that fails, download the sheet as a .csv or .xlsx file and upload it. Avery's help also says a Numbers file must be exported as .csv first.

If you use Avery's tool, you will need an Avery account to save your work. Read our full comparison in the alternatives guide if you want to compare tools side by side.

Option 4: Paste your list into LabelPeel

LabelPeel is a free label tool, free while in beta. It makes one label for each row of your list, so it works like a mail merge for labels.

1. In Google Sheets, select the rows, including the heading row, and copy them.
2. Open LabelPeel and paste the rows. It guesses which columns go on the label, and you can change them.
3. Choose your sheet, such as Avery® 5163 for shipping labels or Avery® 5160 for addresses.
4. Check the preview, then print.

You can try it on the home page without an account. To save a project, make a free account. The Sheets steps are in how to print labels from Google Sheets.

Which option should you pick?

Prices and features change, so check each tool's page before you commit.

Common problems

The labels do not line up. Print at 100% or Actual size, not Fit to page. Check that the paper size matches the sheet. For more fixes, read labels not lining up.

The import fails. Save the file as a .csv and try again. Remove blank rows and special characters from the heading names.

Some labels are empty. Check that the table or label sheet has enough cells for your list.

The text is cut off. Make the font smaller, or check that the label size matches the sheet.

Next steps

Pick the option that fits your list. For a short list, a table works. For a list in Google Sheets, a label tool is faster. For Word users, read how to print labels in Word. You can browse all label sheets to find the right size.