What Kind of Printer Do I Need for Printing Labels?
by JoJo Mrgich
January 6, 2025
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Avery experts answer questions about using different printers for labels
“What kind of printer do I need to print my own labels?” is a common question for anyone printing labels for the first time. For the most part, the short answer is that the type of printer you use is not as important as making sure you have the right kind of labels to use with it. Specifically, using inkjet labels for inkjet printers and laser labels for laser printers. While this article will focus on printing labels, the information ahead can actually be applied to all printable Avery products too.
Of course, if you already know the type of printer you have, you can pick up the labels you need and get started printing labels now.
Indeed, our research and development (R&D) team carry on the innovative spirit of Stan Avery every day. Particularly by testing Avery printable labels with different printers. In fact, the Avery R&D team puts roughly 5 hours per day into print-testing different types of labels. That’s 1,300 hours per year!
Laser printers have cartridges with long blue cylinders, inkjet printers have CMYK wet ink cartridges.
Laser vs. inkjet printers
The main difference between laser and inkjet printers is the type of ink they use and how it sets or “dries.” Inkjet printers are pretty straightforward in that they use tiny nozzles to spray wet ink directly on paper. Or, on inkjet-printable label sheets. Products that are inkjet-printable absorb ink allowing it to sink in and dry.
In general, your printer manual should indicate whether your printer is laser or inkjet. However, if you don’t have the manual then the easiest way to tell what kind of printer you have is to look inside.
Laser printers have toner cartridges with distinctive long pale blue cylinders. In contrast, inkjet cartridges are containers with wet ink inside. In a color inkjet printer, you will see CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) ink cartridges.
Otherwise, refer to the printer manufacturer’s website, or contact them directly.
How to tell what kind of Avery labels you have
There are several ways to tell what kind of Avery labels you have and what type of printer they work with. First and foremost, check the packaging, it should be listed right on the front. If not, then try using your purchase history to view the label product page wherever you purchased your Avery labels.
Additionally, you can always look up Avery products on Avery.com as long as you have the product number. Label product pages on Avery.com certainly will list what kind of printer to use. Otherwise, give our Customer Care team a call at (800)462-8379 and they’d be happy to let you know what kind of Avery labels you have.
Why does the printer type matter?
Matching label and printer type is not just a matter of slight differences in quality. In truth, using mismatched printers and labels will ruin your labels and in some cases even damage your printer.
On one hand, laser printable label sheets are coated and treated to work with high heat and powdery toner. Ink sprayed from an inkjet printer will never absorb into the sheet and thus never dry. The ink will bleed, smear, and smudge.
On the other hand, inkjet printable label sheets (and other inkjet products) are not treated to work with heat. The heat from the laser printer can cause discoloring and melted materials. You definitely want to avoid melted materials that can get stuck in the printer and cause damage!
When printer type does NOT matter
Of course, there is one case when it doesn’t matter whether you have a laser or inkjet printer. Some Avery labels and other printable products are uniquely designed to work with both laser and inkjet printers. These are always listed as laser/inkjet or inkjet/laser on the packaging and product pages.
When you’re printing your own labels, you can shop Avery blank labels in packages (like you find in your favorite retail stores) or by the sheet. When shopping for packaged blank labels you can filter results by printer type.
Here is a step-by-step guide to buying the right Avery labels for your printer:
1. Go to “Products” in the main menu. Choose “In-Store Packs” from the three main icons.
2a. Desktop: Scroll down to view the filter section on the left side menu
2b. Mobile: Click the “Filter” button for filter options
3. Click the “Printer Type” filter
The “Laser” filter shows only printable labels designed to work in laser printers. The “Inkjet” filter will show only printable labels designed for use with inkjet printers. The “Laser/Inkjet” filter will take you to printable labels that can be used in either laser or inkjet printers.
NOTE: In general, laser printers are better for printing waterproof labels or a large quantity of labels with medium-quality color. In contrast, inkjet printers are better for photos and images with color depth and tonal range (i.e. photo quality).
Which type of printer is best for stickers?
Although “stickers” and “labels” mean two different things, the process & equipment for printing labels and printing stickers are essentially the same. It all comes back down to the material you’re printing on and end-use.
For example, if you want to print water-resistant removable stickers for decorating water bottles then printable removable decal sheets are the way to go. And, you can use them with both laser and inkjet printers! However, if you want to print waterproof vinyl stickers, we’ve got printable vinyl sheets for that. For truly waterproof stickers, use our vinyl sheets with laser printers only so that water won’t affect the print.
If you’re printing something like planner stickers or regular decorative stickers, there are two things to consider: quantity and quality. Firstly, how many stickers are you printing? Both laser and inkjet printers are great for printing stickers in small batches. However, if you’re planning on printing large quantities a laser printer is the better choice.
Secondly, how many colors are in your artwork, and what is the desired quality? An inkjet printer is best if you plan on printing photo stickers or designs with complex color depth and tonal range.
What kind of printer do I need for 4″ x 6″ label sheets
Generally speaking, both laser and inkjet printers can be used to print 4” x 6” labels. It’s not so much about the type of printer, but whether the specific model supports non-standard sheet sizes.
Likewise, the steps for printing non-standard sheets can vary by both make and model. Some printers may require that you change settings or simply adjust the printing guides.
To print on 4″ x 6″ label sheets, first, confirm with the manufacturer or the printer manual that the printer is compatible. Then follow the steps to check alignment, which we’ve covered in the video below.
How to align labels for printing
Whether you’re using an inkjet or laser printer, the way you will align labels for printing is the same. We’ll break them down further below, but here’s a summary of the 5 best steps to align your labels for printing backed by 90 years of label history at Avery:
Use the correct template.
Adjust paper scale to “100%” or “Actual Size.”
Print a test sheet on plain paper and compare.
Make adjustments to your design as needed.
Change paper type to “Labels,” “Heavyweight,” or “Cardstock.”
Use the correct template. Start by downloading the exact template for the labels you want to print. For Avery labels, the easiest way to do this is to go to Avery.com/templates and enter your product number. We format our templates to perfectly match the label sheets for proper alignment.
Adjust paper scale to “100%” or “Actual Size.” This ensures that the labels print at the correct dimensions and align properly within the sheet and cut lines. By choosing adjusting your paper scale properly you will get the most consistent sizing and avoid misalignment.
Print a test sheet on plain paperand compare. Place your test sheet on top of the label sheet you want to print on. Hold them both up to the light to check that your designs line up with the labels.
Make adjustments to your design as needed. If your labels or designs align the way you want, this is a great point to pause. Go ahead and make any necessary adjustments and try again.
Change paper type to “Labels,” “Heavyweight,” or “Cardstock.” When you make one of these choices in your printer settings, the printer will adjust for thicker material. This is important so that your label sheets move smoothly through the printer.
Learn more about printing Avery products
If the one thing you take away from this article is to match the label type to the printer type, you are already on the road to printing success! And even more so if you follow our expert tips above for aligning your labels. However, we have a lot more resources to help you print every project perfectly. For example, our printing tips video and the best printer settings for Avery labels and cards.
JoAnn (JoJo) Mrgich is a copywriter and SEO content writer who began her
copywriting career in 2011. A musical theater major at the time, JoJo began writing blog articles, product descriptions, and other online content for a dancewear brand.
Since then, she has gone on to write in a variety of fields, from essential oils and natural beauty to fashion and swimwear, finally landing at Avery, which she affectionately calls her "forever home."
At Avery, JoJo writes content for the Avery blog, covering everything from
organization to party planning, as well as contributing to other online content for avery.com. She is also a technical and content writer for Avery Industrial, where she writes in-depth articles that span a wide variety of topics, from safety compliance to 5S lean practices.
In her personal life, JoJo is a big fan of fantasy and science-fiction works such as Lord of the Rings and Star Trek (especially the original series). She also loves going to Disneyland and runs a non-profit social organization of 600 members that brings fans of "nerd culture" together for meet-ups and events in Southern California.
View all posts by JoJo Mrgich
2 thoughts on “What Kind of Printer Do I Need for Printing Labels?”
Hi Rachael,
As long as you use the correct printer type (inkjet or laser) for the product you are using, your Avery products should print successfully. We don’t recommend specific models, however, printers that have a straight paper-feed path and not a U-turn seem to have an advantage when printing labels. But check the printer manufacturers’ websites. Printing on labels is not recommended for some Brother printers.
Also, since the products you’re printing are non-standard sizes (4″ x 6″ or 4″ x 11″ or half-sheet size), not all printers can feed those sheets. So check for a printer that can handle small sheets.
If you have further questions, please reach out to our Customer Care team at 800-942-8379 and they’ll be happy to help you.
My laser printer is not working so we are buying a new one. We would like to continue to use the Avery 5209 4×6 labels. What type of printer should I get?
Hi Rachael,
As long as you use the correct printer type (inkjet or laser) for the product you are using, your Avery products should print successfully. We don’t recommend specific models, however, printers that have a straight paper-feed path and not a U-turn seem to have an advantage when printing labels. But check the printer manufacturers’ websites. Printing on labels is not recommended for some Brother printers.
Also, since the products you’re printing are non-standard sizes (4″ x 6″ or 4″ x 11″ or half-sheet size), not all printers can feed those sheets. So check for a printer that can handle small sheets.
If you have further questions, please reach out to our Customer Care team at 800-942-8379 and they’ll be happy to help you.
My laser printer is not working so we are buying a new one. We would like to continue to use the Avery 5209 4×6 labels. What type of printer should I get?