How to Print Envelopes in Microsoft Word

This How to Print Envelopes in Microsoft Word tutorial is Suitable for users of Word 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word for Microsoft 365.  

Objective 

Use the Mailings tab in Word to create and print a single envelope or multiple envelopes stored in one document. 

Printing Envelopes in Microsoft Word Explained 

The number of letters created in Word annually is phenomenal, and it stands to reason that for every letter created, there is usually an envelope.  

Word provides utilities to help you create envelopes easily, print them, and save them for reuse. You can also include your return address on the envelope.  

Creating and Printing a Single Envelope 

Set up a return address 

If you want to include your return address on the envelope, this needs to be set up before you create the envelope.  

1. Click the File tab 

2. Click Options 

3. Click Advanced 

Scroll down, and under General, type your return address in the Mailing address box. 

The return address is stored in Word so that you can use it in other envelopes, labels, or documents.  

4. Click OK 

Check printing options 

It is always worth checking the printer options are set up correctly before sending a batch of envelopes to print.  

1. On the Mailings tab, in the Create group, click Envelopes 

2. Click Options 

3. Click the Envelope Options tab 

In the Envelope size box, click the choice that matches the size of your envelope. 

NOTE: If none of the options match your envelope size, scroll down to the bottom of the list and click Custom size and type in the specific dimensions of your envelope. 

4. Click the Printing Options tab. 

This is where you will find your printer driver settings, and the printer you are connected to will be shown at the top.  

The printer driver tells Word which way the envelope should be loaded into the printer. The feed method determines the position of the envelope and if the envelope should be loaded face up or face down. Word will determine the best options for you based on your printer and select those options for you.  

5. Load the envelope into the printer as indicated 

6. Click OK 

Before printing a batch of envelopes, try a test print of a single envelope.  

7. Type some test text into the Delivery address box 

Notice that the return address you set up in Word Options is now listed in the return address box. 

8. Click Print 

Verify that the envelope has printed correctly and if not, review your envelope settings in Word and printer information. If you continue to have printing problems, you may need to update your printer driver. 

Create and print an envelope 

Once you have successfully printed one envelope, you can now safely proceed with the real thing.  

1. On the Mailings tab, in the Create group, click Envelopes 

2. In the Delivery address box, type the mailing address 

NOTE: If you want to use an address you have stored off in the address book, click the Insert Address icon

3. If you want to format the delivery address, select the text, right-click and then click Font.  

4. In the Return address box, type the return address or use the preconfigured one. 

If you want to omit the return address from this envelope but want to keep it stored for future use, select the Omit checkbox.  

The preview will show you where the mailing address and the return address will be positioned on the envelope when you print it.  

5. Click Print 

Save the envelope for reuse 

If you want to save the envelope for reuse at another time 

1. Click Add to Document 

2. Click the File tab 

3. Click Save As 

4. Type in a name for the document 

If you want to save the envelope for reuse, click Add to Document, click the File tab, click Save As, and type a name for the document. 

Creating and Printing Multiple Envelopes 

There are a couple of different ways of creating and printing multiple envelopes. If you have a lot of envelopes to create, you may want to consider utilizing mail merge. See our tutorial on mail merge. 

However, if you have more than one envelope to print but not enough to justify a mail merge, you might want to consider creating all the envelopes in one document and then sending them to the printer.  

1. Create a new blank document 

2. On the Mailings tab, in the Create group, click Envelopes 

3. Add the Delivery address and Return address for the first recipient 

4. Click Add to Document 

5. On the Layout tab, in the Page Setup group, click Breaks 

6. Select Next Page in the Section Breaks group 

7. Repeat steps 2 to 6 for each new recipient 

The document containing all the envelopes can now be saved off for use later or printed. 

Other articles you might be interested in:

• How to Mail Merge in Word
• How to Print Labels in Word
• The Most Used Microsoft Word Shortcuts [Free Download]

Video Tutorial 

To see a demo of how to create and print envelopes in Microsoft Word, please watch the following video tutorial.

Creating and Print Envelopes in Microsoft Word Video (10:22) 

For more Free Microsoft Office tutorials from Simon Sez IT. Take a look at our MS Office Resource Center.

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Deborah Ashby

Deborah Ashby is a TAP Accredited IT Trainer, specializing in the design, delivery, and facilitation of Microsoft courses both online and in the classroom.She has over 11 years of IT Training Experience and 24 years in the IT Industry. To date, she's trained over 10,000 people in the UK and overseas at companies such as HMRC, the Metropolitan Police, Parliament, SKY, Microsoft, Kew Gardens, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP.She's a qualified MOS Master for 2010, 2013, and 2016 editions of Microsoft Office and is COLF and TAP Accredited and a member of The British Learning Institute.