Guide

How to print on a partially used label sheet

Skip labels that are already gone, confirm the feed direction, and print only on the unused positions that remain.

Last updated: July 12, 2026

When a label sheet is safe to reuse

Inspect the sheet before it goes near the printer. The remaining labels should lie flat, the release liner should be intact, and no adhesive should be exposed. Do not reuse a sheet with lifting label corners, a torn backing, heavy curl, creases, or adhesive residue. A loose edge can catch inside the printer.

Some printer manufacturers advise using label stock only once. Check your printer manual, especially if the paper path bends sharply or uses heat. A rear straight-through feed is usually gentler than a tight cassette path.

How label positions are numbered

The maker numbers positions in reading order: left to right across the first row, then left to right across the next row. Label 1 is the top-left position in the portrait preview. On a 30-up Avery 5160 sheet, labels 1 through 3 form the first row, and label 4 begins the second row.

That on-screen numbering does not tell you which physical edge your printer pulls first. Mark a plain sheet with an arrow, print one word, and note which side and edge the printer used. Load the label sheet to match.

Print only on labels that remain

1. Open the exact template. Use the Avery number on the package, such as Avery 5160, Avery 5163, or Avery 5167.
2. Add your labels. Type the text, upload artwork, or import a CSV as usual.
3. Set Start at label. Enter the number of the first unused position. Earlier positions stay blank in the preview and export.
4. Check the preview. Confirm that every filled position still has a physical label on the sheet.
5. Print a plain-paper test. Use Actual Size or 100%. Hold the test behind the label sheet against a light.
6. Load one sheet. Match the tested orientation and use the straightest available paper path.

Example: the first six labels are gone

On a 3-column Avery 5160 sheet, six used labels equal the first two complete rows. Set Start at label to 7. The first two rows remain blank on screen, and the next address or design begins in the left position of row three.

If used labels are scattered rather than consecutive, start with the first remaining position and click individual cells in the preview to blank any additional missing positions. Always compare the final preview with the physical sheet.

Settings that prevent alignment errors

• Choose the same paper size as the template, usually US Letter for common Avery products.
• Use Actual Size or 100%, not Fit, Shrink, or Scale to printable area.
• Turn off browser headers and footers.
• Use the correct portrait or landscape orientation.
• Print one sheet at a time when the liner has missing labels.
• Use printer calibration only after confirming scale and feed direction.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put a used Avery label sheet through a printer again?

Often yes, if the sheet is flat and intact with no lifting edges or exposed adhesive. Check the printer manual first. Stop if the sheet curls, catches, or feeds unevenly.

How do I skip labels that were already used?

Choose the exact template and set Start at label to the first unused position. The preview leaves earlier positions blank. You can also blank individual cells when missing labels are not consecutive.

Which label is number 1?

Label 1 is the top-left position in the portrait preview. Confirm the printer feed edge with a marked plain-paper test before loading the real sheet.

Can a sheet with random missing labels be reused?

Yes, if it is physically safe. Set the first unused position, then blank any later missing cells individually. The on-screen sheet should match the physical sheet before printing.

What to read next

For exact dimensions and compatible product numbers, see the Avery label sizes chart. For scaling, paper, and printer troubleshooting, read how to print stickers at home and the Avery 5160 setup guide.