Create Customized Envelopes in Microsoft Word

The Envelopes and Labels wizard walks you through the process

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Creating envelopes in Microsoft Word is as simple as printing envelopes by hand. A special tool in the program automatically creates the envelopes for you. All you do is insert your return address and the recipient’s address. When you want to give your envelopes a personal touch or format envelopes to fit your brand, customize the look of the text.

The information in this article applies to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word for Mac.

How to Print a Custom Envelope

Envelopes can be set up to include delivery and return addresses. If you don't like the default settings for the envelope, customize it with a different font and different spacing between the text and the outside edge of the envelope. You can also change how the envelope is fed into the printer.

To create and print an envelope with the Word Envelopes and Labels tool:

  1. Go to the Mailings tab.

  2. In the Create group, select Envelopes.

    Envelopes button in Word
  3. In the Envelopes and Labels dialog box, go to the Envelopes tab, then enter a Delivery address and a Return address.

    If the recipient is in your Outlook Address Book, select the Address Book drop-down arrow and choose a contact.

    Delivery and Return addresses
  4. To change the look of the envelope, select Options to open the Envelope Options dialog box.

    Envelope Options tab
  5. To change the size of the envelope, go to the Envelope Options tab, select the Envelope size drop-down arrow, and choose a custom size.

    Envelope size options
  6. To use a different font for the delivery address or the return address, select Font to open the Envelope Address dialog box. Choose a font and select OK.

    Font options for Envelopes
  7. To change how the envelope is printed, go to the Printing Options tab. Then, choose a different orientation, direction, and feed source for your specific printer.

    The printer must be selected in advance; you cannot select a printer from the list.

    Printing Options tab
  8. Select OK after you've made all the customizations to the envelope.

  9. Insert blank envelopes into the printer. To find out which way to place the envelope, go to the Envelopes and Labels dialog box, select the Envelopes tab, and look at the Feed section, which is in the lower-right area of the window. The Feed shows how the envelope should be loaded.

    Feed section in Envelopes and Labels dialog
  10. In the Envelopes and Labels dialog box, select Print.

    If you use electronic postage software, Word will add the postage stamp to the envelope for you.

Add an Envelope to a Document

If you'd rather make changes and customize the envelope in a Word document, select Add to Document to insert the envelope as a new page (page zero) into the active document. Then, customize the envelope how you like.

Screenshot of envelope added to document in Word

Envelopes must conform to the Domestic Mail Manual and the International Mail Manual specifications, the postal regulations issued by the United States Postal Service. Envelopes must be free of clutter and superfluous text and graphics, and be machine- and human-readable.

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