Printing guide
Avery place card alignment checklist
Avery place-card sheets are unforgiving because the cards are already cut or scored. The goal is simple: make the PDF match the physical sheet, then stop your printer from scaling it.
The six checks that prevent wasted sheets
- 1. Choose the exact Avery product number printed on your package.
- 2. Download the PDF for that product number, not a generic card sheet.
- 3. Print one plain-paper test page before loading the Avery stock.
- 4. Set the print dialog to 100 percent, actual size, or no scaling.
- 5. Hold the plain-paper test behind a blank Avery sheet and check the corners.
- 6. Only load the good stock after the test lands inside every card.
Printer settings to look for
Use actual size
In most print dialogs, choose 100 percent, actual size, or no scaling. Avoid fit, shrink oversized pages, and scale to printable area.
Avoid borderless mode
Borderless printing often expands the page slightly. That can push names toward the cuts even when the PDF is correct.
Test on plain paper
Print one test page with boundaries visible, hold it behind a blank Avery sheet, and check all four corners of the first and last cards.
Load sheets consistently
Feed the stack the same way each time and tighten the tray guides so the sheet does not drift from page to page.
Choose the right Avery layout
A file for one product number will not reliably line up on another. Start from the exact page for your stock, then print the test from the maker.
Common alignment questions
Why are my Avery place cards printing too high or too low?
The most common cause is printer scaling. Turn off fit-to-page, shrink-to-fit, and borderless expansion, then print at 100 percent or actual size.
Should I print cut lines on Avery sheets?
Usually no. Avery sheets are already cut or scored, so printed cut lines can land across the finished cards. Use lines only on a plain-paper test.
Do I need a different template for each Avery number?
Yes. Avery 5302, 5371, 16109, and L7163 use different sheet layouts. Use the exact number on your package.
What if the test is consistently shifted in one direction?
First confirm the PDF is printing at actual size. If it is still shifted, check paper tray alignment and make sure the sheet is loaded against the correct tray guide.
Make a test sheet for your Avery stock
Choose the product number, add a few sample names, and print one plain-paper test before using the real sheets.
Pick an Avery layout