Erin Wright Writing

Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Print an Envelope in Microsoft Word (Basic Method)

By

This tutorial shows the basic method to print an envelope in Microsoft Word. These steps include (a) adding the recipient and return addresses, (b) changing the envelope size, fonts, and address positions, and (c) reviewing the print settings.

We will cover the advanced processes for adding images to envelopes and using mail merge to simultaneously print envelopes to multiple recipients in separate tutorials.

Table of Contents:

All the steps listed here are demonstrated in real-time on my YouTube channel:

https://youtu.be/OGMQG1Ky-PI

The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016. These steps don’t apply to Word for Mac, Word for the web or Word for mobile.

Important Note: Printing envelopes in Microsoft Word can be a bit tricky at first. Therefore, you may want to have a few extra envelopes available in case you have to make adjustments.

How to Add the Recipient and Return Addresses

  1. Select Mailings in the ribbon.
  2. Select Envelopes in the Create group.
Envelopes button in Word 365
Figure 1. Envelopes button
  1. Enter the recipient’s address into the Delivery address text box in the Envelopes and Labels dialog box.
  2. Enter the return address into the text box. (Select Omit if you don’t want to include a return address.)
Delivery address and Return address in the Envelopes and Labels dialog box in Word 365
Figure 2. Delivery address and Return address text boxes

How to Change the Envelope Size, Fonts, and Address Positions

  1. Select the Options button.
Options button in the Envelopes and Labels dialog box in Word 365
Figure 3. Options button
  1. Select an envelope size in the Envelope Options dialog box. (The default envelope size in the United States is a 10, which is 4 1/8 by 9 1/2 inches.)
  2. Select the Font button for the delivery or return address.
Envelope Size and Font buttons in the Envelope Options dialog box in Word 365
Figure 4. Envelope size and Font buttons
  1. Select a new font, style, size, and color from the Envelope Address or Envelope Return Address dialog box.
  2. Select the OK button.
Font options in the Envelope Address dialog box in Word 365
Figure 5. Font options and OK button
  1. Use the increment arrows in the From left and From top menus to move the delivery or return address to a new position on the envelope.

The movements will appear live in the Preview at the bottom of the dialog box.

Position menus in the Envelope Options dialog box in Word 365
Figure 6. From left and From top menus

How to Review the Print Settings and Print the Envelope

  1. Select the Printing Options tab.
  2. Review the image showing how the envelope should be loaded into your printer (i.e., face up or face down, vertically or horizontally loaded).

You can change these options. However, Word has likely selected the best options based on your printer.

  1. Select the OK button.
Printing options in the Envelope Options dialog box in Word 365
Figure 7. Printing options and OK button
  1. Ensure that your printer is turned on and the envelope is loaded in the tray.
  2. Select the Print button.
Print button in the Envelopes and Labels dialog box in Word 365
Figure 8. Print button
  1. Select the Yes or No button in the dialog box asking if you want to save the return address as the new default.
Save return address dialog box in Word 365
Figure 9. Save return address dialog box

One copy of your envelope should now print. If you want to print multiple copies, please see “How to Print Multiple Copies of an Envelope in Microsoft Word.”

Related Resources

How to Create Address Labels in Microsoft Word from an Excel File (PC & Mac)

How to Print Specific Pages and Sections in Microsoft Word

How to Create Printable Address Labels with Images in Microsoft Word

Updated April 06, 2025