Excel address labels mail merge

The classic combination of Excel, address labels, and mail merge!

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create address labels using Excel and mail merge:

Prerequisites:

1. Microsoft Excel 2010 or later version
2. Microsoft Word 2010 or later version
3. A list of addresses in an Excel spreadsheet

Step 1: Prepare your Excel spreadsheet

1. Create a new Excel spreadsheet or open an existing one.
2. Enter your list of addresses in a table format, with each column representing a field (e.g., First Name, Last Name, Street Address, City, State, ZIP Code).
3. Make sure to format the columns correctly, using the "Text" format for fields like First Name and Last Name, and the "General" format for fields like ZIP Code.

Step 2: Create a mail merge document in Word

1. Open Microsoft Word and create a new document.
2. Go to the "Mailings" tab in the ribbon.
3. Click on "Start Mail Merge" and select "Step-by-Step Mail Merge Wizard".
4. Follow the wizard's prompts to create a new mail merge document.

Step 3: Connect your Excel spreadsheet to the mail merge document

1. In the mail merge wizard, select "Use an existing list" and then "Excel spreadsheet".
2. Browse to your Excel spreadsheet and select it.
3. Choose the sheet that contains your address list.
4. Click "OK" to connect the spreadsheet to the mail merge document.

Step 4: Map the Excel fields to the mail merge fields

1. In the mail merge wizard, click on "Map Fields" to match the Excel fields to the mail merge fields.
2. Select the Excel columns that correspond to the mail merge fields (e.g., First Name, Last Name, Street Address, etc.).
3. Click "OK" to map the fields.

Step 5: Design your address label layout

1. In the mail merge wizard, click on "Label Options" to design your address label layout.
2. Choose the label size and orientation that suits your needs.
3. Add the fields you mapped in Step 4 to the label layout.
4. Adjust the layout as needed to ensure that the fields fit within the label boundaries.

Step 6: Preview and print your address labels

1. Click "Preview Results" to see how your address labels will look.
2. Make any necessary adjustments to the layout or field mappings.
3. Once you're satisfied, click "Print" to print your address labels.

Tips and Variations:

• Use the "Insert Merge Field" button in the mail merge toolbar to insert the Excel fields into your document.
• Use the "Format" button to adjust the font, size, and alignment of the fields.
• Use the "Conditional Formatting" feature to highlight specific fields or values.
• Use the "Mail Merge" feature to send your address labels as an email attachment or to print them directly to a printer.

By following these steps, you should be able to create professional-looking address labels using Excel and mail merge. Happy merging!