When you create labels in Microsoft Word, the page is really a table with one cell per label, but the lines between labels are often invisible. That makes it hard to see where each label starts and ends, especially when positioning text or images. Word can show these outlines on screen as gridlines without printing them. This guide shows how to display label lines, print visible borders if you want them, and fix labels that do not line up.
Quick Answer
Click anywhere inside the labels, open the Layout tab under Table Tools (or Table Layout), and click View Gridlines. Dotted lines appear around every label on screen, but they do not print.
Show Label Lines (Gridlines)
- Open your label document. If you have not created one yet, use Mailings > Labels, choose your label product under Options, and click New Document.
- Click inside any label.
- Click the Layout tab that appears at the right end of the ribbon (next to Table Design).
- Click View Gridlines.
This setting applies to all tables in Word and stays on until you turn it off.
Gridlines vs. Borders
| Gridlines | Borders | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Show label edges while editing | Visible lines on the printed labels |
| Print? | No | Yes |
| Where | Layout > View Gridlines | Table Design > Borders |
Print Visible Lines Around Labels
If you want printed outlines, for example on plain paper that you will cut by hand:
- Click inside the labels and use the table move handle (four-way arrow at the top-left) to select the whole table.
- Open Table Design and click Borders > All Borders.
- Choose a line style, color, and weight with Border Styles or Pen Color.
Avoid printed borders on pre-cut label sheets, since tiny alignment differences will make lines appear on the edges of labels.
Make Labels Line Up When Printing
- Choose the correct label product number in Mailings > Labels > Options. It is printed on the label package.
- Print a test page on plain paper and hold it behind a label sheet against a light.
- Print at 100% scale: in the print dialog, make sure scaling or fit-to-page is off.
- Check paper size: Letter vs. A4 mismatches shift labels.
- Adjust the label layout in Mailings > Labels > Options > Details to fine-tune margins and pitch if needed.
Troubleshooting
I do not see the Layout tab
Click inside a label first. The table tabs only appear when the cursor is in a table.
View Gridlines is on but I still see nothing
You may be in Read Mode or Web Layout. Switch to View > Print Layout.
Labels created with a template have no table
Some templates use text boxes or shapes. Their outlines appear when you click them; use Shape Format > Shape Outline to add visible borders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will label gridlines print?
No. Gridlines are only visible on screen.
How do I turn gridlines off?
Click View Gridlines again on the Layout tab.
Does this work on a Mac?
Yes. Click inside the labels, open Table Layout, and click View Gridlines.
Summary
- Click inside the labels.
- Open Layout and click View Gridlines.
- Add borders from Table Design only if you want printed lines.
- Print a test page to check alignment.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.