Make your own labels for free by using programs already on your computer or by taking advantage of free trial offers. With a couple of clicks, you’re able to create labels to suit just about any shipping, sorting or sticking requirement.

Things You Will Need

  • Windows Paint

  • Microsoft Word

  • Microsoft Publisher

Using Paint

Open Paint, click the Paint button in the top-left corner of the screen and select “Properties.” Type your preferred label dimensions into the “Width” and “Height” boxes. For a standard address label, type “2.63” and “1” respectively. Click the “OK” button and Paint automatically resizes the screen.

Select a colored box from the “Colors” section of the toolbar to serve as the label’s text color. Click the “Text” tool, which looks like an “A” on the “Tools” section. Click the label and select a font and text size.

Type the label information, such as your name and address. Switch colors for each line of the label for a rainbow look or use one color for a more uniform appearance.

Select a new color from the “Colors” section and click the “Fill with color” tool, which looks like a tipping paint can, in the “Tools” section. Click the white area of the label to give it a background color.

Click the “File” menu, click “Save As,” type a name for the label and save it to your computer.

Using Word

Open Word or download a free trial. Click the “Mailings” tab at the top of the screen. Click the “Labels” button, which is the second button from the left on the ribbon/toolbar under the tab. The “Envelopes and Labels” window opens with the “Labels” tab highlighted. Click the sketch of the label in the bottom-right corner of the window.

Scroll through the preset label sizes and double-click one that matches your preferences. For standard address labels, choose the “30 per page” option. Click the “New Document” button and the window closes. A new Word document appears with a page of the labels broken up by label, though it may be hard to see their edges.

Click into the top left label on the page. Type the label information, such as “Granny’s Canned Goods.” Add additional lines of text as preferred, such as ingredients or a recipe. Highlight the words and click the “Home” tab at the top of the screen. Change the words’ appearance with the controls in the “Font” section of the ribbon/toolbar, including font, text color and text size.

Highlight all of the text on the first label and press the “Ctrl” and “C” keys together on the keyboard to copy it. Click into the other labels on the page and press “Ctrl” and “V” together to paste in the label information until all of the blank labels are filled.

Click the “File” tab, click “Save As,” give the label file a name and save it to your computer.

Using Publisher

Open Publisher or download a free trial. Click the “Labels” button in the middle of the “Available Templates” page. Scroll through the label styles, such as DVD labels and bumper stickers. Double-click a label template and it appears on the screen.

Click into one of the placeholder text boxes on the label. The text becomes highlighted. Type directly over it with your own, such as the title of the CD compilation or the name of the file folder.

Highlight the text and click the “Home” tab. Change the text’s appearance by changing the font, text size, text color and position. Repeat to type over and format the other text boxes on the label.

Click the “File” tab and select “Save As.” Name the label file and save it to your computer.

Tip

Windows Paint comes installed with every version of the Windows operating system. While it’s a basic sketching and drawing program and doesn’t have the in-program templates of the other software options, you’re able to make free labels of any size by adjusting the “Properties” section. Microsoft Word comes standard on every installation of the Microsoft Office Suite, so if you have the Suite installed, you’re able to use Word to make free labels. If you have the Microsoft Office Suite Professional version, you’ll have Publisher. If you don’t have the Suite at all, you’re still able to experiment with both programs by downloading a free trial. Try out Word and Publisher without investing any money in software and test the ease of label creation in each.