How to print on envelopes

Whether you’re preparing your own wedding invitations or sending greetings cards, printing your own envelopes is sure to elevate your stationery and impress the recipient. 

But beyond that, printing your own envelopes can be a cost-effective way of producing bespoke correspondence – because when that envelope hits the doormat, you’re showing the recipient that you have taken the time and effort to create a personalised envelope just for them. 

While printing your own envelopes is both practical and beautiful, it’s not always easy, which is why we’ve put this handy guide together. 

Today we’ll walk through key considerations before you begin to print and then outline the key steps on how to print on envelopes. Let’s get started. 

What to consider before you print on envelopes 

While you might be eager to start printing, there are a few key things you must consider before you begin. 

Envelope size 

The envelope size will impact your design and could affect the way you load your printer or adjust its settings when you start printing. Whether it’s a C6 or C7, it’s a good idea to decide on your envelope size as early as possible in the process. 

Tip: more common sizes – such as a C5 envelope, roughly half the size of A4 – may be easier to print on at home. Do remember that some sizes may not fit in a domestic printer. 

Want to work out exactly what size envelope you’ll need? See our handy guide on types of envelopes, their sizes and uses here. 

Paper quality and type 

The paper can also dictate your design and printing method. While it’s uncommon to use them anyway, try to avoid heavyweight paper and card envelopes for home printing, as a domestic printer will often struggle to feed them through the mechanism. 

You may also want to consider the colour of the envelopes at this stage and the colour of ink you’ll print in. While a white envelope with black ink is a classic look, will you opt for a coloured envelope and ink? 

Tip: most home printers can’t print white ink onto a dark envelope, so unless you have a specialist machine, we suggest steering clear of this colour combination. 

For more on paper type see our handy paper GSM guide here. 

Postal guides 

While poorly addressed envelopes do sometimes find their way to the recipient, when it comes to a wedding invite, RSVP or any other special correspondence, it’s not worth the risk. 

Be sure to follow guidelines for formatting your design and the address. This means factoring in how much space you’ll have around the main address, where you’ll position the return address and more. 

Tip: leave space for the postage stamp at the top right of the envelope, on the same side as the address. 

If you need more help on how to address an envelope for both national and international post, you can find that here. 

Check your tech 

Every printer is different, so be sure to check what yours is and is not capable of. Check your printer’s manual for envelope compatibility and look for specific paper feed instructions for envelopes. 

Tip: if you’re using a file sent by a designer, make sure you can open it and that your tech is capable of printing it.  

The design 

Whether you’re hand drawing the design yourself, using a programme such as Canva or Word, or if you’re using a professional designer, this should be the most fun part of the process.  

While this may seem obvious, be sure your design is completely finished before you start printing. Any last-minute changes can often lead to printing errors, which may take longer to fix. And of course, make sure you’re happy with your design – it is, after all, meant to reflect you. 

Tip: check the design and check it again. Taking your time at this stage of the preparation process will save you time, effort and energy when it comes to printing. 

How to print envelopes on a printer 

Step one: prepare your design 

Take the time to double-check your design. If it’s in a creative programme such as Photoshop or Canva, you’ll most likely need to export it to a file such as a PDF before you can print – you should do this now. Then, check the file you’re going to print for any errors, including spelling if necessary. 

Step two: adjust printing settings 

Open your design file, then go to File > Print and select your printer. Where you can choose your paper size, select your envelope size or create a custom size if possible. Choose Manual Feed if your printer requires it for envelopes. 

Step three: load envelope 

Locate the feed or manual tray and place your envelope in the slot, making sure it’s the correct way. 

Tip: this step will depend on the type of printer you have, so read the printer’s manual carefully to understand exactly how to load your envelope. 

Step four: test, test, test 

With your envelope loaded into the printer, it’s time to print a test. Once the test is done, note any improvements you need to make, whether that’s the placement of the envelope in the printer or the design itself. 

Tip: while test printing on an envelope lets you see your design in situ, if you’re low on envelopes you can use a similar weight paper instead. 

Step five: it’s time to print 

Once you’re happy with your test, it’s time to print your envelope. Be sure to check each one for printing errors as it comes out and be sure to let the ink rest and dry before you handle it. 

Final thoughts on how to print envelopes 

The process of printing your own envelopes can be a tricky one. It’s time-consuming and takes a little work but when you get it right, you’re sure to charm your guests or whoever you’re writing to. 

Not only does printing your envelopes give you complete control over your design and aesthetic – allowing for full customisation of your correspondence – but it also offers a more affordable way to produce personalised stationery. 

If you can master the art of printing your own envelopes, you’re sure to impress whoever picks up the finished piece. 

Do you have more questions on how to print on envelopes or other DIY stationery? 

Do you have questions about how to print envelopes? Or maybe you want to know more about card making or DIY wedding stationery? Get in touch today. 

At Paperbox, we love helping people craft their dream stationery. From the perfect envelope to the smallest ribbon, let us help you take your creations to a whole new level.