Print Envelopes and Avery/Dymo Labels from OS X Contacts

A hidden feature of Mac OS is Contacts’ built-in envelope and label printing. To print, simply open the Contacts app, select the entry (or entries) you wish to print an envelope or label for, and choose “Print” from the “File” menu. To choose between printing envelopes and labels (among others) choose it from the “Style” drop down menu. Unfortunately, printing is rarely easy so there are a few things you should be aware of:

  • If printing envelopes your printer must support printing to envelopes. Most but not all do.
  • You will likely need to load envelopes or label paper into your printer first. Most printers have an icon in the paper trays or slots. Rotate and flip your envelope or label paper to match the icon. Refer to your printer manual if you are unsure.
  • If you don’t see all of the options that are in my screenshot, click the “Show Details” button
  • For envelopes you will most likely need to change the “Layout” to “Official 10” which is the standard No. 10 envelope used in the US. Or choose whatever envelope might be appropriate for your needs.
  • It doesn’t appear that there is a way to choose which labels your addresses get printed on. This could be annoying if you have a tendency to print a few labels, and then re-use the sheet later.
  • If your recipient has multiple addresses the default is that all address are printed. Choose a specific address in the “Label” tab of the print dialog box.
  • You can add an image to your return address of your envelope, such as a logo or photo. Look in the “Label” tab of the print dialog box. Unfortunately as of OS X 10.9.1 this doesn’t seem to stick so you’ll need to choose the image file each time you print.
  • If the envelope prints off 90˚, change the orientation in the “Orientation” tab of the print dialog box.

Envelope Printing