THE METHOD, MADE CLEAR
A sheet, a grid,
and clear margins.
Labelgrid lays out equal rectangular labels on one rectangular sheet. It produces an outline SVG and a coordinate list, rather than guessing a commercial product code or printer setting.
The measurements that define a sheet
Paper width and height describe the whole sheet. The four margins reserve space at its left, right, top and bottom edges. Label width and height describe one label. Column gutter is the horizontal gap between adjacent labels; row gutter is the vertical gap between adjacent rows. All of these measurements use the selected unit.
A4 is 210 × 297 mm. US Letter is 8.5 × 11 inches, equivalent to 215.9 × 279.4 mm. Custom sheets use your own width and height. Switching the measurement unit converts the current values so the physical layout stays the same; it does not turn a 210 mm paper width into 210 inches.
How the maximum fit is calculated
Usable width is paper width minus left and right margins. Usable height is paper height minus top and bottom margins. A grid of n labels occupies n label widths and n−1 gutters, because there is no gutter after its final label.
Usable width = paper width − left margin − right margin
Columns = floor((usable width + column gutter) ÷ (label width + column gutter))
Rows = floor((usable height + row gutter) ÷ (label height + row gutter))
Labels on sheet = columns × rows
The floor operation keeps only whole labels. The tool does not rotate labels or mix orientations to pack irregular gaps. Its result is one regular, top-left-anchored grid.
Worked example: 21 labels on A4
Start with 210 × 297 mm paper, left and right margins of 7 mm, and top and bottom margins of 10 mm. Usable space is 196 × 277 mm. Set each label to 63.5 × 38.1 mm, column gutter to 2.5 mm and row gutter to zero.
The column calculation is floor((196 + 2.5) ÷ (63.5 + 2.5)) = 3. The row calculation is floor(277 ÷ 38.1) = 7. The sheet holds 21 labels. Grid width is 195.5 mm, leaving 0.5 mm beyond the reserved right margin. Grid height is 266.7 mm, leaving 10.3 mm beyond the reserved bottom margin.
Coordinates and leftover space
The origin is the top-left corner of the paper. Each coordinate describes the top-left corner of a label. The first label begins at the left and top margins. Moving one column adds label width plus column gutter. Moving one row adds label height plus row gutter.
Label x = left margin + (column − 1) × (label width + column gutter)
Label y = top margin + (row − 1) × (label height + row gutter)
In the example, the second label starts at x = 7 + 63.5 + 2.5 = 73 mm, y = 10 mm. The first label in the second row starts at x = 7 mm, y = 48.1 mm. CSV coordinates always use millimetres, even if you entered inches, so one file has one unambiguous coordinate system.
Choosing a smaller grid
Leave Columns and Rows blank for the maximum fit. Enter a whole number in either field to use fewer columns or rows. Each manual count must be between one and its calculated maximum. A smaller grid is not centred automatically: it retains the same first label position, and extra space remains to its right and bottom. Adjust margins yourself if you want another anchor position.
Worked example: square labels on Letter paper
Use Letter paper, 0.25 inch margins on every side, 2 inch square labels, and 0.125 inch gutters. Usable space is 8 × 10.5 inches. Three columns fit, because (8 + 0.125) ÷ (2 + 0.125) is about 3.8235. Five rows fit exactly: (10.5 + 0.125) ÷ 2.125 = 5. The result is 15 labels.
What the SVG contains
The download has width and height in physical millimetres and a matching viewBox. Each label outline is positioned from the same millimetre coordinates used in the calculation. It has no embedded fonts, outside images, scripts or user content. The outlines are thin strokes centred on the calculated label edges, rather than pre-printed label artwork.
The SVG is useful as a measured starting layout in software that supports SVG. It is not a PDF, a mail-merge file, an adhesive cutting instruction, or a guarantee that another program will preserve its size. Some programs and browser print dialogs apply “fit to page” automatically. Check the imported document’s physical size and actual-size output.
Before printing on label stock
- Measure the real stock or use its exact specification; similar-looking sheets can have different offsets.
- Confirm paper orientation and tray settings in the printer.
- Use actual size or 100% scaling where the printing program provides that option.
- Print a test on plain paper and compare its geometry with the stock without removing adhesive backing.
- Check both initial alignment and alignment near the bottom of the page; a scaling error can accumulate across rows.
The site does not know your printer’s non-printable area, feed offset or calibration. Those need their own checks. The calculator rejects layouts without a complete label, label dimensions below 0.1 mm, and exports above 5,000 labels to keep the file and preview manageable.