Letter vs A4 label sheets: why 5160 is not L7160
Label sheets come in two page sizes, and the layouts on them were designed separately. That's why a US template almost never lines up on a European sheet, even when the labels look similar.
Short answer: US label codes (5160, 5163, 8160…) are laid out on Letter paper, 8½ × 11 in. UK and European codes (L7160, L7163, J8160…) are laid out on A4, 210 × 297 mm. The label sizes and positions differ too, so always use the template for the exact code on your box, and set the printer to the same paper size.
The two page sizes
| US Letter | A4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Size in inches | 8.5 × 11 in | 8.27 × 11.69 in |
| Size in millimetres | 215.9 × 279.4 mm | 210 × 297 mm |
| Compared with the other | 5.9 mm wider, 17.6 mm shorter | 5.9 mm narrower, 17.6 mm taller |
| Where it's standard | USA, Canada, Mexico and some other countries in the Americas | Most of the rest of the world, including the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa |
| Avery codes | 4-digit codes such as 5160, 8160, 5163 | L7xxx (laser) and J8xxx (inkjet) |
A4 is a metric size from the ISO 216 series; its sides have a 1 : √2 ratio so it halves into A5 neatly. Letter is a traditional inch size. Neither is a scaled copy of the other, so you can't convert between them just by zooming.
How the codes relate
Within each region the numbering is tidy:
- US: 5xxx codes are for laser printers and 8xxx codes are the inkjet versions of the same layout. 5160 and 8160 are identical sheets; so are 5163 and 8163.
- UK/EU: L7xxx is laser and J8xxx is inkjet, with the last digits shared. L7160 and J8160 are identical; so are L7163 and J8163.
Between the regions there is no such rule. The similar-looking numbers are a coincidence of history, not a conversion: 5160 and L7160 are both three-across address labels, but the labels are different sizes and there are 30 per sheet against 21.
Closest A4 match for common US sizes
If you're used to a US code and need the nearest A4 sheet, or the other way round, these are the closest matches by size and purpose. None of them is identical, so you still need the right template for whichever one you buy.
| US code (Letter) | US label size | Closest A4 code | A4 label size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5160 / 8160 (30 per sheet) | 66.7 × 25.4 mm | L7160 / J8160 (21) or L7159 (24) | 63.5 × 38.1 mm / 63.5 × 33.9 mm |
| 5162 (14) | 101.6 × 33.9 mm | L7162 (16) | 99.1 × 33.9 mm |
| 5163 / 8163 (10) | 101.6 × 50.8 mm | L7173 (10) | 99.1 × 57 mm |
| 5164 / 8164 (6) | 101.6 × 84.7 mm | L7166 (6) | 99.1 × 93.1 mm |
| 5165 (1) | 8½ × 11 in full sheet | L7167 (1) | 199.6 × 289.1 mm |
Notice the pattern: US labels are often 4 in (101.6 mm) wide, while their A4 counterparts are 99.1 mm, because A4 is narrower. A4 sheets are taller, so they sometimes fit an extra row. The full list with layouts is in the Avery label sizes chart.
What goes wrong when you mix them
Right template, wrong paper setting
If the PDF is A4 but the printer is set to Letter (or the other way round), the printer has to do something with the difference. It will usually either crop the edge that doesn't fit or shrink the whole page:
- A4 PDF shrunk to fit Letter paper: the height has to go from 297 to 279.4 mm, a reduction to about 94%. By the bottom of the sheet the labels are more than a centimetre off.
- Letter PDF shrunk to fit A4 paper: the width has to go from 215.9 to 210 mm, about 97%. Smaller, but still several millimetres of drift by the far edge.
- No shrinking, just cropping: a Letter page on A4 loses about 6 mm on the right; an A4 page on Letter loses about 18 mm at the bottom.
The fix is to set the print dialog's paper size to match the sheet, and keep the scale at 100%. Our alignment guide covers that in detail.
Wrong template on the right paper
Printing a 5160 layout on an L7160 sheet fails even with perfect printer settings: the 5160 template places 10 rows of 25.4 mm labels, the sheet has 7 rows of 38.1 mm labels. Text will cross the gaps between labels from the second row onwards. Pick the code that is printed on your box.
If you have the “wrong” sheets for your country
It's common to end up with Letter label sheets in an A4 country (ordered online, brought from abroad) or the reverse. You can still print on them:
- Pick the template for the code on the box in the label generator. It sets the PDF page size to match the sheet, Letter or A4.
- In the print dialog, choose that paper size, even if it isn't your usual one. Most printers accept both Letter and A4 in the main tray; adjust the paper guides to the sheet width.
- Set scale to 100% / Actual size and do a plain-paper test print first.
If your printer refuses the paper size or keeps asking you to load different paper, check the tray's paper size setting on the printer itself or in its software.
Other brands
Many supermarket and office brands sell sheets marked as compatible with a particular Avery code. If the packaging says “compatible with L7160” or “same size as 5160”, use that template. If it only lists the label size and count, choose Custom and enter the page size, label size, columns and rows. The sizes chart shows how to work out margins and gaps with a ruler.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an Avery 5160 template on A4 labels?
No. 5160 is laid out for Letter paper with 30 labels of 2⅝ × 1 in. A4 address sheets such as L7160 have 21 labels of 63.5 × 38.1 mm, so the rows won't line up. Use the template for the code on your A4 box.
What is the UK equivalent of Avery 5160?
There isn't an exact one. The closest A4 sheets for the same job are L7160 (21 labels, 63.5 × 38.1 mm) and L7159 (24 labels, 63.5 × 33.9 mm). Both are three labels across like 5160, but taller and fewer per sheet.
Is J8160 the same as L7160?
Yes, the same layout: 21 labels of 63.5 × 38.1 mm on A4. J8160 is made for inkjet printers and L7160 for laser printers, so pick the one that matches your printer and use the L7160 template for either.
How do I know if my label sheet is Letter or A4?
Check the code on the box: 4-digit codes such as 5160 or 8163 are Letter, codes starting with L7 or J8 are A4. If there is no code, measure the sheet: Letter is 215.9 mm wide and 279.4 mm tall, A4 is 210 mm wide and 297 mm tall.