Can I Use Avery Laser Labels in an Inkjet Printer? (Full Guide)

If you’ve ever shopped for printable labels, you’ve probably noticed that Avery offers two main types: laser labels and inkjet labels. At first glance, they look almost identical — same size, same layout, same sheets. So many people ask the same question:

Can I use Avery laser labels in an inkjet printer?

The short answer is: It’s not recommended.
But the long answer explains why, what can go wrong, and what to use instead to get crisp, smudge-free printing.

This guide breaks everything down so you print safely and get the best results without damaging your printer or wasting labels.

Why Laser Labels Are Not Made for Inkjet Printers

Laser labels are engineered specifically for laser printers, which use heat and toner. Inkjet printers use liquid ink, which behaves completely differently when it touches the label surface.

Here’s what happens:

1. Laser Labels Don’t Absorb Ink

Laser labels have a smooth coating designed to bond with toner particles using heat.
Inkjet printers spray microscopic drops of liquid ink. Because the coating on laser labels is not absorbent, the ink:

  • sits on the surface
  • smears easily
  • doesn’t dry properly
  • can wipe off with your finger

This leads to blurry text, streaks, faded barcodes, and unreadable addresses.

2. Risk of Ink Pooling

When the ink cannot dry, it begins to pool, especially in dark areas like logos or barcodes.
Packages scanned by USPS, UPS, DHL, or Amazon may fail during processing.

3. Low Print Durability

Even if your print looks “okay” at first, the ink can smear when:

  • touched
  • exposed to moisture
  • rubbed in transit
  • stacked together

That is why shipping labels printed on laser-only sheets often show smudged or unreadable text after a few hours.

What Could Happen to Your Printer?

Using laser labels in an inkjet printer doesn’t usually destroy the printer, but it can cause:

1. Ink Transfer Inside the Printer

Smearing ink may rub off onto:

  • feed rollers
  • print heads
  • internal guides

This can cause streaks on future prints or clogged print heads.

2. Paper Jams

Laser labels are sometimes thicker or have coatings that don't move smoothly through inkjet systems.
This can become a jam — especially for older or compact home printers.

3. Wasted Ink and Labels

Poor adhesion and drying issues create unusable prints, wasting both ink and label sheets.

Why Inkjet Labels Work Better

Inkjet labels are made with a special porous surface coating.
This allows ink droplets to:

  • absorb quickly
  • dry immediately
  • stay sharp and smudge-free

That’s why inkjet printer users should always choose Inkjet or Laser/Inkjet Compatible labels.

These labels are:

  • water-resistant
  • smear-free
  • optimized for barcode clarity
  • great for dark text and high-contrast designs
  • cost-effective for high-volume printing

If you ship packages, run an Etsy shop, eBay store, or print Amazon or Shopify shipping labels often, inkjet-friendly labels are the safest choice.

What About “Laser/Inkjet Compatible” Labels?

Good news! Many modern label brands — like the ones on Svel Goods — offer dual-use labels.

These labels work perfectly in:

  • laser printers
  • inkjet printers

They are coated to accept liquid ink and withstand the heat of toner-based laser printing.

If you only want one type of label for both printers, choose Laser & Inkjet Printer Labels.

Avery’s Official Recommendation

Avery specifically states that:

  • Laser labels should only be used in laser printers
  • Inkjet labels should only be used in inkjet printers

Because the surface coatings and adhesives are engineered differently, cross-usage reduces print quality significantly.

So while it may work occasionally, the results will be poor and unpredictable.

When It’s Absolutely Not OK to Use Laser Labels in Inkjet Printers

You should avoid using laser-only labels if you are printing:

1. Shipping Labels

Smudged labels can cause delivery failures.

2. Barcode Labels

Inkjet ink must be absorbed for barcodes to be scannable.

3. Product Labels

Moisture or touch may damage the print.

4. Any Official Document or Return Label

Courier services often reject unreadable or faded labels.

When It Might Be “Fine”

If you’re printing something:

  • temporary
  • non-important
  • not handled much

…then using laser labels might work just enough.
But the results still won’t match the clarity of inkjet-compatible labels.

So What Should You Use Instead?

If you use an inkjet printer, always choose:

✔ Inkjet Labels

OR

✔ Laser & Inkjet Compatible Labels

These ensure:

  • crisp, sharp printing
  • smudge-free performance
  • fast drying
  • no printer issues
  • scanner-readable barcodes

If you run a small business, home office, or shipping operation, this improves efficiency and reduces risk.

Final Answer

Can you use Avery laser labels in an inkjet printer?
Technically yes — but you shouldn’t.

Laser labels are not designed to absorb liquid ink, causing:

  • smudging
  • poor print quality
  • unreadable barcodes
  • wasted labels
  • possible printer contamination

For the best results, always use inkjet-compatible labels or dual laser/inkjet labels.

Back to blog