For a contact list: Import the VCF into Outlook, select all contacts, go to File, Print and choose Table Style. For address labels: Convert the VCF to CSV (using a VCF to CSV converter), open Word, go to Mailings, Start Mail Merge, Labels, select your Avery product number (e.g., 5160), connect your CSV as the data source, insert merge fields and print. For a quick PDF printout: Convert VCF to PDF using a VCF to PDF converter and print from any PDF viewer.
Introduction
VCF files cannot be printed directly. They are structured text files with BEGIN:VCARD and END:VCARD blocks that do not render into a readable printed format without conversion first. To print contacts from a VCF file, you need to either import the contacts into an application that supports printing (like Outlook or Google Contacts) or convert the VCF to a printable format (PDF, CSV for labels or Excel for custom layouts).
The right approach depends on what you are printing. A simple contact list for reference is different from Avery address labels for a mailing campaign or envelopes for holiday cards. Each output requires a different conversion path from the original VCF data.
We have built VCF conversion tools at Univik since 2013 and handle print workflows for users who need contact lists, mailing labels and envelopes from VCF exports. This guide covers four methods to print VCF contacts, from a quick list printout to a full Avery label mail merge.
4 Ways to Print VCF Contacts
Method 1: Print a Contact List from Outlook (Fastest for a Quick List)
If you have Microsoft Outlook installed, this is the fastest way to get a printed contact list. Outlook imports VCF files and has built-in print styles designed for contacts.
1
Import VCF into Outlook. Go to File, Open and Export, Import/Export, Import a vCard file (.vcf). Select your VCF file and click Open. Repeat for each file or see our import VCF to Outlook guide for bulk import methods.
2
Select contacts to print. Navigate to People (or Contacts). Select all contacts you want to print (Ctrl+A for all or Ctrl+click for specific contacts).
3
Choose a print style. Go to File, Print. Outlook offers several contact print styles: Card Style prints each contact as a card with all fields, Small Booklet Style creates a compact phone-book format, Memo Style prints one contact per page with full details and Phone Directory Style prints a name-and-number list. Select the style that matches your needs and click Print.
Method 2: Convert VCF to PDF, Then Print (No Outlook Needed)
If you do not have Outlook or prefer a printable document file, convert the VCF to PDF first. The PDF preserves formatting and can be printed from any device.
1
Convert VCF to PDF. Use a VCF converter tool and select PDF as the output format. The converter creates a formatted document with each contact’s name, phone, email and address arranged in a readable layout. See our VCF to PDF guide for detailed steps.
2
Open and print the PDF. Open the PDF in any viewer (Adobe Reader, Chrome, Preview on Mac). Go to File, Print, adjust paper size and orientation and click Print.
Method 3: Print Avery Address Labels Using Word Mail Merge
This is the method for printing address labels from your VCF contacts. It uses Microsoft Word’s mail merge feature with a CSV file converted from your VCF data. The result is a sheet of Avery-compatible address labels ready for mailing.
Phase 1: Convert VCF to CSV
1
Convert your VCF file to CSV. Use a VCF to CSV converter or import the VCF into Google Contacts and export as Google CSV. Make sure the CSV has separate columns for First Name, Last Name, Street Address, City, State, ZIP Code and Country.
2
Clean the CSV in Excel or Google Sheets. Open the CSV and verify that address data is split into separate columns (not all in one field). Remove any contacts without addresses since they will create blank labels. Save as CSV UTF-8.
Phase 2: Set Up Mail Merge in Word
3
Open Word and start the mail merge. Go to Mailings tab, click Start Mail Merge, then Labels. In the Label Options dialog, set Label Vendor to “Avery US Letter” (or “Avery A4/A5” for international sizes), select your product number (e.g., 5160 for standard address labels), and click OK.
4
Connect to the CSV data source. Click Select Recipients, then Use an Existing List. Browse to your CSV file and click Open. If prompted, select Sheet1 and click OK. The Mail Merge Recipients dialog shows your contacts. Review and uncheck any you want to exclude, then click OK.
5
Insert merge fields into the first label. Click in the first label cell. Click Insert Merge Field and add fields in this order: First Name (space) Last Name (Enter), Street Address (Enter), City (comma, space) State (space) ZIP Code. You can also click Address Block for an automatic layout.
6
Apply to all labels. Click Update Labels to copy the field layout from the first label to every label on the sheet. Each label will pull data from the next row in your CSV.
7
Preview and print. Click Preview Results to see actual contact data in each label. Scroll through to verify formatting. When ready, click Finish and Merge, then Print Documents. Select All and click OK. Print a test page on plain paper first, then hold it against a label sheet to check alignment before printing on actual Avery labels.
Print on Plain Paper First
Always print a test sheet on regular paper before using Avery label sheets. Hold the test print behind a label sheet against a light source to verify that the text aligns with the label boundaries. Label sheets are expensive and misalignment wastes an entire sheet.
Method 4: Print Labels with Avery Design and Print Online (No Word Needed)
If you do not have Microsoft Word, Avery’s free browser-based tool (avery.com/templates) lets you upload a CSV and create labels without any software installation.
1
Convert VCF to CSV using the same steps as Method 3, Phase 1.
2
Go to avery.com/templates. Enter your Avery product number (e.g., 5160) and click Start Designing. Choose a blank template or a predesigned layout.
3
Import your CSV. In the left menu, click Import Data, then Start Import/Merge. Upload your CSV file. Drag and drop the data fields (First Name, Last Name, Address, City, State, ZIP) into the label layout.
4
Preview and print. The tool shows a preview of each label with your contact data. Adjust font size and positioning if needed. Click Print to generate a PDF that you download and print. Avery Design and Print accepts CSV, XLS and XLSX files.
Method Comparison Table
| Criteria | Outlook Print | VCF to PDF | Word Mail Merge | Avery Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Output type | Contact list | Formatted PDF page | Avery labels, envelopes | Avery labels |
| Requires | Outlook | Converter tool + PDF viewer | Word + Excel/CSV | Browser only |
| Best for | Quick reference printout | Formatted directory | Mailing campaigns | Small mailings, no Word |
| Handles bulk contacts | Yes (if imported) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Custom label sizes | No | No | Yes (any Avery product) | Yes |
| Address formatting | Outlook styles only | Converter layout | Full control | Template-based |
| Cost | Outlook license | Tool cost | Word license | Free |
Common Avery Label Products for Contact Printing
When setting up the mail merge in Word or Avery Design and Print, you need to select the correct Avery product number. Here are the most commonly used labels for printing contacts and addresses.
| Avery Product | Label Size | Labels per Sheet | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5160 / 8160 | 1″ x 2-5/8″ | 30 | Standard address labels (most common) |
| 5161 / 8161 | 1″ x 4″ | 20 | Wider address labels with longer names |
| 5162 / 8162 | 1-1/3″ x 4″ | 14 | Return address or larger format |
| 5163 / 8163 | 2″ x 4″ | 10 | Shipping labels |
| 5167 | 1/2″ x 1-3/4″ | 80 | Return address labels (small) |
| 5164 | 3-1/3″ x 4″ | 6 | Large shipping or file folder labels |
The 5160 (30 labels per sheet) is the standard choice for printing address labels from contact data. For Word mail merge, select “Avery US Letter” as the label vendor and enter the product number. Word has templates for all major Avery products built in.
Preparing the VCF Data for Label Printing
The most common label printing problems are caused by poorly formatted address data in the CSV. Before running the mail merge, check these items in your CSV file.
1
Split addresses into separate columns. Word mail merge works best when Street, City, State and ZIP are in separate columns. If your VCF converter outputs the full address in one column, split it in Excel using Data, Text to Columns or manually separate the components.
2
Remove contacts without addresses. Contacts with only phone or email (no street address) will create blank labels. Filter the CSV to remove rows where the address columns are empty.
3
Standardize address formatting. Ensure state names use consistent formatting (all abbreviations like “CA” or all full names like “California”). Verify ZIP codes are stored as text, not numbers (Excel may strip leading zeros from ZIP codes like 01234).
Common Problems and Fixes
Labels are misaligned on the Avery sheet. The printer margins or page scaling is off. In the print dialog, make sure page scaling is set to “Actual Size” or “100%” (not “Fit to Page” or “Shrink to Fit”). Also verify that the correct paper size (US Letter 8.5″ x 11″) is selected. Print a test on plain paper first.
Text overflows the label boundaries. The address is too long for the label size. Reduce the font size in the Word mail merge document (10pt or 9pt works well for Avery 5160). For very long addresses, switch to a larger label like Avery 5161 (1″ x 4″) or 5162 (1-1/3″ x 4″).
Blank labels appear between contacts. The CSV has empty rows or contacts without address data. Open the CSV and delete any empty rows. Filter out contacts that have no street address before running the merge.
ZIP codes display without leading zeros. Excel automatically converts ZIP codes like 01234 to 1234 because it treats them as numbers. To fix this, format the ZIP column as Text in Excel before saving. If the zeros are already lost, re-export the CSV from your VCF converter with text formatting, or add the zeros back manually.
Outlook only prints one VCF contact at a time. Outlook’s Import Wizard accepts one VCF file per operation. If your contacts are in a single multi-contact VCF, either split the VCF first or use the CSV conversion path (Methods 3 and 4) which handles multi-contact VCF files natively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I print contacts directly from a VCF file?
No. VCF files are structured text and cannot be sent to a printer directly. You need to either import the VCF into a contacts app (Outlook, Google Contacts) and print from there or convert to PDF, CSV or Excel first.
How do I print address labels from VCF contacts?
Convert the VCF to CSV, then use Microsoft Word’s mail merge feature with Avery label templates. Select your label product number (e.g., Avery 5160), connect the CSV as the data source, insert address merge fields, and print. See Method 3 above for full step-by-step instructions.
What is the best Avery label for mailing addresses?
Avery 5160 (1″ x 2-5/8″, 30 labels per sheet) is the most popular choice for standard address labels. It fits a typical three-line address (name, street, city/state/ZIP) comfortably at 10pt to 11pt font. For longer addresses or larger text, use Avery 5161 (1″ x 4″).
Can I print envelopes from VCF contacts?
Yes. The process is similar to label printing. Convert VCF to CSV, then in Word go to Mailings, Start Mail Merge, Envelopes. Select your envelope size (typically #10 for business), connect the CSV data, insert address merge fields and print. Word supports all standard envelope sizes.
How do I print VCF contacts without Outlook or Word?
Import the VCF into Google Contacts, select all contacts, and use the browser’s print function. For labels specifically, use the free Avery Design and Print Online tool (Method 4), which works entirely in the browser with no software installation.
Conclusion
Last verified: February 2026. All methods tested with VCF files from iCloud, Google Contacts, and Outlook 2024. Label printing tested with Avery 5160 on HP LaserJet and Epson inkjet printers. Mail merge tested in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma.
To print contacts from a VCF file, use Outlook’s built-in print styles for a quick contact list, convert to PDF for a formatted directory, or use the Word mail merge pipeline (VCF to CSV to Word to Avery labels) for address labels and envelopes. The Avery Design and Print online tool is the best free alternative for label printing without Word.
Three things to remember: always convert VCF to CSV before printing labels (Word mail merge requires CSV, not VCF), print a test on plain paper first to verify alignment before using Avery label sheets, and format ZIP codes as text in Excel to prevent leading zeros from being stripped.
