How to print QR labels for lab bottles on Avery sheets
Last checked: October 7, 2026.
A QR label on every bottle is what makes logging fast. Scan it with any phone camera, tap Used up 1, Move or Dispose, and the inventory is up to date. There is no app to install. This guide covers which label sheet to buy, how to print so the labels line up, and how to keep them readable in a freezer.
1. Pick a label sheet
StockVial prints on three standard US Letter Avery sheets, plus two A4 sizes and a label-printer size.
| Sheet | Labels per sheet | Label size | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avery 5160 | 30 | 1 × 2⅝ in | Most reagent bottles and boxes. The default on English and Spanish screens. |
| Avery 5163 | 10 | 2 × 4 in | Large bottles, kits and storage boxes, where you want big text. |
| Avery 5167 | 80 | ½ × 1¾ in | Small bottles and vials. Shows a QR code, a short name and the lot. |
| Tube label | 1 per label | label printer | Microtubes and cryovials, on a label printer. |
5160, 5163 and 5167 are among the most common US label sizes, so most office-supply stores and lab stockrooms already have them. Other brands sold as "compatible with 5160" use the same layout.
Each label shows a QR code with the product name, catalog number, lot, expiry date, received date and location. The smallest label (5167) keeps only the QR code, a short name and the lot.
2. Print the labels
- Open Stock and tap Select lines.
- Tick the bottles that need labels. To take every line on the screen, tap Select all. If you search or filter first, only the matching lines are picked.
- Tap Print labels.
- Check the settings on the label page:
- Size: choose your sheet, for example Avery 5160 — Letter, 30 labels (1 × 2⅝ in).
- Copies: one label per bottle is the default. Raise it if you received several bottles of the same lot.
- Label language: the language printed on the labels.
- Start from which cell: see the next section.
- Tap Print.
- In the print window, choose Actual size (100%) and turn off Fit to page. If the labels are scaled, they will drift off the cells.
3. Reuse a part-used sheet
Label sheets are expensive, and a sheet with ten labels left is still worth using. In Start from which cell, enter the number of the first empty cell. Cells are counted across each row, left to right, from the top. On a 5160 sheet, if the top four rows (12 labels) are used, start from cell 13.
4. Check the alignment before you use a full sheet
Printers differ slightly. The first time you print on a new sheet type:
- Print one page on plain paper.
- Hold it against an empty label sheet in front of a window or a lamp.
- Check that each label sits inside its cell.
If everything lines up, load the label sheet. If the print is shifted, check that Fit to page is off and the scale is 100% before changing anything else.
5. Keep labels readable in the freezer
Standard paper labels work well on shelves and in fridges. In a -20 °C or -80 °C freezer, or anywhere with condensation, they can curl or peel.
- For freezers, use labels rated for low temperatures ("freezer" or "cryogenic" labels) in the same sheet size.
- Stick labels on a dry, room-temperature bottle, then put it in the freezer. Labels stuck onto frozen, wet surfaces fall off.
- A strip of clear tape over the label helps on bottles that are handled often.
A QR code still scans if part of the text is smudged, but keep the square code itself clean and flat.
6. Scan a label
Open the phone's camera and point it at the QR code. Tap the link that appears, and the bottle's quick screen opens with Used up 1, Move and Dispose. Inside the app you can also use Scan QR.
Try it
Look around the demo without signing up, or start free. No credit card is needed for the free plan.
Avery and the product numbers 5160, 5163 and 5167 are trademarks of their owner. StockVial is not affiliated with Avery.