Avery 2x2 Matte Square Labels Review: Reliable 9/10 Pick
“Best labels on the market for small business” is how one verified buyer summed up the experience with the Avery Printable Blank Square Labels, 2" x 2", Matte White – and that tone is echoed across hundreds of reviews. Weighing up the data, these labels land at a solid 9/10 for reliability and print quality, with software friction being the main drag on the score.
Quick Verdict
For most home users, crafters, and small businesses, the answer is Yes – these labels deliver professional results with minimal hassle once you get past the design software. Heavy users who hate web tools or need removable labels should consider alternatives or different Avery SKUs (like the removable or waterproof variants).
| Aspect | Verdict | Evidence from Users |
|---|---|---|
| Overall recommendation | Strong Yes (9/10) | Walmart average 4.6/5, Avery/Staples listings around 4.5/5; many repeat buyers using them “for all my labeling projects.” |
| Print quality | Excellent | A top reviewer on Walmart wrote: “the matte white finish looks clean and professional… my labels come out looking crisp and professional.” |
| Adhesive performance | Very strong, truly permanent | A verified buyer on Walmart said the adhesive is “truly permanent with no peeling or shifting at all,” while another critical user complained it was “not happy with the stickiness” on certain plastic bags. |
| Printer compatibility | Reliable with laser & inkjet | Multiple reviewers highlight “zero issues with jamming or misalignment,” crediting Avery’s Sure Feed technology. |
| Ease of use | Good hardware, mixed software | Walmart reviewer “tammy” noted that “the software / website needed to make the labels wasn't user friendly,” contrasting with others who say “printing has been smooth and easy.” |
| Value for money | High | Walmart buyers describe the price as “affordable,” and an Avery customer said they were “very happy to find large quantities of these labels at such a reasonable price.” |
| Best for | Small businesses, school projects, organizers | Users mention using them for candles, granola packaging, PTO promo labels, and small business branding. |
Claims vs Reality
Avery’s marketing leans heavily on “Sure Feed technology” to prevent misalignments and jams. Digging deeper into user reports, this claim mostly holds up. A Walmart “top reviewer” explained that the labels “fed smoothly through my printer without any jams or misalignment issues,” calling Sure Feed “a game-changer.” Another reviewer on Walmart summarized their experience as “zero issues with jamming or misalignment,” which directly supports Avery’s promise of dependable feeding through both laser and inkjet printers.
Where that story gets nuanced is with users who assume all label problems are hardware-related. One Staples reviewer admitted they initially blamed Avery but later realized the misalignment came from not following browser-specific print instructions. That reviewer wrote that “when I first started making product labels, they would never line when I printed them… after I did some research I realized I wasn't really reading the printing instructions.” In practice, Sure Feed appears to work, but the benefit depends heavily on using the correct template and print settings.
The second big promise is professional, edge-to-edge (“print-to-the-edge”) results. The product pages and Zoro listing emphasize features like “print-to-the-edge, bleed resistant” matte paper, and multiple users back this up. The Walmart review summary lists “edge-to-edge prints: labels print to the edge without borders” as a core pro, and a reviewer noted that their labels “printed so nicely” that a school project “turned out great because of this product.” For people creating product labels, gift tags, or QR code stickers, the reality seems to match the marketing: colors and text reach the edge without obvious borders.
Adhesive performance is marketed as “permanent” with “stick & stay” behavior. Most user experiences corroborate this, especially on smooth surfaces like paper, cardboard, and regular product packaging. A Walmart reviewer praised that “the adhesive is truly permanent with no peeling or shifting at all,” and the Zoro listing calls out “curl resistant… peeling resistant… stick & stay.” However, there are edge cases. One critical Walmart review titled “not happy with the stickiness or the ink / label material integrity” complained that “the sticker does not stay adhered to the plastic well at all” when used on plastic bags with parts inside. While officially these are permanent labels, the data suggests they’re most reliable on rigid, smooth surfaces rather than flexing plastics.
Cross-Platform Consensus
A recurring pattern emerged across Walmart, Staples, and Avery’s own site: users who run small or micro businesses lean on these 2" x 2" matte white labels as a foundational branding tool and keep reordering them. A verified buyer on Walmart wrote: “these labels were exactly what I needed… I’ve already reordered and will definitely keep using these for all my labeling projects.” Another Walmart reviewer, t. neece, said they are “perfect for my micro business” and that they “help my products look professional and appealing to the consumers.” For makers selling candles, granola, soaps, or farm products, the square format and matte finish give a clean, consistent look that feels more “branded” than handwritten stickers.
Bulk buyers also highlight value and availability. One Walmart reviewer, tracy, wrote that they were “very happy to find large quantities of these labels at such a reasonable price,” especially after local stores stopped carrying them. On Staples, another buyer echoed this, saying they liked “the ease of getting them shipped to my home” because their nearest office supply store was 73 miles away. For users who need hundreds of labels — PTO groups, farmers’ markets, or subscription boxes — the ability to buy 120–300 labels per pack at modest per-label costs ($0.07–$0.10 in some listings) is a key selling point.
Print quality and professional appearance are almost universally praised for this matte version. The Walmart Trustpilot-style summary calls out “premium materials” with “rich colors and durable construction,” and multiple reviewers mentioned “polished and professional” results. A top reviewer on Walmart described how “the matte white finish looks clean and professional,” and that the labels made organizational tasks “a breeze.” Another customer using them for PTO promotions reported that they “printed beautifully and looked professional,” enough that they would “definitely use them again.” For anyone trying to elevate homemade products or school projects to a more professional look, these labels seem to punch above their price.
On the complaint side, the loudest theme is not the labels themselves but the software and website experience. A Walmart buyer named tammy gave a 3/5 rating and said bluntly that “the software / website needed to make the labels wasn't user friendly.” A Staples reviewer went further, venting that Avery “insists on capturing my personal information to market their products to me” and that they’d been “trying to print out to their labels for over an hour now and can't get it to work,” despite working in computers and knowing what they were doing. For tech-savvy users who just want a simple downloadable template without sign-ups or online tools, Avery’s cloud-first design ecosystem can feel more like an obstacle than a benefit.
A smaller but notable complaint concerns adhesion and durability in specific use cases. While many users applaud the adhesive as “truly permanent,” one Walmart reviewer said they were “not happy with the stickiness or the ink / label material integrity” when using the labels on plastic bags containing parts. This highlights a divide: small business owners using rigid jars, bottles, and boxes generally report great stick-and-stay performance; users putting labels on flexible plastics or heavily handled surfaces may see corners lift or ink scuff, especially if exposed to friction or oils.
Some features land in the middle — divisive rather than clearly good or bad. The permanence of the adhesive is a benefit for long-term branding, but a drawback for temporary organization. A top Walmart reviewer loved that the labels “keep the labels securely in place, yet they’re still easy to remove without leaving any residue behind when needed,” suggesting they had success even with repositioning. Yet, the product spec lists “permanent adhesive,” and other configurations in the Avery family explicitly market “removable” adhesive instead. While officially rated as permanent, multiple users treat them like a flexible solution, and results appear to depend on surface type and how long the label is left in place.
Trust & Reliability
From a trust standpoint, there’s little hint of scam or bait-and-switch behavior around these labels. Ratings hover around 4.5–4.6 out of 5 on Walmart, Avery, and Zoro, with hundreds of reviews. A verified Walmart reviewer went as far as saying, “overall, I highly recommend the Avery square labels to anyone in need of reliable, high-quality labels for both personal and professional use,” underscoring that they got what they expected from the product description.
Long-term reliability stories surface most strongly from small business users, who naturally put these labels through repeated print runs over months and years. A Walmart reviewer, sunny rose naturals, described using Avery labels “over any other label” after starting a new business and learning to print their own. They admitted to “mess[ing] up some labels” while figuring things out, but emphasized that “with Avery labels there is not much figuring out to do,” and that “the price is affordable as well.” Another buyer from a farm business, the rooster’s egg farm, called them “b st labels on the market for small business,” implying sustained use rather than a one-off project.
Reliability also appears in how people talk about reordering. The top Walmart reviewer who praised the matte finish and permanent adhesive mentioned they had “already reordered,” and several Staples comments mention using Avery labels “always” for their products or candles. One Staples customer wrote, “i have always used these printable stickers for my small business… they help my products look professional,” suggesting that over multiple cycles of production and shipping, the labels hold up visually and functionally.
The main reliability caveat arises in more demanding material conditions. The single negative Walmart review that focused on failure noted poor adhesion to plastic bags and complained that the “paper does not keep the ink well,” especially when used with parts inside the bag. That experience aligns more closely with Avery’s recommendation to use their waterproof or film-based labels (like the durable or waterproof 2" x 2" variants) for harsher environments. For standard paper, cardboard, and smooth packaging, users generally report that these matte labels meet expectations over time.
Alternatives
Users and store listings frequently position this matte white 2" x 2" option alongside other Avery square labels in different finishes and materials. The Staples catalog, for instance, shows glossy white (22565), kraft brown (22846), clear glossy, pearlized ivory, and waterproof film labels, all in the same 2" x 2" square format. A summary of Walmart feedback for the glossy 22565 variant notes “exceptional print quality and ease of use,” with customers praising the rich colors and glossy finish for gift tags and more decorative projects.
For crafters and brand-conscious sellers wanting a rustic or handmade look, the kraft brown 2" x 2" labels appear as a common alternative. Staples describes them as adding “rustic charm” and “artisanal flair,” and reviewers use them for mason jars, soap, and handmade gifts. Someone selling farmhouse-style candles or organic foods might gravitate toward the kraft brown material, while still relying on the same print-to-the-edge and Sure Feed features praised in the matte white version.
For applications involving moisture, oils, or outdoor exposure, several users implicitly steer toward Avery’s waterproof and durable film labels. The Staples listing for 2" x 2" durable waterproof labels highlights that they can be “completely submerged in water” and resist “heat, cold, oil and tearing.” That directly addresses the frustrations of the Walmart reviewer whose labels fell off plastic bags and whose ink didn’t hold up. For daycare, bath and beauty, or outdoor product labels, these waterproof versions become the de facto upgrades.
Price & Value
Pricing varies by retailer and pack size, but the overall impression from buyers is that these labels offer strong value. Zoro lists packs of 120 matte 2" x 2" labels (22816) at about $8.15 per pack, roughly $0.07 per label when bought in required multiples. Staples shows 300-label packs (22806) around $30.99, about $0.10 per label, sometimes with discounts or auto-restock options. Avery’s own site anchors price points around the low-$20 range for 300-label packs in Canada.
Users explicitly call out the value proposition. On Walmart, one reviewer said they were “very happy to find large quantities of these labels at such a reasonable price,” especially compared to local stores that either don’t stock them or are more expensive. Another reviewer, sunny rose naturals, highlighted that “the price is affordable as well,” especially when comparing Avery labels to generic alternatives they had tried.
From a resale and business-value perspective, buyers focus less on resale value and more on cost savings versus third-party printing. A Walmart reviewer named alexis wrote that these labels offer “quick and simple printing… cut the cost from using 3rd party vendors,” while a Staples customer described how having labels on hand in store “in a hurry” for a granola pop-up sale saved their event. For small business owners, the ability to quickly adjust designs and print small batches on demand is a significant value driver that outweighs the per-label cost.
Community tips cluster around buying in larger quantities and choosing the right material from the start. Heavy users on Walmart and Staples talk about reordering and using these labels “regularly,” suggesting that stepping up to multipacks or larger-count boxes (300+ labels) is more economical in the long run. At the same time, the negative experience with plastic bags hints that buyers should invest in waterproof or film labels if they know their products will face moisture, oils, or flexible packaging.
FAQ
Q: Do these 2" x 2" matte white Avery labels work well with both inkjet and laser printers?
A: Yes, user feedback strongly supports dual compatibility. A top Walmart reviewer praised “zero issues with jamming or misalignment” and loved the flexibility to use “both laser and inkjet printers” without sacrificing quality, as long as the correct template and print settings are used.
Q: How permanent is the adhesive on these labels in real-world use?
A: For paper, cardboard, jars, and standard product packaging, buyers describe the adhesive as “truly permanent with no peeling or shifting at all.” One Walmart reviewer did report poor adhesion on plastic bags under load, so flexible plastics and harsh conditions may require Avery’s waterproof or film labels instead.
Q: Are the Avery online templates and design software easy to use?
A: Experiences are split. Many users say it’s “easy to design labels” and that printing was “quick and simple,” but others complain that the “software / website needed to make the labels wasn't user friendly” and that the site feels overcomplicated. Tech-savvy users sometimes prefer downloading a template and bypassing the online tools.
Q: Are these labels suitable for small businesses and product branding?
A: Very much so. Multiple Walmart and Staples reviewers run small or micro businesses and say these labels “help my products look professional and appealing to the consumers.” Another buyer called them the “b st labels on the market for small business,” highlighting repeat use for candles, granola, and farm products.
Q: Do the labels really print to the edge without borders?
A: Yes, most users confirm the print-to-the-edge claim. Walmart’s review summary lists “edge-to-edge prints” as a key pro, and a reviewer noted their labels “printed so nicely” with a clean, full-bleed look. Proper template alignment and printer margins are still crucial to achieve that borderless appearance.
Final Verdict
Buy if you’re a small business owner, crafter, or organizer who wants professional-looking, square matte labels that feed reliably through home printers and will stay put on jars, boxes, and standard packaging. Avoid if your primary use is flexible plastic bags, high-moisture environments, or if you absolutely hate cloud-based design tools and don’t want to deal with Avery’s software. A practical pro tip from the community: follow the browser-specific print instructions carefully and test on plain paper first — several frustrated users found that once they adjusted their settings, these labels started printing “perfect every time.”
