Product labels that open your shop page, inventory labels with a scannable item code, jar labels with a link to the recipe: if the links or codes are in a Google Sheet, each label can carry its own QR code. No separate QR generator, no pasting images one by one. In Google's help forum people report that QR codes made with =IMAGE() in the sheet come out as empty cells in label tools; here the codes are made from the text itself.
The steps use Peelstack Label Maker, our add-on for Google Sheets.
Set up the sheet
One product or item per row, column names in row 1, for example:
- Name: what the label says, such as "Lavender soap 100 g"
- SKU or Code: your item code
- URL or Website: the page the QR code should open
- Qty (optional): how many labels of each item you need
Print the labels
- Go to Extensions, Peelstack Label Maker, Create labels and type the number on your label box. For product labels, 2 x 2 inch squares such as Avery® 22806 (22806 details) or wide address size labels such as L7163 on A4 (L7163 details) leave good room for a code.
- Set the text lines, for example
{Name}in bold and{SKU}below it. - Open Picture, QR code or barcode and choose QR code from a column. The add-on suggests a column named like URL, Link, Website, SKU or Code; change it if needed. You can mix fixed text and columns, for example
https://example.com/p/{SKU}. - Choose whether the code sits on the left or the right of the text.
- Need several of each? Under Text style and copies, choose Or take copies from a column and pick Qty.
- Check the preview, then Download PDF and print at Actual size (100%).
Rows with an empty QR column simply get no code. QR codes and pictures are in the PDF only, not in the editable Google Doc.
Will the code scan?
A QR code is made of small squares (modules). The more text it holds, the more modules it needs, and the smaller each one gets on a small label. Home printers blur very small squares, and then phones cannot read the code.
- The add-on checks every code against the label size. If the squares would be smaller than 0.25 mm, the preview warns you and lists the rows, so you can test one with your phone first. Below 0.20 mm, or when the text is too long for any QR code, the code is left out and the rows are listed, so you do not print a sheet of codes that are too small to work.
- To make codes easier to scan: shorten the text (a short link instead of a long one with tracking parameters), or use a bigger label.
- On rectangular labels the add-on uses nearly the full label height for the code, not just the space inside the text margin.
- Always scan one printed code with your phone before printing the whole batch.
Numbered labels
For asset tags and batch labels, put {#} in a text line for 1, 2, 3 or {#001} for 001, 002. The same token works in the QR text, for example https://example.com/asset/{#001}, so each label's code matches its printed number.
Add your logo
Prefer a logo to a QR code? In Picture, QR code or barcode, choose The same picture on every label and pick a PNG or JPG (up to 5 MB). It is scaled into a square beside the text without stretching. The picture stays in your browser; it goes to your Google account only in a PDF you save to Drive.
A barcode instead of a QR code
For stock rooms, libraries and asset tags that use a handheld barcode scanner, choose Barcode from a column instead. The barcode goes under the text, across the label. Digits are packed two per bar pattern, so long item numbers still fit. Code 128 holds unaccented letters, digits, spaces and common symbols; rows with other characters are listed and get no barcode. If you want the number printed in words too, add the same column as a text line. Code 128 is not a UPC or EAN retail barcode: for products sold in shops, use the codes your retailer gives you.
Barcodes get their own size check: bars narrower than 0.25 mm get a warning, and below 0.19 mm the barcode is left out and the rows are listed.
What it costs
Peelstack Label Maker is free with every feature for up to 30 labels per run, one full sheet of Avery 5160 address labels, and you can run it as often as you like. A longer list prints its first 30 labels on the free plan, and the preview shows exactly those. Test pages are always free. Every plan reads up to 10,000 rows of a sheet at a time and makes up to 50,000 labels per run. A paid plan removes the 30 label limit: $29 for one year or $59 once. No subscription, nothing renews.
Avery® is a trademark of Avery Products Corporation. Taskivator is not affiliated with Avery.