Mail merge using an Excel spreadsheet

Here are some tips to prepare your Excel spreadsheet for a mail merge. Make sure:

Column names in your spreadsheet match the field names you want to insert in your mail merge. For example, to address readers by their first name in your document, you'll need separate columns for first and last names.
All data to be merged is present in the first sheet of your spreadsheet.
Data entries with percentages, currencies, and postal codes are correctly formatted in the spreadsheet so that Word can properly read their values.
The Excel spreadsheet to be used in the mail merge is stored on your local machine.
Changes or additions to your spreadsheet are completed before it's connected to your mail merge document in Word.

You can import information from your Excel spreadsheet by importing information from a comma-separated value (.csv) or a text (.txt) file and use the Text Import Wizard to build a new spreadsheet.
For more information, see Prepare your Excel data source for mail merge in Word.

Connect and edit the mailing list

Connect to your data source. For more info, see Data sources you can use for a mail merge.

Edit your mailing list

Screenshot of the Mailings tab in Word, showing the Edit Recipient List command as highlighted.

Edit Recipient List

Select rows by checking the check box

In Mail Merge Recipients, clear the check box next to the name of any person who you don't want to receive your mailing.

Note: You also can sort or filter the list to make it easier to find names and addresses. For more info, see Sort the data for a mail merge or Filter the data for a mail merge.

Insert a merge field

You can insert one or more mail merge fields that pull the information from your spreadsheet into your document.

To insert merge fields on an envelope, label, email message, or letter

Insert Address Block merge field

Mailings

Address Block

Screenshot of the Mailings tab in Word, showing the Greeting Line command as highlighted.

For more info, see Insert Address Block To add a greeting line, choose Greeting Line.

if you're interested in learning more about options for setting up email message, see Email merge in Word.

Preview and finish the mail merge

After you insert the merge fields you want, preview the results to confirm that the content is okay. and then you're ready to complete the merge process.

Screenshot of the Mailings tab in Word, showing the Preview Results group.

Mailings

Preview Results

Next record button for mail merge preview results

Choose Next

or Previous

Screenshot of the Mailings tab in Word, showing the Finish & Merge command and its options.

to move through records in your data source and view how they appear in the document. Go to Finish & Merge >Print Documents or Send E-mail Messages.

Save your mail merge

When you save the mail merge document, it stays connected to your data source. You can reuse the mail merge document for your next bulk mailing.

Open the mail merge document and choose Yes when Word prompts you to keep the connection.