Are you launching a new product & need custom labels? Or do you have a product range where your current stickers aren’t performing?
In the next few minutes, we’re going to help you get the best label for your application. We hope this saves you money, time, and heartache from not buying the wrong stickers.
What is the difference between stickers & labels?
Technically, nothing. Both stickers & labels are adhesive-backed printed bits of paper or plastic. However, stickers are usually individually cut, whereas labels are on sheets or rolls. The image below shows you the difference:
We recommend getting stickers if you’re giving them to customers or looking for a small quantity. Get labels if you’ve got hundreds or even thousands to apply. Sheets are best for application by hand as they’re easy to store, and rolls are required for machine application.
What are the different types of labeling material?
There are two main types of material used to make custom stickers or labels. They are plastic & paper – here are the key attributes of each:
Plastic material
- Suitable to use outdoors
- Hard-wearing & durable
- Tear-resistant
- Waterproof
- Some plastics can be flexible to go over curved surfaces
- Some ‘bioplastics’ are compostable!
Paper
- Low-cost
- For short-term or indoor use.
- Easy to recycle
- Lots of textured finishes available
- Most papers are only splashproof
Both plastic & paper labels are available in several color options. Here are some examples:
The top 8 uses of custom labels & what type of material they use
To help you decide, it’s helpful to see what others use in the same situation. Here are the top 10 uses of custom labels we see, along with the material they get printed on.
- Glass beverage bottles – biodegradable papers that are splashproof to withstand the condensation on the bottle.
- Clear plastic bottle or food packaging – transparent vinyl to get incredible effects. Ideally, PP or PE for easy recycling.
- Premium product packaging – holographic stickers or another similar effect to increase the perceived value.
- Compostable food wraps – eco-friendly labels made from wood pulp ‘bioplastic’ so they compost within 3 months.
- Name badges – paper stickers that are easy to write on.
- Logo stickers for selling, giveaways, or handouts – premium holographic vinyl stickers or another similar effect to make your brand stand out.
- Candle labels – almost anything will work because candles are typically used indoors and not exposed to water.
- Hand sanitizer labels – a white or clear plastic label with a laminate so the fluid’s alcohol will not remove the print on the label.
And there we have it. We hope this has given you enough knowledge to get better custom stickers and labels for your products. If you have any other questions, please comment below, and we’d be happy to help.
