Custom Stickers

What is the difference between a sticker and a label?

In practice, very little in how they are made. The difference is in how they are used. A label goes on a product you sell and carries information about it. A sticker carries your brand: it seals a bag, decorates a box, goes in an order as a gift or ends up on a customer's laptop.

Because stickers are about the brand, they tend to be bolder, simpler and more playful than labels, and they are often cut to a shape.

That also changes how people judge them. A label is read for a few seconds at the shelf. A sticker might sit on a laptop for two years, so it pays to give the design a little more thought and choose a stock that will last.

Die cut or circle?

Many brands order both: a shaped sticker to give away and a circle to seal every parcel.

If budget is tight, start with circles. They suit more jobs, cost less to cut, and the same roll can seal bags, boxes and envelopes while you decide on a shaped design.

Which material for a sticker?

White BOPP is the safe choice for stickers that end up on bottles, laptops and outdoor kit, because it is a water-resistant film that handles rubbing and rain. Clear film suits a window or a coloured bag, where the background should show between the letters. Paper suits stickers used once to seal a dry bag or box, and keeps the cost down.

Gloss gives bright colour; matt looks modern and takes a pen. Foil on a circle seal is a simple way to make plain packaging feel special.

Where do brands use stickers?

• Sealing paper bags at a bakery or shop counter
• Closing tissue paper inside a gift box
• Slipping a logo sticker into every online order
• Handing out at markets, events and fairs
• Branding plain mailer boxes and envelopes
• Flavour or colour dots on lids

How do I order stickers?

1. Choose die cut or circle, and the size in mm.
2. Pick the material and finish, and loose, sheets or rolls.
3. Send your logo, ideally as a vector file or a transparent PNG.
4. Check the free proof, which shows the cut line.
5. Approve the proof; printing and cutting then take 3 to 5 working days.

If you seal a lot of bags, a roll on a small dispenser saves real time; our page on labels and stickers on rolls explains core sizes.

Will a sticker stay stuck?

On a clean, dry, room-temperature surface, yes. Most stickers that lift were applied to dust, condensation or a curve that was too tight for their width. Press from the middle outwards and give the adhesive a day before the item is washed or handled hard.

On tissue paper, press gently and do not try to reposition, as the tissue will tear before the sticker lets go.

For stickers that will go on water bottles or outdoor kit, film with a laminate holds up best. Paper stickers on those surfaces tend to scuff and peel within weeks.

How should a sticker design differ from a label?

Keep it simple. A sticker is often seen from a distance, at an angle or half hidden under a fold of tissue. One strong shape, one or two colours and a few words read far better than a detailed label layout.

Think about the background, too. A sticker on a brown bag, a white box and a black laptop meets three very different colours. A white border or a solid shape behind the logo keeps it legible on all of them.

What do stickers cost?

Stickers start from £0.05 each. Circles are among the most economical shapes we print; complex die cut outlines can cost a little more to cut. Quantity matters most: the price per sticker drops as the order grows.

Quotes and free proofs come back by email within one working day, and every order goes out by free tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses.

Ask for two sizes on one quote if you are deciding between them. The difference in price is often smaller than people expect, and a slightly larger sticker reads much better from across a room.