Die Cut Stickers

What is a die cut sticker?

A die cut sticker is cut around the outline of its design rather than into a square or circle. A coffee cup logo becomes a coffee cup shaped sticker. A word becomes a sticker in the shape of that word.

Most die cut stickers have a thin white border following the outline. It gives the cutter a smooth path, keeps fine details from tearing, and makes the sticker stand out on a dark laptop or bottle. If your design is already a simple shape, we can cut tight to the edge instead.

Die cut stickers feel more like a keepsake than a plain rectangle. That is why so many brands slip one into every order: customers keep them, stick them on things, and your logo travels further than the parcel did.

• A logo sticker in every online order
• Shaped seals on boxes and carrier bags
• Stickers to hand out at markets, events and fairs
• Water bottle and laptop stickers for a team or club
• Window stickers for opening hours or social handles
• Sticker packs sold alongside your products

Loose, sheet or roll?

Loose stickers are the classic choice for handing out. Rolls make sense when you stick the same design on hundreds of boxes or bags.

How do I prepare artwork for die cutting?

The cut line follows the outer edge of your design plus any border, so the shape needs to be clear. Vector files are best, but a high-resolution PNG with a transparent background works too, and we will draw the cut line for you.

1. Send the artwork at the size you want, or tell us the width in mm.
2. Say whether you want a white border and roughly how wide.
3. Point out any gaps inside the design that should be cut out, such as the hole in a letter O.
4. Check the proof, which shows the cut line in a contrasting colour.
5. Approve it, and we print and cut in 3 to 5 working days.

Which designs cut well?

Bold, chunky shapes cut cleanly and peel easily. Very thin spikes, sharp inside corners and tiny gaps are harder: they can tear when the sticker is peeled. A border smooths these out, so the sticker keeps the character of the design without the weak points.

Text that stands alone, without a background shape, should be bold and tightly spaced so the letters join into one sticker. Separate letters would each become a tiny sticker of their own.

Photos and gradients work on die cut stickers too, as long as the outline is clear. A soft-edged photo needs a solid border shape around it, otherwise the cutter has no edge to follow.

Which material should I choose?

White BOPP is the favourite for stickers that end up on bottles, laptops and outdoor kit, because it is a water-resistant film and copes with handling. Clear BOPP lets the surface show through around the design. Paper is cheaper and suits stickers used once, such as order seals and inserts.

Gloss makes colours bright; matt looks modern and reduces glare. Glitter and holographic effects are not on our standard list, so ask on your quote if you want one.

How big should a die cut sticker be?

Measure where it will go. A sticker for a laptop lid or a water bottle is often 60 to 80 mm across. A seal for a mailer box might be 50 mm. A giveaway sticker to slip into an order is usually 50 to 75 mm, small enough to fit an envelope and big enough to read.

Remember that the border adds to the size. A 70 mm logo with a 3 mm border makes a 76 mm sticker.

If you are not sure, print your design at a few sizes on paper, cut them out with scissors and try them on the laptop, box or bottle you have in mind.

What do die cut stickers cost?

Prices start from £0.05 a sticker for a straightforward design, and the exact figure depends on the size, the material and the quantity. A complex outline with many inside cut-outs takes longer to cut and can cost a little more.

Quotes come back by email within one working day with a free proof showing the cut line.

Can I mix several designs in one order?

Yes. Each design is priced on the same quote, and loose stickers of different designs are packed in separate bundles so you can find each one quickly. On sheets, several designs can share a sheet.

If you want the same stickers on a roll for fast application, our labels wound on rolls page explains the core sizes and wind directions.

Are die cut stickers good for packaging seals?

They are a popular way to close a mailer box, a paper bag or a fold of tissue paper. A shaped seal looks more deliberate than a strip of tape and turns the unboxing into part of the brand.

For seals, paper is usually enough because the sticker is applied once and stays dry. Choose a size that crosses the join with at least 15 mm on each side, so it holds the flap down firmly.

Delivery and reprints

Printing and cutting take 3 to 5 working days after approval. Free tracked UK mainland delivery takes 2 to 3 working days, and loose stickers are packed in bundles so they arrive flat.

If stickers arrive misprinted, cut wrongly or damaged, tell us within 10 days with a photo and we reprint them or refund you.

Will die cut stickers stay on curved bottles?

On a gently curved bottle, yes, especially on BOPP film, which bends more readily than paper. On a tight curve, a wide sticker can lift at its edges, so keep it narrower than about a third of the bottle's circumference.

Apply to a clean, dry, room-temperature surface and press from the centre outwards. Leave it a day before washing the bottle, so the adhesive has time to bond fully.