Label Types
Seven ways to print a label, sorted by format and by material. Start with how you apply labels and where the product lives, and the right type usually picks itself.
From £0.05 a label, priced per job and sent by email within one working day
- Free design proof first
- Printed in 3 to 5 working days
- Free tracked UK mainland delivery
7 label types to choose from
Every label is printed to your size and artwork, and every order is priced by email before anything is made.
How do the seven label types differ?
Two of them are formats: roll labels and sheet labels. They describe how labels reach you, wound on a core for a dispenser or laid out on flat sheets for hand applying. Four are materials: clear, kraft, silver and foil, and waterproof film. One, custom product labels, is the everyday front label that can take any of those formats and materials.
So most orders are a pair of choices. A jam maker might want kraft labels on sheets; a sauce brand might want waterproof labels on rolls. The table below puts them side by side.
| Label type | What it is | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Custom product labels | Your main front label, any stock | You need one label for the front of a pack |
| Roll labels | Labels wound on a core | You use a dispenser or label hundreds at a time |
| Sheet labels | Labels kiss-cut on A4 or A5 | You apply by hand or want mixed designs |
| Clear labels | Transparent BOPP film | The product or glass should show through |
| Kraft labels | Brown kraft paper | You want a natural, hand-made look |
| Silver and foil labels | Metallic stock or foil detail | You want the label to catch the light |
| Waterproof labels | White or clear BOPP film | The pack meets water, oil or a fridge |
Which material suits where my product lives?
Start with the shelf, not the screen. Paper labels, including kraft, gloss and matt, look lovely and cost a little less, but they mark when wet and can stain from oily fingers. Film labels, white and clear BOPP and silver, are water-resistant and wipe clean.
If the pack spends any time in a fridge, a bathroom or a kitchen, choose film. If it sits on a dry shelf and you like a natural look, paper and kraft are fine. Our comparison of BOPP and paper labels walks through the details.
Rolls or sheets: which format?
It mostly comes down to volume and kit. Rolls are faster with a dispenser and a must for labelling machines. Sheets are simpler at a kitchen table and let you mix several designs on one sheet.
If you are unsure, ask for both on the same quote. The price difference is usually small, and you can choose the format that suits your bench.
Signs you need a different label type
- Labels wrinkle or lift after a day in the fridge: switch to film
- Colours look faint on a clear jar: add white ink behind them
- Packing takes too long peeling from sheets: move to rolls
- Pale colours look muddy on kraft: add white ink or use darker colours
- Fine text looks fuzzy: increase the size or use a smoother stock
- Labels look plain next to competitors: try foil or spot varnish
How do I choose in four steps?
- Decide where the product is stored: dry shelf, fridge, bathroom or outdoors.
- Pick the material: paper or kraft for dry, film for damp, clear for glass you want to show.
- Choose the format: sheets for hand applying, rolls for dispensers and machines.
- Add a finish if you want one: gloss, matt, soft-touch, foil or spot varnish.
Send those four answers with your artwork and we will confirm the choice on your free proof.
Do finishes count as a label type?
Not quite. A finish sits on top of the print and works with most materials: gloss for bright colour, matt for a calm look that takes a pen, soft-touch for a velvet feel, foil to pick out a logo, and spot varnish to make one part of the design shine.
Finishes add a little to the price, so it pays to choose one for a reason, such as protecting the print on a handled pack or making a premium product feel the part.
What does each type cost?
Every type starts from £0.05 a label. Film costs a little more than paper, white ink adds a layer on clear and kraft stocks, and foil adds a setup step. Larger quantities bring the price per label down across all of them.
Your quote arrives by email within one working day with a free design proof. Printing takes 3 to 5 working days after approval, and free tracked UK mainland delivery takes 2 to 3 working days.
Design Your Label
Pick any of the 7 label types, upload your logo and place it on the photo. A free proof follows before anything is printed.
Your logo sits on a real photo of our label. A designer redraws it to scale on the artwork and sends a free proof before anything is printed.
Label Types questions
More answers in Help, or call +44 7578 382054 or message us on WhatsApp.
What is the difference between a label type and a finish?
A label type is the material or format. A finish, such as gloss or foil, is added on top of the print.
Which label type is best for a first order?
A custom product label on white BOPP is the most versatile. It copes with damp and suits almost any pack.
Can I combine kraft paper with roll format?
Yes. Every material can be supplied on rolls or on sheets.
Are clear labels a type of waterproof label?
Clear BOPP is water-resistant too. Clear describes the look; waterproof labels can be white or clear.
Is silver stock the same as foil?
No. Silver stock makes the whole label metallic; foil adds metallic detail to part of the design.
Can I order two label types on one quote?
Yes. Many brands order a film front label and a paper back label together.
Which label type takes a pen best?
Matt paper, followed by uncoated kraft. Gloss film is the hardest to write on.
Do all label types come in custom shapes?
Yes. Circles, ovals and custom outlines are cut on every stock we print.
Which type should I use on glass jars?
Clear BOPP for a no-label look, white BOPP for bold colour, or kraft for a farmhouse style on dry goods.
How do I know if my labels need film?
If the pack meets water, oil, condensation or a lot of handling, choose film.
Tell us what the label goes on
Send the product, the label size in mm, a rough quantity and your logo or artwork. We reply by email within one working day with a price and a free design proof. Prefer to talk? Call +44 7578 382054 or message us on WhatsApp.