Sheet Labels

When are sheets better than rolls?

Sheets suit hand labelling at modest volumes. You can see every label at once, take a sheet to the bench and leave the rest flat in a drawer. Nothing needs threading onto a spindle.

They also suit mixed designs. A soap maker with six fragrances can have one sheet carrying all six, in the numbers they actually sell, instead of six separate rolls.

Sheets are also forgiving when you are still learning where a label looks best. You can try one on a jar, step back, peel it and try again a few millimetres lower without wasting a roll's worth of threading and test pulls.

• Mixed designs in the exact numbers you sell
• Short runs and test batches
• Labels you take to markets and fairs in a folder
• Gift labels and seals applied one at a time
• Small labels that would be fiddly on a roll

What does kiss-cut mean?

The blade cuts through the label face but stops at the backing paper. The sheet stays in one piece and each label lifts off cleanly with a fingernail. We can also remove the waste around each label so they stand proud on the sheet, which makes them even quicker to pick.

If you want individual cut stickers rather than a sheet, that is a different job: look at our die cut stickers instead.

Stripping the waste costs nothing extra on most jobs, and it helps a lot with small circles and fiddly shapes, which can be hard to start with a fingernail when the surrounding paper is still in place.

How many labels fit on an A4 sheet?

It depends on the shape and the space between them. As a rough guide, with about 3 mm between labels and a margin around the edge:

We fit as many as the shape allows and show the exact layout on the proof.

Can I run sheet labels through my own printer?

Some people want a printed background with a blank panel they fill in at home, such as a batch number or a best-before date. Tell us the printer you use and we will advise whether the stock suits it.

In most cases it is easier to leave the panel on matt paper and write on it, or to print the full wording with us so every label matches.

Bear in mind that home printers vary a great deal in how they handle film. Paper sheets are the safer choice for home overprinting, while BOPP film may smudge in an inkjet and should only go through a printer we have agreed suits it.

Ordering sheet labels step by step

1. Tell us the label sizes and how many of each design you need.
2. Say whether you want A4, A5 or another sheet size.
3. Upload your artwork, or a logo and the wording.
4. Check the free proof, which shows the layout of every sheet.
5. Approve it, and we print in 3 to 5 working days.

Which materials work on sheets?

All of them. Matt paper is the favourite for anything you write on. Kraft gives a hand-made look on gift wrap and boxes. White and clear BOPP are the choice when the product meets water, oil or a fridge, and our guide on applying labels so they stay put explains why the surface matters as much as the stock.

Do sheets cost more than rolls?

Not by much at small quantities, and sometimes less because there is no core or winding. At large quantities rolls usually work out cheaper per label. Prices start from £0.05 a label either way.

If you are not sure, ask for both on your quote. We reply within one working day with a price for each and a free proof.

Sheets also suit the brand that is still deciding on a final design. A short run of each version costs little, and you can see which one customers pick up before you commit to a longer roll order.

How should I store sheet labels?

Flat, in the box they came in, away from radiators and damp. Paper labels can curl if a sheet sits in a warm van or a steamy kitchen. Film labels are more forgiving.

Keep sheets in the order you use them, oldest at the front. If a sheet has been stored somewhere cold, let it reach room temperature before you apply the labels.

A shoebox lined with a sheet of card makes a good store for part-used sheets on a busy bench, and it keeps the corners from catching on everything else in the drawer.

Are sheet labels good for markets and fairs?

They are ideal. A slim folder of sheets weighs almost nothing, and you can label a jar in front of a customer, add a gift tag or seal a paper bag without carrying a dispenser. Mixed designs mean one folder covers your whole range.

If your stall is outside, choose BOPP for anything that might meet rain, and keep paper sheets in a plastic wallet until you need them. Labels applied in the cold need a little more pressure to grip, so press each one firmly for a second or two.

What artwork works on small sheet labels?

Small labels need bold, simple artwork. A logo, a product name and one line of detail will read at 38 mm; a paragraph of text will not. Keep body text above about 6 pt and avoid thin script fonts below that size.

If the same design also appears on a larger front label, we can make a simplified version for the small sheet labels so it still reads at arm's length.

What if a sheet arrives damaged?

Sheets travel flat with stiff card on each side, so damage is rare. If any arrive creased, misprinted or damaged, tell us within 10 days with a photo and we reprint them or refund you. Free tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses takes 2 to 3 working days.