Stickers are one of the cheapest branded items there is, which is exactly why people pick the wrong material and only find out later.
The choice comes down to one question: where is it going, and for how long?
PAPER STICKERS
Printed on a paper face stock, usually with a matt or gloss coating.
Best for: product labels on boxes, jar and packaging labels, pricing and promotional stickers, seals on bags and parcels, anything short term and indoors.
Strengths: noticeably cheaper, especially in volume. Excellent print quality, particularly on matt. Easy to write on. Available in attractive textured and kraft finishes that suit artisanal and food products.
Weaknesses: not waterproof. Tears when removed. Degrades quickly outdoors and marks easily if handled a lot.
VINYL STICKERS
Printed on a plastic film, usually with a protective laminate over the top.
Best for: anything outdoors, vehicles, equipment, laptops and water bottles, bathroom and kitchen products, safety labels, and anything that needs to last.
Strengths: waterproof, UV resistant, scratch resistant, and flexible enough to go around curves. With a laminate it will survive years outdoors. Available in matt, gloss, clear and metallic.
Weaknesses: more expensive, typically two to three times the cost of paper. Harder to remove cleanly from some surfaces, and it is a plastic product.
A SIMPLE DECISION RULE
- Will it get wet, or go outside? Vinyl.
- Will it be handled a lot, or need to last more than a few months? Vinyl.
- Is it a label on packaging that gets opened and discarded? Paper.
- Are you printing thousands and watching the budget? Paper, if the application allows it.
- Is it going on a vehicle, a laptop or a bottle? Vinyl, with a laminate.
THE OPTIONS PEOPLE FORGET TO ASK ABOUT
- Clear vinyl, which looks printed directly onto the surface and is excellent on glass bottles
- Removable adhesive, for promotions you will want to take off later without a fight
- High tack adhesive, for rough or textured surfaces where normal stickers lift
- Die cutting to a custom shape, which costs surprisingly little and looks far better than a rectangle
- Kiss cut sheets, where several stickers sit on one backing sheet, which is ideal for giveaway packs
WHAT ACTUALLY DRIVES THE COST
Quantity first, then material, then whether you need a custom shape. Doubling the quantity rarely doubles the price, so if you know you will reorder, order once.
THE HONEST SUMMARY
Paper for labels. Vinyl for everything that has to survive. If you are unsure, tell us where it is going and we will tell you which one, because it is not in anybody’s interest to sell you a sticker that falls off.
See more on our paper and print page, or ask us for a quote.