High Quality Labels for Your Products

Products that end up in shopping carts attract buyers. A well-designed custom label will motivate shoppers to pick up a product in-store or click on a product while shopping online. It may even be the deciding factor in whether or not they make a purchase.

Shop by Product Type

From supplements to cosmetic products, we can print labels for almost any industry. Shop for the best custom label options by your product type.

Shop by Material

Choose from waterproof options like Plastic (BOPP), or pick an eco-friendly label option like Kraft Paper, Avon Classic Crest®, or TerraSkin®. We have 14 label material options to choose from.

Step 1: Choosing the Best Label Material & Laminate for Your Products

Selecting the best label material impacts the look and performance of your product packaging. Before making a decision, consider how your product will be stored, transported, and used. Different products require different materials based on durability and aesthetic needs.

Bath and body care products often need waterproof materials like polypropylene (plastic) labels to withstand exposure to moisture and water. On the other hand, tea and coffee packaging can be printed on specialty paper labels, which add a premium, natural look to elevate the brand’s look.

Understanding your product’s environment will help you choose the right label material that ensures both durability and visual impact.

Choosing a Label Material

White Plastic labels, also known as BOPP labels(biaxially oriented polypropylene), are the most popular label material for a wide range of products. This versatile plastic label material is waterproof, oil-resistant, and easy to apply, making it well-suited for virtually any application. Its durability and cost-effectiveness provide excellent value, helping you create high-quality labels without breaking the bank.

In addition to the classic white BOPP material, Sttark offers custom plastic label materials like Metallic, Clear, and Ultra-Clear, giving you even more flexibility to customize the look of your products.

Learn more:
– Sttark’s Ultimate Guide to Laminates for Product Packaging
– Ultimate Guide to Label Materials and Finishes

Choosing a Label Finish

The final touch for your custom label is selecting the right label finish or laminate. A gloss laminate adds extra shine and intensifies colors, giving your labels a bold, eye-catching look that stands out on shelves. If you’re looking for a more subtle, refined look, our Soft Touch Matte laminate is the ideal choice. This non-glare, smooth finish enhances contrast on metallic labels and provides a sophisticated frosted effect on clear labels.

Also, consider choosing specialty laminates like leather and linen to add a unique look to your product labels. The textured look enhances your label design and makes your products look more luxurious.

Custom Labels vs. Custom Stickers

Custom labels and stickers can both promote your brand and engage with customers, but they serve two distinct purposes.

Custom labels are primarily informational and designed to be applied directly to your product packaging. They contain information that tells consumers the details about what’s in the product, how it’s intended to be used, and the potential benefits of using it.

Stickers, in contrast, are mainly used for promotional purposes. Companies may include stickers in an order or give them away at promotional events. Like labels, stickers are likely to encounter various environmental conditions, like frequent exposure to sunlight, moisture, or oils.

Choosing Your Label Shape

When picking a label shape for your product, think about the container type. Consider how much space you need for branding and keep in mind the overall look you’re going for.

For cylindrical containers like bottles, rectangular labels are the most common, as they wrap neatly around the surface. However, shapes like oval or round labels can add visual interest and help your product stand out on the shelf.

Always choose a shape that complements both your product’s packaging and your brand’s personality.

Determining Your Label Size

Once you’ve selected the shape, the next step is finding the ideal label size for your packaging. Many people think one size fits all for certain product types, but labels should be custom-made to fit your product and container.

Fortunately, we’ve made it easy to find the perfect size with our label size calculator and a step-by-step label sizing guide video. We’ve also compiled a list of popular label sizes for different product types. From beer bottles to lip balm tubes, we’ve got you covered.

Use our label size calculator or watch our step-by-step video to find the best label size →

Bonus: What size do I need for my product boxes?

Learn more: Find the Right Size for Your Product Label

Recommended Label Sizes by Packaging Type

Popular Label Sizes for Bottles

Wide Mouth Capsule Bottle – 2.000” x 6.000” Rectangle

Long Neck and ISB Beer Bottles – 3.000” x 7.000” Rectangle

Boston Round Bottles – 2.750″ x 5.000″ Rectangle

750 ml Wine Bottle – 4.500″ x 3.000″ Rectangle Square Corners

50 ml Mini Bottle – 2.000″ x 3.000″ Rectangle Square Corners

0.5 oz / 15 ml Dropper Bottles – 1.250” x 2.500” Rectangle

1 oz / 30 ml Dropper Bottles – 1.750” x 4.000” Rectangle

2 oz / 60 ml Dropper Bottle – 2.000” x 4.000” Rectangle

Custom tapered labels are essential for bottles with sloping shoulders or irregular shapes, like wine bottles.

Popular Label Sizes for Cans

12 oz Beer Cans – 3.500″ x 4.000″ Rectangle

16 oz (Pint) Beer Cans – 5.000″ x 7.500″ Rectangle

Popular Label Sizes for Bags

Side-Gusseted Bags – 2.500″ x 5.500″ Rectangle Square Corners

Square Bottom Bags – 4.000″ x 5.000″ Rectangle

Stand Up Pouches – 3.500″ x 3.500″ Square

Popular Label Sizes for Lip Balm Tubes

0.15 oz Lip Balm Tubes –
2.125” x 2.125” Rectangle with Perforated Tamper Seal
1.750″ x 2.000″ Rectangle Square Corners

0.5 oz Lip Balm Tubes –
2.700” x 3.300” Rectangle with Perforated Tamper Seal
2.650″ x 2.750″ Rectangle

Popular Label Sizes for Jars

8 oz Jars – 2.500″ x 3.500″ Rectangle Square Corners

16 oz Jars – 2.500″ x 5.000″ Rectangle Square Corners

Mason Jars – 3.250″ x 3.000″ Rectangle

Custom Labels Example:

Custom Sticker Labels Example:

Sttark’s Online Label Size Calculator

How to Find The Best Label Size: Step-by-step [Video]

Step 3: Choosing the right label printer

Determining the Best Way to Print Your Labels

As you begin researching how to print custom labels, you need to make a choice. Will you print your labels yourself, or will you hire a professional label printing company like Sttark? This choice largely depends on your label volume and business needs.

In-House Label Printing

If you’re a small business or entrepreneur working with a limited budget, printing your own labels might seem like the best option. However, it requires investing in a printer, ink, label sheets, and your time. A home label printer can cost between $300 and $500, allowing you to print labels on demand. But remember that maintaining your printer and continuously purchasing supplies can become costly and time-consuming.

Outsourcing to a Professional Printer

If you’re ready to scale your business or if you’re a private label manufacturer, outsourcing label printing is a smarter, more economical option in the long run. Professional label printers handle large volumes efficiently, saving you time and money on supplies and maintenance. Plus, some have easy-to-use online ordering systems, making the process seamless.

Learn More: Printing Your Own Labels vs. Professional Label Printing

Flexographic vs. Digital Printing

What is Flexographic Printing?

Flexographic printing uses flexible printing plates (usually made from rubber or plastic). Each plate is rotated on a cylinder and coated with fast-drying ink. To transfer ink onto your labels, the material is pressed between the print plate and the impression roller.

This method is ideal for large production runs and is often used for labels that require enhanced durability or have specific spot color requirements.

Benefits of Flexographic Printing

● Enhanced durability: This is the best solution for labels that require a longer shelf life or will be used outdoors.

● Speed of production: Flexography uses fast-drying inks that allow presses to add one color after the next quickly; laminating, die-cutting, cold foiling, and other options can be integrated into the press line. This makes production continuous, even for large quantities.

● Color precision: Custom inks can be mixed to ensure exact color matching, perfect for brands with strict color guidelines.

● Cost-effective for large runs: While there are upfront costs for creating plates, flexographic printing becomes more affordable with higher quantities.

Drawbacks of Flexographic Printing

● High startup costs: Each CMYK color requires a separate plate in addition to any spot colors you may need, leading to higher initial expenses.

● Registration issues: Slight movements between print plates during printing can cause misalignment of your artwork, lowering the label print quality.

● Minimum order quantities: Many flexographic printers require large minimum order quantities (MOQs), which may not suit businesses that need more flexibility.

What is Digital Printing?

Digital printing eliminates the need for plates. A computer sends artwork files to the press operating system, where the image is printed directly onto the label material. This makes it ideal for short runs and highly detailed labels.

Benefits of Digital Printing

● Minimal setup & faster turnaround: No need for plates means quicker turnaround times than flexographic printing for small and large orders.

● High-resolution image quality: Digital printing produces sharp, high-quality images by printing all colors as one image, eliminating registration issues.

● Cost-effective for on-demand labels: Lower setup costs make digital printing the preferred option for short-run or on-demand labels. Short-run printing typically is any order under 10,000 labels, but larger runs are cost-effective at Sttark because we have bulk pricing for larger quantity label orders and no MOQs.

● Flexibility: It’s easy to make changes or updates to label designs quickly and with minimal cost. Plus, there are no limitations on the number of colors.

Drawbacks of Digital Printing

● Higher costs for very large runs: Digital printing is usually less cost-efficient for larger print volumes compared to flexographic printing.

● Less durable: Digital labels generally tend to be less durable than flexographic ones, although lamination can improve longevity.

● Limited color range: While digital printing can achieve many colors, it may not achieve the same level of precision as flexographic inks. Digital printing uses CMYK inks only without color matching for spot colors, as you can do with flexographic printing.

● Material limitations: Digital printing can’t be used on heat-sensitive materials because of the heat applied during the printing process.

Deciding on a Label Printer

If you’ve chosen digital printing, the next step is finding the right digital label printer to partner with. The labels industry offers many options, so it’s important to compare the features, benefits, and service quality provided by each company to ensure the best fit for your business.

When evaluating a digital printer, consider these key factors:

Processing Speeds

Look at the turnaround time for both production and communication. A reliable label printer will process your orders quickly and be responsive to your questions or concerns.

Quality Standards

The quality of their printed labels, website, and customer communication reflects the level of service you can expect from the company. An easy ordering process and responsive customer service team often indicate a trustworthy partner.

Customer Service

Great customer support can make the difference between you having a smooth or stressful experience ordering labels. Pay attention to how they handle inquiries and whether they offer custom label design or additional support services.

Sttark’s Customer Care Team typically responds within 30 minutes to emails sent to support@sttark.com. Our top-notch service sets us apart as a custom-printed packaging company.

Below, we’ve outlined a comparison between Sttark and other digital label printers to help you make an informed decision:

How Sttark Compares to Other Digital Label Printers

Step 4: Design a Stunning Product Label

Whether you’re using professional graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator, online tools like Canva, or hiring a professional label design service, the approach you take depends on your time, budget, and design experience.

One way to streamline the entire process is by working with a label printer that also specializes in label design, like Sttark. We offer in-house professional label design services to help bring your vision to life, making us your one-stop shop for everything from design to print.

Note: You can order any of our design services without needing to place a label printing order, making Sttark a flexible solution for your design needs. Businesses can finalize their label designs ahead of their production schedule to avoid delays due to artwork changes.

Custom Label Design Tips

Designing your own product label can be a rewarding experience. Here are five pro tips to help you create labels that not only look great but also help your product stand out to customers.

1. Conduct Competitor Research

Before designing, look at your competitors’ packaging. Understanding what’s already being done can inspire you to create something unique. Identify what works for your competitors and consider ways to make your labels stand out.

2. Make Your Label Eye-Catching

Use a high-quality image or a bold graphic to grab attention. A single compelling visual element, like an engaging or unique pattern, can differentiate your product on crowded shelves.

3. Use Color

Colors evoke emotions, and the ones you choose for your label should reflect your brand’s personality. Think about how different colors will resonate with your target audience. Do you want your product to feel energetic, luxurious, calming, or bold?

Learn more: How to Effectively Use Color in Your Label Design

4. Choose Fonts Strategically

Fonts do more than display text — they communicate your brand’s tone. Vary font sizes to emphasize important information, and choose a style that aligns with your brand’s message. Your font choices can greatly impact the readability of your labels.

5. Embrace Minimalism

Resist the temptation to fill every inch of your label with artwork or text. Using white space effectively draws attention to key elements and gives your design a clean, professional look. Sometimes, less is more.

Additional Resources

When designing your custom labels, always be sure to do research on any special requirements or regulations the FDA and other organizations might have for your particular product. We’ve compiled some guides to help get you started.

● How to Design an FDA-Approved Supplement Label

● How to Label Your CBD Product

● How to Create FDA Approved Hand Sanitizer Labels

● How to Correctly Label Cosmetics

Step 5: Order Your Labels Online with Confidence

Ordering custom labels online should be a smooth, efficient process that leaves you feeling confident about the results. At Sttark, we make it easy to take your project from concept to delivery.

Whether you’re applying labels by hand or using advanced machinery, we’ll guide you through each step so you can focus on your business while we handle the rest.

Determining Your Label Application Method

The first step in ordering your labels is knowing how you’ll apply them. Whether you’re labeling your products yourself or working with a third-party manufacturer, the application method you choose will determine the label format and roll direction that works best for your operation.

Learn more: Label Application: What You Need to Know

Hand Application

For small businesses or those producing in small batches, hand-applying labels is a practical option.

Machine Application

If you’re using a label dispenser, applicator machine, or partnering with a copacker, knowing the correct roll direction (also known as unwind direction) is essential. The roll direction refers to how the label comes off the roll, which will depend on the machinery or packaging line you’re using.

Here’s a brief breakdown of label roll directions:

Roll Direction #1: The top edge of the design comes off the roll first.

Roll Direction #2: The bottom edge of the design comes off the roll first.

Roll Direction #3: The right edge of the design comes off the roll first.

Roll Direction #4: The left edge of the design comes off the roll first.

Learn more: How to Determine Your Label Roll Direction

How to Order Custom Labels Online

Once you’ve selected the perfect label shape, size, material, and finish, it’s time to place your order. Sttark makes it easy with our streamlined Quote and Order Tool.

1. Use Our Online Quote and Ordering Tool: Enter the details of your project, including design specifications, material preferences, and any custom requests. We’ll guide you through each step, ensuring your labels are tailored to your needs.

2. Request Free Samples: If you’re unsure which material or finish will best complement your label design, we offer free material samples. Create an account on our website, and we’ll gladly send you samples so you can choose with confidence.

3. Review and Approve Your Proof: After placing your order, our prepress team will carefully review your label artwork and send a proof for your approval. If any edits are needed, we’ll work with you to ensure everything is perfect before printing.

Customer Reviews