Square and rectangular stickers

A sticker is a small addition that can change the look of packaging a great deal. Stick one on a jar, a box, an envelope or a parcel and the product is clearly marked and easier to connect with a particular brand.

On a sticker you can put a logo, the product name, a QR code, a promotional note or a short "thank you for your order". You choose the format, material and run size yourself in the calculator, and you see the price straight away without having to send a separate enquiry.

It is a versatile way of marking things. The same sticker can be a product label, a seal, a marking, an advert or an addition to the packaging. A well prepared design tidies up the brand's communication, improves the look of the product and makes the whole package look more professional.

What you can use stickers for

Self-adhesive stickers are used in many trades. They are easy to apply, practical and let you mark both the product and its packaging quickly. You can use them in situations like these:

• An online shop - for marking parcels, envelopes and shipping packaging, as stickers with a logo and website address, security seals or stickers with a "thank you for your order" message.
• A product brand - as labels on jars, bottles, boxes and paper bags, and for marking flavours, colours and the different versions of a product.
• Food service and catering - on takeaway packaging, jars, boxes and paper bags, and as date labels or a short note for the customer.
• Handmade goods and natural brands - on candles, cosmetics, ceramics, preserves, honey, coffee, tea, gifts and gift sets.
• The office and warehouse - for marking folders, shelves, boxes, documents, samples and materials used inside the company.
• Promotion and events - as stickers with a discount, a QR code, a website address, social media, a promotional line or seasonal artwork.

A sticker is often one of the first parts of the packaging a customer notices. So it is worth making sure it is legible, matches the brand's identity and is the right size for the surface it will go on.

Which format and size to choose

The calculator offers nine formats. They include two larger versions, A6 and A5, and seven more compact square and rectangular formats:

• A6 - 105×148 mm - a larger format suited to an information label, larger packaging, a parcel marking, short instructions or a promotional message.
• A5 - 148×210 mm - a large sticker with plenty of room for content, artwork, instructions, a product marking or warehouse information.
• 65×65 mm - a small square format. It works well as a sticker with a logo, or a label for small packaging, a jar, a box, an envelope, a paper bag, a candle or a cosmetic.
• 100×100 mm - a larger square with versatile uses, suited to product labels, promotional stickers, packaging markings, QR codes and seasonal artwork.
• 150×150 mm - a large square with room for a full label, instructions, a composition table or bold artwork. It works on larger packaging, outer cartons and gift boxes.
• 140×50 mm - a narrow rectangular format that suits long boxes, envelopes, pouches, jars, bottles, product bands and short messages.
• 170×50 mm - a longer label giving more room across. You can put the product name, composition, a short description, a barcode, a website address, a logo or a promotional note on it.
• 200×50 mm - a long, narrow format for larger packaging, shipping boxes, seals, bands, wraps and set markings.
• 200×70 mm - just as long but noticeably taller than the previous one. It holds the product name along with a description, composition, barcode and logo, so it suits labels for cartons, outer packaging and larger containers.

On smaller products, the 65×65 mm, 100×100 mm and 140×50 mm formats usually work well. For larger packaging you can choose 150×150 mm, 170×50 mm, 200×50 mm, 200×70 mm, A6 or A5.

Which material to choose

There are three self-adhesive materials available. Each looks a little different and suits different uses:

• White self-adhesive paper - the versatile material for most standard stickers and labels. The white stock reproduces colours well and gives a classic, legible result. It suits stickers with a logo, product labels, and markings for packaging, parcels and promotional materials.
• White self-adhesive film - a good choice when the sticker should be tougher and more durable than an ordinary paper label. It has a smooth surface and goes well with modern designs. It also works where the sticker is handled often or used in more demanding conditions.
• Kraft self-adhesive paper - it has a natural brown colour and a distinctly kraft character. It suits handmade goods, cafés, bakeries, eco shops, natural brands, handmade cosmetics, candles, jars and preserves. Designs with clear contrast, dark printing, simple typography and sparing artwork look best on it.

Put simply: white paper is the most versatile, white film works when you need more durability and a smooth, modern look, and kraft suits a natural, rustic style. The final choice should take into account both the character of the brand and where the sticker will be used.

Printing and what goes on the sticker

We print the stickers on one side, in full colour. That lets you prepare a label with a logo, text, artwork, a QR code, a barcode, icons, a photograph of the product or an advertising line.

On a sticker you can put:

• brand details - the logo, the brand and product name or an advertising line,
• product information - a description, composition, weight, date, batch number and a marking for the flavour or version,
• scannable elements - a barcode, a QR code, a website address, social media and contact details,
• messages - information about a promotion or discount, instructions, a warning, a thank-you for the order or "handmade" and "eco" markings.

When designing, legibility matters most, along with matching the amount of content sensibly to the size of the label. On a small sticker a simple layout, larger text and a limited number of elements work best. A6 and A5 give far more room, but even in those formats a clear composition is better.

If the sticker carries a QR code, a barcode, a serial number, a composition or a date, pay particular attention to the size of the text and the contrast. Elements that are too small can become hard to read once printed.

File check and graphic design

When you place the order you choose one of the file preparation options. Match it to whether you already have a design ready and how confident you are that it is technically correct.

• No file check - the version meant for agencies, designers and anyone whose design is correctly prepared. The file goes into production without further graphic control.
• File check by a designer - we check the technical preparation of the file, including the format, bleed, safe distances, image quality, colours and how the file was saved. On stickers we also look at whether important content is set back from the edge, the legibility of small text, the quality of QR codes and barcodes, the contrast and how well the design suits the material chosen.
• Simple graphic design - the option for anyone without a design of their own. You send us your logo, the text, the product name, contact details, codes, artwork and your guidelines on colour, and we prepare a simple design matched to the format, material and use of the sticker.

The technical check is worth choosing especially if the design was prepared in Canva, an online generator, an office program, a presentation app or with AI tools. Such files can look good on screen and still need the format, bleed, CMYK colours, resolution or safe margins corrected.

With kraft paper, contrast is an extra consideration. The brown colour of the stock affects the look of the print, so very light colours, thin lines and small text can be less legible than on white paper or film.

The check by a designer covers technical matters. We do not check typos, prices, numbers, discount codes, dates, contact details, compositions, weights, QR codes and barcodes, legal wording or whether the label complies with the regulations in force. The customer is responsible for the accuracy of all the content.

How to prepare the file for print

• File format - a PDF prepared to our specification is best. We also accept good quality JPG and PNG files.
• Resolution and colours - photographs should be at 300 dpi at 1:1 scale, and the design prepared in CMYK.
• Bleed and margins - if artwork runs to the edge of the sticker, add bleed. Move the logo, text, QR code, barcode, composition, date, contact details and other important elements away from the edge.
• Legibility on a small format - do not put too much text on a small surface. QR codes and barcodes should be a suitable size and have good contrast. Before sending the design it is worth checking that they can be read properly.
• Kraft paper - allow for the natural colour of the material. The print will look different than on white paper or film. Bold, dark colours, simple typography, a clear logo and good contrast are the safest.

Before sending the file to print, check all the content carefully: product names, compositions, prices, dates, batch numbers, barcodes, QR codes, contact details, website addresses and social media.

Our site also has a dedicated section on preparing a design for print and the mistakes made most often. You can see the exact cost of the stickers for the format, material and run size you choose directly in the calculator above.