Your complete beginner’s guide to sticker types, materials, shapes, artwork, and ordering custom stickers.
Custom stickers are a simple, versatile way to bring a creative idea to life. Whether you're building a small business, designing merchandise, creating packaging, or planning a promotional campaign, the right stickers can help your brand stand out.
But with so many shapes, finishes, materials, and printing options available, where should you start?
In this guide, we'll walk you through the essentials of choosing custom stickers, preparing your artwork, and planning an order that fits your project.
1. Start with Your Purpose
Before choosing a sticker material or shape, think about how your stickers will be used. Your intended application will help determine which options make the most sense.
Here are a few common uses:
- Product packaging: Add branded stickers to boxes, bags, tissue paper, and shipping materials.
- Water bottles and personal items: Create decorative designs for everyday accessories.
- Brand promotion: Share your logo, campaign artwork, or brand message at events and in promotional packages.
- Artist merchandise: Turn illustrations, characters, and original artwork into collectible designs.
- Retail products: Use custom labels and stickers to support product presentation and brand recognition.
- Stickers for businesses: Create coordinated designs for packaging, customer gifts, events, and marketing materials.
Our tip: Start with the application, then work backward to choose the material, shape, size, and finish.
2. Understand the Different Types of Custom Stickers
Different sticker formats serve different creative and practical needs. Here are several popular options to consider.
Kiss-Cut Stickers
Kiss-cut stickers are cut through the sticker material while leaving the backing sheet intact. This makes the stickers easier to handle and can provide extra space around the design.
They're a popular choice for illustrated designs, logo stickers, promotional giveaways, and sticker sheets containing multiple designs.
Die-Cut Stickers
Die-cut stickers are cut around the outer shape of the design, including irregular outlines. The finished sticker follows the intended silhouette rather than remaining within a standard square or rectangle.
They're especially useful for distinctive logos, character artwork, and designs where the outline is part of the visual impact.
Sticker Sheets
Sticker sheets group multiple designs on one backing sheet. They work well for collections of illustrations, themed designs, planner stickers, and product bundles.
If you have several designs that belong together, a sticker sheet can be a convenient format to explore.
Sticker Rolls
Sticker rolls arrange individual labels or stickers on a continuous roll. They're worth considering for businesses that need to apply labels repeatedly during packaging or fulfillment.
Before ordering, consider how the stickers will be dispensed and applied, as well as the size and layout you need.
UV Transfer Stickers
UV transfer stickers are a transfer-style option used for certain decorative and branding applications. They can be worth exploring when you want a design applied to a suitable surface without the conventional appearance of a sticker backing.
Compatibility depends on the product construction and the surface receiving the transfer, so confirm the intended application before placing an order.
Choosing between them: Consider whether you need individual stickers, multiple designs on a sheet, labels in roll form, or a transfer-style application. Your use case is the best starting point.
3. Choose a Material and Finish for Your Application
Material selection affects the appearance, feel, and suitability of a sticker for its intended use.
When comparing options, consider the surface, environment, handling requirements, and overall look you want to achieve.
Questions to ask include:
- Will the sticker be applied to packaging, paper, glass, plastic, or another surface?
- Will it be used indoors, outdoors, or in an environment with frequent handling?
- Do you prefer a glossy, matte, transparent, or other visual effect?
- Does the adhesive need to suit a particular surface?
- Are there specific performance requirements you need the supplier to confirm?
For example, a sticker designed for paper packaging may have different requirements from one intended for a frequently handled water bottle.
Avoid choosing based on appearance alone. If water resistance, UV resistance, outdoor durability, or removability matters to your project, confirm those properties for the exact product and application.
4. Pick the Right Shape and Size
Shape and size influence how your design looks and how easily customers can use your stickers.
Common shape options include:
- Round: A straightforward choice for logos, seals, and small decorative designs.
- Square or rectangular: Useful for text-heavy artwork, product information, and clean geometric layouts.
- Oval: An alternative for elongated logos and labels.
- Custom-shaped: Suitable for illustrations, characters, distinctive brand marks, and other designs that benefit from a unique outline.
When deciding on size, consider the available application area and the amount of detail in your artwork.
A highly detailed illustration may need more space to remain legible, while a simple logo can often work at a smaller size.
A practical tip: Measure the intended application area before ordering. If you're unsure, compare a few proposed sizes using a printed paper mockup.
5. Prepare Your Artwork Before Ordering
Good artwork preparation helps reduce avoidable revisions and makes it easier to communicate your expectations.
Before submitting your design, check the following.
Use a Suitable File Format
Ask your supplier which file formats are accepted. Depending on the printing process, suitable artwork may include high-resolution PNG files or vector files such as AI, EPS, or SVG.
A vector file can be especially useful for designs that need to scale to different sizes, provided the artwork is prepared correctly.
Check Resolution and Detail
For raster images, make sure the resolution is suitable for the intended print size. Low-resolution images may appear blurry or pixelated when enlarged.
Fine lines, small text, and intricate details should also be reviewed at the actual intended size.
Review Colors and Transparency
If your design uses a transparent background, confirm that the file preserves the intended transparency.
Screen colors and printed colors can differ. If color accuracy is important for your brand, discuss color requirements and available proofing options before production.
Leave Enough Space Around Important Details
Make sure text, logos, and other essential elements aren't positioned too close to the intended cut line.
Your supplier may have specific requirements for bleed, safe areas, cut paths, or transparent borders. Follow the specifications for the product you're ordering rather than assuming every sticker type uses the same setup.
For more detailed preparation advice, visit our Artwork Guidelines.
6. Understand Quantity and Pricing
Custom sticker pricing can depend on several factors, including:
- Order quantity
- Sticker size and shape
- Material and finish
- Number of different designs
- Printing and cutting requirements
- Packaging and shipping arrangements
Some products use quantity-based pricing, meaning the unit price changes at different order volumes. Larger orders may have a lower unit price, but the total amount you pay will also be higher.
When comparing quotes, make sure you're comparing the same specifications. A lower unit price doesn't necessarily mean the overall order is the best fit if the material, dimensions, or included services differ.
Before confirming an order, check the minimum order quantity, unit price, total quantity, shipping costs, and any setup or artwork-related charges.
If you need several designs, ask whether the quantity applies to each design individually or to the combined order. This can make a meaningful difference when planning a sticker collection or promotional campaign.
7. What Happens After You Place an Order?
A clear ordering process helps you move from an idea to a finished product with fewer surprises.
Although the exact workflow depends on the product, a typical custom sticker order involves these steps:
Step 1 — Share your requirements.
Provide your artwork, preferred size, sticker type, estimated quantity, and intended application.
Step 2 — Confirm the specifications.
Review the material, shape, finish, pricing, production details, and shipping arrangements.
Step 3 — Review the artwork proof, if applicable.
Check the design, spelling, dimensions, colors, and cut lines before approving it.
Step 4 — Approve production.
Make sure the agreed specifications and artwork are correct before production begins.
Step 5 — Production and shipping.
Production and delivery timelines depend on the product, order details, and shipping method. Confirm the estimated schedule before placing your order.
You can learn more about the process on our How to Order and Proofing & Artwork Approval pages.
8. A Simple Checklist Before You Order
Use this checklist to organize your project before requesting a quote.
- I know how and where the stickers will be used.
- I've selected a suitable sticker type and material.
- I've confirmed the approximate dimensions and shape.
- My artwork is ready in an accepted file format.
- I've checked text, colors, resolution, and important details.
- I know the quantity needed for each design.
- I've reviewed the unit price, total cost, and shipping arrangements.
- I've confirmed the production timeline and proofing requirements.
You don't need to know every technical detail before getting started. If you're uncertain about a material or format, describe your project and ask for guidance before confirming the order.
Bring Your Sticker Ideas to Life with Sprout Stickers
Every great sticker project starts with an idea. Maybe you're preparing branded packaging for a growing business, creating merchandise for your audience, or turning original artwork into something people can collect and share.
Whatever you're planning, defining your application, choosing suitable specifications, and preparing your artwork will help you take the next step with confidence.
Ready to start your custom sticker project?
Contact Sprout Stickers with your design, preferred sticker type, estimated quantity, and any questions you have. We'll help you explore the available options for your project.
Sprout Stickers — Small details. Big ideas.
