Stickers or labels: people confuse them to be interchangeable, but in reality, they are different from each other. Tomato tomahto, right? But it’s not like this. It’s true that they are made from the same materials, but their purpose and applications differentiate them from each other. Stickers are designed for branding, promotion, and making you stand out on the retail shelves. On the other hand, labels are intended to deliver the necessary information about the product, including the product packaging and shipping details.
As an experienced packaging partner, in this blog, we are going to compare stickers or labels in detail. So, next time you will not be confused about the stickers and labels and will choose the right option for your business. Let’s begin!
Due to the sticky nature and the similar properties that they share, the labels and the stickers are considered interchangeable. But they are not the same. The stickers are an attractive form of labels, while the label is not a sticker. Both products do different jobs but are often considered similar because of the following shared properties:
The sticker and label, both are the products designed to be attached to some surface, whether it's product packaging or a shipping box. The adhesives can be of different types for different labels, such as permanent or temporary. For long-term usage, permanent adhesives that offer a strong bonding strength are used. For temporary application, removable adhesives are used. The adhesive options include heat sealing and iron-on, which require pressure to make stickers stick to the product boxes.
Both labels and stickers are made from durable materials so that they can be used long-lasting and withstand weather conditions. They are made from common materials such as vinyl (PVC), BOPP, polyester, and paper. These materials can be suitable for bottles, laptops, and other object surfaces. The same materials also confuse people.
Both products have a release liner or paper backing that protects the adhesive as long as it is not removed. To paste both products, you need to remove the paper backing.
As the same materials are used, the printing techniques are also the same for both products. Advanced printing techniques are used for both to create a vibrant and attractive output with crisp details.
Both products, the labels and stickers, can be fully customized. There is an ocean of customization possibilities for both products, including custom shapes and sizes as well as different types of finishes. You can customize both products in any way that meets your business needs.
The same type of finishes can be used for labels and stickers. There is no restriction that a specific type of finish will be used only for stickers or labels. When materials are the same, then the finish options are also the same.
These common properties in stickers and labels make them versatile for different business applications. But it is essential to remember the difference between the two products so that you can better meet your business needs. MyBoxPrinting understands the requirements for both and offers your full customization for both options that best meet your needs.
Stickers are an eye-catching form of labels that feature adhesive backing. They have the potential to make you stand out. They are one of the most affordable and effective tools for marketing you can adopt in place of digital ads and print media (newspapers and magazines). The stickers usually depict logos, illustrations, pictures, and visuals that instantly become the center of attention.
The stickers are designed for promotion, branding, and showcasing a cause. Or they can be used simply to add personal flair to your belongings. They are versatile enough to be used as a marketing tool for events, giveaways, or merchandise that will also boost your brand visibility. The best thing about stickers is that they are the most cost-effective option available among others that even a startup can afford.
They are made for both indoor and outdoor use; therefore, they are made from durable and weather-resistant materials. The materials include velvet, vinyl, polyethylene, polycarbonate durable films, polyester, and polypropylene. For temporary use, paper material can be used, which is an eco-friendly and sustainable material.
The stickers are the best marketing tools in terms of cost and effectiveness. Whether you are running a small business or a large enterprise, they are best to boost your brand visibility. They boost brand visibility due to their promotional and decorative design with these features:
Due to boldness and creativity in visuals, stickers have the ability to grab customers' attention and engage them instantly. If you want to promote your business, conduct any event, advertise your brand, or give giveaways to your customers, then they are the best choice. They give an eye-catching appeal due to their custom cuts and adhesive properties.
They are made up of durable materials because durability is the name of success, due to sticking to the exact visual. Their purpose is to take a place in the memory of your customers by giving promotional giveaways and freebies.
Your customers will remember your brand whenever they see the stickers, or they can be a reason for grabbing more customers. To prevent fading during shipping, you have to choose the right material that is moisture, UV light, and chemical resistant.
It does not matter whether you are sticking them on a shipping box or a water bottle; they can withstand wear and tear.
The stickers are designed with an adhesive backing that is usually given as promotional giveaways and freebies. The back adhesive is protected by a paper backing or a release film that protects the adhesive. So, you can simply peel the backing and stick the sticker.
The stickers are suitable for versatile applications. Whether you want to give your customers freebies and promotional gifts or do branding and marketing, they are the most convenient tools.
The businesses want something unique, innovative, and effective at the same time that keeps their brand present. They want this at an affordable price that does not cost them breaking their bank. Stickers make customers remember their brand every time the customer sees them and engage them with the attractive design. This solution is always better than digital ads that customers see and forget. The stickers offer the following potential benefits to businesses for branding and promotion:
The digital ads disappear with just a click, so they are not very effective and are also expensive. Just as the ad disappears instantly, the customer forgets about it at the same time. Printing media such as magazines and newspapers are also expensive, especially for a brand.
Unlike temporary flyers that customers forget about as soon as they are removed, stickers leave a lasting impression. When you give your customers stickers as a gift, they use them on their personal belongings. Whenever they use their belongings, they remember your brand.
The stickers serve as the silent brand ambassadors that don’t utter words but make people recall your brand. How? They are a constant source of peer-to-peer endorsements, as whenever someone sees your brand sticker on his/her friend’s personal belongings, trust is built. Instead of large flyers, they are portable flyers that anyone can carry anywhere.
The stickers are a versatile marketing option because they can be customized in different formats, shapes, sizes, and styles with attractive visuals at a budget-friendly price. This customization allows them to be used for marketing on different platforms. The example scenarios include promotional events, tradeshow giveaways, or loyalty programs.
The stickers are not always produced in the same format. They can be customized in different formats so that the users can choose stickers in the way they need. The following are some common formats in which stickers are designed:
The die-cut stickers are precisely cut to the size of the design or artwork and do not have extra material around the corners. The stickers are cut straight to the backing along the shape. Due to the precise cut, die-cut stickers look more appealing to the eyes than other sticker formats.
The kiss cut stickers are also cut precisely to the shape or design, but they have a regular backing. By regular backing, we mean the back is not precisely cut to the shape like the die-cut stickers. The regular backing makes kiss-cut stickers easy to peel.
These are the individual stickers cut precisely into the shape of the design. These stickers can be either die-cut or kiss-cut; you can choose according to your need. They are used for promotional gifts and merchandising purposes.
As the name suggests, these are the pages that contain multiple rows of stickers. The sticker designs can be the same or different.
The sticker rolls refer to continuous adhesive labels rolled over a cardboard piece. In the continuous roll, the stickers are separated by a gap of 3mm. If you want stickers in large quantities, this format is suitable for you.
If we combine the multiple sticker sheets into a pocket-friendly cover, they become a sticker book. Instead of carrying separate stickers or multiple, individual stickers, you can just get a sticker book.
Stickers are an attractive type of label that is customized specifically for the purpose of branding and marketing. They are more durable than the labels because the goal is clear, i.e., promotion, marketing, and brand recall. For promotional giveaways, freebies in product packaging, and social events, they are the best tool that promote your brand.
The best real-time example of using stickers for promotions can be seen through influencers and artists. They showcase their personal style by using stickers on their laptops, water bottles, skateboards, or car windows. Through these gestures, the followers notice the brand they promote, and indirectly, the brand gets promoted.
A label is a tag on product packaging that identifies the products uniquely from one another. This tag informs the customer about the product by displaying the relevant details, including the name, contents, and manufacturer information. Businesses use them for their product packaging to gain the trust of customers by representing themselves as a credible brand. Labels ensure customers know what they are purchasing, as it’s their right. The information includes the product name, ingredients, branding, regulatory compliance, and other critical information.
Labels serve multiple purposes for businesses. You can use them for labeling of shipping boxes, mailers, and product packaging. Inventory tracking and warehouse management also become efficient with these labels. In shipping and mailing boxes, labels display the information, including the sender and recipient details. They also have barcodes to track and ensure accurate delivery.
Moreover, in warehouses, the labels improve inventory management and organization by marking shelves, bins, and containers with proper names.
In offices and home settings, they help you to identify and organize personal belongings and office files with proper details. With the help of labels, accessing items and their organization becomes super-easy.
To make a long story short, the labels are used to uniquely identify products, improve product tracking, and manage inventory. From product packaging to office and warehouse management, the labels are essential business tools.
Do You Know? The first adhesive label that we can say is the precursor of today’s modern sticker was invented in 1935 by R.Stanton Avery. His invention changed the packaging and marketing forever.
No matter whether you need labels for product packaging, shipping and mailing, home and office use, or warehouse management, all labels share some similar key features. The following are some common features you will find in almost every label:
All stickers have adhesive backing, which makes them easy to peel. Due to the backing, they are easy to apply to any surface.
Like stickers, the labels can be customized into multiple designs and custom shapes with endless customization options. They are fully customizable, which makes them stand out on the retail shelves when it comes to product packaging.
The labels can contain either barcodes, QR codes, logos, or other information that you want to display.
The labels are not available in a single type of adhesive only. There are different types of adhesives available. You can customize them with permanent, removable adhesives, and non-adhesive materials.
Labels are designed to be efficient and professional so that they can speed up operations. Therefore, they are designed with a focus on practicality with functionality, whether you are running a small or large business.
The stickers only do the promotion but do not deliver the information to customers. The labels serve more than brand promotion. They deliver the critical information about your product. The important job they do is to prevent product recalls from regulatory authorities like the FDA, USDA, CPSC, FTC, ISO, and others. In addition, labels offer the following benefits:
Labels deliver critical information to the customers while also informing them about your brand.
The details include product name, ingredients/contents, quantities, and other product-related information. In addition, they also display your brand name and increase its credibility. This shows your brand is credible, and it’s safe to purchase from your brand.
Labeling is a critical requirement for the regulatory authorities to approve your product. Labels contain clear and accurate details, which makes it easy for regulatory authorities to judge and pass the product. Otherwise, no one can stop these authorities from requiring a product recall.
The FDA and USDA regulate food and beverage brands to properly label the nutritional factors in the food, ingredients, and quantity. The FDA also regulates cosmetics, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. The USDA regulates meat, poultry, and egg products.
The proper labeling makes customers believe that the product is from a credible and reliable brand, so they must make a purchase. Moreover, the attractive labels catch customers' eyes and make them pay attention to your product.
Proper labeling helps you to identify the product easily when there are a lot of products already present, especially in the warehouse. Labels like barcode labels or labels with QR codes make inventory tracking and management easy. The recording is accurate and reduces the chances of human errors.
All these benefits are enough to understand the importance of labels for any business in order to speed up operational efficiency and management. From product labeling to inventory tracking, the labels are crucial.
The labels are made from paper or film materials, so usually, the labels are found in two formats. The choice depends on different purposes and different user needs. Let’s see each label to know when they are used:
Sheet labels refer to multiple labels on a single sheet, like a sheet of paper backed by adhesive backing. They are used for small-scale projects and hand applications. The common uses include address labels, product labels, or file labels.
The labels can be blank or professionally printed with Laser and inkjet printers. Both options are good, whether you are doing product labeling or personal projects.
The roll labels refer to the continuous roll of labels or artwork spun around a cardboard spool. This format is suitable for handling labels in large quantities. You can use them for product packaging, bulk shipping, or labeling tasks. These labels are useful for tasks where businesses need efficiency and durability.
You can customize labels in any color scheme. The black and white color scheme is used for barcode labels, shipping labels, and professional labels where text visibility matters more than design. You can also design colorful labels to grab attention and enhance your brand visibility. Brands customize colorful address labels to build customer relationships.
Labels are not only available in different formats, but they can also be customized in different finishes. Whether you choose the matte finish or gloss finish (the most popular options for labels), there is no wrong or right choice. Both can change the look of your labels completely. Therefore, based on the finish options, there are two common types of labels:
Gloss labels are vibrant labels that give a glossy shine and polished look to your product packaging. They look more premium and playful because the colors turn out brighter. Additionally, the surface also feels smooth. Such labels are mostly used in retail boxes and product packaging to make them noticeable.
The matte labels are the most popular and professional labels that give a non-reflective and muted look for your products and packaging. These labels improve text visibility as there is no glare in the direct sunlight. Moreover, the finish protects the text from fading by protecting against finger smudges. The colors look velvety and soft.
Besides these finish labels, more options are also available. You can customize labels in any type of finish that meets your business needs. The right packaging partner will provide you with the best labels in the best finish.
When you want to inform the customer and want to gain their trust, labels are the most effective tool. They educate your customers in addition to promoting your business. They improve inventory tracking and management, accurate data recording, and product identification. For all these purposes, labels are used.
In short, when your concern is to inform the customers about the product with critical information, labels are used. When promotion or visibility is the main goal, stickers are recommended.
We discussed everything in detail about the stickers and labels. Now, we know that they are mistakenly considered interchangeable, while they are not the same. Let’s have a final comparison of stickers or labels to make the idea clear how they are different from each other:
| Stickers vs Labels Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Factors | Stickers | Labels |
| Definition | Stickers are a form of labels with attractive visuals that represent your business to customers in an innovative way. | Labels are pieces of material that are attached to the product in order to provide vital information about it. The information includes the brand, content, regulatory compliance, and usage instructions. |
| Purpose | When the goal is promotion, building customer relationships, and brand recall, stickers must be your choice. | Deliver critical product-relevant information to customers, prevent product recall from regulatory authorities, product identification and inventory tracking |
| Materials | Eco-friendly paper, vinyl (PVC), polyester (PET), Polypropylene (PP), BOPP, Velvet, Polyethylene, Polycarbonate | Paper, BOPP (clear and silver BOPP), Kraft Paper, Thermal/coated Cardboard, Vinyl (PVC), Polyester (PET), squeezable film (PE), Polyimide, Vellum Texture, and Laid texture |
| Formats | Die-cut stickers, kiss-cut, sticker sheets, sticker rolls, sticker books, and single stickers | Label sheets and rolls |
| Adhesive Options | Permanent, removable, high tack, and static cling | Permanent, removable, repositional, high tack, cold temperature, tamper-evident, and thermal transfer adhesive |
| Longevity | Stickers are more durable than labels because they are designed for promotional purposes. Therefore, they are made from weather-resistant and durable materials that prevent them from fading. | Labels are durable as made from film materials such as vinyl, PET, PP, BOPP, and more. These materials are weather-resistant, so they are suitable for long-term application. |
| When to Use? | When your goal is branding, promotion, customer relationship, or brand recall, choose stickers. | When your goal is to meet regulatory compliance, display information, and provide the convenience of inventory tracking and management, labels are used. |
Now, you are well aware that stickers and labels are different from each other. They share similar properties but serve different purposes. After this comparison, it is crystal clear that labels are designed to inform, educate, and identify products. On the other hand, stickers are customized with attractive visuals in custom shapes that attract eyes and bolster the brand image.
If you are a brand that is looking for attractive stickers and professional labels that uplift your brand identity, you have reached the right corner. We at MyBoxPrinting offer you custom stickers and labels in different sizes, shapes, and styles with all types of adhesives at a budget-friendly price. You get wholesale rates lower than the market with exclusive discounts on bulk orders.
Are you a startup with a limited budget? Not a problem! We offer affordable pricing without compromising on quality, and ensure you enjoy maximum benefits with little investment. Are you a large-scale business that can’t compromise on the quality of stickers and labels or let down your reputation? Fret Not! Whether you run a small business or a large business, we have solutions for all. Just get an instant quote, and the rest is our task.
The stickers and labels are different from each other in terms of the purpose they are designed for. Stickers contain attractive visuals and logos that attract customers' eyes. On the other hand, the labels are designed to educate customers about the product. They contain product-relevant information, barcodes, QR codes, and necessary details.
The label means a tag that can be stuck to the product to give information about the product. The information includes name, contents (i.e., ingredients and preservatives for food), quantity, best before, and manufacturing dates. In addition, they include barcodes and QR codes to gain customer trust.
The die-cut and kiss-cut stickers are similar to each other but have a small difference. They are differentiated by the cut of their backing. The die-cut stickers are precisely cut to the shape, even the backing as well. They do not have any extra material around the outline of stickers. Kiss cut stickers are precisely cut to the shape, but not their backing.
There can be different types of labels based on the context. Depending on the format, the labels are divided into two types: sheet labels and roll labels. In terms of purpose, they can be divided into barcode labels, QR code labels, brand labels, and grade labels.
No, it is not necessary. A label can be a sticker or not. The stickers are labels with adhesives, while the labels are also the ones with no adhesive backing. The non-adhesive labels are affixed to the product through a hang tag, strings, wire, or mechanical fastening. From this, we can conclude that all stickers are labels, but not all labels are stickers.
The answer is simple. Every sticker is a label, while not every label is a sticker. A sticker is an attractive form of label that has an adhesive backing, which you can apply to different surfaces. A label is available with or without adhesive. A label that has adhesion can be used interchangeably with a sticker in terms of adhesion only.
The stickers or labels for long-term use are made from weather-resistant plastics (PET, vinyl, PP, BOPP). So they are generally not eco-friendly and recyclable. However, eco-friendly and sustainable stickers and labels are also available that are made from FSC-certified paper and Kraft materials. Cardboard material is a sustainable and durable material for labels.
Stickers or labels, people use these words interchangeably without knowing that they serve different purposes. They consider them the same products because both have adhesive backing, are made from similar materials, and attract attention. Besides these similarities, they do different jobs. Stickers are for brand promotion and brand recall, which are usually given as promotional gifts and freebies. On the other hand, labels display necessary information to make customers aware of what they are going to purchase.
We, as an expert packaging partner, understand these differences well. Whether you want attractive stickers or labels, MyBoxPrinting is your go-to partner. You can customize stickers and labels in custom shapes, sizes, different materials, and with different adhesive options. Just contact us for a quote, and you will get what you desire.
