What Is the Difference Between Stickers and Labels and When to Use Them?

There is a significant amount of misconception among people that stickers and labels are both the same because they both have the same purpose: to stick on the packaging, which isn’t true. To be honest, they both look the same at first glance, but you can easily tell the difference only by looking at them. In this blog, we will tell you about the use of both labels and stickers, but before that, you must know, what is the difference between them?

What Is a Sticker?

Many details can tell the difference between a sticker and a label, and design is one of the biggest among those details. Stickers tend to be more graphic in their designs. You can often see stickers on the back of phone covers, laptops, and even fridge doors. Stickers are often depicting a logo or illustration to spread awareness about a brand or a cause. Stickers usually come in the form of stacks rather than a sheet or a roll. The stickers are mostly made from a material known as UV varnish. Stickers come in two formats- die cut or kiss cut.

• Die-Cut Stickers

Die-cut stickers are like custom-made stickers. The die-cut stickers are the preferred ones making them famous compared to kiss-cut stickers.

• Kiss-Cut Stickers

Kiss-cut stickers are cut only through the top vinyl layer and leave the backing paper intact. You can have multiple kiss-cut stickers on one paper, which is called a sticker sheet. Kiss-cut stickers are the better option if you want to add extra detail or if you want to remove and stick the stickers quicker.

What Is a Label?

As we mentioned above that they both look the same at first, but unlike stickers, labels do not come in logos or illustrations, and their sole purpose is to provide details about a product. These things are easier to come off. We often see labels on the back of a cereal box or a water bottle where it tells about the nutrition chart. Labels are made from thin paper or film. Labels also have two formats- sheet labels and roll labels.

• Sheet Labels

Sheet labels are labels that come on sheets. These labels are mostly manufactured by using laser printers. Sheet labels are the preferred option if you are working on a project that needs the same information. Sheet labels can be printed in your desired color.

• Roll Labels

The only way to print roll labels is by using dedicated label printers. Roll labels usually get spun around a cardboard spool. Roll labels are the preferred option if you are working on a project that needs a unique label on each box, such as barcodes. The only downside of using roll labels is that you will have to settle only on two colors: black and white. Roll labels are not recommended if you are working on a project that requires colors.

Now that you have read about the difference between labels and stickers, we move on to the next part of this blog. In this part, we will discuss where to use them.

When To Use a Sticker Vs. A Label

Stickers are made from a more durable material compared to labels. It is made from thick vinyl. The reason behind making stickers from such a thick material is that they are handed out individually or inside of a box, and where it ends depends on the person you give it to. The stickers can be put anywhere and can also end up in places where they get exposed to harsh climate conditions.

Whereas, on the other hand, labels are made from relatively thin paper or sheet compared to that of a sticker. Labels are mostly used on product packaging, envelopes, and more. The most common place where we see labels getting used is at the back of a food product displaying the nutrition card.

After reading this sticker label article, you will easily be able to tell the difference between a sticker and a label. Be careful when you get in touch with a company that prints stickers and labels and make sure that they use only high-quality material for this purpose.