Custom Labels
Stickers decorate. Labels carry the things a product is legally required to say, applied to a container whose shape was decided by somebody else. Almost every label problem is a geometry problem or a compliance problem, and almost none of them are design problems.
Get a price for Labels
Send the size and quantity — we reply the same working day with a price, a dieline and a date. Artwork optional at this stage.
- 4styles in this range, each with its own page and price
- 100unit minimum on every style, printed or plain
- 4markets quoted in the delivery currency
- ±1mmcutting tolerance on folding board, checked on a sample
4 styles in this range
Styles we make in this range
Every one below is written up, priced and dielined. Tap a style to see how it is built.
01See the build →Address Labels
Custom address labels
02See the build →Assorted Labels
Custom assorted labels for packaging
03See the build →Compostable Labels
A certified compostable label on a plastic bottle achieves nothing.
04See the build →Folded Hang Tags
A flat tag gives you two faces and forces a choice between the story and the compliance text.
Side by side
Which labels style fits
| Style | Board | Build | Minimum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Address Labels | Paper matte; synthetic for wet or cold; direct thermal | Blank-panel branded label; return label; integrated A4 sheet; 4 × 6 in thermal roll | 100 labels | Open → |
| Assorted Labels | Paper matte or gloss; PP or PE synthetic; kraft; clear | Product, panel, barcode, batch, shipping, tamper; roll or sheet; any shape | 100 labels | Open → |
| Compostable Labels | Chosen per job | Sheets, rolls and singles | 100 labels | Open → |
| Folded Hang Tags | Chosen per job | See the page | 100 tags | Open → |
Measure the container, not the label you want
The usable label area on a bottle or jar is smaller than the flat wall you think you can see. Curved containers have a wrap limit — go past it and the label wrinkles at the leading edge. Tapered containers cannot take a rectangular label at all without lifting, because a straight edge on a cone does not lie flat.
Send the container dimensions, or send us a container. It is faster than three rounds of artwork against a size that was never going to work.
On a tapered bottle the label has to be cut as a shallow arc. It looks wrong on screen and correct on the product.
What has to be on it, before what you want on it
Lay the mandatory text out first at legible size, then design in the space that is left. Doing it the other way round is why so many labels end up with six-point type and a reprint. The reserved-panel discipline is the same one we apply to cosmetic cartons and their INCI panels.
| Cosmetics | INCI list, net content, PAO or expiry, responsible-person address |
|---|---|
| Food | Ingredients, allergens, nutrition, weight, storage |
| Candles | Burn safety, weight, fragrance allergens |
| Shipping | Barcode with quiet zone, scannable at speed |
Wet, oily and cold containers each break a different label
- Bathroom products. Steam gets under a paper label edge within weeks — laminate or use a film stock.
- Oils and balms. Residue on the container at the moment of application stops the adhesive bonding at all.
- Chilled and frozen. Standard adhesive never reaches full bond below about 5°C; apply at room temperature or specify freezer grade.
- Anything refilled. A removable adhesive is a feature, not a compromise.
Compostable labels only work on a compostable pack
A certified compostable label on a plastic bottle achieves nothing — the pack still goes to recycling and the label is a contaminant. On a paper wrap, a fiber pouch or molded pulp, the same label lets the whole thing go into one stream, which is the entire point.
They cost more, print slightly softer, and have a shorter shelf life on the roll. Buy them when the pack around them earns it, and not as a standalone claim.
Hang tags are labels that are not stuck to anything
A folded hang tag gives four printable sides on a piece of card small enough to be ignored, which is why apparel uses them for size, care, composition and story all at once. The variables that matter are the board weight, the hole reinforcement and the string or plastic fastening.
Punch the hole at least 5 mm from any edge and eyelet it on anything above about 300gsm. An unreinforced hole in heavy card tears on the shop floor, and a tag on the floor is a tag that is not on the garment.
Across the range
What every labels job runs on
Boards
- Natural kraft
- White SBS
- E and B flute
- Wrapped grayboard
- Food-grade board
- Recycled content
Chosen from what goes in the box and how far it travels. Our notes on recyclable and compostable stocks say which claims each board can carry.
Finishes
- Matte
- Gloss
- Soft-touch
- Foil
- Emboss
- Spot UV
- Kraft
- Textured
Each one is a decision about light on a shelf — the specialty finishes range shows them on real boxes.
Artwork
- Vector PDF or AI, fonts outlined
- 3 mm bleed, 4 mm safe area
- CMYK; a spot color where a match must hold
- Proof on the dieline before press
Files not set up that way are fine — see the guide to preparing print files.
Interactive · five steps · no sign-up
Spec your Labels
Pick a shape, type a size, choose a face stock and a finish. The preview on the left redraws as you go, and the spec lands with us exactly as you set it.
Frequently asked questions
Got a question about labels? The answers below cover what we get asked most. If yours is not here, send it with a brief, message us on WhatsApp, or call +1 503-461-4788 — we reply the same working day.
Why is my label lifting at one edge?
On a curved or tapered container, almost always geometry rather than adhesive. A shallow arc cut fixes it permanently.
Can I get labels on a roll for a machine?
Yes. We need the core size, roll direction and outer diameter your applicator takes.
Do compostable labels need special printing?
They need compostable inks and adhesive to keep the certification meaningful, which we supply together or not at all.
What weight should a hang tag be?
300gsm is the usual floor for something that will not bend in a customer's hand. Above 350gsm, eyelet the hole.
What is the minimum order?
100 labels, sheets, rolls or singles.
Which adhesive for a chilled product?
Freezer-grade, or apply at room temperature. Standard adhesive never reaches full bond below about 5°C.
Why is my label lifting at one edge?
On a curved or tapered container, almost always geometry rather than adhesive. A shallow arc cut fixes it permanently.
Can I get labels on a roll for a machine?
Yes. We need the core size, roll direction and outer diameter your applicator takes — those come from the machine, not from the artwork.
Do compostable labels need special printing?
They need compostable inks and adhesive to keep the certification meaningful, which we supply together or not at all.
What weight should a hang tag be?
300gsm is the usual floor for something that will not bend in a customer's hand. Above 350gsm, eyelet the hole.
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