Die-Cut Stickers

Custom stickers cut to your shape

A die-cut sticker is cut around the outline of your design rather than being a standard circle or rectangle. It is what most people picture when they think of a custom sticker: a logo, mascot or illustration with a neat border around it. Small brands put them in parcels, cafes give them away with orders, and bands and artists sell them at the merch table.

"Die-cut" originally referred to a physical metal cutting die. Today, most short runs are cut digitally, so you do not usually pay for a new cutting tool each time you change shape.

Die-cut or kiss-cut?

• Die-cut stickers are cut through both the sticker and the backing, so each one is an individual shape.
• Kiss-cut stickers are cut through the sticker layer only, leaving the backing as a sheet or a rectangle around it. That makes them easier to peel, and it gives you space to print on the backing. Kiss-cut sticker sheets with several designs are good for children's packs and merch.

Choosing a material

Material	Good for	Watch out for
Gloss paper	Parcels and giveaways	Not waterproof
Matt paper	A softer look that you can write on	Not waterproof
White vinyl	Laptops, bottles, outdoors	Costs more than paper
Clear vinyl	Glass and coloured surfaces	White ink may be needed for pale colours

For a sticker that people will keep, like one on a laptop or a water bottle, vinyl is usually worth the extra cost. Lamination gives added resistance to scratching and to sunlight.

How to set up your artwork

We need a high-resolution image, ideally as a vector file (AI, EPS or PDF) or a PNG with a transparent background. Keep in mind these points:

1. Add an outline or border. Around 2 to 3 mm of white or coloured edge hides small cutting shifts.
2. Keep shapes simple. Long thin spikes and tiny gaps can catch and peel off.
3. Keep text large enough. Text under about 6pt may be hard to read on a small sticker.
4. Avoid hairlines. Very fine lines may disappear at a small size.

If you only have a rough logo, send it in. We can tidy your artwork and build the cut line free of charge when we print the job, and we will show you a proof that indicates the cut.

Sizes and quantities

Most custom stickers are between 40 and 100 mm across. Larger sizes are possible, as are different sizes on the same sheet. There is no real need to order thousands: a small first batch tells you which size and finish people like. Pricing depends on the size, material, shape and quantity, so tell us these and we will quote.

Timing

Stickers can often be turned around quickly when the artwork is ready, and paper stickers can sometimes be printed the same day. Cutting complex shapes takes longer, and vinyl with lamination needs more time to finish. Phone 020 8133 4499 with your deadline, particularly if you have a market, a gig or an event coming up. We can post them anywhere in the UK for a quoted charge.