Stickers and labels look alike on screen, but the material you print on decides whether they still look good in a month. Choose the wrong one and your jar labels smudge in the fridge, or your logo stickers peel off a water bottle after one wash. This guide explains the difference between paper labels, vinyl stickers and clear vinyl, so you can order the right one the first time.
Short answer: choose paper labels for dry, indoor products such as packaging, boxes and jars that stay out of water; they are the most affordable. Choose vinyl stickers for anything that gets handled, wet or used outdoors, such as bottles, laptops and giveaways. Choose clear vinyl when you want a no-label look on glass, bottles or windows.
Paper vs vinyl vs clear vinyl at a glance
| Paper labels | Vinyl stickers | Clear vinyl | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Lowest | A little more | Same as vinyl |
| Water and moisture | Best kept dry | Handles moisture well | Handles moisture well |
| Handling and wear | Can tear or scuff | Tough and flexible | Tough and flexible |
| Look | Printed paper finish | Bold, solid colours | See-through background |
| Best for | Packaging, boxes, dry jars, envelopes, price tags | Logo stickers, bottles, laptops, giveaways, outdoor use | Glass jars, bottles, windows, premium products |
When to choose paper labels
Paper labels are the budget-friendly choice and work well when your product stays dry. They are ideal for:
- Packaging, gift boxes and bakery boxes
- Dry goods such as spices, sweets and tea in jars
- Envelope seals, address labels and price tags
- Short-term promotions and events
If the product goes into a fridge, a bathroom or the hands of a busy customer every day, paper may start to wear. That is where vinyl is worth the small extra cost.
When to choose vinyl stickers
Vinyl is a durable plastic film that handles moisture, handling and outdoor use far better than paper. Choose vinyl for:
- Logo stickers for laptops, cars, toolboxes and giveaways
- Water bottles, cups and products that get wiped or washed
- Cosmetics, candles and bath products used in damp rooms
- Stickers that go outside, on bins, gates or equipment
Most of the logo stickers we print for Midrand businesses are on vinyl, because they still look sharp months later.
When to choose clear vinyl
Clear vinyl has a transparent background, so only your design shows. It gives glass jars, bottles and shop windows a clean, premium look, as if the design was printed straight onto the surface.
One tip: bold, dark colours work best on clear vinyl. Very light colours and white areas can look see-through, so ask us to check your design before printing.
What about windows and glass doors?
For shop windows we also print one-way contravision, which shows your full colour design outside while you can still see out, and cut frosted vinyl for office glass and boardrooms. See the options on our sticker and label printing page.
Sticker and label prices in Midrand
Prices for 50 × 50 mm stickers, round or square, cut to shape:
| Quantity | Paper labels | Vinyl or clear vinyl |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | R300 | R300 |
| 250 | R370 | R460 |
| 500 | R700 | R880 |
| 1,000 | R1,400 | R1,750 |
Larger stickers and window graphics are priced on the material used: R400 for paper, R500 for vinyl or clear vinyl, and R600 for contravision per 1.3 × 0.65 m section. The minimum order is R300.
5 tips for stickers that look professional
- Keep it simple. A logo, a product name and one line of text read better than a busy design.
- Mind the small print. Text smaller than about 6 pt is hard to read on a 50 mm sticker.
- Leave a safe margin. Keep text and logos a few millimetres inside the edge so nothing gets cut off.
- Send a high-quality file. A PDF or vector logo prints sharper than a screenshot or WhatsApp image.
- Test on your product. Order a small batch first if you are labelling something new, and check how it sits on the jar or bottle.
Quick answers
What is the difference between vinyl stickers and paper labels?
Paper labels are the most affordable and suit dry, indoor products such as packaging and boxes. Vinyl stickers are a tougher plastic film that handles moisture, handling and outdoor use, so they suit bottles, laptops and giveaways.
Are vinyl stickers waterproof?
Vinyl stickers handle water and moisture much better than paper labels, which makes them the better choice for bottles, cups, bathroom products and outdoor use.
How much do custom stickers cost in Midrand?
At Pixelsinframe, 100 stickers of 50 × 50 mm cost R300. 500 cost R700 on paper or R880 on vinyl, and 1,000 cost R1,400 on paper or R1,750 on vinyl.
When should I use clear vinyl stickers?
Use clear vinyl when you want only your design to show, for example on glass jars, bottles and windows. Bold, dark colours work best on clear vinyl.
Order stickers and labels in Midrand
Not sure which material suits your product? WhatsApp us a photo of the product and your design, and we will recommend the right sticker and send a free proof before printing. See all sizes and prices on our sticker and label printing page, or visit our studio at Carlswald Décor Centre, Halfway Gardens, Midrand.
See also: license disc stickers · business card size guide · our Midrand print shop