Custom Labels in Any Shape and Finish

Shapes, Sizes and Where the Label Goes

Measure the area of the container that is flat or gently curved, not the whole surface. A jar label needs to sit between the shoulder and the base, and on a tapered bottle it must avoid the curve or it will wrinkle. Leave a few millimetres of clear space at each edge so the label does not catch on the lid or the base.

Any shape is possible. Circles and ovals suit jar lids and round tins; rectangles suit bottles and boxes; die-cut shapes that follow a logo outline get noticed on mailers and bags. Wraparound labels can cover most of a bottle, and a small separate neck label adds polish to drinks.

If you are not sure of the right size, send us the container. We will measure the label area and suggest a size that sits well. Return address versions in the smaller sizes are covered under printed address labels on sheets or rolls.

Printed Labels for Food, Drink and Cosmetics

Printed labels for food and drink usually need ingredients, allergens in bold, a best before or use by area, net weight and your business address. Cosmetics need ingredients, a batch code and warnings. It is easy to underestimate the space this takes, so plan the back label first and design the front around what is left.

Leave a blank panel for date codes and batch numbers if these change per batch. You can stamp, write or overprint them later, which is cheaper than printing a new label for every batch. If you sell to shops, include a barcode with enough quiet space around it to scan cleanly.

Keep the type size readable. Ingredient text on a small jar label is often squeezed until nobody can read it, which frustrates customers checking for allergens. If the label is too small for the information, consider a front label for branding and a separate back label for the details, or a fold-out booklet label on larger bottles.

Labels with Logo for Boxes, Bags and Mailers

Labels with logo printing are the low-cost route to branded packaging. A round logo sticker sealing a paper bag, a rectangular label on a plain mailer or a small seal on tissue paper all give a branded finish without ordering printed boxes in every size.

For shipping, a larger label can carry your logo, a thank-you message and a returns address. For gift wrap, small seals in your brand colour look neat and hold tissue in place. Some businesses keep two label designs, one formal and one playful, for different packaging moments.

Finishes, Sheets and Rolls

Gloss lamination brightens colours and protects against scuffs; matt lamination gives a soft, modern look and hides fingerprints. Foil on a logo, spot UV or a raised varnish can lift premium labels. For write-on labels, choose uncoated paper with no lamination so ink takes properly.

Labels come on sheets or rolls. Sheets suit small runs applied by hand. Rolls suit higher volumes and are needed for labelling machines, where you will need to tell us the core size and which way the label should unwind. If you are not sure, ask us and we will explain the options.

If you apply labels by hand in large numbers, a roll in a simple dispenser is often faster than peeling from sheets, even without a machine. Ask for the labels to be spaced a few millimetres apart on the roll so they lift easily, and keep the roll stored flat and away from heat so the adhesive stays fresh. Larger roll runs for applicators are explained on the die-cut roll labels for label applicators page.

Send the Container, Not Just the Dimensions

Labels fail on the curve, not on the artwork. A 90 x 60 mm label that looks right on a flat mock-up will wrinkle on a tapered jar or lift at the corners on a small bottle. The quickest fix is to post us one empty container of each type, or a photo with a ruler against it, so we can measure the flat area and suggest a size. Tell us the surface too, as kraft and glass want different adhesives.

Email the shape, size, material and quantity, with sheets or rolls noted, and list every design, since designs on the same material print together. A custom quote comes within one working day with prices from £0.25 per label on small runs and low minimums quoted per job. The free proof shows the cut line and bleed, printing takes 4 to 7 working days after approval, and free tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses follows in 2 to 3 working days; labels that arrive misprinted or damaged are reprinted or refunded if reported within 10 days. Labels for jars near a candle flame are covered on the heat-resistant candle labels for jars page.