Custom Product Labels

Shapes, Sizes and Container Fit

Measure the flat area of the container where the label will go, not the full height. Jars and bottles curve, taper and have ridges, so the usable space is smaller than it looks. For a wrap-around label, measure the circumference and leave a small gap so the ends do not overlap awkwardly.

Labels can be cut to rectangles, circles, ovals or custom shapes that follow your logo. Round labels suit jar lids, ovals suit bottles, and custom shapes get noticed on a busy shelf. Rounded corners help labels stay down on curved containers.

If you sell several products in one container type, keep the label size the same and change the colour or name. It makes stock simpler and builds a recognisable range.

Apply a paper test print before ordering. Print your design at full size on ordinary paper, cut it out and tape it to the container. You will see straight away whether it wraps neatly, whether the text sits on a flat area and whether the label looks balanced from the front. p3 The guide to measuring a product covers circumference and taper on round containers.

Rolls or Sheets

Roll labels suit businesses applying labels by hand in volume or using a label applicator machine. Tell us the core size and the direction the labels should come off the roll if you use a machine.

Sheet labels suit small runs, mixed designs and businesses that apply labels at a kitchen table. Several different designs can share one sheet, which is useful for a range of flavours in small quantities.

Roll direction matters more than people expect. If labels come off the roll upside down or sideways for your applicator, every one has to be turned by hand, which defeats the point of a machine. Take a photo of an existing roll on your applicator, or tell us the model, and we will wind the new rolls to match.

For hand application, roll labels on a small core with a simple dispenser are still quicker than peeling from sheets once you are labelling more than a few dozen items at a time. p3 Roll formats are described on our roll labels page with core sizes.

What to Include on the Label

Food and drink labels need the product name, ingredients with allergens highlighted, net quantity, a best-before or use-by date, storage instructions and your business name and address. Cosmetics labels need ingredients, a period-after-opening symbol and the responsible person details. We print what you supply, and it is your responsibility to check it meets the rules for your product.

Beyond the legal details, a short description or serving suggestion helps a first-time buyer. A QR code linking to your website or recipes adds depth without crowding the label. p1 Cosmetic brands with long ingredient lists sometimes move to a clear wrap-around label to gain space.

Finishes That Suit Each Shelf

Matt lamination looks calm and premium and resists scuffs. Gloss lamination makes colours vivid. Foil stamping in gold, silver or copper adds a luxurious accent, and embossing gives a raised feel on premium paper. Spot varnish can highlight a logo or illustration.

For products handled with wet hands, a laminated film label will stay readable far longer than an unlaminated paper one.

Think about how the label will be seen. On a deli counter lit by bright spotlights, a heavy gloss can cause glare that hides the name; a matt or satin finish reads better. On a dimly lit bar shelf, metallic foil and silver film catch whatever light there is and draw the eye.

Keep a consistent finish across a range. Mixing matt and gloss labels on neighbouring products makes a shelf look less tidy than you might expect. p3 Foil and emboss on textured paper are shown on our embossed labels page.

Tape a Paper Print to the Jar Before You Order

Nearly every label reorder we see comes from a first run that was the wrong size for the container. Print your design at full size on plain paper, cut it out and tape it to the jar or bottle: you will see at once whether it wraps round a curve, sits on a ridge or looks top-heavy from the front. Then measure the flat area it covered, and for a wrap, the circumference with a small gap.

Choose the material from how the product lives: uncoated paper for dry goods and pen-written dates, polypropylene film for fridges, bathrooms and oil, clear film for a no-label look on glass. Say rolls or sheets, and for an applicator the core size and unwind direction. The custom quote arrives by email within one working day, with the minimum set per job.

The free proof shows the label at full size; check the smallest legal text there. Printing and cutting take 4 to 7 working days after approval and the labels reach UK mainland addresses by free tracked delivery. Coffee roasters in the same position usually order our labels for coffee bags and tins with a roast-date patch left unlaminated.