Stickers vs. Labels vs. Decals: What Are The Differences?

When you hear the word ‘sticker,’ its meaning seems pretty clear to you. But when you come across words like decals and labels, you start wondering whether they are all the same or is there any difference.

Here is the catch — a decal may be a sticker, but a sticker cannot be a decal. Confusing enough? Here we are going to discuss stickers vs. labels vs. decals one by one.

Sticker

A sticker is a sticky piece of paper with a picture, writing, or info of your brand. Its back has a sticky substance (adhesive) that makes it easier to attach on a surface. They are either printed or blank to help you draw on them or write something. For outdoor purposes, sticker design made from polyester or vinyl materials is a great option.

Different types of stickers

Die-cut stickers — they can be found in a matte or glossy finish. They feature a split back that makes peeling and sticking an easier affair. If you like custom stickers, these are the best options. The stickers are cut individually, which gives it a unique shape as your message or image.

Kiss-cut stickers — these types of stickers have light cuts that go within the border. They prove to be a great alternative to custom labels for your products.

Clear stickers — as the name suggests the background of the sticker comes in a transparent appearance. You can apply them on several surfaces right from car windows to storefront windows or doors and more.

Labels

Sometimes brands need indoor materials for promotions. Of course, they look for durability and ability to withstand oil and water. A label that serves as an informative sticker is the best choice. It gets your brand’s message out while providing crucial information about a product.

Custom label design is vital to give your label a unique look. It’s a small piece of plastic, fabric or paper. It can be found in matte, glossy, or bright finish. It can also be printed with a full-color process that helps a business owner to bring out the colors used in its branding. The detailed print helps one to include an ingredient list on a label.

Decals

A decal usually means a decorative sticker that comes with a printed surface. The printed surface can be transferred to any surface like porcelain or glass using water or heat method. As compared to stickers and labels, decals come in big sizes.

A wall design sticker is an example of a decal. Body product and vehicle advertising labels are sticker decals. Vinyl transfer decals last longer. However, sticker decals are durable than a simple paper sticker. While a vinyl decal may seem challenging to peel off from a surface, sticker decals peel off easily.

A decal comes with three parts — the sticking part, the part that has to be peeled off, and a transferring foil. The labels and stickers have only two parts — the sticker that’ll be stuck on a surface and the backing paper.

Decal with transparent background — it comes with a clear background that lets you see through the unprinted gaps.

If you’re a fan of the transparent decal, go for a contour cut decal. It’s cut into the exact shape of a design. It can be geometric, angular contour, circle, or any crazy shape you like. If a decal is made using a translucent vinyl, the light will shimmer through it leaving a glowing effect behind. As it’s not entirely see-through, the effect looks great.

Lighted signs are the best areas to utilize these decals. You can use these decals for advertising your business.

How to choose the best sticker, decal, or label design?

No business owner would like to ruin their brand image if the design isn’t up to the mark. A wrong design choice and the whole brand image would fall apart.

Therefore when you choose a sticker making agency, check out their reviews. Check the quality of the products and make sure if their stickers are weatherproof. Check the materials, whether they are made of vinyl, paper, or anything else.

Besides, you need to check how long do they take for turnaround. Considering shipping time is also crucial. All of these factors help you make the right choices. Don’t forget about the most vital factor cost though. If the cost of your stickers, decals or labels is higher than what you earn, then it’s not good for your business.

Ask family or friends for any recommendations. If you can’t succeed in that, take help from Google to find cool sticker design ideas and makers nearby.

Follow the tips mentioned earlier to find the best sticker maker for your business.

Conclusion

We hope that you understand the difference between sticker, labels, and decals.

Author Bio:-

Hola! I am Heena Ray and I am a freelance graphic designer. I am also an aspiring blogger. I use Designhill to connect with prospective clients. An expert on various tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and Coral Draw, I have successfully designed several application interfaces, android apps, logo designs, sticker design, business card designs, letterhead designs, envelop designs, flyer designs, brochure designs, web banners, etc. I write about my experience in my posts on Designhill Blog.