Whether you want it for your product packaging or a trade show booth, your customers’ laptops or just anywhere people feel like slapping them, a great-looking branded sticker is an awesomely versatile way to get brand exposure and—you guessed it—make your message stick.

To create a sticker that really works for you and your brand, a custom look is your best bet. Give your creativity a boost with this fun and inspirational sticker design ideas, and then get to work designing your own.

• What Makes a Good Sticker Design?
• How do You Design a Sticker?
• How do I Print my Sticker?
• How to Create And Print Sticker Designs That Stand Out
• Are Stickers And Sticker Design Important?
• How to Make Custom Sticker Designs For Printing
• What Sticker Ideas Are Popular?
• Where Can I Sell my Custom Stickers?
• Where Can I Get Stickers For Ideas?
• How do You Display Stickers?
• How do You Make Cute Stickers?
• What do You Cover Stickers With?
• How do You Apply Stickers?
• How to Make a Waterproof Sticker
• How do You Make Clear Stickers?
• Can I Make Money From Stickers?
• What Kind of Stickers Sell Best?
• What Are Some Examples of Successful Sticker Businesses
• How Much Will it Cost to Start a Sticker Business?

What Makes a Good Sticker Design?

1. Make your sticker design pop with color

For stickers, you’re looking to grab attention with a relatively small image. Use energetic designs filled with vibrant colors for this aim. On-theme colors can also emphasize your brand’s hues, or reinforce the message you’re sending—such as when you use bright colors to denote summer and happiness or bold, contrasting colors that scream look at me!

Read Also: T-shirt Designs and Brands: A Marketing Tact

Use a bright, colorful sticker to grab attention and send a similar feeling message.

2. All eyes on the message

If your sticker has a strong message, you can draw all eyes on it by making your font the focal point. Big, bold letters will help you get your message out into the world. A unique typography can express the character and brand identity of your business and create the right feeling for your sticker design. A catchy slogan, funny quip or word play will make your message even more memorable.

Make your message stand out by focussing on bold typography.

3. Spooky stickers

When it comes to branding, standing out is the name of the game—and a shocking design is perfect for that goal. If you’ve got something creepy, dark, or edgy you’re showing off, go there with color and thematic elements. For example, black lettering and blood effects may not be right for all stickers, but they’re perfect for a video game app with edgy characters.

Don’t shy away from using a spooky look for a similarly situated brand.

4. Get serious

If your sticker is a more serious branding effort and you want to convey an important event, security, or a serious issue, make sure your colors, font, and styling reflects those needs. For example, many banks use navy blue to communicate being secure and trustworthy, and you’d never see a financial institution choose a goofy font like comic sans.

Some stickers do important jobs, like providing a service number or warning users about security; if yours does, get serious with your design.

5. Go retro

For a really cool retro brand, a well-designed, vintage looking sticker is the perfect idea. Go for rustic colors, line drawings, and other illustrations to make your sticker design fit perfectly, whether you’re sticking it on food, drinks, packaging or something totally different.

To give your brand a vintage feel, get a retro looking sticker.

6. Get a classic look

Sometimes, playing by the rules is just what you need to do. When you’re hoping to publicize something that’s basic, appealing to a wide range of people, or you just need to be sure everyone knows what the brand or product is about with a single glance, go for classic visual cues like familiar colors, images, and styles that lend plenty of context.

Use symbols that are easy to understand; a birthday cake for “happy birthday,” and a bagel with a coffee for a bagel shop. Or, just say what you need to say: you’re a “proud supporter” of an important cause.

7. Be cool

Stickers are a great medium for single shot of cool—a concentrated image that just makes you want to join that club and fly those colors proudly. Achieve this cool look with a colorful, appealing image or logo that shows off an ideal.

For example, the Lady Killerz sticker shows the ideal tough chick we all secretly pretend we are while watching an action movie (or maybe just a beer commercial). And this basking bear has achieved the perfect WiFi connection—while sunbathing in an inner tube. Awesome!

Is your product or brand all about users feeling hip or cool? Prove it with a cool sticker design.

How do You Design a Sticker?

If you’re a dab hand at graphic design, you cannot but agree: Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop are the best programs for any type of graphic design project, including designing stickers. They allow you to fully customise your design and produce a result that is perfect down to the very last detail.

However, they are not easy programs to use, nor are they cheap: they are definitely aimed at the pros! We therefore recommend that less expert users give the software listed below a try – a good result is guaranteed, without you cursing the day you first set eyes on an Illustrator or Photoshop panel.

1. Adobe Spark

The first program we’d like to discuss is Adobe Spark. Yes, ok, it’s still in the Adobe family, but this web app is free and a lot more intuitive to use. Spark is a very simple program for creating stickers, and it gives you excellent design results.

Once you’ve registered, go to the ‘Post’ section to make your stickers. You’ll be taken through the process step-by-step, as follows:

• Choose the correct size and shape for your stickers.
• Select the layout that best meets your needs and decide where to put your text and images. You can also let Spark do it for you – the software will automatically put the various elements of your design into the best places, at least in its opinion
• Customise your design by adding images or filters. You can upload your own images or choose from the huge range available in the gallery.
• You can, of course, also add text in your preferred font.

Once you’ve finished, save and download your stickers or send them directly to us by email, and we’ll take care of the printing. Here’s an example of the type of personalized stickers you can create with Spark.

2. Canva

If you’ve tried it and got on well with it, you’ll be pleased to hear you can also use it to create custom stickers. You can register for free in just a few steps, and the tool is genuinely simple to use: so simple, in fact, that we can describe all the steps here.

At the beginning you will encounter this page, on which you can flick through the vast gallery of templates offered by Canva: there are hundreds and hundreds of different layouts to choose from.

Choose the template you like best, safe in the knowledge that all of the various aspects can be altered: you can delete, move or resize all the pre-existing elements, change the background, colours, text, sizes and fonts, add filters and images, and so on.

When it comes to images, you can, of course, upload your own file (by dragging it into Canva) or you can use the images in the gallery, where there are over one million photographs, illustrations and icons to choose from.

To open the library’s floodgates, simply insert a keyword into the search box. Once you’ve finished designing your sticker, you can download it in PDF, JPEG or PNG format and send it for printing. You’ll end up with stickers that look almost as good as if you’d hired a graphic designer.

3. Crello

The third software for creating stickers we’d like to tell you about is Crello. After logging in – you can register in just a few seconds, also through Facebook – you will find yourself with an artboard very similar to the one found in Canva.

On the left there is an endless number of tools to customise your project. And when we say endless, we mean endless! In the ‘Design’ section you can choose from a huge number of layouts, which can be altered in any way you like: you can upload your own images, choose from those in the gallery, change the colours and add text, frames, icons, symbols, geometric shapes, pre-prepared sticker templates and illustrations.

Alternatively, you can start from scratch and create your own sticker, using all the different elements offered by the software. The choice is so extensive, we’re sure you’ll manage to create the stickers you have in mind.

How do I Print my Sticker?

Now you’ve designed the perfect sticker for your business, there’s only one thing left to think about: the printing process. Although this might be the final hurdle, it can be the most complicated part of the process for many.

Luckily, we’re here to guide you through the process.

1. Choose Your Sticker Material

When it comes to actually printing your stickers, you have a few different options in terms of the material they’re printed on. Almost all stickers will be printed on some form of PVC/vinyl but the exact properties of that vinyl can make a huge difference to the end result.

One choice you have is whether the material on which you print your stickers has a matte or glossy finish. Almost all printing companies will give you a choice here (including ourselves at FastPrint.co.uk) and ultimately, the decision is down to you. The stickers above have a glossy finish (as you can see from the slight shine they have). Matte stickers will have less of a shine.

It’s almost entirely down to personal preference when it comes to matte vs. glossy but in some cases, a matte finish can give a more premium look and feel to your stickers.

Another option available to you is printing your stickers on a clear sheet of vinyl. As we mentioned earlier in the guide, this can be a great option if you’re looking to create a custom-shaped design but don’t want to pay a premium for a die-cutting process.

You can see an example of how this can be used on the Givespark stickers above. Although the stickers appear to have a white background, they are actually printed on clear vinyl (the white is caused by the paper-backing). This can be useful if you’re planning to use your stickers on a transparent surface (e.g. plastic or glass).

It’s also possible to print designs in reverse if you want to place your sticker on the inside of a window yet you want it to be visible from outside.

2. Set The Correct Size + Resolution

It’s also important to ensure that you correctly set up your file size and resolution as failure to do this can often result in an unintentional outcome.

Most printing companies (including ourselves) require a resolution of 300DPI. If you’re using Photoshop, InDesign or Illustrator, it’s likely that any new project will be set to 72DPI by default, so make sure you change this before going ahead with your sticker design. You can do this when you set up a new project (as pictured in the Photoshop screenshot above).

You also need to set the correct size for your project too. Luckily, this is pretty straightforward; so long as you know how big you want your stickers to be, you can either set this in inches, centimetres or millimetres (whichever you prefer). So long as you ensure that you’re set to 300DPI, there shouldn’t be a problem.

It’s also important to remember that most printing companies will require that you either flatten or outline your fonts (depending on whether you’re using Photoshop or Illustrator). In Photoshop, you need to both rasterize your text/fonts and then flatten the entire image. To do this, simply go to the “Layer” menu and then click “Flatten Image” (as pictured above).

In Adobe Illustrator, you’ll need to go to the “Type” menu and click “Create Outlines”.

3. Setup Your Bleed/Trim Correctly

Lastly, you need to ensure that you set up your bleed and trim correctly. FastPrint.co.uk for example will require that all stickers have a 3mm bleed (the area outside the trim) to account for any discrepancies. They also require that you keep any text within a safe area which is located 3mm inside the trim line.

You can see a representation of the bleed, trim and safe areas on the image above. If you use a different printing company, the requirements for bleed and trim may vary so make sure that you consult with them before going ahead with your design.

The reason for these requirements is to ensure that none of your text is accidentally cut-off during the trimming process. The bleed ensures that you’re not left with an undesirable white/clear line around the edge of your sticker design should the trimming process be one or two millimetres out.

How to Create And Print Sticker Designs That Stand Out

1. Make Your Idea Simple

If you think that you can tell the world everything about your brand in a sticker, forget it! You can create a brochure for that. Stickers can’t be visually complicated, even the big ones. You don’t have time to read the bumper sticker that you see it only for a couple of seconds.

Whether you’re designing your stickers on your own or going to hire a professional graphic designer, keep the idea you want to put on it as simple as it could be. The two most straightforward ideas you can come up with are borrowed from social networks.

You can either copy the WhatsApp sticker style and come up with a mascot or Snapchat style and create funny flashy arts.

2. Play With The Shape

Square or a circle is the most common choices when it comes to design stickers. In many cases, it works just fine. These stickers, for instance, are both funky and business-looking.

Do you want your brand to attract even more eyeballs? Go for a non-orthodox form! It won’t cost you anything, and may help the design. This is helpful particularly if your brand colors aren’t that bright.

We have to keep in mind that every single sticker should not be harmful for the nature. So, you can go for the biodegradable stickers as well. Stickerit can help you in this regard

3. Less Detail

You want your sticker to stand out but adding more details to it might not help you anymore. It can worsen your sticker’s ability to stick out, and your main idea is often left out behind the details. It further deteriorated if people are to see it just for a few seconds.

This sticker may be great for a band, or a tattoo artist, but not for your business.

This sticker doesn’t have that much detail, but its message is clear, and it works.

4. Match Colors With Your Brand

Sticker designs that are made for fun can be any color of the palette. On the other hand, those made for business have to match your brand. The thing is that not all stickers are going to have your brand name on them, so they have to create a strong association at least.

These stickers may look funny, but they tie together three key elements required for your success. They’re appealing to the audience, they reflect some of the brand’s identity, and they use the brand’s colors.

5. Make The Text Readable

Your best bet in sticker design is to avoid text altogether. Ideally, your sticker should express something without words. If you’ve already decided to include text in your stickers, make it super large. Making the whole sticker a capitalized text like in this Snapchat sticker pack can be a good idea.

6. Give The Brand Some Space

From the standpoint of a marketer, you’d want all your stickers to mention your brand in some form. From the perspective of your audience, it defeats the purpose of stickers. Putting a company logo on your iPhone case isn’t that fun.

This is why the only option you have is to compromise. Make some of the stickers mention your brand, and make the majority of them good stickers that anyone would want to have.

7. Include A Way To Contact You

We’ve been talking a lot about how your sticker design has to be fun and appealing to the audience. Now, it’s the time to consider the reason you’re making this investment, marketing.

Some of your stickers need to have a way to contact you. A website address, a social media handle, or a QR code will be perfect for this format.

The best place to put this information is on the stickers that feature your brand or product, but the decision is yours. The stickers with your contacts are perfect for placing them outdoors.

Most brand logos tend to be horizontal to fit the website. Rework your logo to be horizontal, and you already have a branded sticker. This worked for ProEssayWriter; and since their website address matches the brand name, it was a great marketing tool at student campuses.

8. Use CMYK

This is something that goes without saying when you’re getting online sticker design made by a professional graphic designer. If you’re doing it yourself, you need to know that you should change the color space from RGB to CMYK.

The thing is that printing uses these four colors to create an image, and RGB files may not print correctly. Most printing companies will straight up refuse to print in RGB. So, switch to the CMYK from the beginning to save your time.

9. Design In Big Resolution Or Vector

Don’t know how big do you want your stickers? It’s better to design them in a high resolution beforehand. If you create a sticker design in raster for a 2” x 2” print and later you want it 3” x 3”, it’s going to look awful.

Create your designs in a high resolution before you make stickers online, so any print format is going to look great.

If you need that image for other printable materials like custom mugs, company T-shirts, or company van wrap, create the design in vector. You’ll have zero problems scaling it, and it will look good in all media.

10. Talk Standards To Manufacturer

After making online custom sticker design, you’ll have to print it. Quality of the image that you have to submit may differ, depending on the manufacturer. You have to take it into account because matching the specifications of a particular manufacturer is easier than looking for a manufacturer who’d take the images you’ve already paid for.

Talking to them early will also help you understand more about the cost and quality. So it’s definitely worth it.

Are Stickers And Sticker Design Important?

Stickers are pieces of printed material (typically on paper) that have adhesives on their back to make them stick to different types of surfaces. Having, largely, a visual purpose, stickers have many uses.

They can be used as a labeling tool for organization, an arts and crafts tool, a design tool, and much more. They can even be used as adhesive postage stamps for sending mail!

In marketing, stickers are used as an easy and inexpensive way to put vital information onto the product or its packaging, or just as an embellishment for aesthetic purposes. All of these can be done without having the need to alter the product through direct printing.

Sticker design is much like a subcategory of label design because they are both printed materials that contain information about a brand or product.

Their striking difference (aside from stickers being strictly adhesive) is that stickers don’t necessarily need to contain plain text. Some stickers contain just the logo of the brand or any image that can be associated with it.

Because they are primarily visual in nature, sticker design is applied to make a product, label, or packaging look visually appealing and make them stand out.

Although stickers can be peeled off, the good thing about it is that it also makes them versatile. Stickers can be used for virtually any surface, so it can also be used for any purpose. 

Another benefit of stickers is that in the event that you make a mistake via design error, printing error, or when it just turns out that it doesn’t look good, you can always just remove the sticker and print a new one. 

This makes stickers more time and cost-efficient compared to direct printing to the product or packaging.

Adding to their versatility, well-designed sticker designs can be applied not only to the product or packaging, but they can also be applied to other points of places in your business.

Stickers can be used as decorations to your office or shop, like wall art and decals for your windows.

Stickers can be used as a branding solution for quick packaging. You can quickly incorporate your brand on the packaging for cheap by slapping on some stickers to plain boxes, paper bags, bottles, etc.

Stickers can also be used for merchandise. Stickers can be easily applied to novelty items, bags, shirts, etc.

The stickers themselves can even be considered as cheap merchandise to give out to customers. If the stickers look good and they have good quality, customers might have an interest in getting your stickers so they can stick them to their belongings, giving you free advertising!

How to Make Custom Sticker Designs For Printing

1. Designing stage

The designing stage is the most crucial stage of making stickers. First, you have to think about the sticker design you’re planning on printing.

If you already have existing assets from your brand that you can print, like a logo for example, then you can skip ahead to the next step. If not, you have to think of a design that best speaks for your brand with the following elements in mind:

• Color
• Font style
• Image (photo or illustration)
• Layout
• Size
• Sticker shape

You can make this easier by finding inspiration and sticker design ideas from other brands.

2. Printing materials

Before you print your sticker design, you should first determine which surfaces the stickers would be applied to. Only then can you start researching which type of sticker paper and adhesive would be appropriate for that type of surface.

For sticker papers, glossy paper can be used as a cheap material for products and packaging.

Vinyl can be used to make more durable stickers, like decals that are intended to be applied on outside surfaces.

Lamination can also be added to make your stickers last more.

Lastly, matte can be a finishing touch to add some texture to your stickers.

As for adhesives, there are lots of types to choose from: permanent for long-lasting stickers, high tack for stability, rough surface for uneven surfaces, removable for temporary placement, and static cling for removable stickers that won’t ruin surfaces.

3. Printing method

For simple one-off stickers, you can definitely print them using the standard printer you might have at home.

For specialized designs and printing methods, you can look for specialized printing shops. This way, you can choose the printing method depending on the type of printers they have:

• High-end and standard digital printing
• Flexographic printing
• Large format printing
• Hot-stamped 

If you’re still unsure of what printing method to use, specialized printing shops can give you options to help you decide on the best printing method for your sticker design.

4. Quality testing

After printing, here are some questions you can ask yourself to test the quality of your stickers:

• Did it turn out looking bad in print?
• Does the color look off?
• Is it too small?
• Does the print fade after a while?
• Does it peel off easily after applying?
• Does the sticker paper disintegrate quickly?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then we highly suggest you go back to one of the previous steps above.

But if not, then congratulations! You now have yourself some great-looking stickers.

What Sticker Ideas Are Popular?

Here are a few popular types of stickers and the design ideas currently trending on the market:

1. Custom Hydro Flasks Stickers

Custom stickers design for hydro flasks are very popular these days. This can be due to a lot of people trying their best to be eco-conscious by lugging around their own reusable drink bottles. And what better way to make the newest trendy accessory unique than to personalize it with stickers!

Water bottle adhesives are typically made from Polyvinyl chloride or PVC. This synthetic plastic polymer is waterproof so the material is good for enduring spills and moisture. Flask stickers vary in size. However, they typically come in small designs you can appreciate without having to turn the bottle over.

Tumbler adhesives are usually cute stickers that look fun, young, and adds a pop of color to a plain flask. This custom sticker set available on Amazon, for example, features a tropical theme with pieces featuring waves, cork sandals, shades, a pineapple, and a shaka sign. A sticker template like this works well because it’s visually refreshing, and it aptly represents the energizing effect of hydration.

2. Custom Laptop Stickers

Many people draw inspiration from the everyday things they use at work. Consequently, laptop stickers are popular among users looking for that extra dose of stimulus to get the job done. Stickers for laptops vary from cut-out types to skins.

Cut-out types are the usual kinds you can also use for other devices such as water bottles, letters, and other smaller items. Skins, on the other hand, are adhesives that cover the whole back part of the device’s screen.

Laptops are pricey gadgets. So, you wouldn’t want to damage the body when you decide to take the sticker off. Because of this, it’s crucial to opt for vinyl stickers. You can take off removable vinyl without leaving a residue. It also comes in various styles, including matte, glossy, and clear.

If you want to personalize your laptop but don’t want to look juvenile or amateur, go for classy skins. Skins vary in sizes and typically come in the measurements customized for certain devices.

This art deco design, for example, adds a touch of excitement without sacrificing elegance. The gold lines and dark gray, textured, geometric shapes make up a design that looks like a Great Gatsby speakeasy wallpaper.

3. Bikes and Motorcycles

Bikers regard their two-wheelers as their trusty partner on the road. It’s not surprising that many decorate their bikes with adhesives that reflect their adventures and remind them of their best rides. Motorcycle custom sticker design makers are popular among riders who want personalized adhesives for their bikes.

However, there are many ready-made stickers available on the market if name or custom stickers aren’t your thing. Most stickers for two-wheelers come in narrow sizes that will allow the user to attach it to the bike frame. It’s also crucial to choose a material, ideally adhesive, that doesn’t fade under sun exposure.

This sticker bundle for motorcycles and bikes offers designs that will make your vehicle look even cooler. Most of the stickers are black and white, so they wouldn’t clash with the color of your two-wheeler’s body.

4. Helmets Stickers

If you want to decorate your bike, why not go all the way and design your helmet as well? Just like stickers for motorcycles, adhesives for helmets must be waterproof and not prone to fading due to sun exposure. 

Aside from motorcycle helmets, however, adhesives for welding helmets and hard hats also fall under this category. Most designs for helmet stickers are patriotic, motivational, or funny, aimed at making a hard day’s work a bit lighter. This adhesive set, for example, features a mix of nationalist pride and images that aim to inspire.

This type of stickers comes in a typical sticker size, an average of around 2” x 2”. This size is just enough to stick it to a curved helmet without developing air gap lines.  

5. Car Stickers

Car decals can instantly transform it from drab to fab. Just like other outdoor decals, however, you should choose a variety that’s waterproof and fade-resistant. You must also select a material that won’t leave marks on your mirror should you decide to take off the sticker.

Stickers for cars vary in sizes, but most of them are sized just enough to be seen on the bumper or rear mirror without blocking the driver’s sight. Designs often range between the owner’s ideals or descriptions about the driver or passengers. For example, it’s not uncommon to see a “Baby Onboard” decal on cars. This design, however, offers an unusually fresh and cool vibe to it.

Where Can I Sell my Custom Stickers?

Finding the best place to sell your custom decal will depend on how much time and money you’re willing to invest in marketing, promoting, building a customer base, etc. Some of these options are more direct but with fewer customization options, while others allow you to set up impressive online stickers shops.

Here are just a few great websites to set up your sticker store:

• Etsy
• Redbubble
• StickerYou
• Shopify
• Threadless
• Printify

Discussion forums and social media are also good places to build some buzz around your store and eventually start attracting new customers through word of mouth.

Where Can I Get Stickers For Ideas?

Stickers are fun, versatile, and everywhere: from water bottles to car bumper stickers. So how do you find the best sticker ideas?

A quick Google search will give you plenty of food for thought, but if you’re looking for something a little more specific, we suggest you check out some of the best print-on-demand websites or specialized marketplaces like Etsy and StickerYou.

If you’re looking to cater to a niche market, make sure you check out places like Tumblr and Reddit. They will help you find out what your target audience is looking for and what the current trends are.

How do You Display Stickers?

You can put stickers on almost anything — laptops, picture frames, mirrors, binders, notebooks, and more. We have also curated a list of some places to put stickers.

Furniture

• Bookshelf
• Coffee table
• Filing cabinet
• Folding chair
• Lamp
• Picture frame
• Plastic storage container
• Microwave
• Mirror
• Nightstand
• Trashcan

Electronics

• Camera case
• Phone case
• Computer tower
• External hard drive
• Laptop case
• Laptop
• Either side of the track pad on a laptop keyboard
• Tablet
• TV/remote control
• Video game console

Paper Goods

• Clipboard
• Binder/folder
• Diary/journal
• Gift bag/tag
• Letter/package
• Place card (i.e., wedding place cards)
• Planner
• Notebook

Home Improvement

• Toolbox
• Workbench

Personal Items

• Backpack
• Car bumper
• Car window
• Cast
• Wallet
• Wheelchair

Music

• CD
• Drums
• Guitar case (or any other instrument case)
• MP3 player
• iPod
• Stereo
• Record Player
• Speaker

Travel Gear

• Cooler
• Lunchbox
• Passport cover
• Roof rack
• Suitcases/luggage
• Travel mug
• Tent poles
• Water bottle

Sports Goods

• Bench press
• On the ends of free-hand weights
• Bicycle
• Helmet
• Scooter
• Skateboard
• Snowboard

How do You Make Cute Stickers?

One of the easiest ways to create stickers with your Procreate artwork is by having them professionally printed. Ordering professionally printed stickers is arguably the easiest way to go. By the time you’ve created your artwork, the hard part is done.

Depending on the company you choose to print your stickers, all you need to do is upload your artwork, choose the size and add it to your cart. Then wait a week or so and enjoy your beautiful stickers when they come in the mail.

What do You Cover Stickers With?

Knowing the best ways to protect your stickers means you don’t have to worry about how your stickers will hold up to different situations or applications. You can use waterproof stickers/decals in more places (like water bottles), and as a bonus, the ink won’t fade as quickly either.

These are the 3 favorite methods to waterproof stickers. And they’re pretty popular ways of sealing and protecting your stickers.

The Self-Adhesive Laminating Method

This is a clear plastic film that is adhesive on one side and will stick to your sticker’s surface thereby sealing it. You can sub clear sticker paper, but laminating sheets often are larger so they encase the whole paper giving you a margin for mistakes in your application.

Thermal Laminating Machine

To use it, you MUST wait until the Ready light is on but then you just put two sheets of printed stickers back-to-back and insert them into a thermal laminating pouch.

Once it’s gone through the machine, you trim off the sides, and voila! Two sheets of laminated stickers in less than a minute, making this a great choice if you have to do a lot of stickers at once.

To make this method completely waterproof (for things like water bottles) be sure to use printable vinyl, not sticker paper. 

The Aerosol Spray Sealant Method

Spray sealers coat stickers with a shellac-like polyacrylic surface. If used correctly, they can add an almost invisible protectant layer over your sticker designs. It can come in glossy or matte, and there are several tried-and-true brands like Krylon, Mod Podge, and Minwax.

Be sure to wait 24 hours after you print for the ink to dry before you apply a spray sealant, and make sure you follow the manufacturer’s directions for use and safety precautions. 

How do You Apply Stickers?

Have you ever turned a perfectly attractive sticker into a twisted clump or a wrinkled eyesore? Here are some tips and tricks that will help you apply your stickers with ease every time!

Tip 1: Start With A Clean Surface

Pre-wash the area where you’ll be applying the sticker using either soap and water or a mixture of rubbing alcohol (70% isopropyl alcohol) and water—we recommend a 50 / 50 water / alcohol solution.

After cleaning with soapy water, rinse thoroughly with water until no soap or residue remains. Do not use window-cleaning products. They may leave a residue behind, making your sticker cling less effectively.

Tip 2: Apply When Temperatures Are Moderate

For the best results, install your stickers in a shaded area away from direct sunlight. When possible, you should apply stickers when the temperature is above 50F and below 90F.

Tip 3: Use Masking Tape

Masking tape can help ensure that your sticker is positioned exactly where you want it. Leaving the white backing paper in place and facing the surface you’re applying it to, position the sticker where you want it to go. Place a piece of masking tape along the top edge of the sticker—this fixes it in the proper location.

Then, lift the sticker as if it’s on a hinge, and peel off the backing paper. While holding onto the bottom edge, slowly lower the sticker, using the thumb of your other hand to press from the center out and gradually working your way from top to bottom.

Tip 4: Use The Wet Method

You can apply most smaller decals without using water, but for large and very large stickers, this trick is a life-saver. After cleaning your surface area, wet the area again using a spray bottle and a solution of about 5% soap / 95% water.

Apply the sticker while the area is still wet. This will keep it from adhering immediately and give you time to reposition if necessary. It also enables you to remove any bubbles using a squeegee or a plastic card. The soapy water will dry in a few minutes and leave your sticker firmly affixed.

Tip 5: Tend To The Transfer Tape

Many of our stickers come with three layers: 1) transfer tape, the clear top layer that clings to the non-adhesive side of the sticker and holds the sticker together; 2) the sticker, the middle layer; 3) backing paper, the bottom layer of white paper that clings to the adhesive side of the sticker.

Before applying these types of stickers, it’s important to make sure the sticker and transfer tape are pressed firmly together. To do so, apply pressure evenly across the transfer tape with a squeegee or a plastic card. This will ensure that the sticker doesn’t come up with the backing paper during installation.

Also, once you’ve applied your sticker, be sure to leave the transfer tape in place for at least 3 hours and up to 24 hours before gently removing it. In very cold winter months, you may need to leave the transfer tape on even longer. To speed up the process when it’s cold out, you can warm the application surface using a blow dryer on low heat.

How to Make a Waterproof Sticker

There are three main ways to protect your stickers from the elements. The first is to be mindful of the type of ink your printer is using. You could upgrade to UV resistant ink if the sticker will be out in the sun for extended periods of time (i.e. for a bumper sticker). UV Inks are harder to rub off, scratch and smudge. UV inks also allow for the printing on unconventional surfaces such as plastics. 

Second is to use an aerosol sealant spray. Krylon and Mod Podge offer sealants that seal the sticker and prevent the ink from running by providing a layer of clear shellac. Be sure to allow the ink to dry for approximately 24 hours before spraying to avoid discoloring the ink with the spray. These sprays provide a permanent protective gloss coating, prevent smudging, and lock out moisture.

The final and easiest method is to simply place a clear laminating sheet over top of the sticker once it is printed and placed on the desired surface. They are applied just like a sticker, simply cut out the laminating sheet slightly larger than the sticker you are protecting, then peel off and place on!

Placing a laminating sheet over top of your decal will make it completely dishwasher safe! Royal Elements clear laminating sheets are offered on Amazon and are extremely durable and crystal clear- perfect for sticker applications.

How do You Make Clear Stickers?

Clear labels are quite pricy but it’s possible to make your own at home using packing tape. It’s a really cool, inexpensive and simple DIY image transfer technique.

Some use black and white but it does work with color also. It can be used just like a clear sticker, with your own custom designs for pantry jars, spice containers, gift tags, on glass, plastic and wood.

1- Print your image with a laser printer (Take into consideration the width of the tape).

2- Cover the image completely with clear packing tape (The heavier duty tape give much better results than thin tape).

3- Press down with the back of a spoon so that the tape adheres to the image. It will also eliminate bumps and bubbles.

4- Cut along the edge of the printed area and trim away any excess.

5- Soak in water for 5 minutes (The bigger your sticker is, the longer it’ll need to soak).

6- Remove the paper from the tape by rubbing on it. The image is left behind on the tape.

7- Let the tape dry completely so that the stickiness returns.

8- Attach the tape sticker to anything you would use a normal sticker on.

Can I Make Money From Stickers?

According to Markets And Markets, the global sticker (self-adhesive) industry is projected to be worth over $59.2 billion dollars by 2025. That includes all types of self-adhesives – from custom stickers to digital stickers to label stickers and more!

Stickers aren’t just for decorating your laptop or phone case – many people outsource stickers for their small businesses, large firms, products, etc. You name it, there’s likely a sticker for it.

There are many small business owners who are generating a full-time income from selling stickers. You could make anywhere from $200-800 per month as a side hustle to up to (and beyond) $10,000 per month.

Your profit will depend on:

1. Your margins
2. Costs
3. Order volume
4. Sticker market

As for margins, most stickers sell for an average of $3.00 – $5.00 USD. That means if a sticker costs you $0.50 to make (considering bulk stationery costs, shipping fees, etc), then that is a potential $2.50 – $4.50 in profit per sticker.

Consider as well the type of sticker you are making and selling. Not all stickers are created equal. So while most small aesthetically pleasing stickers will go for $2.50 and above, other stickers – like car stickers – may sell for $15 and above.

What Kind of Stickers Sell Best?

There are several types of stickers that you can make with a sticker business:

• Product stickers
• Label stickers
• Clear stickers
• Die cut stickers
• Bumper stickers
• Custom stickers

If you are a small artist wanting to create your own sticker designs, then you’ll likely make the most money selling die-cut stickers which simply means the stickers are cut to the unique outline/shape of the design (rather than being square or circle).

Custom stickers are also in the top-selling tier of stickers because so many people are seeking to personalize their gifts and lifestyles (i.e a custom sticker of their pet).

This doesn’t mean that if you aren’t talented with a stylus that you can’t make and sell stickers. You could also sell stickers of another variety or work with a manufacturer.

What Are Some Examples of Successful Sticker Businesses

Example 1: Starfruit Press Co

Starfruit Press Co, owned by the 20-year-something Vietnamese YouTuber Linh Truong is a fantastic example of how someone with zero experience selling stickers can successfully generate a part to full-time income from one’s art.

She creates her colorful and fun sticker designs in Procreate, cuts, and prints them out and photographs them at home, and then markets them online via Instagram to her followers. Within her first thirty minutes of opening the shop, she received 153 orders.

Example 2: StickerGiant

StickerGiant, headed by John Fischer, is perhaps the most successful sticker business on the planet. They currently hold a Guinness World Record for having the largest ball made entirely out of stickers. Their business generated around $8 million in revenue in 2015 and has grown 30% annually since.

Read Also: 10 Inspiring Designs to Jump Start your T-shirt Printing Business

They make and sell custom stickers and labels for nearly any niche. That said, they’re not your small budding artist making a living by selling on Etsy. Regardless, it serves as an example of just how large the earning potential is something like the sticker market.

Example 3: Shay Budgets

YouTuber Shay Budgets shares in the below video the breakdown of how she was able to make over $29,885 from just selling budget planner stickers on her Etsy shop within the first year. That amount is before you subtract her listing, shipping, and transaction fees which totaled $6,557.

How Much Will it Cost to Start a Sticker Business?

The cost to make a sticker is very low, especially because the materials you use are up-front investments rather than reoccurring ones. Meaning, once you purchase your printing and cutting tools you only need to consider costs to replenish stationery (to pack and ship your stickers).

That said, let’s take a look at the potential start-up costs involved (including equipment) in order to make and sell stickers online:

• Sticker printer – $150
• iPad + Apple Pencil – $329
• Design software (i.e. Procreate) – $10
• Silhouette cutting tool – $160
• Stationery/Supplies – $150
• Packaging – $50
• Listing & transaction fees ($0.20 per sticker and 5%)
• Shipping – varies

Adding together the above, starting a sticker side hustle could cost you between $520-849 in total costs (with variations based on what equipment you already have and/or still need). Don’t forget to factor in taxes, as well.

Bottom Line

Selling stickers is a lucrative business or side hustle – it can be whichever you want it to be determined by how much you want to work and earn. The more time you spend designing creative stickers and marketing them to your target audience, the more you will reap the reward of your efforts.

Making and selling stickers isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. However, it’s definitely a legitimate and lucrative way to make a living. If you are a budding digital artist then there is a lot of opportunity and room for growth in the sticker industry.

As we’ve seen, stickers are only going to increase in popularity over the next few years. So if you were to start a sticker business, now would be the best time to invest in your skills and begin attracting your ideal customer.