Why Sticker Labelling Is the Most Cost-Effective Solution for Your Product
Comparing stickers with printed packaging: a single 50×50 mm sticker starts from around €0.05, there's no setup fee, and label changes can be made at any print run size.
For small and medium producers, labelling products with stickers almost always costs less than individually printed packaging: our standard sticker printing starts from €17.60/m² excl. VAT, with no setup fee, so a 50×50 mm sticker works out at around €0.05 per piece. Printed cardboard or film packaging usually involves preparing moulds or printing plates and a minimum run of several thousand units, whereas we print stickers even in runs of 50 or 100 pieces within 1–3 business days.
Where the main savings come from
The difference isn't just the price per piece. Printed packaging means every product variant, every new flavour, volume or translation is a separate item with its own minimum run. With stickers, you buy one neutral piece of packaging (a jar, bottle, bag or box) and only the label changes.
The practical benefits our clients most often mention – small food producers, cosmetics and candle makers, breweries:
- No setup fee. There are no plate or die-cutting costs for sticker printing with us – you only pay for the printed area.
- Small runs are realistic. You can print 100 labels for a new product, test the market, and only then scale up.
- Fast changes. Ingredients, email address, nutritional values changed, or a new language added – we print the new version without extra setup.
- One packaging type for several products. You keep one blank container in stock instead of six different printed ones.
- Expiry date and batch data. The label can be applied later, so the packaging doesn't go out of date along with the information on it.
What a single sticker actually costs
We calculate stickers based on the printed area, so the cost per piece is easy to work out. The table below shows indicative prices excl. VAT, assuming an efficient layout on the sheet with gaps for cutting.
| Sticker size | Approx. pcs from 1 m² | Standard print (€17.60/m²) | Laminated (€24.00/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30×30 mm | ~900 | from €0.02/pc | from €0.03/pc |
| 50×50 mm | ~350 | from €0.05/pc | from €0.07/pc |
| 60×40 mm | ~380 | from €0.05/pc | from €0.07/pc |
| 80×50 mm | ~230 | from €0.08/pc | from €0.11/pc |
| 100×70 mm | ~130 | from €0.14/pc | from €0.19/pc |
| 105×148 mm (A6) | ~60 | from €0.30/pc | from €0.40/pc |
Speciality materials cost more: transparent stickers – €48.00/m², mirror film – €48.00/m², brushed silver – €64.00/m². Easy removable stickers with printing, cutting and transfer film – €28.80/m². Prices are indicative; the exact amount depends on size, material, contour cutting and total area. For more details, see our sticker printing page.
How to compare with printed packaging
Rather than comparing "price per piece", look at the total investment. If an order of 2,000 printed boxes requires prepayment for the whole run plus mould costs, the same budget spent on stickers is enough for several product variants, with a reserve left for design adjustments. For a small producer whose product range is still evolving, this is usually the deciding factor.
How to choose the right material
The material should be chosen based on what will happen to the product after purchase – will it sit in the fridge, in the bathroom, or be carried out in the snow.
- Paper stickers – for dry products: cardboard boxes, bread packaging, stationery. The cheapest option.
- PP film – for cosmetics, chemicals, bottles; withstands moisture and doesn't tear if the product slips from your hand.
- Laminated sticker – if the label gets rubbed during transport or comes into contact with oil; the lamination protects the print.
- Transparent stickers – for glass jars and bottles, when you want the product itself to be visible and the label to "disappear".
- Metallic finishes (brushed silver, mirror film) – for the premium segment: candles, spirits, gift sets.
- Easy removable – for promotions, seasonal prices, temporary labelling that can be removed later without leaving adhesive residue.
A frequently ordered combination: the main brand label on PP film plus a small ingredients or translation sticker on the back. The second one can be printed in a smaller run and updated more often.
Sheets or rolls
Sheets are more cost-effective for small runs and manual application – they're easy to apply one by one and allow several designs to be combined on one sheet. Rolls are needed if you use a semi-automatic labelling machine or apply hundreds of units per day. When ordering, let us know which option you need, as it determines the layout and the maximum allowed sticker size.
Files, deadlines and delivery
We expect artwork in vector format (.ai, .eps, .pdf, .svg), CMYK, raster images at 300 dpi. For text, we recommend a minimum margin of 2 mm from the cutting line, so that small ingredient text doesn't end up right at the edge. If you don't have artwork yet, we can put together a sticker based on your text and logo – everything is confirmed by email before printing.
Standard turnaround for printing is 1–3 business days. Urgent jobs by arrangement. Orders can be collected at Kandavas iela 29A, Riga, or delivered by our partner courier in Riga for €16.00 per trip. If you also need an ingredients booklet, cards or a catalogue alongside your stickers, we can print them together – see digital printing; an 8-page A5 catalogue starts from €1.20/pc at 250 copies. Examples of completed work can be found in our our work section.
Frequently asked questions
Does a sticker look cheaper than printed packaging?
No, not if the right material is chosen and the sticker is cut precisely. A transparent or metallic film with lamination on a glass jar often looks more premium than offset printing on cardboard, because the product itself and the material's texture are visible.
What's the minimum sticker run?
There's no minimum run as such – we'll even print a single sheet. In practice, it makes sense to order however many fit on a full sheet, since the cost is calculated by area, not by piece.
How much do ingredients or translation stickers cost?
These are usually small – 40×30 or 60×40 mm – and start from around €0.05 per piece excl. VAT with standard printing. There's no setup fee, so translation versions can be printed in runs of as few as 100 pieces.
Will a sticker stay on a wet bottle or in the fridge?
Yes, if you use PP film or vinyl rather than paper. Tell us the conditions the product will be kept in – chilled, frozen, in contact with oil – and we'll recommend the right material and adhesive.
Can you cut a sticker to a custom shape?
Yes, contour cutting is a standard service. Stickers with printing, contour cutting and transfer film start from €24.00/m². The shape's contour needs to be submitted in vector format.
How long does the first order take?
We send a quote within one business day, and printing after artwork approval takes 1–3 business days.
FAQ
Does a sticker look cheaper than printed packaging?
No, not if the right material is chosen and the sticker is cut precisely. A transparent or metallic film with lamination on a glass jar often looks more premium than printing on cardboard, because the product itself and the material's texture are visible.
What's the minimum sticker run?
There's no minimum run as such – we'll even print a single sheet. In practice, it makes sense to order however many fit on a full sheet, since the cost is calculated by printed area, not by piece.
How much do ingredients or translation stickers cost?
Small stickers of 40×30 or 60×40 mm with standard printing (€17.60/m² excl. VAT) start from around €0.05 per piece. There's no setup fee, so translation versions can be printed in runs of as few as 100 pieces.
Will a sticker stay on a wet bottle or in the fridge?
Yes, if you use PP film or vinyl rather than paper. Tell us the conditions the product will be kept in – chilled, frozen, in contact with oil – and we'll recommend the right material and adhesive.
Can you cut a sticker to a custom shape?
Yes, contour cutting is a standard service. Stickers with printing, contour cutting and transfer film start from €24.00/m² excl. VAT; the shape's contour needs to be submitted in vector format.
How long does the first order take?
We send a quote within one business day, but printing after artwork approval takes 1–3 business days. Urgent jobs by arrangement.
