How to Make Stickers: Find the Best Option for What You Need
Compare custom printing and DIY stickers, understand the biggest decisions, and confidently choose the best option for your project.
There’s no single best way to make stickers—only the best way for you
Whether you’re creating stickers for your business, a special event, product packaging, or a personal project, there are two ways to make them with Avery.
- Order custom if you want durable, professionally printed stickers in a variety of shapes, materials, and finishes.
- Print your own if you want to design and print a small batch at home using Avery printable sticker products.
The best option depends on your design, quantity, budget, and how you plan to use your stickers. You may even use both options—for example, printing a test version yourself before ordering a larger, custom-printed batch. In the sections below, we’ll cover the biggest decisions—from sticker type to production method—so you can confidently choose the best option for your project.
Consider die-cut vs. kiss cut upfront
Before you decide how to make your stickers, it’s helpful to understand the difference between die-cut and kiss-cut stickers.
Both are available with Avery custom printing, but if you’re printing stickers at home, your choice may determine whether you need additional equipment.
Explore our comparison guide for detailed differences and examples of each style, or use the quick comparison below.
Quick comparison
Choose die-cut if you want individual stickers for product packaging, giveaways, laptops, water bottles, or other everyday uses. They’re cut completely through the backing paper, making them easy to hand out one at a time. If you’re printing yourself, die-cut stickers are also the easiest to make because you can simply cut them out by hand.
Choose kiss-cut if you want stickers that are easier to peel from the backing paper. Avery offers kiss-cut as a custom printing option, but creating kiss-cut stickers at home requires a compatible cutting machine, such as a Cricut® or Silhouette®. These types of machines are needed to make the partial cut through the sticker material while leaving the backing intact.
When to choose custom printed stickers
Professionally printed custom stickers are the best choice when you need a polished, durable result that represents your brand. They’re ideal for product packaging, promotions, events, giveaways, branded merchandise, and other creative sticker ideas that can help you grow your business. If you want premium materials, specialty finishes, or need larger quantities, custom printing delivers professional results without the hassle of printing and cutting them yourself.
Once you’ve decided custom stickers are the right fit, you can either upload finished artwork or create your design in Avery Design & Print Online, Avery’s online design tool.
Need inspiration first? Browse our collection of professionally designed sticker templates to find a design you can personalize.
Here’s how it works
Ordering custom stickers only takes a few steps. The exact screens you’ll see depend on the sticker style you choose, but don’t worry—we’ll point out where the process differs so you know what to expect.
1) Choose your sticker style
- Custom Shape is ideal for artwork with a unique outline, like logos, illustrations, or die-cut stickers.
- Round, square, rectangle, and oval stickers are great for classic designs, product packaging, promotions, and other everyday uses.
Pro tip: Already have finished artwork for a circle, square, rectangle, or oval? Choosing Custom Shape can still be the fastest option. Avery automatically detects the outline of your design, so you can upload your file directly without opening the design editor first.
2) Add your artwork
The example above shows what the workflow looks like if you want to choose a custom shape. If you choose a standard shape instead, the process begins a little differently.
- Custom Shape stickers let you upload your finished artwork right away.
- Standard shapes open Avery’s online design tool first. If your artwork is already finished, simply choose a blank template and upload your file—you don’t need to create your design from scratch. You can also start with one of our professionally designed templates and customize it to make it your own.
Good to know: If you choose a standard sticker shape, Avery’s online design tool opens before you upload your artwork. That’s expected—you can still upload your finished design without recreating it from scratch.
Pro tip: Upload the highest-quality version of your artwork whenever possible. Even the best printing can’t improve a low-resolution image, so starting with a crisp, high-quality file helps ensure your stickers look their best.
3) Pick a size
Whether you choose a custom shape or a standard shape, select the size that best fits how you’ll use your stickers.
If you’re ordering a Custom Shape sticker, Avery can automatically suggest dimensions based on your uploaded artwork, or you can enter your own measurements.
For standard shapes, simply choose the size that best fits your design.
4) Choose the right material
The right material depends on how your stickers will be used.
- Waterproof film stickers are ideal for water bottles, outdoor use, and products that may get wet.
- Water-resistant film stickers are a good choice for projects that may encounter occasional moisture, spills, or light handling but don’t need full waterproof durability.
- Paper stickers are a great choice for packaging, crafts, giveaways, and other indoor applications.
Choose the material that matches your durability needs and the finish you want.
5) Select a quantity
Order the number of stickers that makes sense for your project and budget. Larger quantities often reduce the cost per sticker, so it’s worth ordering extras if you know you’ll use them later.
6) Save your project, review your proof, and place your order
Before moving on, save your project to your Avery account. Don’t have one yet? Creating an account is quick and free.
Depending on the sticker style you selected, Avery’s online design tool may prompt you to save automatically, or you can save it yourself before continuing.
Saving your project makes it easy to reorder stickers, update your design later, or share it with teammates if you’re collaborating.
Next, review your digital proof to confirm that your artwork, cut line, and overall layout look correct. Once you approve your proof, Avery prints your stickers and ships them directly to you.
When to print your own stickers
Printing your own stickers is a great option for short runs, test designs, classroom projects, crafts, and anytime you need them right away. It’s also an easy way to experiment with a new design before placing a larger custom sticker order.
Getting started with DIY stickers
Avery printable sticker products work differently than custom printed stickers.
Instead of ordering individual stickers, you’ll design and print an entire sheet using your home or office printer, then cut them out.
But you don’t need to learn the entire process here. Our complete guide to printable DIY stickers walks you through every step.
If you’re still comparing your options, you can also review the process at a glance.
The basic DIY process
- Choose printable sticker paper that works with your printer and your project.
- Create your stickers in Avery’s online design tool or choose a blank template and upload artwork you’ve already created.
- Print your stickers on plain paper first to check alignment, spacing, and any errors before printing on your sticker paper.
- Cut out your stickers by hand for small projects or use a cutting machine if you want faster, more precise results.
Final questions before you make your stickers
No. If you already have finished artwork, you can upload it directly when ordering Custom Shape stickers. For standard shapes, Avery’s online design tool opens first, but you can still choose a blank template and upload your existing design.
You can design stickers in programs like Adobe Illustrator®, Photoshop, Canva®, or Procreate®, then upload your finished artwork to Avery. You can also create your design directly in Avery’s online design tool from scratch or with design templates.
Yes. You can cut die-cut stickers by hand with scissors. However, creating kiss-cut stickers at home requires a compatible cutting machine because it cuts the sticker material while leaving the backing intact. If you want to skip scissors or cutting machines, custom printed stickers are probably the best option for you.
Choose your material based on how you or others will use your stickers. Waterproof film is ideal for water bottles, outdoor use, and other wet environments. Water-resistant film offers added durability for everyday use, while paper is best for indoor projects like packaging, crafts, and giveaways.
Yes. Before you checkout, you’ll review a digital proof to confirm your artwork, text, and other details. Once you approve the proof, Avery prints your stickers and ships them directly to you.
Wondering how much custom stickers cost?
The cost of custom stickers depends on the size, material, finish, and quantity you choose. Larger orders usually lower the cost per sticker, and Avery custom sticker pages make it easy to see pricing before you place your order.
Want to try custom stickers first? Try our 22 for $2 offer—perfect for a trial run. You’ll get 22 custom 2-inch round or square stickers for just $2.
It’s an easy way to experience the ordering process and see the quality of Avery custom stickers for yourself. You’ll also get a feel for the size, material, and finish before placing a larger order.
Should I order custom stickers or print my own?
If you want professionally printed stickers with durable materials, specialty finishes, or larger quantities, custom printing is the best choice. If you need a small batch quickly, want to test a design, or enjoy DIY projects, printing your own stickers is a great option.
Many people use both approaches—for example, printing a test version at home before placing a larger custom order.
Ready to get started?
