Should You Use Film, Paper or Vinyl Labels?
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
See what type of material is best for your labeling needs
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Not all labels are created equal, and choosing the right one can make a big difference in how your product looks, feels, and holds up over time. Whether you’re branding products, packaging orders, or tackling a creative project, the material you choose affects everything from durability to print quality to how well your labels stick.
Paper, film, and vinyl labels each have their strengths, but which one is the best fit for you? Paper labels are a great go-to for cost-effective, everyday use, but they may not hold up in humid or high-contact environments. Film labels, on the other hand, offer flexibility and durability, resisting water, oil, and wear and tear. And if you need something extra tough, vinyl labels provide maximum durability for industrial and outdoor applications.
Understanding the differences between these materials can save you time, money, and frustration in the long run. In this article, we’ll break down the key features of each label type, what they’re best suited for, and how to choose the perfect one for your needs. Let’s dive in!
Film labels
When you need a durable label to stand up to water, oils, and sun, then film labels are the way to go. They are waterproof, tearproof, and resistant to oils, UV, sun, and fading. They last longer than paper labels when exposed to the elements.
Whether you’re selling a product that will be stored in the refrigerator, freezer, shower, or bathroom cupboard, film labels will hold up. Condensation, sweating, and spilled contents won’t affect the label, so you’ll have a professional-looking label with no running ink or unreadable labels.
Film labels are great for items such as jams, jellies, honey, sauces, and other food items. And they’re ideal to use for beer, wine, and water bottle labels that might be iced down. They’re also perfect for shampoos, soaps, lotions, ointments, and essential oils.
Avery offers film labels on both sheets and rolls depending on your specific need. You can order premium film labels professionally printed by Avery, or buy printable film labels or in Avery label packs.
Our custom printing service also offers a squeezable conformable film that prevents wrinkling and peeling on squeeze bottles and other curved or oddly shaped containers. Clear film is a great choice when you want to add a no-label look to clear containers.
Film labels offer:
- Tear resistance
- Water resistance
- Oil resistance
- Scuff resistance
- Fade resistance
- Long shelf life
- Strong foundation for laminates
- Smooth application on curved containers
Vinyl labels
Vinyl materials are ideal for outdoor applications or when the labels may come into contact with extreme environments. These materials feature a strong adhesive that prevents lifting and peeling on most flat surfaces. Durable and waterproof, they feature a premium UV coating that provides protection against ink scuffing, label tearing, abrasions, and extreme temperatures. Once they are applied, they’re guaranteed 18 months’ removability from painted metal, glass, and most plastic.
Avery offers custom ultra-durable vinyl sheet labels that provide a photo-quality, high-gloss finish. The 6 ml. vinyl is waterproof & resists oils, tearing, fading & abrasions. Great for product labeling indoors & outdoors, crafting, organization, and more. We also have custom printed glossy removable vinyl sheet labels that remove cleanly with no sticky residue, as well as conformable vinyl stickers, that are awesome for things like hard hats or sports helmets.
If you are into DIY, check out our white vinyl labels on blank label sheets that you can print yourself from a laser printer.
All of our vinyl labels are great for products, packaging, and anything that needs extra durability.
Vinyl labels offer:
- Tear resistance
- Water resistance
- Oil resistance
- Scuff resistance
- Fade resistance
- Long shelf life
Paper labels
Paper substrates are the most popular labels and are generally best for indoor applications. They offer a relatively short lifespan and can only handle limited exposure to moisture, chemicals, abrasion, and extreme temperatures. However, paper labels are available in a wider range of colors than film labels and they usually cost less. Also, you can add laminates and varnishes as topcoats to make the paper labels more durable but they still won’t be as durable as film or vinyl.
You can buy Avery paper labels in a variety of ways. Choose professionally printed paper labels or order our blank labels or our label packs.
Paper labels offer:
- Cost-effective solution
- Good ink adhesion
- A handcrafted or vintage look
Conclusion
Once you’ve decided on your label material, see what label shape is right for your product and learn how to choose the correct label size. And if you have any questions along the way, please call our helpful Consumer Care Center at (800) 942-8379 and they’ll be happy to help you with your selection. They can also help you with your design template and ordering.
