Sticker Size Guide
The Sticker
Size Guide.
The #1 reason people reorder isn't quality — it's size. Here's exactly what fits where, with the worksheets we use on the print floor.
What fits where.
| Surface | Sweet spot | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop | 2–3″ | Reads across a café table, mixes well with other stickers |
| Water bottle / tumbler | 1.5–2.5″ | Curved surfaces punish oversized stickers |
| Phone case | 1–1.5″ | Small canvas, high visibility |
| Car bumper / window | 4–8″ | Readable at a stoplight is the test |
| Cooler / kayak / toolbox | 3–5″ | Big flat panels carry big art |
| Helmet | 1.5–2.5″ | Compound curves need smaller film |
| Handouts / swag | 2–3″ | Best cost-to-impact ratio |
Label math for containers.
Width: measure circumference (diameter × 3.14). A front label should stay under 40% of circumference; a wrap label needs 1/4″ overlap. Height: measure only the straight-walled area — stop below the shoulder curve and above the base taper. Labels forced over curves wrinkle, always.
Print it on paper first.
Print your design at actual size, tape it where it will live, and step back six feet. Can't read the main text? Go bigger or simplify. This 60-second test saves more reorders than any spec sheet.
When torn between two sizes, order the smaller one in a bigger quantity — small stickers get applied, huge stickers get drawer-ed. More advice in Tips & Tricks.