Guide
Label Buying 101
The basics of buying printed labels, sleeves, sheets and tags, without the jargon. Your next quote will make more sense.
What "per M" means
Label printers price per M, which means per 1,000 labels (M is the Roman numeral for 1,000).
$62 per M is 6.2 cents a label. For 25,000 labels that is 25 x $62 = $1,550.
Why short runs cost more per label
Every job has setup: loading material, mounting plates or loading files, getting colors right, and running test labels. That setup costs about the same whether you order 2,000 labels or 200,000.
On a small order, that setup is shared by few labels, so each one costs more. On a big order it is spread thin. That is why quotes drop sharply per label as quantity goes up.
How labels are printed
Most label printers use one or more of these methods. Each one has strengths. The right one for your label depends on how many you order, how many versions you have, and what the label needs to do. You don't have to choose. Asking for 'printer's choice' is fine, and a good printer will tell you why they picked one. Flexo prints from plates, like a rubber stamp. Digital prints straight from a file, like a big office printer.
Flexographic (flexo)
- How it works
- Ink is transferred from a roller to a flexible raised plate, which prints on the label material. Each color needs its own plate.
- Best for
- Long runs and repeat orders with few versions.
- Quality
- Very good. Modern high-definition plates print sharp text and smooth images. Spot colors (Pantone) match very closely because the ink is mixed to the exact color.
- Strengths
- Lowest cost per label on long runs. Bright spot colors, heavy opaque white, varnishes, cold foil and other effects can be added in the same pass. Fast press speeds.
- Trade-offs
- One-time plate and setup charges. More setup waste. Changing art means new plates. Not ideal for many versions in small quantities.
- What you'll see on a quote
- Plate charges, sometimes a die charge, and a lower price per M as quantities go up.
UV Inkjet (digital)
- How it works
- Print heads spray tiny drops of ink that are cured instantly with UV light. No plates.
- Best for
- Short to medium runs, many versions, and samples.
- Quality
- Good to very good, and improving fast. Strong colors and an opaque white. On some presses, the ink sits slightly raised and you can feel it.
- Strengths
- No plates and quick setup. Every label can be different (numbers, names, codes). Good on many materials, including clear films.
- Trade-offs
- Ink costs more per label, so the price per M doesn't drop as much on long runs. Some inks need low-migration versions for food packaging. Ask if that matters to you.
- What you'll see on a quote
- Little or no setup charge, and a price per M that stays fairly flat.
HP Indigo (digital)
- How it works
- Liquid electrophotography. A laser creates the image on a drum, liquid ink is applied, and the image is transferred to the material through a blanket. No plates.
- Best for
- Short to medium runs, many versions, and premium-looking labels.
- Quality
- Excellent. Very fine detail, smooth gradients and sharp small text, close to offset. Up to 7 colors can be used to match most Pantone colors without mixing ink.
- Strengths
- No plates and fast changeovers. Variable data on every label. Consistent color from order to order.
- Trade-offs
- Materials need a special coating (or inline priming) to hold the ink. The per-label cost stays fairly flat, so long runs often cost less on flexo.
- What you'll see on a quote
- Little or no setup charge, and a price per M that stays fairly flat.
Offset
- How it works
- Ink is transferred from a metal plate to a rubber blanket, then to the material. Used on sheet-fed presses and on some roll-fed label presses.
- Best for
- Very long runs, mainly paper labels like beer, wine, canned food and glue-applied labels.
- Quality
- Excellent fine detail and smooth photos.
- Strengths
- Very low cost per label at high volume. Consistent results.
- Trade-offs
- Thin ink layer, so white isn't very opaque on clear or metallic materials. Plates and setup add cost. Fewer roll-label shops run offset.
- What you'll see on a quote
- Plate and setup charges, and a low price per M at high quantities.
You may also see
- Hybrid: flexo and digital on one press. Digital for the image, flexo for white, varnish or effects.
- Screen printing: used for raised tactile effects or very heavy opaque white.
- Gravure: used for very long runs of shrink sleeves and flexible packaging.
- Dry toner digital: similar uses to other digital presses.
| Method | Setup and plate cost | Best run length | Many versions | Spot color match | Opaque white | Numbering and variable data | Price per M on long runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flexo | Higher | Long | Costly | Excellent | Excellent | Needs extra station | Lowest |
| UV Inkjet | Low | Short to medium | Easy | Good | Very good | Easy | Higher |
| HP Indigo | Low | Short to medium | Easy | Very good | Very good | Easy | Higher |
| Offset | Medium | Very long | Costly | Excellent | Fair | Not typical | Very low |
What drives the price
- Size
- Bigger labels use more material. Material is bought by the square inch.
- Material
- Film (BOPP, PET), metallic and specialty stocks cost more than plain paper.
- Colors
- Each extra color can mean another plate and more setup on flexo.
- Finishing
- Laminate, foil, embossing and spot varnish each add a step.
- Quantity
- More labels per order means a lower price per label.
- Versions
- Each flavor or SKU can need its own plates and a changeover on press.
How to get better quotes
- Send a complete spec
- Missing details mean guesses, padding or a slow back-and-forth.
- Share your annual usage
- Printers price better when they know you will reorder. Ask about a blanket order.
- Send the same spec to every printer
- Then the quotes line up and you can compare them fairly.
- Ask what is included
- Plates, dies, prepress and freight can hide outside the run price.
Extended content labels
An extended content label has extra pages that peel open, like a small booklet stuck to your product. They are used when you need more room for directions, warnings or several languages.
Each extra page adds material, printing and a more complex build, so they cost more than a flat label. The printer also needs to know how it opens and whether it reseals.
What to tell your printer
- How many pages or panels, and what goes on each one.
- How it opens (peel and reseal, booklet, fold-out) and if it must reclose.
- The base label size and the folded size of the booklet.
Coupons
A coupon label has a piece the shopper peels off and keeps, while the base stays on the pack. It is common for promotions, recipes and rebates.
The tricky part is getting the coupon to peel cleanly without the base coming off too. Printers handle that with special adhesive and die cuts.
What to tell your printer
- The coupon size and where it sits on the label.
- Whether there is a barcode or redemption code on the coupon.
- How long the promotion runs, so they can plan quantities.
Shrink sleeves
A shrink sleeve is a printed film tube that slips over a container and shrinks to fit it with heat. It can cover the whole bottle, including curves a normal label can’t reach.
Sleeves are printed flat, so the artwork has to be distorted to look right once shrunk. Your printer needs the container itself, or an exact drawing, to get that right.
They are sold by the sleeve, not the label, and come on a roll or as cut pieces.
What to tell your printer
- Container drawings or samples, and the widest and narrowest points.
- Film type and how you apply them (shrink tunnel, steam, by hand).
- Whether you want a tamper band or perforation for easy removal.
Labels on sheets
Sheet labels come on flat sheets instead of a roll, usually letter size. They are handy if you apply by hand or print details yourself on an office printer.
If you print them yourself, the sheets must suit your printer type, since laser and inkjet need different materials. Prices are usually quoted per sheet.
What to tell your printer
- Sheet size and how many labels go on each sheet.
- Whether they arrive printed or blank, and your printer type if blank.
- How the sheets should be packed (per pack, per box).
Printing on the adhesive side
Some labels print under the adhesive, so the print shows through a clear container or when the label is peeled back. It is often used for promotions, recipes or extra info.
This needs an extra print station and careful material choice, which adds setup cost. It’s not offered by every printer, so ask early.
What to tell your printer
- What prints on the adhesive side and in how many colors.
- Whether it should be read through the container or after peeling.
- Your container material, since clarity affects how it looks.
Numbered labels
Numbered labels each carry a unique number, barcode or code. They are used for tracking, serial numbers, raffles and lot control.
Printing a different number on every label means variable data printing and checking that none are skipped or doubled. That inspection adds cost, so be clear about how strict it needs to be.
What to tell your printer
- The starting number, format and any prefix or suffix.
- Whether numbers can repeat, skip, or must be checked one by one.
- If you need a barcode or QR code, and which type.
Ready to ask for quotes?
Build a complete spec in about 5 minutes and send the same PDF to every printer.
Start a spec