How To Make and Sell Stickers Online: 5 straightforward Steps (2025)
Online marketplaces are filled with creative stickers covering all genres and styles. Whether you desire to customize your water bottle, personalize your phone case, or easily identify your suitcase at baggage claim, stickers provide an affordable way to transform everyday objects.
If you’re an artist, turning your illustrations into stickers is a straightforward procedure. And for anyone, starting a sticker shop is an straightforward, accessible, affordable business concept.
This post covers the basic steps required to make and print stickers. Plus, discover how to sell your stickers online through marketplaces or an online store.
Also, discover encouragement from two entrepreneurs who have found achievement with their own sticker businesses.
Ready to commence your business? make your website today or discover more about Shopify’s tools for selling online and in person.
How to make stickers
- Design your stickers
- Use software to make stickers
- Choose a sticker complete
- Print your stickers
- Cut your stickers
Here are the steps followed by most sticker makers to turn their artwork into high-standard, sellable products:
1. Design your stickers
Sticker design is more than arranging images and text. Your job is to recognize your spectators well enough to comprehend what images and designs will resonate. For instance, designs for kids might be playful and colorful, whereas something intended for business use might require a sleeker, more professional look.
Since stickers generally arrive in tiny sizes, it’s significant to keep your designs visually straightforward. A obvious and straightforward design means your communication or image can be understood quickly and easily.
Opting for high-contrast colors can assist your stickers stand out and grab attention even from a distance. But recall, colors aren’t just aesthetics. They evoke different emotions and reactions, so ponder about the psychological impact your color choices might have.
For text, choose fonts that are legible and that contrast well with the background. This ensures that your text is straightforward to read at a glance.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with the shape of your stickers. Moving away from the standard rectangles and circles can make your creation more eye-catching and memorable. For distinctive sticker shapes, a obvious border is essential. This helps printers detect the edges of your design and make complicated cuts successfully.
2. Use software to make stickers
Most stickers are made using illustration apps or graphic design software. It helps in laying out images and text, and ensuring that your designs are cut-amiable for machines like Cricut or similar devices.
If you’ve drawn your stickers by hand, you can upload high-resolution scans. Or, you can upload scans of physical artwork to make stickers from your paintings or illustrations.
The most significant thing to keep in mind when uploading images is resolution. Uploaded assets should be the same size or larger than sticker dimensions, and a minimum of 300 dpi (dots per inch).
Save your image as a CMYK file to ensure your sticker’s colors are faithfully recreated.
Here are some popular sticker-design software options:
Procreate
Procreate is an illustration program for iOS tablets. Using the tactile Apple Pencil, you can draw, color, and add texture to digital images.
One of Procreate’s most popular features is the ability to upload custom brushes that mimic the look of specific pens, pencils, and other drawing tools. You can also add grain and blemishes to provide your stickers a handmade feel.
Once you’re done, it’s straightforward to save your art in a high-resolution file format and export it for further editing or printing.
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is professional graphic design software. You can make additional expense stickers and intricate designs using its extensive tools and features.
With Illustrator, you can make vector-based artwork, add text, apply effects, and export your designs in different formats.
For a free, entry-level sticker making tool, try Adobe Express. It has pre-made sticker sheets and templates with editable text, colors, and graphics.
Canva
Canva is a excellent alternative for beginners looking to make stickers to sell. Users can choose from a range of customizable templates tailored for making stickers, or commence from a blank page. There’s an extensive library of fonts, images, and shapes to make your design.
Canva also offers a sticker printing service, making it straightforward to get your stickers made.
2. Choose a sticker complete
Your selection of sticker material will affect how your creations look and feel. The printing material you use should also match intended use of your stickers.
For example, stickers designed for car bumpers require a tough, weather-resistant complete, while notebook stickers are usually printed using affordable document distribute.
Your selection of adhesive will play a large role in the standard of your stickers. Negative reviews about stickers quickly peeling off can damage your business’s reputation.
It’s significant to discover the correct equilibrium in stickability to ensure stickers remain in place without causing damage. Use high-tack adhesive when stickers are intended for rough surfaces like wood or plastic, and low-tack adhesive for removable decals.
Read reviews of printing material from sticker manufacturers to ensure adhesive standard.
Here are some of the most ordinary types of sticker finishes and their use cases. It’s a excellent concept to experiment with different finishes before committing:
Vinyl
Vinyl stickers have a smooth, glossy complete. Vinyl is one of the most popular printing materials for stickers, thanks to its durability and weather resistance.
Compared to document stickers, vinyl can withstand increased exposure to moisture, making it suitable for stickers on water bottles, lunchboxes, or outdoor items like phone cases.
Matte
Another popular printing alternative is matte document. Along with lower costs, matte finishes are known for their ability to showcase fine details. The lack of glare and reflection allows better clarity.
If you are printing stickers on matte document but desire a glossy complete, you can apply a sheet of self-adhering laminate to the matte sticker. This creates shine and provides an extra layer of protection.
Holographic and prismatic
Holographic stickers are made from a material that refracts light to make a shifting rainbow-like result.
Similarly, prismatic stickers have a multifaceted surface that reflects light in various directions to produce sparkles.
Mirrored
Mirrored stickers have a reflective surface, usually made from a metallic or chrome material. They’re attention-grabbing and distinctive, making them popular for creative and promotional purposes.
obvious
obvious stickers are made from a transparent material, such as obvious vinyl or polyester, providing a seamless appearance when applied to surfaces. They are commonly used for window decals, and items that require washing or exposure to the elements, such as water bottles and outdoor equipment.
3. Print your stickers
There are several types of sticker printing methods. Some people do everything themselves at home using a regular printer and cutting machine. Others send their files to a professional sticker printer. A third alternative is using a print-on-demand service, which will print your stickers and send them directly to customers.
How to print stickers at home
To print stickers at home, you’ll require adhesive sticker document. You can discover this document at craft stores, office supply stores, or online retailers. Make sure the document you choose is compatible with your printer, whether it’s inkjet or laser.
After printing, use a cutting machine like a Cricut or Silhouette to cut around the stickers and make the final product.
Printing at home lets you make custom stickers whenever you require them, without keeping a large inventory. This gives you flexibility to propose more designs in your store.
The downside of running your business from home is that it can receive some trial and error to get the printing and cutting procedure correct, consuming period and materials.
Professional sticker printing
Another alternative is to pay a business to print your stickers for you. Online services like StickerApp, Sticker Mule, and Sticker Giant are popular and generally well reviewed. You also can use local printers that may provide faster service.
After you’ve uploaded your design and selected materials and complete, the business takes worry of printing, cutting, and mailing the stickers to you.
This alternative is especially useful if you have a high volume of orders and don’t have the period or equipment to print them at home. However, keep in mind that you won’t view the final product until it arrives.
Additionally, you’ll require to pay for batches of stickers upfront. The expense per sticker decreases as you order more, so you’ll have to decide whether to order a large amount at a lower expense per sticker or pay more for a smaller amount.
If you’re interested in using a printing business, check if it offers a sample pack so you can contrast their different sticker types.
Print-on-demand stickers
A third alternative for printing stickers is using a print-on-demand service. Upload your design to a Shopify app like Printful or Printify and let them receive worry of the rest, from printing and cutting to sending orders directly to your customer.
Using a print-on-demand service saves you a lot of work, but also means you have less control over the production procedure. If you choose this alternative, make sure to order a sample so you can review the finished product before offering it to your customers.
4. Cut your stickers
When it comes to cutting stickers, there are two main methods: die cut and kiss cut.
Die cut
A die-cutting machine uses a blade to cut stickers according to a programmed pathway, set using software. These machines can cut precise shapes out of document and other materials, cutting both the sticker and its backing.
Die cutting allows stickers to be cut to conform exactly to the shape of your design, whether it’s a straightforward circle or square, or the delicate leaves of an illustrated plant.
Two of the most popular die-cutting machines for sticker production are the Cricut Maker and the Silhouette Cameo.
Kiss cut
Kiss cutting is a technique where the cut is made through the top sticker layer, but not the document backing. When the sticker is removed, the backing and border remain intact. This way is often used to make sticker sheets containing multiple designs.
How to sell stickers online
When you’re ready to set up shop, there are a few ways to sell your stickers. You can construct an online store to sell stickers directly to customers. Or use a marketplace where customers shop for stickers, like Etsy or Redbubble.
Whichever sales channel you choose, you’ll also require to worth your stickers and trade them. Here are the steps to pursue:
1. Select a platform to sell stickers
You can sell stickers using an online store or by creating an account with a marketplace. Here are some popular sales platforms that make it straightforward to commence selling online:
Shopify
If you desire to make a brand to promote your stickers and have the chance to expand your product line, the best selection is to commence an online store.
With Shopify, it’s straightforward to choose a business name, make a professional-looking storefront, secure a domain name for your website, and serve customers with a secure and secure checkout.
You can also link your store to sales and marketing channels. For example, you can connect your store to Facebook and Instagram, allowing you to display ads to potential customers and let them shop directly from their favorite app.
Etsy
Etsy is a marketplace for crafters and resellers. It’s one of the most popular places to sell stickers online.
When you sign up for Etsy, you get a basic storefront where you can list your stickers on the platform’s marketplace.
Etsy has stiff competition and fees. There’s a 20¢ fee for each recent product listing, and a 6.5% percentage fee on sales. When you’re selling stickers that may only expense a few dollars, those fees can cut into your profits.
Etsy also has few customization options, which can make it challenging for your storefront to stand out, so you’ll require to be strategic to make an impact on conversion rate.
Many sticker creators use Shopify and Etsy to sell their stickers across locations and get the benefits of both platforms. Whether you’re using Etsy or Shopify, you’ll require to optimize your product descriptions and product photography so that people searching for stickers can discover you.
Sticker marketplaces
Websites like Redbubble and Society6 handle the printing and shipping of stickers whenever a customer places an order. It’s a hassle-free way to sell sticker designs without much admin work.
The downside is that you have limited control over the production procedure. This may make sense if you’re creating stickers to sell them as a side hustle, but the potential for returns is also lower.
Because the website takes worry of production and shipping, you only receive a fraction of the sale worth, which means your returns per sticker may be cents rather than dollars.
Print-on-demand marketplaces can be a excellent way to test your stickers to view if they generate gain. When you’re ready to commence a packed business, you can construct your own website.
Many sticker creators use multiple sales channels to reach as many customers as feasible. With Shopify, you can connect your online store to marketplaces to sell across channels from one place.
2. worth your stickers
It can be challenging to put a worth on your art, but finding a profitable worth for your stickers is a essential step.
Stickers sold online typically range from $2 to $7, but can be sold at higher prices for larger or more complicated designs. It’s a excellent concept to look at other sticker shops to contrast their prices with your own and get a general concept of competitor pricing.
recall to factor in all business costs, including the expense of materials, labor, and packaging to ensure a powerful returns spread.
Also, consider your encounter and artistic talent. If you’re recent to selling stickers, you might desire to sell them at a discount while your reputation grows.
3. trade your stickers
To get your stickers noticed by your target spectators, you’ll require to trade them effectively.
Social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok likely will be your first port of call for showcasing your sticker designs.
Here are some straightforward social media marketing strategies to consider:
- Post eye-catching content that references your products.
- Engage with your followers through likes and replies.
- Use paid ads to boost your account’s visibility.
- associate with popular influencers who have an spectators that aligns with your target trade.
- Organize giveaways and inspire participants to tag their friends for a chance to triumph.
- throng up with other artists and businesses to make joint sticker packs and promote each other’s products.
4. Ship your stickers
One of the best things about selling stickers is the ease of shipping. For an average order, all you’ll require is a stamp—which also keeps costs low for customers.
To ensure your stickers arrive in excellent state, use rigid mailers or envelopes with sturdy cardstock inside. Some sellers add a Do Not Bend sticker on the envelope for added protection.
Sticker shops are known for creating fun packaging that makes receiving your order feel like getting a heartfelt gift. It’s ordinary to include a short, handwritten thank you card or a branded sticker with each order.
Some sellers also get creative with packaging, using materials like branded tissue document. But recall to keep your overhead costs in check. There’s no point in attractive packaging that eats up your profits.
Finding sticker encouragement
Figuring out what your stickers should look like can be a test. With countless possibilities, your first job is to narrow down a brand and style, so that your designs have a recognizable identity and personality.
discover your sticker style by diving into:
- Hobbies and interests. Use your knowledge of sports, animals, or music to make detailed designs that will satisfy fans.
- Artistic styles. Explore minimalistic, hand-drawn, or retro stickers to discover encouragement for your own designs.
- Niches. Identify niche markets that are passionate about their factor, like gamers, gardeners or dog owners.
discover from successful sticker sellers
With so many sticker creators, finding a distinctive concept is a must. Here’s how two entrepreneurs succeeded in selling stickers.
Milkteanco
Ilona Lin found encouragement for her sticker and stationery brand, Milkteanco, in her cat, Milkie. Initially, she created a cute cartoon version of him to apply to stickers and other tiny items. Later, she remixed her design into a range of decals and branded products.
Created by Christine
Christine Lee is the owner of Created by Christine. She chose to make stickers packed of positive vibes and inspirational quotes. Christine found encouragement from her day job as a first grade educator, and counts many educators among her customers.
“Positivity is a large thing about me, and it’s like my center of gravity in my classroom. So I’m always pulling out positive quotes,” she says.
How do they sell their stickers?
Both Christine and Ilona started with Etsy before growing their sales by opening additional Shopify stores.
“Etsy would be an alternative to commence for beginners who are maybe having a tiny amount of listings, or are just benevolent of feeling it out,” says Christine.
Both creators receive different approaches to making custom vinyl stickers. Ilona tried outsourcing production to a printer and supplier, but didn’t like having less control over standard.
Christine, on the other hand, started her business by printing at home, but now uses a variety of third-event printers to print large quantities of stickers.
“In the beginning, when I received an order, I could just make it,” she says. “The business grew over period, and it was getting a little bit challenging to manage all that, so I slowly made the shift.”
Ilona packages all her orders with custom wrapping and extra stickers. This makes her deliveries memorable and special, but she also orders supplies in bulk to keep costs down. She keeps a budget sheet to make sure she’s not overspending.
To discover encouragement and comprehend your competitors, be sure to browse as many competitor websites as feasible. But be careful to never copy someone else’s work.
Sticker business trends
Like every ecommerce trade, the sticker business is impacted by trends. Some of the current trends in the sticker trade to assist you remain ahead of the curve:
- Fleet stickers, applied to the sides of vehicles to advertise a brand, are growing in popularity.
- Consumers declare they are more likely to recall a brand if they receive a sticker.
- Millennials often view stickers as brand testimonials and a form of word-of-mouth marketing.
- The sticker machine industry is expected to develop at an annual rate of 7.5% until 2032.
- Stickers with foil elements are perceived as more valuable by consumers.
Make your brand sticky
Stickers can assist you celebrate a thrill, inform your narrative, or promote your business. Whatever your stickers look like, try to develop a distinctive style. make products with a powerful visual identity, make your brand recognizable, then open an online store that will stick in people’s minds.
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Making and selling stickers FAQ
What are ordinary sticker design challenges?
ordinary sticker design challenges include coming up with distinctive and appealing illustrations, creating stickers that resonate with your target spectators, and ensuring manufacturing materials are high standard.
How do I make stickers with a Cricut?
- Print your sticker designs on sticker document using a regular printer.
- Use the Cricut design software to import your designs and define the cut lines for your stickers.
- Load the sticker document onto the Cricut cutting mat and insert it into the machine.
- pursue the instructions on the Cricut software to cut out the person sticker shapes.
- Once the cutting is complete, carefully remove the stickers from the cutting mat.
How do I make vinyl stickers?
To make vinyl stickers, you will require adhesive vinyl sheets, a cutting machine like a Cricut or a Silhouette, and transfer tape.
How do I make stickers at home?
To make stickers at home:
- Design your stickers using graphic design software, or discover printable sticker designs online.
- Print your designs on sticker document using a color printer. Make sure to use sticker document suitable for your printer.
- Cut out the person sticker shapes using scissors, a craft knife, or a cutting machine like a Cricut or a Silhouette.
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