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Prices vary widely across the custom label printing industry. And it’s not always clear to buyers why such a tiny slip of material costs what it does, or how different label options can have such a significant impact on pricing.
So, we’re going to pull back the curtain and demystify product label pricing — not only to help you get the most affordable label for your application but also the highest-value label.
As you may have already discovered, the cheapest product label is not necessarily the most cost-effective. Certain cost-cutting decisions may hurt your label’s performance and, in the long run, cost your company more. On the other hand, it’s also very possible to overpay for custom product labels by spending on features that aren’t necessary (or that could be done via a different, less expensive method).
So, how do you make sure you’re getting the best value from your custom labels?
As with any purchase, from cars to conveyor belts, the key to getting the best value is to understand what elements impact pricing and which are most important to you.
Ready? Let’s dive in!
Product Label Materials: What They’re Made of Matters
As with any other manufactured item, your product label’s components drive its cost, and it all comes down to economics. Certain raw materials simply cost more than others due to market forces, how much your label supplier already has in stock, your label printer’s existing relationships with raw material providers, and so on.
But as with any other manufactured item, cost should be just one of several factors you consider when planning your product label. After all, there’s no point in saving pennies on your labels if they don’t work well and you have to buy new ones. To avoid label disasters — such as unsightly rips, peeling, fading, and crumbling — you’ll want to choose label materials that are appropriate for the job.
Critical questions to answer with the help of your label printer include:
- Do you need a durable label? Do you expect your label to last a lifetime (for storage in a wine cellar, for example) or just a few months (like for a snack product most people consume within moments of buying)?
- Will your label serve some regulatory purpose (like a warning label on a piece of industrial equipment)?
- What kind of environmental factors will your label encounter during typical use — rain, heat, cold, intense sunlight, rapidly changing conditions?
- Do you want to allow your customers to remove the label, perhaps to recycle it or reuse the product packaging?
- Are you interested in special visual effects, such as reflectivity or holography?
As with any other manufactured item, cost should be just one of several factors you consider when planning your product label.
With the answers to these questions, your label printer can help you narrow down your material options to those best suited to your application. Typically, two of the more significant factors are the label face stock (the material that the label is printed on) and the adhesive (what makes it stick).
Label Face Stock
Most labels are constructed from either paper or film. Typically, paper costs less than film — but this is not always the case. There are literally hundreds of paper and film options to choose from!
And again, the material has to fit the job. Most types of paper do not hold up well to moisture, for example. Film tends to be more durable and waterproof but also (but not always) more costly. Bottom line: Because there are so many options to choose from, your label company should be able to find several types of face stock – at different price points – that will work with your labeling needs. So, don’t be shy about asking them to recommend a range of options; they should be able to explain the pros, cons, and pricing impact of each one.
Label Adhesive
Another material input that feeds into the cost equation is your choice of adhesive. There might be a dozen or more different adhesives to choose from for every type of face stock, each with varying performance characteristics and costs. For example, some adhesives work better on porous surfaces such as wood or cardboard, while others are better suited for glass or metal – and plastics carry their own unique surface characteristics.
Your label vendor should be willing to talk you through your options to choose the right adhesive to achieve your label objectives and stay within your budget.
Color Conscious: How Ink Impacts Product Label Price
If you’ve ever shopped for a printer cartridge, you’re probably familiar with the concept of more colors costing more money. This may be an oversimplification, but in general, the maxim holds up when it comes to custom product label printing.
More colors translate into more steps for your label printer, more ink, longer setup time, and stopping and starting the equipment more often. And that can lead to higher expenses.
More colors translate into more steps for your label printer, more ink, longer setup time, and stopping and starting the equipment more often.
The type of ink affects the price, as well. Certain specialty inks — used to create security elements, for example — can be surprisingly costly. Fluorescent and metallic inks also tend to be more expensive than standard colors.
Choosing the right ink for your product label is similar to choosing label materials. Cost is important, but so is performance. You may regret skimping on ink when it comes off on your customers’ fingers or fades after a few days in the sun.
Here are a few color-related tips for saving money on product labels:
- Recalibrate your color tolerances. Do you really need multiple Pantone spot colors, or can you get the shade(s) you want through the use of process printing (combining Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black)?
- Get your printer involved early in the design process. A label printing expert can help steer your designer toward color choices that look great while conserving ink.
- Flip your perspective. Metallic ink can be expensive and challenging to work with. Instead of metallic ink on white paper, consider a white spot color on metallic paper.
Related Content: Product Labels and the Science of Color
Volume: The More You Order, the More You’ll Save
Every batch of label printing requires a certain amount of setup work to get the press equipment ready for the job. Custom dies may need to be created as well. So, it stands to reason that the more labels a label printer can get out of a single print run, the less each label will cost.
As with most products, you can save money by purchasing labels in bulk. But that can be a bit daunting: Do you need 100,000 labels right now? Maybe, but maybe not.
Even if your projections are uncertain, it still helps to have the conversation with your label printer about how volume affects pricing, the potential for blanket orders, and other ways your printer can help you strike a balance between your current needs and your future expectations.
Without getting too much into the weeds of the printing industry, a printer will typically use a different setup for printing 100 labels than printing one million. If big numbers are in your future, discussing it with your printer now will lead to greater efficiency and lower costs down the road.
Beyond the Labels: Packaging and Shipping Costs
There’s another decision to make that isn’t about your labels’ appearance and composition: How do you want your labels packaged? On rolls? In sheets? How many sheets per package, or how many labels per roll?
These questions are not incidental to the cost of your label, especially when you’re dealing with huge quantities. For example, if you order a million labels and ask them to be packaged on rolls of 100, that’s 10,000 separate cardboard roll cores and extra time in rolling and packaging —plus extra costs in shipping and handling.
This is not to say there aren’t legitimate reasons to package your labels in smaller units. A good label printer will ask you how you intend to apply your labels so they can package and ship your labels in the most efficient format.
If you plan to run your labels through thermal printing equipment or an automated application line, rolls are essential — and typically, the more labels per roll, the better (less shutting down and resetting the machinery).
Finally, shipping costs should be part of the conversation. This is another area where buying in bulk may save you money. Ordering 1,000 labels 24 times per year means paying for 24 separate shipments, along with the whole shipping infrastructure of invoices, packing slips, receivers, and so on. Compare that to ordering 24,000 labels a single time. (On the other hand, you would have to arrange storage for thousands of labels you’re not using right away. Product label cost is always a balancing act.)
How to Get the Best Price on Your Custom Product Labels
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve probably learned at least one thing: There are a lot of options available that can save you money on your custom labels, without sacrificing the quality you need.
You can maximize the value you get by:
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- Being transparent. Be upfront with your label printer about your long-term goals so that they can build the best product strategy. That strategy will impact the price for your current and expected future needs.
- Being flexible. As you’ve learned in this article, minor adjustments to your label design or material choices can have a big impact on pricing. Be willing to listen to your label printer’s suggestions. And understand that all of your printer’s questions are designed to help you, not annoy you.
- Being willing to test. There are millions of possible application surfaces and environments and thousands of different ways to combine label materials and adhesives. If a label printer recommends running a test, it’s worth doing. Often, testing is the only way to guarantee your investment in custom product labels will pay off.
We hope we’ve erased some of the uncertainty around product label pricing, helping you be a more confident consumer. Ready for more? Gain the knowledge you need to have productive conversations with your label in our free six-chapter Custom Label Buying Guide.
Custom packaging is a great way to make your products stand out from other businesses and create a memorable unboxing experience for your customers. But how much does custom packaging really cost? The cost of custom packaging can vary depending on a number of factors, including the size and complexity of the packaging, the materials, the printing method, and the quantity you order.
In this blog article, we will explore the real cost of custom packaging (plus some of the unknown costs you may not know about) and provide tips on how to get the best deal on packaging. We will also discuss the benefits of custom packaging and why it is worth the investment.
What Factors Affect the Cost of Custom Packaging?
Size and Complexity of Packaging
The size and complexity of the packaging will have a big impact on the cost. A simple, one-piece box will be less expensive than a multi-piece packaging box. The larger the packaging, the more material it will require. Additionally, the more complex the packaging, the more time and labor it will take to produce, which will increase the cost.
Here are some examples of how the size and complexity of packaging can affect the cost:
- A simple, one-piece box of a smaller size might cost around $0.50 per unit.
- A multi-piece paperboard package with complex folding might cost around $1.00 per unit.
- A larger plastic clamshell package that has a snap-on lid might cost around $2.00 per unit.
As the size and complexity of your custom packaging increases, there are more costs involved in producing it. This can also apply to custom product labels as well. If your label requires a unique die shape, a custom kit die, or special perforation for your container, those factors will affect the overall cost of your packaging.
Materials Used
The materials used in the packaging will affect the cost in a number of ways. Paperboard is the most common material for custom packaging boxes because it is relatively inexpensive. However, you can also use other materials such as plastic, metal, and glass.
The cost of the materials themselves will vary, but the weight of the materials will affect shipping costs too. Heavier materials mean more shipping costs to consider once you receive your new packaging. Furthermore, the more durable your custom packaging material is, the more expensive it will be. The upside to this is that more durable packaging will protect your products better.
It is important to consider the materials used in your packaging when you are budgeting for custom packaging. If you can use less expensive materials, you can save money. However, don’t compromise on protecting your products. Having less durable materials can lead to your packaging being damaged once it arrives. This will result in a poor unboxing experience for your customers.
Here are some tips for reducing your material costs for custom packaging:
- Use paperboard instead of plastic, metal, or glass.
- Use thinner paperboard. Ask your printing supplier if they have different weights of paperboard and how it affects the cost of your packaging.
- Use less complex folding.
- Use smaller sizes for your packaging.
- Consider using a pre-made package design. See what types of dies the packaging supplier already has on hand. Using an in-stock die for your custom product labels or product boxes can save you money.
By following these tips, you can reduce the cost of custom packaging without sacrificing the quality or effectiveness of your packaging.
Printing Method
The printing method will affect the cost. Digital printing, which we offer at Sttark, is the most economical option for custom packaging and labeling. However, other methods like offset printing or flexographic printing can also be used.
The complexity of printing your custom packaging will affect the cost. More complex printing methods, such as adding spot colors, embellishments, or varnishes, will cost more. If your custom packaging requires more inks to be used, printers will include this in the cost of printing.
Packaging suppliers will typically include things like basic machine setup costs and ink costs in the printing price you receive. If you can use a less expensive printing method, you can save money.
Quantity Ordered
The quantity you order will also impact the cost of your custom packaging. Larger quantity orders will cost less per unit. It’s important to know that some custom label and packaging printers have MOQs, or Minimum Order Quantities, to even place an order with them.
At Sttark, we do not have MOQs, and the price you see published on the online quoter is our best price for your custom packaging based on your specifications. We also work off of a bulk pricing system, so the cost of your custom packaging is reduced by ordering larger quantities or more designs in one order.
Here are some examples of how the quantity ordered in packaging can affect the cost:
- Ordering 100 units of a simple, one-piece paperboard box might cost around $0.50 per unit.
- Ordering 1,000 units of the same box might cost around $0.40 per unit.
- Ordering 10,000 units of the same box might cost around $0.30 per unit.
There are a number of ways you can make the most of your pricing for custom packaging and reduce the cost of custom packaging when considering quantity.
- Order as many units as you think you will need.
- Order in bulk to save on the cost of materials and shipping.
A Few Unknown Costs of Custom Packaging
In addition to the factors mentioned above, there are a few other possible unknown costs of custom packaging that business owners should be aware of. These include:
Printed Proofs
Printed proofs can be necessary before production begins to ensure that your packaging design is correct. The cost of printed proofs can vary because the printer runs your order through most of its print production stages. Printed proofs give you an accurate representation of what your label or packaging will look like once the full order is printed on their machines.
Sttark includes Nex Day Air shipping in the cost of our printed proof to ensure customers can review their designs quickly and print their full order.
Prepress Costs of Custom Packaging
Prepress is the process of preparing your custom packaging designs for printing. This includes tasks such as converting the digital artwork file to the correct format for printing (CMYK) and checking the file for errors like missing fonts, incorrect sizing, or low-resolution artwork. We recommend an artwork resolution of 800 ppi at Sttark to ensure your artwork prints crisp and clear. The minimum artwork resolution for print is 300 ppi (pixels per inch).
You can view Sttark’s Prepress Checklists for custom labels and folding cartons by clicking on the images below.
The cost of prepress is typically baked into the price of your order. Additional Prepress costs may be needed depending on the number of changes that need to be made. Some simple file changes may be made by Prepress Artists, but you should not expect this to be the case for all label and packaging printers.
Artwork Editing
If your business does not have high-quality artwork that is ready for print, you will need to hire a graphic design team to edit your artwork or create a new packaging design for you from scratch. The cost of artwork editing can vary depending on the complexity of the design request.
As you’re thinking about the cost of your custom packaging, you should check with multiple custom packaging companies to see if they offer graphic design services on their website and get a quote to see what the additional cost will be.
Can I get artwork editing or graphic design without printing my packaging?
It’s important to know that many custom packaging companies require you to place a printing order with them before they will do any design work for you. At Sttark, we let customers order graphic design without requiring them to place a printing order for labels or folding cartons. This way, you don’t have to delay getting your labels or packaging because you’re waiting on design changes.
By keeping these important factors in mind, businesses can avoid surprises and ensure that they have a realistic budget for their custom packaging project.
As you can see, the cost of custom packaging can vary depending on a number of factors. However, there are a few things you can do to reduce the cost and make the most out of the purchasing experience. By following the tips in this article, you can get custom packaging that meets your needs and budget.
If you are ready to get started with custom packaging, Sttark can help! Contact us or get an instant quote online today.
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