Custom Stickers - FAQ for custom stickers

CSM FAQ’s

I need a quote, how do I get one?

Our pricing structure is based on your stickers total square inches and quantity. All you need to know when ordering is the size of your sticker and how many of them you would like.

Here is the cost calculation break down:

Step One: Calculate Your Total Square Inches

width X height = total square inches

Step Two: Calculate Your Cost

total square inches X cost per sq. inch X quantity = your total custom sticker cost

SMALL STICKER AND LABEL pricing for stickers 4 square inches and under is below.

What is a square inch?

A square inch is a unit of area equal to the area of a square with all sides measuring 1 inch. We use square inches to calculate the total surface area of your sticker. You can calculate the total square inches of your sticker by multiplying the width x height of your dimensions (see above.)

What are your price breaks?

We have two price break structures — one for stickers 4 square inches or more, and one for stickers under 4 square inches.

For stickers 4 square inches OR MORE:

QuantityCost per square inch
25-99 $.06
100-249 $.05
250-499 $.04
500-999 $.03
1000-2499 $.025
2500+ $.02

For stickers LESS THAN 4 square inches (SMALL STICKERS):

QuantityCost PER STICKER
100-249 $.20
250-499 $.16
500-999 $.12
1000-2499 $.10
2500+ $.08

What is the minimum amount of stickers that can be ordered?

CSM has a 25 sticker minimum on all orders for stickers that are over 4 square inches. For small stickers that are under 4 square inches, the minimum quantity per design is 100 stickers.

How many colors can I use?

All quotes are based on full color printing. That means you can use as many colors as you like without affecting the price of your order. Our state-of-the-art technology allows us to print photographic quality images on stickers, as well as black and white, line art, grayscale and spot-color designs.

How do I place an order?

To place an order, simply have your artwork ready, fill out our online ORDER FORM and submit it

How do I re-order stickers?

To place an order for stickers you have already had printed by us, simply log into your account, and view your previous orders. From here you can click "RE-ORDER", and the order form will be automatically re-filled for you! All you have to do is submit the order! Re-orders are easy, with no need to upload your artwork again!

What are your stickers made of and how long will they last?

We print on glossy, white 4 mil vinyl with permanent adhesive. Our inks and vinyl are rated 3-5 years outdoors by our manufacturers under normal weather conditions. We use Eco Solvent inks in all our printing,making CSM’s stickers the greenest custom sticker on the market today.Learn more about green sticker printing here. The special niche we have here at CSM allows us to keep overhead low and pass the savings on to our customers!

What kinds of stickers do you NOT print?

We do not print: stickers on transparent material, glow in the dark, holographic, paper labels on a roll, static cling decals, cut-out vinyl lettering, puffy stickers, neon stickers or foil stickers.

What kind of printing process do you use?

We use a digital printing process, which means we print your stickers directly from the file you submit. The finished printed quality of your stickers is largely dependent on the quality of the file you submit. If you submit a low quality image, this is what we will print and this is what your final stickers will look like. We try to adjust all files for best print quality.

What is a custom die cut?

A custom die cut is a special cut around the outside of your sticker that helps to define its shape. Die cuts follow the outline of your sticker, giving your sticker more “pop” and visual appeal.

How do I get a custom die cut?

We offer a custom die cut around any design for a one time set up fee of only $25. Simply select the 'contour cut' option on your order form. We keep all die cuts on file, which means that for re-orders of the same sticker, you do not pay the for the custom die cut again.

Why are your prices so low?

We are able to offer the lowest prices on the web because our technology is cutting-edge, and because we believe in helping you take advantage of it! Our state of the art, digital printing process produces beautiful stickers at a fraction of the cost of the competition, and allows us to turn your order around quickly in the process.

Do you send out samples?

Yes! We can send out free samples of work we have printed if you would like to see the quality of our stickers.

Please use the online "contact form" Enter "Sample Request by Mail" Be sure to add a shipping address.

How small can you print stickers?

We have printed stickers smaller than a quarter of an inch.

What is a kiss cut? (Can I get my stickers kiss cut?)

A kiss cut is a cut that only cuts through the vinyl and NOT the liner behind it. If you would like your stickers kiss cut (instead of cut out, with the lining) on sheets (instead of shrink-wrapped in cut stacks, the way most CSM orders are processed) select the "kiss cut and sheet" option on the order form (kiss cuts are only available with small sticker or label orders). Sheets are cut to approx. 8.5" x11". Kiss cut is an option that may be more convenient for you if you are using them in a direct application rather than selling or giving them away.

What is a bleed?

If your artwork has color that goes all the way to the edge, you need a bleed. A bleed is a small amount of extra color added to the outside of your sticker to allow for slight margin of error during the processing of your sticker order. If you want the color to go all the way to the edge of your sticker simply add 1/8th inch (.125) of the bleed color outside your final cut dimensions.Stickers printed with a bleed require an extra 7 business to process.

How do know if my document is the appropriate print resolution?

All graphic files must be saved at a resolution 300 dpi (dots per inch) or better in order for us to print them. This means that if you got your image off the internet, it is probably too small, as web images are normally saved at only 72 dpi. 72dpi images WILL NOT WORK for printing stickers. If your image looks great on your monitor but looks fuzzy when you print it out at home, chances are good that this is the problem.

If you have a graphics program on your computer such as Photoshop or Illustrator, you can easily check the resolution of your image, and adjust it if need be.

We are happy to review your artwork for resolution prior to placing your order! Simply fill out our "Review My Sticker Design" form and upload your image. We will let you know if your artwork is print ready and provide you with a quote as well!

What's the difference between a web image (72dpi) and a print image (300dpi)?

In order to cut down on loading times and maximize storage, web images are typically saved as 72dpi images. These smaller images look fine on the web because a limited number of pixels are used to compose an image. However, a printer needs more information than your computer monitor in order to create a realistic image. Therefore, print files need to be 300 dpi or better, or the print will be grainy and unclear.

Do you do custom graphic design?

Don't have a design? We can help! Please see our Custom Graphic Design page for more information. We can create anything from a basic text sticker, all the way up to full conceptual graphic design.

Depending on the job, 3 to 5 days is required for graphic design production or custom die cut creation.

What are my payment processing options?

We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Paypal

What are your return and deadline policies?

All sales are final, you are ordering a custom printed product. It is the customer’s responsibility to submit print-ready artwork, alert us to any deadlines, and pay for the necessary shipping to be delivered by the deadline. If you want to be absolutely certain of the product you are ordering you have the choice to order a hard copy proof for $15 or you can request a sample packet (see Do you send out samples? above)If the customer meets the responsibilities above and there is an error on our part, we will correct it either with a reprint (if necessary) or credit towards a future order.

Order Cancellation

If you must cancel your order, please call Customer Service at 1-800-313-5463 prior to printing.

Custom Sticker Makers follows the follwing cancellation policy for all orders.

  • If our production team has not begun setting up your artwork for printing, the cancellation fee will be $15 plus 5% of the cost of your order

  • Once production has begun working on your artwork for printing, but printing has not begun, the cancellation fee will be 20% of the cost of your order. Contour cut set up, proofs, and custom graphic design fees are non-refundable once work has begun.

  • Once your order has begun printing, the order can not be cancelled. This is a custom printed product.

When can I expect my web-proof?

A web proof will be sent to your email address as soon as we start processing your order. Web proofs are normally sent within 48 hrs. Web-proofs may delay production time of your stickers if not approved ASAP. The proof is sent as a jpeg.

For more information on proofs, please refer to our Proof Information page

When can I expect my stickers to ship?

Our turnaround time depends on a number factors. Larger orders (1000+) generally ship within 10-14 working days. Smaller orders generally ship within 7-10 working days. Shipping and turnaround times are estimates, they are not a promise or guarantee.

For more information, please see our Shipping - Turnaround - RUSH page

What are my expedited shipping options?

We ship UPS for expedited shipping, offering Overnight, 2nd Day Air and Three Day Select.

Rush orders are available on our order form, the 100% expedited fee guarantees delivery no later than one week of the order being received, or the proof being approved, if a proof has been ordered.

For more information on proofs, please refer to our Proof Information page

Do you ship internationally?

Yes, We ship internationally via USPS International Priority Mail only, which can delay delivery up to 10 working days.