Decals vs. Stickers: A Useful Guide of Distinctions

Your elementary school Math teacher likely once told you that every square is also a rectangle. You may or may not have believed them, but technically they were right.

Well, guess what? Every decal is technically a sticker! They have nearly the same vinyl material choices, and cut options: die-cut decal, die-cut stickers, too.

Decals are a form of a sticker. Like pinot noir is a form of wine. In this analogy, stickers are the wine in general and decals are just a specific type of vino. (Oh, we also print wine labels).

Just like squares, rectangles and wine, the biggest difference between stickers and decals is their distinctive reputations.

Stickers carry the nostalgia of youthful decorating fun! Just the word "sticker" reminds us of gold stars in class! It also brings us back to arts and crafts with friends and decorating school lockers and notebooks. Stickers are printed on high quality vinyl, and come in custom shapes and sizes.

Sticker designs have also had some practical applications in your childhood. We all remember the Mr. Yuk stickers your parents placed on household items that they didn't want you to ingest. But just in case you did, you little troublemaker, the stickers listed the local poison control number. Practical and brilliant.

Stickers are often associated with childhood memories, whether from school projects or birthday cards. Even though people still use them for practical purposes today, they will always hold a special place in our hearts.

In contrast, decals give the feeling of maturity. Let's say that you need custom lettering for your boat registration. Do you choose sticker lettering or decal lettering? In this case, "decal" naturally has more authority.

Psychologically speaking, decals have a professional appeal. They serve as endorsement wraps on fancy race cars, and as giant window perf advertisements on storefront windows.

If decals are good enough to slap on a Ferrari, then they'll serve your own vehicle very well, too! Need some custom window decals or jeep decals? We've got you covered.

Lifespan

Decals are meant to be permanent. Floor decals get trampled on all day. Wall decals decorate interiors all year long. Stickers have a decent lifespan, too, but most people intend for them to be temporary and removable.

When properly installed and maintained, here are the expected lifespans: removable sticker material lasts 1 to 3 years, permanent sticker material lasts 3 to 5 years, standard vinyl decal material lasts 3 to 5 years, and high-performance vinyl material lasts up to 8 years.

Size and Quantity

Stickers tend to be smaller in size than decals. They can also be produced on sticker sheets in bulk. Decals are usually printed in larger formats or pieced together to create giant wall artwork and window perfs. The max print size for a custom vinyl decal is 52" x 120". In contrast, the max print size for a custom vinyl sticker is 12" x 12".

How People Use Decals

Decals have a strong adhesive, making them great for outdoor projects or anything exposed to moisture. They are used for ATV, boat and USDOT vinyl lettering and numbering. That is some serious decal usage and they bear the road well traveled nicely.

How People Use Stickers

Stickers are used for quirky, cute and inexpensive decorating. Think bumper stickers. However, many business owners also use them on product packaging. We give them to children inside birthday or holiday cards or in their Christmas stockings.

In closing, while there are some technical differences between them, decals and stickers are the same thing. Decaf and regular coffee are both forms of coffee and reindeer are a form of caribou. You get the picture. Place your custom order today using our online design tool.