Die Cut Stickers vs. Kiss Cut Stickers

Stickers are a brilliant way to earn some brand recognition and develop a defined personality for your business. Clever slogans, artful images, and intricate graphics are all fair game in the world of stickers, but there’s a lot left to consider once you settle on a design.

For those who understand that an unusually shaped sticker is the best way to stand out from the crowd, there are essentially two options for cutting: die-cut and kiss-cut stickers. Though your knee jerk reaction might be screaming that “kiss” sounds infinitely preferable to “die,” there’s more to explore than just semantics on this subject.

The Essential Difference

First and foremost, it’s important to understand that die cut and kiss cut stickers will look exactly the same once they’re removed from the paper backing and applied to a surface. The only difference between the two options is that die-cut stickers’ paper backing is trimmed to the shape of the sticker, whereas kiss-cut stickers’ paper backing remains in a square shape.

Imagine that you run a karaoke business, and you’ve ordered custom stickers in the shape of a microphone. If you placed an order for die-cut stickers, each of the individual stickers will look like a small microphone before the paper backing is peeled away. If you ordered kiss-cut stickers, the standalone microphone shape won’t appear fully until the paper backing is removed.

Pros and Cons

There’s a right time to use both kiss cut and die cut methods; neither stands head and shoulders above the other.

If you’re looking for a sticker that’s eye-catching and striking right from the start, die-cut is probably the right option for you. Stickers that are die-cut have automatic appeal and individuality, whereas the true aesthetic of a kiss cut sticker might not be immediately evident due to the plain shaped paper backing.

On the other hand, if your sticker design is especially intricate and liable to tear, kiss cut could be the way to go. Maybe you run a hair salon and want a sticker that features loose tendrils blowing in the wind, or you’re an apiarist that wants a sticker of bees connected only by individual buzzing trails. Whatever wild idea you’ve cooked up, kiss cut is the best option for, especially delicate stickers.

Don’t just go with your gut when it comes time to select the type of sticker cutting you’ll order—lean on the facts so you wind up with the stickers of your dreams.