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Stickers are key to a huge number of crafting projects: scrapbooking, personalised greeting cards, preserve-making, papercrafts and more. They can organise your studio, making clear to you which items are stored where. Stickers are also vital for offices, allowing small businesses to organise inventory, label files, advertise their products and let customers know about unmissable sales. However, getting stickers made at a professional print shop can cost businesses and homes a lot of money. That’s why so many people opt for sticker printing machines, to make professional-quality stickers in-house. Yet to get the best quality stickers, you need the best quality sticker papers. We’ve reviewed a huge range of sticker printer papers to find you the best option for your purpose, budget printer type, and desired finish.
Product Comparison Table: Best Sticker Printer Papers for Home and Business
| Title | Price | Rating (Amazon) | Best in class | Buy | |
 | Buttercrafts Printable Vinyl for Inkjet | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best for inkjet | Amazon |
 | QiXin Holographic Sticker Paper | $$ | 4.5 stars | Best holographic | Amazon |
 | Three Way Cut Printable Sticker Paper | $$$ | 4 stars | Best for laser printers | Amazon |
 | Gotega Vinyl Sticker Paper | $ | 4 stars | Best value | Amazon |
 | DOTAC Clear Printable Sticker Paper | $$$ | 4.5 stars | Best transparent | Amazon |
Buttercrafts Printable Vinyl for Inkjet
Vinyl sticker printer paper is preferred by most sticker printers due to its durable, tear-resistant quality. Thicker than plain paper, vinyl paper is coated with a thin layer of plastic, which gives the material its impressive strength. The Buttercrafts Printable vinyl is thus extremely durable. However, unlike regular thick vinyl sheets, Buttercrafts’ sheets have been designed specifically to prevent paper jams when printed using a conventional inkjet desktop printer. The adhesive is water and chemical resistant, and the paper is suitable for both Cricut and Silhouette printing machines. Best of all, Buttercrafts claim the paper helps dry ink immediately, meaning it is smudge-proof and ready to handle immediately. This pack includes 20 white glossy 8.5×11 Sheets – if you find you like this brand, they also offer a matte and clear frosted finish.
Pros
- Engineered to work with inkjet printers
- Durable and hard wearing
- Water and chemical resistant glue
- Anti-paper-jam technology
Cons
- Some issues with waterproofing, not suitable for outdoor use
Verdict
The Buttercrafts Printable Vinyl for Inkjet is our number one choice for inkjet printers. Buttercrafts have really done everything they can to gear this paper towards top performance with inkjet machines; however, this does mean it is also extra vulnerable to the issues endemic in inkjet printing. Although the glue is water resistant, most inkjet printers use water based inks. This means you might be better off with another option if you’re planning to use your stickers outdoors.
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QiXin Holographic Sticker Paper
QiXin Holographic Sticker Paper is coated with a beautiful marbled holographic effect, shining every colour of the rainbow when exposed to light. This finish doesn’t alter the durability of the vinyl paper, though; this paper is waterproof, doesn’t fade when exposed to sunlight, and doesn’t tear when pulled. It peels off cleanly too, with no sticky residue and long-lasting adhesion. These sheets also promise compatibility with both laser and inkjet printers, plus Cricut machines. Ink is absorbed quickly, with no diffusion or colour crossing, but always with sharp edges and opaque blacks. However, be aware that if the vinyl coating is breached, the stickers will be vulnerable to weather again.
Pros
- Stunning holographic finish
- Waterproof and durable
- Compatible with laser, inkjet and Cricut
Cons
- Struggles with some coloured inks
Verdict
With QiXin Holographic Sticker Paper, you can instantly create unique and beautiful stickers that catch your customers’ eye. Even at home, holographic paper is always a hit with kids and younger people. There are some issues with color payoff when applying colored inks. Although, most people tend to print black on holographic paper anyway to prevent obscuring the built-in rainbows.
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Three Way Cut Printable Sticker Paper
As we mentioned before, inkjet printers have their limitations. Water-based inks can smudge and ruin stickers when introduced to water – as they would be in outdoor applications – and the prints can easily be smeared by paper jams. However, laser printers produce waterproof results, by using a dry-powder toner instead of wet ink. The Three Way Cut Printable Sticker Paper is made with a unique vinyl coating layer designed to bond better with toner, while maintaining the durability and flawless finish associated with vinyl papers. It is compatible with all laser printers and craft cutting machines, and available in a variety of finishes. The featured pack is matte; this is the optimum finish for stickers placed in harsh environments, as it best prevents those dreaded ink-runs.
Pros
- Durable and tear-resistant vinyl
- Fully waterproof in all environments, including fridges and outdoors
- Great value low price
- Designed with laser printers in mind
Cons
- Only works with laser printers
Verdict
If you’re printing stickers to put outdoors, you’re best off opting for a laser printer. Three Way Cut Printable Sticker Paper is the best choice we found for laser printers, geared towards these machines in the same way as the Buttercrafts paper was towards inkjets. The price of the paper is very low – although, considering the majority of printers are inkjet and thus incompatible with this paper, you might have to fork out for a new machine if you want to use it.
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Gotega Vinyl Sticker Paper
With Gotega Sticker Paper, you can get all the benefits of vinyl sticker paper sheets, at a much lower price. The price may be low, but these sheets still deliver an impressive level of quality; the ink dries fast, and is resistant to light scratching. Gotega also claim the paper can be used with both inkjet and laser printers. The adhesive is reasonably waterproof, however (despite being apparently compatible with lasers), the prints themselves aren’t waterproof. To prevent ink from bleeding, Gotega recommends using a UV resistant sealer spray to increase durability. This aside, it adheres to a range of surfaces including wood, glass, metal and plastic, and can easily be peeled off and reapplied without creating a lot of sticky residue.
Pros
- Durable and hard wearing
- Easy to peel and restick
- Compatible with both inkjet and laser printers
Cons
- Only waterproof with third-party sealing sprays
Verdict
The Gotega Sticker Paper is our best value recommendation, achieving an impressive level of quality for its modest price. It’s also compatible with any printer, so you can take advantage of the savings no matter your hardware. The requirement for a third-party sealing spray to make the stickers fully water and fade resistant could eat into your profits if you’re making money out of your stickers; although, if you are using them to label outdoor, kitchen or bathroom products, you’ll probably be using one of these sprays already.
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DOTAC Clear Printable Sticker Paper
Although labelled as clear, most “clear” sticker papers are actually frosty or translucent; this helps the ink to bond and makes colours more vibrant. DOTAC’s clear printable sticker paper is no exception. With its frosty clear vinyl finish, it is durable and compatible with all craft cutting machines, plus both laser and inkjet printers. The colours made by both come out clear, without smudging or fading when handled. Uniquely, it also works with both cold and hot foiling, showing that the finish is invulnerable to temperatures up to 120 degrees centigrade. However, the adhesive is permanent, so stickers can’t be picked up and peeled after being placed. This does make the adhesion incredibly long-lasting, though, on a range of surfaces including wood, glass, metal and plastic.
Pros
- Frosted clear finish for vibrant colours
- Compatible with inkjet, laser and all cutting machines
- High temperature resistance, waterproof and durable
- Permanent adhesive
Cons
- Leave sticky marks when peeled off
Verdict
Clear sticker paper is a great choice if you’re planning to cut stickers by hand, are printing extremely intricate designs, or just don’t like white borders. If this is what you’re looking for, then DOTAC Clear Printable Sticker Paper is a perfect option. This printable sticker paper is waterproof, extremely adhesive, and compatible with all external hardware. Although, make sure you know where you’re sticking – that permanent adhesive is pretty impossible to cleanly peel off.
