Outdoor vinyl stickers and indoor stickers explained
What our vinyl stickers are made of, which surfaces they stick to, what shortens their life outside, window and floor stickers, and how to remove them.
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Outdoor vinyl stickers work well on clean, smooth, flat surfaces such as glass, painted metal, van panels, bins and plastic housings, and our large-format vinyl stickers are printed on the same matt adhesive vinyl whether they go inside or out. What decides how well a sticker survives outside is less the sticker and more the surface, the prep and how much sun, water and rubbing it gets.
This article explains the materials in our sticker range, which ones belong outdoors, where they will and will not stick, and how to remove them.
Our sticker range and what each is made of #
| Product | Material | Sizes | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom vinyl stickers | Monomeric matt adhesive vinyl | 300 mm, 500 mm, 1000 mm squares and circles, or custom | £4.46 |
| Shop window graphics | Monomeric matt adhesive vinyl | 300 mm to 1000 mm, or custom | £5.95 |
| Floor stickers | Monomeric matt adhesive vinyl | 300 mm to 1000 mm | £42.32 |
| Custom sticker sheets | White or transparent polypropylene, with a lamination or varnish | A5, A4 and A3 sheets | £123.16 |
| Custom logo stickers | Gloss paper, matt paper, or waterproof polypropylene with matt laminate | Small labels on sheets | £21.91 |
The single-size pages (30cm, 50cm and 1m vinyl stickers, and round vinyl stickers) use the same vinyl as custom vinyl stickers. Cut shapes are square, circle or square with rounded corners, and custom sizes run from 50 mm up to 5000 × 1300 mm.
Are our outdoor vinyl stickers different from indoor ones? #
No. The custom, round and sized vinyl stickers are one material: monomeric matt adhesive vinyl, printed full colour in our Manchester workshop. There is no separate “outdoor grade” to choose and no lamination option on these products, so the same sticker goes on a shop door or an outside bin store.
Monomeric vinyl is a calendered film that is at its best on flat or gently curved surfaces. It is not the film for deep curves, rivets or corrugated panels, where it can lift at the edges. If your surface has those, ask us before you order.
What shortens the life of outdoor vinyl stickers #
- Sun: strong, direct sunlight fades print over time. South-facing glass and van roofs get the most.
- Water and dirt at the edges: a sticker lifts from the edge first. Rounded corners help, because a sharp corner catches.
- Rubbing and cleaning: brushes, pressure washers and scrapers aimed at the edges will lift them.
- A poor surface: dust, wax, silicone polish or flaking paint means the adhesive is holding onto the dirt, not the surface.
We do not quote a lifespan in months or years for this reason: the same sticker lasts very differently on a shaded glass door and on the tailgate of a van that goes through a car wash every week.
Where outdoor vinyl stickers stick well #
| Sticks well | Sticks badly or not at all |
|---|---|
| Glass, both sides | Brick, render, stone and rough concrete |
| Painted metal: doors, bins, cabinets, vans | Fresh paint (let it cure fully first) |
| Smooth plastics and sign boards | Low-energy plastics that feel waxy |
| Sealed, smooth wood and laminate | Bare wood, fabric, and dusty or damp surfaces |
Apply in dry weather, never onto a cold or frosty surface, and onto a surface cleaned with soapy water or isopropyl alcohol and dried completely. Our step-by-step on how to apply vinyl stickers covers the wet and dry methods.
Window stickers: inside or outside the glass #
Our shop window graphics are printed on opaque vinyl, so they go on the outside face of the glass to read from the street. On the outside they meet rain and window cleaners, so keep text away from the edges and tell your window cleaner.
If you want a sticker that goes on the inside and reads through the glass, look at custom sticker sheets on transparent polypropylene. They offer mirrored printing and a selective white layer, which is how a design is printed back to front with white behind the colours so it reads correctly from outside.
Floor stickers need extra care #
Floor stickers use the same matt vinyl and suit queue markers, wayfinding and promotions on clean, dry, smooth floors, away from heavy vehicle traffic such as forklifts. Our floor sticker page does not list an anti-slip rated laminate. If a floor graphic is going in a wet area, on a slope, near stairs or anywhere your risk assessment needs a slip rating, talk to us before ordering. The HSE guidance on slips and trips explains why floor surfaces matter.
Small labels outdoors: choose polypropylene #
For small labels on outdoor units, meter boxes, bins and equipment, paper is the wrong choice. Our custom logo stickers come in waterproof polypropylene with a matt laminate for indoor and outdoor use; gloss and matt paper are for dry, indoor use. Sticker sheets are polypropylene too, finished with gloss, matt or soft touch lamination, or an anti-scratch varnish. Our article on paper or polypropylene labels compares them in detail.
Removing outdoor vinyl stickers #
Our vinyl stickers are not sold as a removable or repositionable grade, so plan for them to stay put. To take one off:
- Warm it with a hairdryer to soften the adhesive.
- Lift a corner with a plastic scraper or fingernail, not a metal blade on paintwork.
- Peel back slowly and low, close to the surface.
- Clean any residue with a suitable adhesive remover, tested first on a hidden spot.
Old stickers that have baked in the sun can come off in pieces, which is another reason to replace outdoor vinyl stickers before they look tired.
Turnaround and delivery #
Custom vinyl stickers dispatch in Saver 6, Standard 4 or Express 2 working days after your order and artwork are confirmed, and floor stickers in 9, 7 or 6. Browse all vinyl stickers, or call 0161 315 1151 if you are not sure the surface will take one.
