What is the difference between car stickers and car decals?

Long story short: there’s no difference between car stickers and car decals.

Both terms refer to a printed piece of vinyl or paper with a self-adhesive backing, and they can be used interchangeably.

But if you want to learn more about car stickers (or car decals) and understand why so many people use two different terms, read on.

Features of car stickers and decals

Saying that car stickers and decals are the same doesn’t help much if you’re not exactly sure what either one is. So let’s break down what they have in common:

• They’re individually cut. Unlike labels, which are printed on sheets or rolls, stickers and decals are delivered as individual pieces.
• They can be printed on any material. Some websites may claim stickers are made of paper and decals are made of vinyl. That’s not true — both can be printed on paper or vinyl, depending on what the printer offers. (See our article: How long do car stickers last?)
• They can be any shape. You can order them in standard shapes like squares or circles, or go custom with a die cut shape.
• They can feature your own design. Custom stickers and decals let you upload your own artwork — perfect for creating personalized designs for your brand or business.

Why do people use the term decals?

You’ll often see the word decals used when talking about car, motorcycle, or wall graphics. That’s because traditionally, decals refer to larger designs.

So when people say “decal,” they usually just mean a big sticker.

Of course, “large” is subjective — and in our case, it doesn’t really matter. We sell custom stickers that can be as big or small as you want.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for car decals, just head to our car stickers page and enter your preferred size.

Stickers vs decals vs labels

As if stickers vs decals wasn’t confusing enough, let’s throw labels into the mix.

Labels are actually different. Stickers and decals are individually cut, but labels are printed on sheets or rolls.

That makes labels much quicker to peel and apply. When you order labels from us, you can submit one design or create a custom sticker sheet with multiple designs. We’ll then print your artwork on a letter-size sheet.

Labels aren’t really used for car graphics — you’re probably looking for a larger, individually cut design instead.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, car stickers and decals are the same thing — a printed vinyl or paper piece with adhesive backing. People tend to use the word “decal” for larger designs, but both terms can be used for custom-cut shapes of any size.

If you’re looking for individual car stickers or decals featuring your own design, you’re in the right place! Our team is ready to help you create personalized stickers that will stand out on any vehicle. So don’t wait — start your custom order today!