Face stock & liner
The label material — chromo paper, PP (white / clear / silver) or PE — priced per square metre across the printed web, including the gap between labels.
Resources · Free tool
Label cost calculator
Work out the per-label cost of a self-adhesive label job — face stock, plates, ink, die-cutting and finishing — in a couple of minutes. Enter your job and we'll email you the full breakdown, free.
Open the label cost calculator →Free · indicative estimate
What it estimates
Your per-piece cost, built from the parts a printer actually pays for.
Plates & set-up
One-time origination for the job, spread across your order quantity, plus make-ready waste.
Ink & coverage
Ink cost driven by the number of colours and how much of the label they cover.
Die-cutting
Flexible (magnetic) dies amortised over their life, or an offline flat-bed pass with its own speed and manpower — you choose the method.
Finishing
Optional lamination and cold foil, priced per square metre or per foil strip.
Machine time & manpower
Press speed, run length and operator cost that turn your quantity into hours on the line.
What you'll need to enter
- Order quantity (finished labels)
- Label height and width (mm)
- Face-stock type, or its price per m²
- Number of colours and ink coverage
- Die method — flexible or flat-bed
- Any lamination or cold foil
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How is the cost of a printed label calculated?
A printed label's cost is the sum of its face-stock material (priced per square metre of printed web), plate origination spread over the run, ink by colour and coverage, die-cutting, any lamination or foil, and the machine time and manpower to run the job — divided by the number of labels. This calculator adds those up and returns a per-label figure.
What affects label printing cost the most?
The biggest levers are usually the face-stock (material) price per square metre, the order quantity — which spreads fixed costs like plates and set-up — the number of colours, and the die-cutting method. Short runs cost more per label because set-up is shared over fewer pieces.
Is the label cost calculator free?
Yes, it's completely free. Enter your job, get an indicative per-label cost on screen, and we'll email you the full breakdown by cost category.
How accurate is the estimate?
It's an indicative estimate for guidance, based on the inputs you provide and typical rates. Your actual cost depends on your material contracts, machine and job specifics — share the details with us and we'll firm it up.
Flexible die or flat-bed — which is cheaper?
Flexible (magnetic) dies have a lower up-front cost amortised over the die's life, which suits repeat work; an offline flat-bed pass adds its own speed and manpower but suits certain shapes and short runs. The calculator lets you price either method.
Can I compare flexo and offset for labels?
Yes. Use the Flexo vs Offset comparison to price the same label on reel-fed flexo and sheet-fed offset side by side, including the break-even quantity.
Ready to price your job?
Get your per-piece cost on screen and the full breakdown by email — free. Or send us the details and we'll come back with honest numbers.
Related tools
- Printing cost calculator (hub) →Labels, shrink sleeves and pouches in one tool.
- Shrink sleeve cost calculator →Per-sleeve cost for shrink-sleeve jobs.
- Flexo vs Offset comparison →Same label, both processes, with break-even.