Guide
Custom Vinyl Decals: Sizes, Finishes and How to Apply Them
Custom vinyl decals are cut from adhesive vinyl, weeded so only your design remains, and covered with transfer tape so you can apply them in one piece. A few choices up front make the difference between a decal that looks sharp for years and one that peels.
Choosing a size
Measure the space where the decal will go and leave a margin around it. Fine details and thin lines cut more cleanly when the decal is larger, and very small text can lift when it is weeded. As a guide, keep letters at least about a quarter inch tall and avoid hairline strokes.
The width and height you enter in the quote tool is the overall size of the design.
Finishes
- Standard: solid color in matte or gloss, the best value for most uses
- Reflective: bounces headlights back for visibility on vehicles, signs and equipment
- Holographic: a shifting rainbow effect for eye-catching accents
Indoors, outdoors and vehicles
Outdoor-grade vinyl is made to last for several years on vehicles, windows, tool boxes, signs and coolers, depending on sun exposure and climate. Apply it to clean, smooth, non-porous surfaces. Textured, flexible or freshly painted surfaces do not hold vinyl reliably, and new paint should cure for about a month first.
Applying a decal
Clean the surface with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry. Position the decal with masking tape as a hinge, peel the backing away, and press it down from the center outward with a squeegee or card. Peel the transfer tape back at a low angle; if a piece of the design lifts, press the tape down again and rub before peeling more slowly.
Apply at moderate temperatures, roughly room temperature, and avoid washing for a couple of days so the adhesive can set.
Application help and rush orders
If you would like us to supply the decal ready to apply, choose the application option in the quote tool. Rush production is also available there.