Measure the jar
Measure the usable straight-sided width and height rather than the overall jar dimensions. Avoid forcing a rectangular label across strongly curved shoulders or edges.
HONEY LABEL DESIGN GUIDE
How to Design Honey Jar Labels
A good honey label has to do more than look attractive. It needs to fit the jar properly, keep important information readable and give your honey a clear identity. This guide takes you from choosing the label area through to preparing artwork ready to print.
✓ Choose the right label size✓ Build a clear layout✓ Prepare print-ready artwork
START WITH THE CONTAINER
Design the label around the jar
Before deciding on fonts, colours or illustrations, establish the real area available on your jar. Honey jars with the same nominal capacity can have different shoulders, curves, lid sizes and straight-sided areas.
Choose the label position
Decide whether you need one front label, separate front and back labels, a lid label, or a larger label carrying most of the information in one place.
Download the exact template
Build your artwork to the template for the exact Go2Products stock size you are ordering. Do not create artwork from an approximate label size.
ARTWORK SETUP
Bleed, trim and safe area
For printed labels, backgrounds and images intended to run to the edge should extend beyond the finished cut line. Keep important wording, logos and fine details comfortably inside the finished edge.
Go2Products artwork bleed: where bleed is required, allow 3mm total bleed — 1.5mm on each side. For example, a finished 63.5 × 38.1mm label with full bleed would have artwork extending to 66.5 × 41.1mm.
Keep text away from the cut edge. Small variations are normal in print finishing, so a sensible internal safe margin gives the finished label a cleaner appearance.
KEEP IMPORTANT TEXT & LOGOS IN HERE
BUILD THE LAYOUT
Give each part of the label a job
Not every piece of information needs the same visual weight. A simple hierarchy makes the jar easier to recognise at a glance and keeps supporting information readable.
Primary information
Your brand or apiary name, the product identity and honey variety are usually the elements customers should notice first. Use size, weight and spacing to establish a clear order.
Supporting information
Net quantity, origin, business details, batch or best-before information and other required particulars should remain clear and legible without competing with the main branding.
For information about what may need to appear on honey sold in the UK, use our UK Honey Labelling Requirements guide. The design guide is about layout and artwork rather than replacing the legal guidance.
FRONT, BACK & LID
Split information across the jar when it helps
You do not have to squeeze everything onto one front label. Using different label areas can make the finished jar cleaner and easier to read.
Front label
Ideal for the brand, honey name, variety and the strongest visual elements. Give the design room to breathe rather than filling every millimetre.
Back label
Useful for supporting copy, producer details and other information where a separate secondary label gives you a clearer front design.
Lid label
A round lid label can carry your logo, honey variety, batch identification or simple secondary branding. Measure the actual lid diameter before ordering.
SMALL HEADINGRAW
HONEYFrom our Suffolk hives · 454g
HONEYFrom our Suffolk hives · 454g
TYPE & READABILITY
Make it attractive — but easy to read
Decorative type can work beautifully for a honey brand, but use it selectively. The most important product information should remain clear at the size it will actually be printed.
Usually works well
- One distinctive display typeface for the brand
- A simpler supporting font for smaller information
- Clear spacing between information groups
- Strong contrast between text and background
Be careful with
- Very thin or tiny lettering
- Too many different typefaces
- Text over busy photographs or illustrations
- Low-contrast colours on amber honey
COLOUR & CONTRAST
Remember what sits behind the label
Honey, glass and the label material all affect the finished appearance. A colour that looks strong on a white screen may behave differently on kraft or transparent stock.
Transparent labels can create a premium no-label look, but ordinary desktop printers do not print white ink. Artwork therefore needs enough contrast against the honey visible through the clear material.
Compare Honey Label MaterialsLIGHT LABEL
DARK LABEL
HONEY TONES
TRANSPARENT
PHOTOGRAPHY & ILLUSTRATION
Use artwork that suits the scale of the label
Honey labels are relatively small, so intricate artwork can lose impact once reduced. Strong simple illustrations, clear logos and restrained patterns often reproduce better than very fine detail.
If you use photography, make sure it is high enough quality at the final print size. Logos and line artwork are best supplied as vector artwork where possible.
Tip: view the design at approximately its real printed size before approving it. A layout that looks spacious when enlarged on a monitor can feel crowded on a jar.
LOCALPURE
HONEY454g
HONEY454g
APIARYRAW
HONEY340g
HONEY340g
BEFORE YOU SEND IT TO PRINT
Honey label artwork checklist
Run through these checks before printing a batch or sending finished artwork to us.
✓
Correct finished sizeArtwork matches the exact label product or agreed custom dimensions.
✓
Bleed included where neededBackgrounds intended to reach the edge extend 1.5mm beyond each finished edge.
✓
Safe marginsImportant text and logos are not sitting directly against the cut edge.
✓
Readable at actual sizeSmall wording remains legible when viewed at the real printed dimensions.
✓
Images are suitable qualityPlaced images are sharp enough for the intended print size.
✓
Content checkedSpelling, quantities, origin and any variable batch information have been reviewed.
CHOOSE HOW TO PRODUCE THEM
Blank sheets, printed A4 labels or labels on rolls
PRINT THEM YOURSELF
Blank A4 Labels
Choose your label size and material, then print your finished design in-house.
Shop blank labels → WE PRINT THEM FOR YOUCustom Printed Labels
Upload your artwork and have your labels professionally printed on A4 sheets.
Shop printed labels → LARGER RUNS & PREMIUM OPTIONSCustom Honey Labels on Rolls
Custom sizes, specialist materials and premium finishing options for roll labels.
Explore roll labels →MORE HONEY LABEL HELP
Continue planning your honey labels
Honey Labels
Compare blank, printed and roll-label options.
Explore the honey label hub →Honey Jar Label Size Guide
Compare practical stock sizes against common honey jar formats.
Choose a label size →UK Honey Labelling Requirements
Information to consider when labelling honey for sale in the UK.
Read the guide →Best Materials for Honey Labels
Compare paper, waterproof, transparent, kraft and other materials.
Compare materials →Print Your Own Honey Labels
Guidance for printing blank honey labels yourself.
Read the printing guide →Custom Honey Labels on Rolls
Custom sizes, special shapes and premium finishes.
Explore roll labels →HONEY LABEL DESIGN FAQS
Frequently asked questions
What size should I make my honey jar label?
Start with the actual usable straight-sided area of your jar rather than choosing from jar weight alone. Use our Honey Jar Label Size Guide to compare practical stock sizes, then measure your own container before ordering.
How much bleed should I add to honey label artwork?
Where bleed is required for Go2Products printed labels, allow 3mm total bleed: 1.5mm beyond each finished edge. Keep important wording and logos safely inside the finished cut line.
Should I put everything on the front honey label?
Not necessarily. A separate back or secondary label can keep the front cleaner, while a lid label can be used for branding or supporting information. What you use depends on the jar, the design and the information you need to display.
Can I use a transparent label on a honey jar?
Yes. Transparent labels can look particularly effective on glass jars. Remember that standard desktop printers do not print white ink, so artwork should have enough contrast against the honey and glass beneath it.
What file should I supply for professionally printed honey labels?
Supply artwork at the correct finished dimensions with bleed where required. High-quality PDF artwork is generally a strong choice; vector logos and sharp, high-resolution placed images help produce the best result.
Can Go2Products print my finished honey label design?
Yes. You can order custom printed labels on A4 sheets through our personalised label service, or request custom honey labels on rolls for larger runs, custom dimensions and specialist finishing options.