Label Size Recommender for Bottles, Jars & Boxes
Measure your container and get the right label size: wrap-around or front and back labels for round bottles and jars, flat panels, lids, and curved labels for tapered cups and tubs. Includes artwork size with bleed, a matching stock size and the FDA net quantity type size.
- Wrap, front and back, lid and tapered labels
- Curved label template for tapered containers
- FDA display panel and type size check
Your label size
Recommended label size
9.25 × 3.375 in
Rounded down to the nearest 1/16 in · 235 × 85.7 mm
- Circumference
- 9.425 in (diameter 3 in)
- Label style
- Full wrap with a small gap
- Exact fit
- 9.3 × 3.375 in
- Artwork size with 1/16 in bleed
- 9.375 × 3.5 in
- Common stock size that fits
- No common stock size fits well. Order a custom size.
US food label check (FDA)
- Principal display panel area
- 16.96 sq in, 40% of container height × circumference
- Net quantity type height
- At least 1/8 in (3.2 mm) tall, in the bottom 30% of the panel
21 CFR 101.1 and 101.105(i), for food and dietary supplements. A planning aid, not legal advice.
Show the calculation
- Circumference = π × diameter = 3.1416 × 3 in = 9.425 in
- Label width = circumference − gap = 9.425 in − 0.125 in = 9.3 in
- Label height = panel height − 2 × 1/16 in = 3.5 in − 0.125 in = 3.375 in
- Order size, rounded down to 1/16 in: 9.25 × 3.375 in
- FDA principal display panel = 16.96 sq in, 40% of container height × circumference → net quantity at least 1/8 in (3.2 mm)
About this recommendation
- Measure only the flat area where the label sits, between the shoulder and the base, and leave out ridges and seams.
- Sizes are rounded down so the label never grows past the panel. Test with a paper print on a real container before ordering.
Use your results
The template is an SVG file at the real size with the cut line, bleed and safe line, including the curved shape for tapered containers. The quote button copies your sizes for the Packaging Specifications field; nothing is sent until you submit the form yourself.
View the full recommendation
BoxNovo label size recommendation Container: Round bottle, jar or tube Diameter 3 in, circumference 9.425 in, label panel height 3.5 in, container height 4.5 in Style: Full wrap with a small gap, gap 1/8 in Edge clearance: 1/16 in per edge Recommended label: 9.25 × 3.375 in (exact fit 9.3 × 3.375 in) Artwork with 1/16 in bleed: 9.375 × 3.5 in Common stock size that fits: No common stock size fits well. Order a custom size. FDA principal display panel: 16.96 sq in, 40% of container height × circumference; net quantity type at least 1/8 in (3.2 mm) tall, in the bottom 30% of the panel Planning estimate. Test a paper print on the real container before ordering. FDA figures per 21 CFR 101.1 and 101.105; not legal advice. Calculated with https://boxnovo.com/tools/label-size-recommender/
Label on your container
Label laid flat
Recommended label
About these results
- Recommendations follow common label printer sizing rules and are rounded down so the label always fits the panel.
- Containers vary. Print the template on paper, wrap it on a real container and adjust before you order.
- The FDA check is a planning aid for food and dietary supplement labels in the US, not legal advice.
- Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing you enter is saved or sent.
How to measure a container for labels
- Round bottles and jars
- Measure the diameter across the base and multiply by π (3.1416) to get the circumference, or wrap a strip of paper around the container, mark where it meets and measure it flat. Then measure the height of the straight label panel between the shoulder and the base.
- Square and rectangular containers
- Measure the width and height of the flat side you want to label, inside any rounded edges or ridges.
- Tapered cups, tubs and bottles
- Stand a ruler upright beside the container. If there is a gap, it is tapered, and a straight label will wrinkle or leave a gap. Measure the diameter at the top and bottom of the label area and its height; the recommender works out the curved shape.
- Lids
- Measure the flat area on top, inside the rim. Round labels are the usual choice.
Label size formulas
| Label | Width | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Full wrap with a gap | Circumference − 1/8 to 1/4 in | Panel height − about 1/8 in |
| Full wrap with an overlap | Circumference + about 1/4 in | Panel height − about 1/8 in |
| Front label (round container) | Up to 40% of the circumference | Panel height − about 1/8 in |
| Flat panel | Panel width − about 1/8 in | Panel height − about 1/8 in |
| Lid | Flat top diameter − about 1/8 in | Round |
Worked example
A round jar 3 in across has a circumference of π × 3 = 9.425 in. A wrap label with a 1/8 in gap is 9.3 in wide, ordered as 9.25 in. With a 3.5 in flat panel and 1/16 in clearance top and bottom, the label is 3.375 in tall, so the label is 9.25 × 3.375 in, with artwork of 9.375 × 3.5 in including 1/16 in bleed. If the jar is 4.5 in tall, its FDA principal display panel is 40% × 4.5 × 9.425 = 16.96 sq in, so the net quantity must be at least 1/8 in tall.
Label width by container diameter
| Diameter | Circumference | Wrap label width | Front label width |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in (25.4 mm) | 3.142 in | 3 in | 1.25 in |
| 1.5 in (38.1 mm) | 4.712 in | 4.563 in | 1.875 in |
| 2 in (50.8 mm) | 6.283 in | 6.125 in | 2.5 in |
| 2.5 in (63.5 mm) | 7.854 in | 7.688 in | 3.125 in |
| 3 in (76.2 mm) | 9.425 in | 9.25 in | 3.75 in |
| 3.5 in (88.9 mm) | 10.996 in | 10.813 in | 4.375 in |
| 4 in (101.6 mm) | 12.566 in | 12.438 in | 5 in |
Label height is the flat panel height less about 1/8 in. Widths are rounded down to the nearest 1/16 in.
Common label sizes
| Size | Metric | Often used for |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 × 1.5 in | 38.1 × 38.1 mm | Lids, caps, small tins, seals |
| 2 in round | 50.8 mm round | Candles, soap, jars, cosmetics |
| 3 × 2 in | 76.2 × 50.8 mm | Bottles, tubes, retail products |
| 3.5 × 4 in | 88.9 × 101.6 mm | Wine and spirits bottles |
| 4 × 3 in | 101.6 × 76.2 mm | Food containers, boxes, pouches |
| 4 × 6 in | 101.6 × 152.4 mm | Shipping and mailing |
A custom size made for your container usually looks better and uses the panel fully. Use a stock size when it fits the panel with a little clearance.
Principal display panel and net quantity type size (US)
For food and dietary supplements, the FDA sets the minimum height of the net quantity statement (for example “Net Wt 8 oz (227 g)”) by the area of the principal display panel, the part of the label most likely to be seen on the shelf.
- Rectangular package: panel area = height × width of that side.
- Cylindrical package: panel area = 40% of the container height × circumference.
- Other shapes: 40% of the total surface, leaving out tops, bottoms, shoulders and necks.
| Principal display panel area | Minimum type height |
|---|---|
| 5 sq in (32 cm²) or less | 1/16 in (1.6 mm) |
| More than 5 and up to 25 sq in (161 cm²) | 1/8 in (3.2 mm) |
| More than 25 and up to 100 sq in (645 cm²) | 3/16 in (4.8 mm) |
| More than 100 and up to 400 sq in (2,580 cm²) | 1/4 in (6.4 mm) |
| More than 400 sq in | 1/2 in (12.7 mm) |
On panels larger than 5 sq in, the net quantity goes in the bottom 30% of the panel, parallel to the base. In the EU, mandatory food information needs an x-height of at least 1.2 mm, or 0.9 mm on packs whose largest surface is under 80 cm² (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Article 13).
Tips for labels that fit
- Stay off the curves. Labels that run onto shoulders or curved edges wrinkle and lift over time.
- Leave a gap on wraps unless you want an overlap; two label ends that butt together rarely line up.
- Round down, never up. A label slightly smaller than the panel always fits; one slightly bigger never does.
- Add bleed to the artwork. Extend backgrounds past the cut line. The Bleed & Safe Zone Guide works out the artwork size.
- Test on a real container. Print the template on paper, cut it out and wrap it on the container, especially for tapered and squeezable packs.
- Measure squeezable containers as they will be filled. Soft bottles and pouches change shape when full.
Related tools
- Bleed & Safe Zone GuideArtwork size with bleed and safe area.
- CMYK, RGB & HEX ConverterConvert screen colours for print.
- Box Size CalculatorSize a box around your bottle or jar.
- 3D Packaging Design & Mockup GeneratorPreview your packaging design.
- Custom Box Price CalculatorSee a typical price range for boxes.
- Packaging EstimatorRequest a quote.
Label size FAQ
How do I find the right label size for a bottle?
Multiply the diameter by π to get the circumference, take off a 1/8 to 1/4 in gap for a wrap label, and take about 1/8 in off the height of the flat label panel. The recommender does this and rounds the result down.
What size label fits a 3 inch jar?
A 3 in diameter jar has a circumference of 9.425 in. A wrap label with a 1/8 in gap is about 9.25 in wide when rounded down to 1/16 in, and a front label is about 3.75 in wide. The height depends on the flat panel.
Should a wrap-around label have a gap or an overlap?
A small gap of 1/8 to 1/4 in is the most common choice because it hides small differences between containers. An overlap of about 1/4 in gives a continuous look but needs the label ends to line up well.
How wide should a front label be on a round container?
Up to about 40% of the circumference keeps it facing the shopper. That is also the share the FDA uses for the principal display panel of a cylindrical container.
How do I measure a tapered container for a label?
Measure the diameter at the top and bottom of the label area and its height. A tapered container needs a curved label, shaped like part of a ring; the recommender gives its radii and angle and a template you can print to test.
What size label fits a jar lid?
Measure the flat top inside the rim and take about 1/8 in off. A 2.75 in flat top suits a label of about 2.625 in, or a 2.5 in stock round.
How much smaller than the panel should a label be?
About 1/8 in smaller in each direction, or 1/16 in on each edge, is the usual allowance. It gives room for small differences when the label is applied.
What is the principal display panel?
The part of the label most likely to be seen at retail. For a cylinder it is 40% of the height times the circumference; for a rectangular package it is the whole front side.
How big must the net weight text be on a food label?
It depends on the principal display panel area: at least 1/16 in up to 5 sq in, 1/8 in up to 25 sq in, 3/16 in up to 100 sq in, 1/4 in up to 400 sq in and 1/2 in above that.
Do labels need bleed?
Yes, if any colour reaches the edge. Many label printers ask for 1/16 in (1.5 mm) of bleed on each side, so a 2 × 4 in label needs 2.125 × 4.125 in artwork.
Should I use a stock size or a custom size?
Stock sizes can be quicker, but a custom size made for your container usually fits and looks better. The recommender shows the largest common size that fits so you can compare.
Can I send my label sizes with a quote request?
Yes. Select Request a quote to copy your sizes into the Packaging Specifications field. The form also accepts artwork files up to 10 MB.