Squeeze tubes are one of the trickier containers to label. Their tapered shape, flexible body, and small surface area create challenges that don’t exist with flat-sided bottles or rigid jars. But with the right approach to sizing, material, and design, tube labels can look every bit as polished as labels on any other container.
The Challenge: Tapered and Flexible
Most squeeze tubes taper from a wider body to a narrower neck. This means a standard rectangular label won’t lay flat — it will wrinkle or lift at the edges where the tube’s diameter changes. The tube body also flexes when squeezed, which can stress rigid label materials and adhesives.
Sizing Your Tube Label
Measure the circumference at the widest point of the area where the label will sit, then measure at the narrowest point. If the difference is minimal (less than about 1/8″), a standard rectangular label will usually work fine. If the taper is more pronounced, consider a label that’s narrower at the top than the bottom — a tapered or custom die-cut shape that follows the tube’s contour.
For height, keep the label within the flat, cylindrical portion of the tube — avoid extending onto the shoulder (the curved transition area near the cap) or the crimped bottom seal.
Material and Adhesive
Flexible film materials like BOPP are ideal for tubes because they conform to the tube’s shape as it’s squeezed and flexed without cracking or lifting. Paper labels are more rigid and can wrinkle or release from the flexible surface over time. A conformable adhesive that maintains its bond as the tube flexes is equally important.
Design Considerations
Tube labels have less real estate than bottle labels, so prioritize the most essential information and keep the design clean. Consider the orientation carefully — most tubes are displayed standing up on their cap, so design the label to be read vertically. Place your brand name and key messaging where they’ll be visible when the tube is standing in a display or on a shelf.
Common Products Using Tube Labels
Toothpaste, lotions, creams, sunscreen, lip balm, hair products, food pastes (like tomato paste or cookie icing), cosmetics, ointments, and pharmaceutical gels.
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