Warehouse labels are an important tool in the warehouse. Well-designed warehouse labels can help you reduce errors in transportation. To achieve these benefits, I will introduce the key factors of warehouse label design and help you customize the most suitable warehouse labels.
The Importance of Warehouse Labels
Efficiency Improvement
During the receiving and shipping process, standardized warehouse labels help you identify information and complete picking. These warehouse labels help you improve efficiency. Meanwhile, with warehouse barcodes, you can easily scan the labels to record information and complete the receiving and shipping process.
Moreover, standard warehouse labels are compatible with your Warehouse Management System (WMS) to complete the entire process from receiving to shipping. Even during the holiday when order volumes increase sharply, the system can still operate efficiently.
Errors Prevention
Warehouses store a large amount of goods. If these goods are stored without standardized labels, they can easily be placed on the wrong shelf. Thus, it is difficult for you to find the right products. Once you have standardized labels, you can avoid picking the wrong products, shipping incorrect models, or quantities.
Additionally, the goods in the warehouse need to be shipped out as soon as possible. However, only when warehouse labels are clearly printed with production dates and batch numbers can you identify the earliest received goods and ship them out first, thereby preventing batch confusion.
Security Enhancement
If the goods in your warehouse are not labeled with standard warehouse labels that clearly display product names, safety warnings, and handling instructions, you may mix regular goods with hazardous materials during handling.
Therefore, to ensure the safety of your warehouse, it is recommended that you customize a set of standard warehouse stickers that indicate the specifications and materials of your goods. This will help improve warehouse safety.
Complete Traceability
To minimize after-sales disputes resulting from product damage or quality issues, you should establish a system of traceable warehouse labels. You can customize labels for each product, clearly displaying their production batch, receiving date, and shelf life. Then, strictly arrange the shipping order and scan the barcodes in sequence for accurate delivery.
How to Design Warehouse Labels Properly？
Warehouse Labels Materials
The temperature and humidity in warehouses vary by region. You should choose label materials based on the environmental conditions of your location.
- Ambient Warehouse: This type of warehouse has stable temperatures. For such conditions, you can simply choose ordinary PP labels or magnetic warehouse labels.
- Humid Warehouse: If your warehouse is located in hot and humid areas like South America or Southeast Asia, it is best to choose PET waterproof labels or PP synthetic labels when customizing your warehouse stickers. These labels will not easily curl.
- Cold Storage Warehouse: If your warehouse is in cold regions, it is recommended that you choose PET warehouse labels with low-temperature resistance. This type of label will not easily curl or peel off in cold environments.
Warehouse Labels Information Layout
Full Information
The information on warehouse labels should be comprehensive and accurate. A standard warehouse label contains four parts: product information, storage location, batch and expiration date, and inventory status.
- Product Information: Includes the product’s SKU, name, and specifications.
- Storage Location: Displays the warehouse area, shelf number, and pallet position where the product is stored.
- Batch and Expiration Date: Displays the product’s production batch and shelf life.
- Stock Status: Records quality inspection results.
Unified Format
To improve warehouse operational efficiency, it’s best to use the same format for all your warehouse labels.
- Consistent Layout: Product information is arranged either vertically (from top to bottom) or horizontally (from left to right).
- Standardized Font: To make your warehouse labels easier to recognize, it is recommended to use a standardized font.
Warehouse Labels Colors
When you are choosing colors for warehouse labels, it is best to use high-contrast combinations, such as black and white. The higher the contrast, the easier it is to identify the information on the label.
- White and black: This is the most common color combination for warehouse labels. It is suitable for making product information labels.
- Yellow and black: This color combination is used for warehouse labels nearing expiration as a warning indicator.
- Blue and white: These colors are used for labels on special products, such as returned or exchanged goods, or reserved stock.
Warehouse Labels Printing Methods
Thermal Transfer Printing
The warehouse labels printed with thermal transfer are very clear and don’t easily fade. These labels are waterproof, wear-resistant, and low-temperature resistant, so they are suitable for printing labels for cold storage and humid warehouses.
Direct Thermal Printing
Thermal printing does not require ribbons. It is cost-effective and fast, so you can print warehouse labels in large quantities. In addition, these labels are smooth, making them suitable for adhering to cartons or shelves. However, they have poor weather resistance and are prone to fading when used in humid environments.
How to Customize Warehouse Labels？
Confirm Applications
Shipping Labels
These types of warehouse labels are usually attached to cardboard boxes. They can easily get scratched during handling, which may cause the printed information to fade. Consequently, you may take the wrong goods. Therefore, it is recommended that you choose scratch‑resistant and waterproof PP synthetic paper labels.
As the cardboard box is rough, a strong adhesive should be used to apply warehouse labels. To make warehouse signs and labels easy to read, you can use a white background with black text.
Inventory Labels
Inventory labels are usually attached to shelves or pallets for a long time. During use, they will be scanned many times to check product quantities. Therefore, it is recommended that you use thermal transfer polyester labels. These labels are waterproof and wear‑resistant, so even after being stuck on a rack for several years, the text on them will remain clear.
Select Warehouse Label Sizes
When customizing warehouse signs and labels, choose a suitable size based on your product dimensions. Before customizing, measure your product dimensions to choose the right label size. The label should not be too large or too small — oversized labels waste material and increase cost, while small labels may lack space for necessary information.
FAQ
Will Warehouse Labels Peel Off in Cold Storage?
In low-temperature environments, the adhesive strength of warehouse labels decreases, causing them to curl or even peel off. To ensure that your warehouse labels can be used for a long time in cold storage, we use low-temperature-resistant adhesives and waterproof materials to produce warehouse stickers. These stickers maintain strong adhesion and are not easily deformed in cold storage.
Which Type of Barcode Is Most Suitable for Warehouse Scanning?
Code 128, ITF-14, and GS1-128 barcodes are all suitable for warehouse scanning. Among these, Code 128 is the most widely used and can be applied to both rack labels and pallet labels. ITF-14 barcodes are more suitable for use on cardboard boxes for easy scanning. The GS1-128 barcode is mainly used in cross-border logistics to achieve product traceability.
Which Warehouse Labels Are Suitable for Pallets?
Goods on pallets are constantly being moved around, and forklift drivers need to scan labels from a distance. That’s why pallet labels must be large and durable. You can choose PET material or thickened PP material to customize your warehouse labels.
Can You Customize Warehouse Labels?
Of course you can. You can customize warehouse labels in different sizes, materials, and colors. Whether your warehouse is an ambient warehouse or a cold storage warehouse, we can recommend suitable materials and customized solutions for you.
Can Custom Warehouse Labels Be Used with WMS Systems?
Yes, we can. We can customize warehouse stickers that match your WMS (Warehouse Management System). We will use a consistent format, layout, and font to improve the efficiency of your warehouse management system.
Final Thoughts
Designing a practical warehouse label requires the right materials, the correct format, and colors. LIYANTIAN has many years of experience in customizing warehouse labels. Whether you need labels for an ambient warehouse or a cold storage warehouse, we can provide you with the most cost-effective solution. If you have any needs, please feel free to contact us.
