Many colleges, universities and even towns have been banning the sales of plastic water bottles in an effort to help reduce their environmental impact. Instead of selling disposable plastic water bottles, they are adding water fill stations, where students and staff can fill a reusable water bottle (like Nalgene or Camelbak) that they bring from home. This presents a unique opportunity for businesses to claim some visible real estate with vinyl stickers for cups and water bottles.
With more people using reusable water bottles, comes a unique promotional opportunity. These water bottles are highly visible and sit on desks in classrooms, tables at coffee shops, and are carried around daily. Covering your Nalgene with vinyl stickers for cups and drinking vessels has become a way to show off your personality and hobbies.
For instance, you see a water bottle covered in stickers from ski resorts and winter clothing brands? They probably like to ski. Or a water bottle decorated in stickers from various places and life quotes? That person likes to travel. The opportunities are endless for what a water bottle can say about a person, and everybody likes to make a statement about who they are.
Brands need to be aware of this trend, and capitalize on it by designing vinyl stickers for cups, water bottles and anywhere that connects with their target market. There are a few important things to keep in mind:
SIZE: Size matters! A sticker that is too big won’t fit well on a water bottle. We would recommend a sticker no bigger than 3”, as this will fit on one side or wrap around most cups or water bottles.
DESIGN: The size is important, but so is the design. A custom cut vinyl decal is unique, and will stand out more than a large oval or square. Often, you will see the larger vinyl stickers on water bottles covered up with smaller, die cut stickers.
QUALITY: This is probably the most important one, as a peeling water bottle sticker immediately ruins the aesthetic! What good is a sticker if it doesn’t last after a few runs in the dishwasher? It is important to purchase a sticker with a quality vinyl and quality inks. We would recommend screen printing for water bottle stickers, as these will last the longest when exposed to the elements.
Water bottles are a great place for vinyl stickers for cups and water bottles, and it is important to keep in mind the size, design and quality of your sticker. Please reach out to us if you have any questions, or would like some help in designing any promotional stickers!
Jeff Nicholson is the founder and Creative Director at 
