Glossy vs Matte Stickers – Differences, Color Results, and How to Choose the Right Finish

Choosing between glossy and matte stickers can completely change how your artwork looks and how your brand is experienced. Your finish affects color, texture, glare and the overall feel of your design. At Jukebox, both finishes are printed on premium vinyl, are waterproof, durable and made to last. They share the same base material and the same long outdoor lifespan of up to five years.

What Both Finishes Have in Common

Gloss and Super Matte start with the same foundation. Both are printed in full color on high quality vinyl, both are weatherproof, tear resistant and dishwasher safe, and both use the same strong laminate layers for durability. They stick the same and last the same. You can order both finishes through our die cut stickers.

The only difference between them is the finish layer and how it affects color, texture and light.

Side by Side Finish Comparison

Glossy Stickers: Bright, Sharp and Color Packed

Glossy stickers are designed for artwork that needs to stand out. The shiny coating brightens colors because it reflects more light back to your eyes, making artwork appear punchier and more vibrant. Fine details can look slightly sharper because gloss increases contrast and sharpness.

The smooth surface naturally repels oils and moisture, so glossy stickers stay clean longer. Dark colors appear deeper and richer, almost like a photo print. The reflective finish also helps deflect more UV light, giving gloss a slight advantage for long term sun exposure. Water droplets slide off easily, which is why gloss works well on bottles or anything exposed to rain.

Gloss is ideal for outdoor stickers, promotional items, event handouts, packaging accents or any design meant to be bold. The shine does create natural behavior. Under bright lighting, glare can hide small details and fingerprints are more visible on darker glossy designs. That is simply part of the glossy look.

To really understand the difference, compare both finishes in our sticker sample pack.

Super Matte Stickers: Smooth, Soft and Premium

Super Matte is our most premium matte coating. It offers a velvety feel, a soft finish and a modern, refined appearance. Matte scatters light instead of reflecting it, so colors appear more natural and true to life. This makes matte the best finish for text heavy stickers because everything stays readable from every angle.

Matte also hides fingerprints, dust and tiny surface scratches far better than gloss. It feels smoother and has a subtle, paper like tactility that people love for branding. Colors look softer and more premium because the matte surface diffuses light and removes shine completely.

Under bright lighting, matte will never reflect back at you. Whether it is viewed in a studio, store lighting, office or car interior, the design stays visible and glare free. Super Matte is just as waterproof, durable and long lasting as gloss.

If you want to compare how each finish handles color and light, our sticker sample pack is the best way to decide.

Sticker Rolls - Matte or Gloss

Both Gloss and Super Matte are available on sticker rolls and die cut stickers. Matte rolls have an even softer tactile feel similar to soft touch coating, perfect for product labels, packaging and branding.

Sticker rolls are typically used for retail packaging and have a one year shelf life because they use a thinner laminate designed for speed and flexibility. Die cut stickers use a thicker, stronger laminate that is engineered for long term outdoor exposure, which is why die cuts last up to five years. You can order either finish through our die cut stickers.

Why Big Brands Choose Matte Today

Matte has become the top choice for premium brands. It looks intentional, clean and modern. The finish avoids glare, photographs beautifully and gives artwork a soft, elevated appearance that aligns with minimal design trends.

Brands like Apple, Lululemon and Aritzia commonly use matte because it feels refined and high end. Matte keeps colors consistent under all lighting and maintains a premium look from every angle.

A Look Back: Glossy Stickers in the 80s, 90s and Early 2000s

From the 1980s through the early 2000s, glossy stickers were everywhere. They were bright, shiny and visually loud, which made them perfect for skateboarding, music, school life and early internet culture.

Skateboarding played a massive role in the popularity of glossy decals. Brands like Thrasher, Santa Cruz, Vision Street Wear, Vans, Spitfire and World Industries built strong visual identities around glossy graphics. One of the most iconic glossy sticker designs of that era was created by Powell Peralta.

Kids collected glossy stickers, traded them and covered their boards, helmets, lockers and binders with them. Gloss matched the bold, energetic style of the time.

The collector world also leaned heavily toward gloss. Lisa Frank sticker sheets filled with bright shiny neon artwork became a cultural staple. SandyLion stickers were another favorite, especially in the 90s, designed with glossy, collectible themes.

Gloss appeared everywhere. On arcade machines, toy packaging, snowboard brands, gaming merchandise and early tech products. It made color explode under light, perfectly matching the high energy aesthetic of the era.

As design shifted in the 2000s toward softer minimalism, matte became the new standard. Matte offered a calmer, more premium look and quickly became the finish of choice for modern branding. Today it remains the industry favorite.

Can You Write on Glossy or Matte Stickers

You can write on both finishes, but they behave differently.

Super Matte is the easiest surface to write on. A standard ballpoint pen works well and dries quickly because the surface absorbs ink naturally. This makes matte the better choice for notes, labeling, handmade products, candle jars, food packaging, barcodes, batch numbers and anything where you need to write cleanly without smudging.

Glossy stickers are harder to write on with regular pens because the smooth reflective surface does not absorb ink. Ballpoint pens may skip, and felt-tip pens can smudge. If you need to write on gloss, the best option is a permanent marker like a Sharpie. Once dry, the writing stays, but it is not as crisp or reliable as writing on matte.

If writing is part of your use case, Super Matte is the recommended finish.

Which Finish Should You Choose

Choose Gloss if you want bright, saturated color with a reflective finish that stands out. Gloss is perfect for outdoor decals, vibrant artwork, bottles, packaging accents and any design that needs high impact.

Choose Super Matte if you want a soft, modern, glare free finish that feels premium. Matte is ideal for branding, product labels, photography based designs, text heavy layouts and refined creative work.

To see both finishes clearly, compare them in our sticker sample pack.

Final Thoughts

Both Gloss and Super Matte stickers at Jukebox are printed on premium vinyl with long lasting durability. They are waterproof, vibrant and checked by hand before shipping. Both finishes perform the same outdoors and use the same strong laminate structure. The right choice depends on your artwork, your lighting and the feeling you want your design to create.

Your artwork deserves the finish that matches your vision. Once you see them side by side, the choice becomes simple.