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What Are the Minimum Order Quantities for Printed Cans?

⚞ The Highlights:

Each minimum is built from full pallet layers: 5 layers of 389 cans (12 oz standard), 4 layers of 506 (12 oz sleek), or 4 layers of 389 (16 oz standard).
Can ends (lids) are ordered to match your cans, in sleeves of 580, rounded up to a full sleeve.
Several designs can share a pallet if you tell us the order you need them in.
A minimum order is a little over a quarter of a full pallet, or about six barrels of liquid.

The minimum order for digitally printed cans at Blue Label is 1,945 cans for 12 oz standard, 2,024 cans for 12 oz sleek, and 1,556 cans for 16 oz standard. Those numbers might look strange, but they’re based on the number of full layers of cans on a pallet.

Once you see how cans are packed, the minimums make sense and they’re easier to plan around. This post walks through the math, plus the quantities that come along with a printed can order: lids, full pallets, and the floor space to hold them.

Minimum Order Quantities for Digitally Printed Cans by Can Size

Can size	Minimum order	How it’s built
12 oz standard	1,945 cans	5 layers x 389 cans per layer
12 oz sleek	2,024 cans	4 layers x 506 cans per layer
16 oz standard	1,556 cans	4 layers x 389 cans per layer

We offer price breaks depending on total yearly volumes. Once a flagship beverage is selling steadily and you’re reordering the same design several times a year, that volume conversation is worth starting.

Why Printed Can Minimums Are Set by Pallet Layers

Empty cans ship on a pallet in flat levels. A pallet layer is one of those levels: a few hundred cans packed side by side, with a thin sheet laid over them before the next layer goes on.

Side-view diagram of a pallet of empty cans, showing the base pallet at the bottom, stacked layers of cans with a tier sheet between each layer, and a top frame on top. One layer is highlighted and labeled as a single pallet layer.

How many cans fit in a layer depends on how wide the can is. A 12 oz standard can and a 16 oz standard can have the same diameter, so both fit 389 to a layer. The 16 oz can is just taller. A 12 oz sleek can is narrower, so 506 of them fit in the same space.

The pallet, the sheets between layers, and the frame on top are all reusable, and they come back to us after your cans are filled.

How Many Printed Cans Fit on a Full Pallet?

The table below puts each minimum next to a full pallet, so you can picture how much space and liquid an order involves. Most smaller orders ship LTL (less than truckload), meaning your pallets ride on a shared truck with other freight rather than filling a trailer by themselves.

These are the full-pallet counts for LTL shipments:

Can size	Minimum order	Full LTL pallet	Minimum as part of a pallet	Liquid to fill the minimum
12 oz standard	1,945 cans	7,002 cans (18 layers)	5 of 18 layers	About 182 gallons (about 6 barrels)
12 oz sleek	2,024 cans	7,084 cans (14 layers)	4 of 14 layers	About 190 gallons (about 6 barrels)
16 oz standard	1,556 cans	5,446 cans (14 layers)	4 of 14 layers	About 195 gallons (about 6 barrels)

How Can Ends (Lids) Are Ordered With Printed Cans

In most cases, you’ll order can ends (the lids that get seamed on after filling) to match your can order. Ends come packed in sleeves of 580, and we sell them by the full sleeve, so your end count rounds up to the nearest whole sleeve.

Quick example: You order 4,000 cans. Divide 4,000 by 580 and you get about 6.9, so you’d order 7 sleeves. That’s 4,060 ends for 4,000 cans.

Our standard ends come in three looks: silver, black with a black tab, and gold with a silver tab.

Worth knowing: Other end colors, custom colored tabs, and specialty tabs (like laser-etched or embossed tabs) are possible through a special request to the supplier. They come with a much larger minimum commitment and a longer lead time than our standard ends, so bring them up early if they’re part of your launch plan.

Three standard beverage can ends side by side: silver with a silver tab, black with a black tab, and gold with a silver tab.

Can You Mix Several Designs on One Pallet of Printed Cans?

Yes. If you’re ordering several designs, we can build them onto a mixed pallet. Tell us the order you want the designs to come off the pallet, and we’ll stack them to match.

Stacking orders saves your team time when you fill. Say you’re canning your lager in the morning and a seasonal in the afternoon. With the lager layers on top, your crew pulls cans in the order they need them instead of unstacking and restacking to reach the right design. When you place a mixed order, share your fill schedule with your rep and we’ll plan the pallet around it.

How Digital Printed Can Minimums Compare to Offset Cans, Labels, and Shrink Sleeves

Option	Typical minimum	What it means for your order
Digitally printed cans (Blue Label)	1,556 to 2,024 cans per order, depending on can size	Printed cans arrive ready to fill
Offset printed cans	Truckload scale, often hundreds of thousands of cans per design	Lowest cost per can at high volume, but a lot of inventory to buy and store
Labels on blank cans	Much smaller quantities	You also buy blank cans and apply labels
Shrink sleeves on blank cans	Much smaller quantities	You also buy blank cans and get sleeves applied

Offset printed cans have to be set up on the press before it runs, and can makers sell printed cans by the truckload. A truckload of standard 12 oz cans is roughly 200,000 cans, and some can makers have required several truckloads per design, as Brewing Industry Guide reported.

Labels and shrink sleeves go on blank cans you buy separately, and they can be ordered in much smaller quantities. We see brands use them for very small batches, one-off releases, and lineups with lots of rotating designs. Our post on when your brand is ready for printed cans walks through where each option fits, and we line them up side by side in printed cans vs. shrink sleeves and labels.

Talk Through Your First Printed Can Order With Us

If you’re working out how many cans to start with, we can help you map it out: which designs, which can sizes, how many sleeves of ends, and how it all stacks onto pallets for your fill dates. Reach out to our team and let’s figure out the right order for your lineup.

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What Is a Co-Packer and How Do You Find the Right One?

⚞ The Highlights:

A co-packer (short for contract packager) packages your product for retail so you can focus on making it. Some co-packers also manufacture the product for you, which makes them a contract manufacturer.
The right co-packer depends on your product type, your volume, the certifications your category requires, and how much of the process you want to hand off.
Vet candidates on capacity, quality certifications (SQF, BRC, GMP), relevant experience, minimum orders, and lead times. Then start with a small trial run before you commit.
Expect per-unit or per-case pricing plus setup fees and minimum order quantities. Get all of it in writing up front so the quote is the number you actually pay.
One detail brands miss: your co-packer’s labeling line has specific requirements for how your labels are made and rolled. Getting the label spec right is the difference between a smooth run and a jammed line.

A co-packer, short for contract packager, is a company that packages your product for retail so you don’t have to. You hand off the filling, labeling, assembly, and packing, and you get back finished product that’s ready for the shelf. The term is often used interchangeably with contract packager, and when a co-packer also makes the product for you, people call it a contract manufacturer or co-manufacturer.

For a growing brand, a co-packer is usually the answer to a simple problem: demand has outrun what you can package by hand. We work with dozens of co-packers to print the labels that go on their lines, so we see both sides of this relationship every week. Below is what a co-packer does, how to find one that fits your product, what to expect on cost, and a label detail that trips up more brands than it should.

What is a co-packer?

A co-packer is a third-party company that packages your product to your exact specifications. That can mean filling bottles, applying labels, assembling multipacks, or boxing finished goods for distribution. The core idea is that you own the product and the brand, and the co-packer owns the equipment, the labor, and the packaging know-how to get it retail-ready at volume.

What does a co-packer actually do?

Most co-packers handle some or all of these jobs:

Filling. Putting your product into its container, whether that’s liquid into bottles and cans, powder into pouches, or dry goods into jars.
Labeling. Applying labels, shrink sleeves, or other decoration to the container on automated lines.
Assembly and kitting. Building variety packs, gift sets, subscription boxes, or promotional bundles.
Case packing. Boxing finished units and palletizing them for shipping to retailers or distributors.
Sourcing. Some co-packers buy your packaging materials for you, from containers to closures to labels.

The scope varies a lot from one co-packer to the next. Some only handle the packing step after your product is made. Others run the whole process from raw ingredients to a palletized finished product, which is sometimes called a turnkey or full-service operation.

Co-packer vs. contract manufacturer vs. private label

These three terms get mixed up constantly, and the difference comes down to who makes the product and who owns the recipe. Here’s a quick way to keep them straight.

	Co-Packer (Contract Packager)	Contract Manufacturer (Co-Man)	Private Label
What they do	Package a product you already made	Make and package your product to your formula	Make their own product for you to brand
Who owns the recipe	You do	You do	The manufacturer does
Best for	Brands that make the product but can’t package at scale	Brands with a recipe but no production capacity	Brands that want a ready-made product fast
Typical scope	Filling, labeling, assembly, case packing	Production plus packaging (turnkey)	Their recipe, your label

In practice, the lines blur. A single company may offer all three, and a full-service co-packer often does light manufacturing too. The label you put on the product is yours in every case, which is where we usually enter the picture.

What kinds of products use co-packers?

Co-packers work across food, beverage, supplements, personal care, household goods, pet products, and more. Any brand that sells a physical product in volume is a candidate. Think of a hot sauce maker filling and labeling bottles, a kombucha brand canning at scale, a supplement company filling capsule bottles, or a coffee roaster bagging and sealing. Once hand-packing stops keeping up, a co-packer takes over.

Why work with a co-packer?

Most brands bring in a co-packer for one reason: it frees you to focus on the product and the brand. Someone with the right equipment handles the packaging at a speed and scale you can’t match by hand. That trade has real benefits, and a few honest trade-offs worth knowing before you sign anything.

What are the benefits of using a co-packer?

Lower cost at volume. Co-packers buy materials in bulk and run efficient lines, so per-unit packaging cost usually drops compared to doing it yourself.
Speed and capacity. An automated line packs in an hour what a small team packs in a day, which matters when you’re chasing a retail launch or a seasonal window.
Room to scale. You can add SKUs or grow volume without buying equipment, leasing space, or hiring a packaging crew.
Compliance help. Experienced co-packers know the food-safety and labeling rules for your category and build them into the process.
Fewer headaches. Sourcing, quality checks, and logistics move off your plate and onto a partner who does this all day.

What are the trade-offs to know going in?

A co-packer is a partner, not a magic button. Handing off packaging means handing off some control, so go in with eyes open:

Minimum order quantities. Many co-packers set minimums that can feel steep for an early brand. Ask early so there are no surprises.
Less hands-on control. You’re trusting someone else with quality and timing, which makes clear specs and good communication essential.
Lead times. Your product now sits in someone else’s production schedule. Plan releases around their calendar, not just yours.
Setup and change costs. New projects and design changes can carry setup fees. Worth knowing before you iterate on packaging.

Worth knowing: The most common co-packer complaint we hear from brands isn’t price. It’s surprises, like a minimum they didn’t expect or a label that jammed the line on day one. Almost all of it is avoidable with clear specs and a trial run before the full production commitment.

Do you need a co-packer, or a contract manufacturer?

Ask one question: do you already make the product? If you make it and just need help packaging at scale, you want a co-packer. If you have a recipe but no way to produce it, you want a contract manufacturer (co-man) that handles both making and packing. Plenty of brands start with a co-man for production, then keep the same partner for packaging, which is why the roles overlap so often.

Working with a co-packer and need labels that run clean on their line?

We print labels for dozens of co-packers and can match your labels to their applicator specs, so your run doesn’t stall on day one.

Request a Quote Get a Sample Pack

How to find the right co-packer

Finding a co-packer takes a mix of directory research, industry networking, and old-fashioned reference-checking. Most co-packers do very little marketing of their own, so the good ones can be surprisingly hard to surface with a plain Google search. Here’s where to look and how to sort the fit from the rest.

Where do you find a co-packer?

Industry directories and associations. The Contract Packaging Association keeps a member directory and a request-for-quote tool. Thomasnet lists thousands of co-packing and contract-packaging suppliers you can filter by location and certification.
Matching platforms. Services like PartnerSlate connect brands with co-packers and co-manufacturers by product type and requirements.
Category-specific resources. Beverage brands often start with BevNET’s co-packing listings; specialty food brands use specialty-food co-packer directories.
Trade shows. Events like PACK EXPO and ProPak put a lot of co-packers in one room, which is one of the fastest ways to compare capabilities in person.
Word of mouth. Your peers are the best filter. Ask other founders in your category who they use and, just as usefully, who they’ve left.

What should you look for when vetting a co-packer?

Once you have a shortlist, weigh each candidate against the things that predict a good run:

Capacity. Can they scale with you without dropping quality? A facility tour tells you a lot about how they handle peak season.
Quality assurance. Look for documented quality-control processes and real certifications, not just a claim on the website.
Relevant experience. A co-packer that already runs products like yours will hit fewer surprises. Beverage, food, and supplement lines each have their own quirks.
Flexibility. Understand their lead times, minimums, and how they handle a rush or a last-minute change.
Communication. You want a partner who answers the phone and flags problems early. This is the single biggest driver of whether the relationship lasts.

Which certifications matter?

The certifications you need depend on your category, but these are the ones that come up most often:

SQF, BRC, or FSSC 22000. Globally recognized food-safety standards. Retailers frequently require one before they’ll stock a product.
GMP and HACCP. Good Manufacturing Practices and hazard-analysis systems that show a co-packer runs a clean, disciplined operation.
FDA facility registration. Required for food and beverage co-packers in the U.S., and a quick thing to verify in the FDA database.
Organic, Non-GMO, or kosher. Product-specific certifications you’ll need if those claims appear on your label.

Quick note: If a claim like “organic” or “non-GMO” is going on your label, your co-packer needs the matching certification to back it up. A label claim your packing facility can’t support is a compliance problem waiting to happen.

What questions should you ask before you commit?

Before you sign, get clear answers on the things that turn into disputes later:

What’s your minimum order quantity, and can it be split across SKUs?
What’s your typical lead time from approved artwork to finished product?
Do you source packaging and labels, or do I supply them?
What are your setup fees, and what triggers a new one?
Can I visit the facility and see a run in progress?
Can you share references from brands in my category?

How much does a co-packer cost?

There’s no single price for co-packing. Most co-packers charge per unit or per case, and some charge by production weight or volume, with setup fees for new projects on top. The variables that move your number are run size (bigger runs lower the per-unit cost), product complexity, packaging format, and how much sourcing you hand off. Get a detailed, itemized quote up front so you can compare partners on total landed cost, not just the headline rate.

Why should you start with a trial run?

A trial run is the cheapest insurance you can buy. Before you commit to a long-term agreement or a large volume, run a small batch. It tests their quality control, their communication, and whether your packaging runs cleanly on their equipment. A trial run is also where label problems show up while they’re still cheap to fix, which is where the label handoff comes in.

The label handoff most brands overlook

Here’s the detail that causes more day-one delays than almost anything else: your labels have to be built for your co-packer’s specific labeling line, not just for the container. A label that looks perfect as a proof can still jam an automated applicator if the roll is wound the wrong way or the core is the wrong size. Because we print labels for dozens of co-packers, we see this happen, and it’s almost always preventable.

Who supplies the labels, you or the co-packer?

It goes both ways. Some co-packers source and print labels for you as part of the job. Many others ask you to supply your own labels to their spec, which gives you control over quality and finish but puts the responsibility on you to get the roll format right. Confirm which arrangement you’re in before your first run, because “we assumed you were handling it” is a bad thing to discover on packing day.

What label specs does your co-packer need?

If you’re supplying labels, your co-packer’s line will have requirements for how those labels are manufactured and rolled. The ones that matter most:

Unwind direction. Automated applicators need labels wound a specific way (which edge leads, and whether the label faces in or out). Get this wrong and the labels feed upside down or backward.
Core size. The cardboard core the label roll is wound on has to fit their equipment, commonly a 3-inch core, but confirm it.
Roll diameter. Every applicator has a maximum roll size it can hold. Too big and the roll won’t fit the machine.
Label material and adhesive. The material has to suit both the container and the application speed. A label that peels or curls on a fast line will cost you the whole run.
Labels per roll and gap. The spacing between labels and the count per roll affect how the line feeds and how often it has to stop for changeovers.

The fix is easy: ask your co-packer for their labeling-line spec sheet before you order labels, and hand it straight to your label printer. If you’d like a primer on one of these, our guide to determining your label unwind position walks through the most common source of confusion.

How do you avoid line jams and delays?

Coordinate the three parties early: you, your co-packer, and your label printer. Share the co-packer’s applicator specs with your printer before the labels are made, run a small proof through the actual line if you can, and confirm barcode placement and scan-readability on the finished container. A little coordination up front is far cheaper than a stopped line and a missed retail date.

Making the partnership work

Finding a co-packer is the start. The brands that get the most out of the relationship treat it like a long-term partnership, not a transaction.

How do you transition packaging to a co-packer?

Plan ahead. Talk through timelines, expectations, and likely obstacles before anything moves.
Manage inventory. Coordinate existing stock so you don’t run out during the switch or get stuck with waste.
Start with a pilot. Run initial batches to catch process adjustments before you scale.
Document everything. Materials, artwork files, label specs, and assembly instructions all go in writing, backed by a formal co-packing agreement.

How do you keep the relationship healthy?

Communicate regularly. Routine check-ins catch small issues before they become reprints or delays.
Review performance. Look at what’s working and what isn’t on a set cadence.
Revisit terms as you grow. Volume and SKU counts change. Your agreement should keep up.
Keep the feedback two-way. The best co-packers will tell you how to make your product run better, and the best brands listen.

Next steps

If you’re getting ready to bring on a co-packer, three things will make your search smoother: get specific about the challenge you’re solving, write down your non-negotiables (certifications, minimums, timelines), and line up your packaging and labels early so nothing stalls on the first run.

And if labels are part of that picture, that’s where we come in. We print labels for brands and for the co-packers who apply them, so we can help you get the material, finish, and roll format right the first time. Take a look at our six questions to ask a digital label printer, or get in touch and we’ll help you sort out the label side of your co-packing setup.

Frequently asked questions

What is a co-packer?

A co-packer, short for contract packager, is a third-party company that packages your product for retail to your exact specifications. That can include filling containers, applying labels, assembling multipacks, and case-packing for distribution. You own the product and the brand; the co-packer provides the equipment, labor, and packaging expertise to get it retail-ready at volume. When a co-packer also makes the product for you, it’s usually called a contract manufacturer or co-manufacturer.

What is the difference between a co-packer and a contract manufacturer?

A co-packer packages a product you have already made. A contract manufacturer (co-man) both makes and packages your product to your formula. In both cases you own the recipe and the brand. Many brands use a contract manufacturer for production and keep the same partner for packaging, which is why the two terms often overlap.

How do you find a co-packer?

Start with industry directories and associations such as the Contract Packaging Association member directory and Thomasnet, use matching platforms like PartnerSlate, check category-specific resources such as BevNET’s co-packing listings for beverages, meet co-packers at trade shows like PACK EXPO, and ask peers in your category who they use. Because most co-packers do little marketing, referrals and directories often surface better options than a plain search.

How much does a co-packer cost?

Co-packers typically charge per unit or per case, sometimes by production weight or volume, with setup fees for new projects. Your cost depends on run size, product complexity, packaging format, and how much sourcing you hand off. Larger runs lower the per-unit cost. Ask for a detailed, itemized quote up front so you can compare partners on total landed cost rather than the headline rate.

What certifications should a co-packer have?

It depends on your category. Food and beverage brands should look for a recognized food-safety certification such as SQF, BRC, or FSSC 22000, plus GMP and HACCP practices and FDA facility registration in the U.S. If your label makes claims like organic, non-GMO, or kosher, your co-packer needs the matching certification to support them.

Do co-packers supply the labels or do I?

It varies. Some co-packers source and print your labels as part of the job, while many ask you to supply your own labels to their specification. If you supply them, your labels must match the co-packer’s labeling-line requirements, including unwind direction, core size, roll diameter, and a material suited to the container and line speed. Confirm the arrangement and get the applicator spec sheet before you order labels.

Why do my labels have to match my co-packer’s line?

Automated labeling equipment has fixed requirements for how a label roll is wound and sized. If the unwind direction, core size, or roll diameter is wrong, labels can feed upside down, jam the applicator, or not fit the machine at all. A label that looks perfect as a proof can still stop a production line, so match the roll format to the co-packer’s spec before the run.

Should I start with a trial run before committing to a co-packer?

Yes. A small trial run tests the co-packer’s quality control, communication, and whether your packaging and labels actually run well on their equipment, all before you commit to a large volume or a long-term agreement. It’s also where label and application issues surface while they’re still inexpensive to fix.

Ready to get your labels co-packer-ready?

If you’re lining up a co-packer, we can make sure the label side goes smoothly. We print for brands and for the co-packers who apply their labels, so we know what a clean run looks like. Request a sample pack to see and feel the materials, or get in touch and we’ll help you match your labels to your co-packer’s line.

Want to get the label details right before your first run? A few of our other guides:

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Shrink Sleeves vs. Printed Cans (and When a Label Still Makes Sense)

⚞ The Highlights:

A shrink sleeve is printed film that shrinks onto a blank can. It covers the can from the shoulder down, has no minimum, and needs a heat tunnel to go on.
A printed can has the design printed right on the aluminum. It arrives ready to fill, with a minimum of 1,556 to 2,024 cans depending on the can size.
A label on a blank can is still the lowest-cost option. It covers the straight wall of the can and has no minimum.
Energy drinks and most sodas come in printed or sleeved cans. For beer, labels usually make the most sense on cost.

Shrink sleeves and printed cans both cover your can in color, but they get there differently. A shrink sleeve is printed plastic film that shrinks onto a blank aluminum can (also called a bright can) in a heat tunnel. There’s no minimum order. A printed can has your artwork printed right on the aluminum, so it arrives ready to fill, with a minimum set by full pallet layers of cans.

A label on a blank can is the third option, and it’s still the lowest-cost one. We print all three in-house, so we’d rather you pick the one that fits your drink, your volumes, and your canning line.

Diagram comparing coverage on a 12 oz can. A shrink sleeve covers the can from the shoulder to where the base curves in, a printed can is printed from just under the lid to just above the base, and a pressure-sensitive label covers only the straight wall.

Shrink sleeves vs. printed cans vs. labels at a glance

If you already know what you need, go straight to our custom shrink sleeves for cans, digitally printed cans, or beer can labels.

	Shrink sleeve	Printed can	Can label
How much of the can it covers	From the shoulder down to where the base curves in, with a thin vertical seam	From just under the lid to just above the base, with no edge or seam	The straight wall of the can, with a small overlap edge at the back
Minimum order	None	1,945 cans per order (12 oz standard), 2,024 (12 oz sleek), or 1,556 (16 oz)	None
Turnaround	Most print within 5 business days of artwork approval	A pilot can 5 business days after proof approval, then production in 10 business days once you approve the pilot	Most print within 5 business days of artwork approval
What your line needs	A sleeve applicator and a heat tunnel, yours or a co-packer’s	Nothing to apply, just lids that fit your seamer	A labeler, or a steady hand for very small batches
Can sizes	12 oz standard, 12 oz sleek, 16 oz, and custom sizes	12 oz standard, 12 oz sleek, and 16 oz	Everything from 8 oz slim cans to 32 oz crowlers
Special effects	Holographic film, cold foil, soft-touch, spot varnish	Matte, gloss, spot gloss, a raised texture, and bare-metal accents	The widest range: hot and cold foil, embossing, metallic and textured films, soft-touch
In a cooler full of ice	The ink sits inside the film, with no adhesive to let go	No label or adhesive to come loose	Water-resistant film with a permanent adhesive handles ice and condensation
Cost	More per can than a label	More per can than a label, and you order at least the minimum	The lowest-cost way to decorate a can
Usually the best fit for	A full-can look on small and mid-size runs, if you can get to a heat tunnel	Orders of at least a couple thousand cans, and categories that expect printed cans	Beer, small batches, crowlers, and designs that change often

Comparing sleeves and labels for bottles and jars too? Our post on shrink sleeves vs. pressure-sensitive labels covers containers beyond cans.

What’s the difference between a shrink sleeve and a printed can?

A shrink sleeve is a separate layer of printed film that goes over a blank can and shrinks to fit in a heat tunnel. A printed can has nothing added to it. The ink goes straight onto the aluminum, so the can arrives decorated and ready to fill.

How shrink sleeves and printed cans look up close

A sleeve wraps over the shoulder of the can, with a thin vertical seam where the film is joined. We print the artwork on the inside of the film, so the design stays protected through ice baths and bumpy deliveries. Sleeves also offer holographic film and cold foil, two effects a printed can doesn’t have.

A printed can shows no seam, edge, or film. You’ll see a thin band of bare aluminum under the lid, which keeps ink away from the spot where the lid gets sealed on. Finishes include matte, gloss, spot gloss, and a raised texture you can feel. For a metallic look, the artwork leaves parts of the can unprinted so the aluminum shows through. Our printed cans cover over 95% of the Pantone color book, so most brand colors can be matched.

Minimums and ordering

Sleeves have no minimum. You can change the design on every order. You keep rolls of sleeves on hand alongside your blank cans and decide which design goes on which cans at filling time.

Printed cans have a minimum order set by full pallet layers: 1,945 cans for a 12 oz standard can, 2,024 for a 12 oz sleek, and 1,556 for a 16 oz. Those minimums are a small fraction of what printed cans used to require. Traditional offset printed cans are sold by the truckload, often 200,000 cans or more. Here’s more on how printed can minimums work.

Every new printed-can design starts with a pilot can, a single printed can you hold and approve before the full run. The pilot can is ready 5 business days after you approve the proof. Once you approve the pilot can, production takes 10 business days.

Worth knowing: a printed can has no film or label on it, so it goes into recycling as plain aluminum. If you go with sleeves, you can order them with a perforated tear strip that makes them easy to pull off before recycling.

Labels vs. printed cans: when is it time to switch?

A label on a blank can is always going to cost less than a printed can, especially for beer. Brands usually switch when they want full coverage with no label edge, when their category expects a printed can, or when putting labels on has become a bottleneck on their canning line.

With no minimum on labels, you can label a 500-can limited release without ordering a pallet of anything. You can change the artwork every batch. Labels also fit cans that printed cans don’t come in, like 19.2 oz, 24 oz, and 32 oz crowlers. Most breweries start with beer can labels for those reasons. Many stay with them for years.

Printed cans start to make sense once you’re filling at least a couple thousand cans per order and the artwork isn’t changing every batch. Some breweries use both, with printed cans for a flagship and labels for seasonals and one-offs. If you’re weighing the move, here are the signs your brand is ready for printed cans.

Pro tip: plan on a few changes when you turn a label design into printed-can artwork. Small text, barcodes, and the area near the top of the can all print a little differently on a can. Our guide to designing for printed cans covers what to tell your designer.

Which beverage categories expect printed cans?

Some beverage categories have settled on a format. Before you decide, walk the cooler where your drink will sit and look at what’s next to it.

Energy drinks: nearly every energy drink on the shelf comes in a printed or sleeved can.
Healthy and functional sodas: the same goes for these and for most sodas sold in stores. (Here’s how our printed soda cans work.)
Ready-to-drink cocktails: it’s mixed. Many RTD brands started in bottles, already owned a labeler, and kept using it when they moved to cans.
Beer: labels are still common, especially for small batches and rotating releases, because a label on a blank can costs the least.

It’s worth asking whether every other brand on that shelf has printed cans and whether you want to be the only one that doesn’t. Some brands like how a label sets them apart. Others would rather not look like the odd one out.

What other brands do is one thing to weigh. Your volumes, your canning line, and the look you want usually settle it.

What does your canning line need for each option?

Can labels: a labeler. That might be a tabletop unit, an inline labeler on your canning line, or the one your mobile canner brings along. Very small batches can go on by hand, though it’s slow. We set up the rolls to fit your machine.
Shrink sleeves: a sleeve applicator that drops each sleeve over the can, then a heat or steam tunnel that shrinks it to fit. Many small breweries don’t own a tunnel, so a co-packer or contract canner often handles this step. Here’s more on how shrink sleeves work.
Printed cans: nothing to apply. You fill and seal them like any other can, with lids that fit your seamer. We can supply the lids with your order.

Labels and sleeves both go on blank cans you buy separately. With printed cans, the can is part of the order.

Frequently asked questions

Is a label cheaper than a printed can?

Yes. A label on a blank can costs less than a printed can, especially for beer. Brands move to printed cans for the look, because their category expects it, or to drop the labeling step. Saving money on the can isn’t usually the reason.

Do printed cans have a minimum order?

Yes. The minimum per order is set by full pallet layers: 1,945 cans for a 12 oz standard can, 2,024 for a 12 oz sleek, and 1,556 for a 16 oz. Labels and shrink sleeves have no minimum.

Do I need a heat tunnel for shrink sleeves?

Yes, along with a sleeve applicator. If you don’t have either, many co-packers and contract canners can apply sleeves for you. We print sleeves for 12 oz standard, 12 oz sleek, and 16 oz cans, plus custom sizes.

How long do printed cans take?

Every new design starts with a pilot can, ready 5 business days after you approve the proof. Once you approve the pilot can, production takes 10 business days.

Can I use printed cans for one beer and labels for the rest?

Yes. Lots of breweries do. Printed cans tend to make sense for a flagship you fill in larger batches. Labels cover seasonals, one-offs, and smaller runs.

Let’s figure out the right fit for your cans

Tell us what you’re canning, how many cans of each design you fill, and how you fill them. We’ll help you weigh the options, whether it’s your first 500-can release or a lineup that’s ready for printed cans. Request a quote and you’ll hear back within 24 hours, or get a sample pack to see our materials in person.

More on decorating cans:

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What is Spot UV and When Should Product Manufacturers Consider it for Packaging and Labels?

Ever noticed how labels for premium products have some elements with a distinct, glossy texture? This is thanks to spot UV, also known as spot gloss or spot varnish, which adds a thick varnish to certain areas of the label.

From beauty and wellness brands to wineries, distilleries and breweries, companies are using spot UV to give their products a unique or high-end look. We’ll discuss spot UV technology, why you should consider using it for labels, where you can add spot UV, and different label materials this technique is compatible with.

Spot UV printing

What is Spot UV?

When you use spot UV for product labels, you’re applying a UV coating to a certain area of a printed label instead of covering the entire surface. As the stock of labels goes through the printing press, rollers cover a board with UV coating. Then, the machine spreads a UV varnish over a cut template. This is a thin film that’s positioned over the label to make sure that only specific design elements are coated.

This technique is different from UV lamination because it doesn’t cover the entire label, just certain elements.

Why Consider Spot UV Labels

Gives Products a Premium Look

A major reason why brands prefer getting spot UV labels is that it gives their products a sophisticated look. By giving your packaging a sleek and polished appearance, it increases the perceived value of your brand.

A study in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science even found that consumers associate luxury packaging with superior product quality and are willing to pay a premium for such products.

Improves Durability

Spot UV adds a UV coating over key visuals, making them resistant to scratching and fading. This ensures that important parts of the label, like your brand, logo, and product’s name, will remain intact.

Provides a Tactile Experience

With spot UV, you get a raised, smooth texture on some elements, creating a contrast with the rest of the label. This doesn’t just make the label visually attractive, but gives the customer a tactile experience, too.

In another study, it was found that products that are “aesthetically pleasing through touch” (for example, through spot UV), help build stronger emotional connections and consumer loyalty. Techniques like spot UV can help consumers differentiate your product from the others on the shelf.

Where To Add Spot UV to Labels

You can use spot UV on just about any part of the label, but it’s most commonly used here:

Logos, to help draw attention to your brand identity
Brand name
Borders or frames, which give the label a polished look
Product features or key ingredients
Elements or entire images
QR codes or other promotional elements

Spot UV is Compatible With The Following Materials

Spot UV is a versatile finishing technique for labels and can be used with the following types of materials:

Paper Labels: Matte or glossy paper are the best choices for spot UV labels because they allow precise application and adhesion of the UV coating.
Film Labels (BOPP or PET): Spot UV adheres nicely to smooth plastic surfaces like BOPP and PET labels. This makes them well-suited to durable labels, particularly for products exposed to moisture-prone environments.
Vinyl Labels: You can also apply spot UV to vinyl labels, which are commonly used for their waterproof qualities.

Some surfaces aren’t very compatible with spot UV finishing, like uncoated paper, textured paper, and fabric-based labels. To learn more about compatibility with your product label, we recommend speaking with our experts at Blue Label Packaging.

Preparing Label Artwork For Spot UV

Here’s how to set up your artwork before sending designs to the printer:

Artwork is typically created using software like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.
Open the artwork in a new file and isolate the elements that will have spot UV printing into a separate file or layer. Design elements that won’t have special effects should be in another file or layer.
Elements that will have a spot UV effect need a spot color. This can be cyan, black, or magenta.
Label each file for your printer clearly so they know which elements need special effects. You should also send them the final rendering so they know what you’re expecting from the final product.
Make sure the final design is saved in an Adobe Illustrator or high-resolution PDF file format.

Get Spot UV Labels For Your Products

Spot UV labels can give your product a premium and luxurious appearance. It’s particularly useful for products that come in bottles, making them a great choice for beer, wine, and liquor labels.

At Blue Label Packaging, we specialize in creating unique effects for your product label and packaging. Get in touch with us today to request a quote on our spot UV labels.

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What is Short Run Label Printing and Why Does it Matter for Manufacturers?

Looking for flexibility in producing smaller quantities of labels? That’s where short-run labels come in. From seasonal products to limited edition releases and product testing, short-run labels allow for smaller quantities and quick turnaround times.We’ll discuss some of the considerations and how quickly you can receive a short run of product labels.

Designer looking at product labels

Understanding Short Run Label Printing

If you choose short run printing for product labels, it generally means that you’re printing under 10,000 labels. This is thanks to a faster printing setup, which allows companies to print out short runs of a single label design.

In contrast, traditional methods often require longer setup times because of equipment changeover, so making smaller label runs becomes more expensive.

Why Short Run Label Printing

Here’s a look at some of the reasons you may need short run label printing for your company:

You’re Running a Small Business

One of the most common reasons to consider short run label printing is that you’re running a small business or startup. Whether you have a smaller budget or lower volume, you’ll only need a small number of labels at a time. Short run label printing is a cost-effective way to get quality labels without the higher upfront cost that comes with bulk printing.

You’re Launching Seasonal or Limited Edition Products

For season-specific product launches, it doesn’t make sense to place a big order of labels. The same goes for promotional campaigns and limited edition packaging. Short run label printing allows you to create labels with unique branding and seasonal designs.

You Need To Update Current Labels for Compliance Purposes

In heavily regulated industries like food and pharmaceuticals, there’s always a possibility of regulations changing frequently. This creates the need to update your product label as per current standards. Short run label printing lets you print in smaller quantities to ensure compliance and prevents large numbers of outdated labels from going to waste.

How Small Can a Label Run Be?

We mentioned earlier that a short run is generally any quantity below 10,000, but you’re probably wondering how small a label run can be. At Blue Label, we have no minimum order quantity, though there are cost efficiencies the more labels you order.

How Quickly You Can Print A Short Run

A major focus of short run label printing is cutting down the time it takes to receive your labels. Due to the benefits and speeds of digital printing, we can get your labels to you in just 5 business days after artwork approval. Combine that with expedited shipping options, and you can receive your labels in no time.

Considering Short Run Label Printing for Your Products

In a nutshell, short run label printing is well suited for smaller batches of products, special releases, and seasonal products. It can help you keep costs down, receive your labels faster, and stay compliant with regulatory requirements. And thanks to a combination of digital printing and expedited shipping, you can receive labels without delays.

Have a short run label project ready? Request a quote today.