In short:
- a standard 0.15 oz lip balm or chapstick tube is about 5/8 in. across, so it measures just under 2 in. around;
- a 2 x 2.15 in. lip balm label wraps it all the way around, and its tab folds over the cap as a security seal;
- use waterproof white vinyl for most balms, or brown kraft for a natural look.
Print them at home with free template #8387 for Canva, Word, Pages and PDF.
Lip balm label size trips people up because the tube is so small that a tenth of an inch matters. Too wide and the ends overlap in a lump; too narrow and a strip of plastic shows at the back. This guide gives you the tube measurements, the label that fits, how the security seal works, and what has to fit on the label if you sell your balm.
Lip balm is often the first product a maker sells, and the label is the whole package. A clean, full-wrap label with a seal over the cap is what makes a homemade balm look ready for a shop counter.
Chapstick label dimensions: measure the tube
A label for a round tube needs two measurements:
- Width: how far it is around the tube. Wrap a strip of paper around it and mark where it meets, or measure across and multiply by 3.14. A standard tube is about 0.62 in. across, which works out to about 1.95 in. around.
- Height: the flat body of the tube, from just under the cap to the base. Then add the seal tab if you want one.
That's why the standard lip balm label is 2 in. wide: the ends just meet at the back with no lump and no gap.
Lip balm label size by container
| Container | Approximate size | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 0.15 oz lip balm tube | About 0.62 in. across, 1.95 in. around | 2 x 2.15 in., a full wrap with a security seal tab |
| Larger, oval or twist-up tubes | Varies by supplier | Measure around and use a label 0.1 in. shorter than that |
| Lip balm tins and pots | Varies | A round or square label on the lid, sized 1/8 in. smaller than the lid top |
Our go-to for a standard tube is the 2 x 2.15 in. lip balm label with security seal. It wraps the tube in one piece and the narrow tab folds up over the cap, so customers can see the balm hasn't been opened. It comes on 8.5 x 11 in. sheets in waterproof white vinyl and brown kraft, with template #8387.
How the security seal works
The label is one piece. The main panel wraps the tube, and a narrow tab at the top folds over the closed cap and sticks down on the other side. Opening the balm tears the tab, which shows the tube is new and is what shops and markets expect to see on cosmetics.
- Wrap the main panel around the tube first, starting at the back so the seam is hidden.
- Close the cap.
- Fold the tab up over the cap and press it down on the far side.
Which material for lip balm labels
- Waterproof white vinyl (inkjet): the best choice for most lip balm. It resists the oils and butters in the balm, holds bright color and doesn't scuff in a pocket.
- Brown kraft (inkjet or laser): a natural, handmade look for beeswax and herbal balms. Use dark ink; white and pastels don't show on kraft. See designing for kraft labels.
What to put on a lip balm label
If you sell your lip balm, it's a cosmetic, and the label needs more than a name. On a label this small, plan the layout around the required information first:
- Front: the product name and flavor, and the net weight (for example, "Net Wt 0.15 oz (4.25 g)").
- Around the back: the ingredient list, your business name and city, state and ZIP, and a way for customers to contact you.
- Type size: the FDA allows ingredient type as small as 1/32 in. on packages under 12 square inches, which includes lip balm tubes. A plain, narrow sans-serif font keeps it readable.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. For the full list, see what to put on a product label, and for small type, fonts that read well on small labels.
How to print lip balm labels at home
- Open the template. Go to template #8387 and open it in Canva, Word, Pages or PDF.
- Design for a curved front. Only about half the label faces the customer at a time. Put the name and flavor in the middle third, and run the ingredients and your details around the sides and back.
- Keep the tab simple. A solid color, your logo or "Sealed for freshness" works best on the seal tab.
- Test on plain paper at 100% scale and hold it over a label sheet against a window. If it's off, see how to print labels that line up.
- Print and let it dry. Vinyl is inkjet only; set the paper type to Labels or Glossy and give it 10-15 minutes before you peel.
Making a whole line of flavors? Design one label and change only the flavor and color for each; see designing a matching label line. To wrap tiny tubes straight, roll the tube along the table as you go; see how to apply labels without bubbles.
Lip balm label ideas
- One color per flavor: the same design in mint green, berry pink and honey gold makes a set that sells as a bundle.
- Favors and gifts: names and a date for weddings and showers, with the seal tab in the event color.
- Kraft and black type: a simple farmhouse look for beeswax and herbal balms.
Still making the balm? Our guide to how to make lip balm for gifts has a three-ingredient recipe that fills about 20 tubes, plus filling and packaging tips.
The recommendation, once more: a standard 0.15 oz lip balm or chapstick tube takes the 2 x 2.15 in. lip balm label with security seal, in waterproof white vinyl for most balms. Free template #8387.
