In short:
- a full-size front label on a standard 750 ml wine bottle is about 4 x 5 in.; commercial labels run from about 3 x 4 in. up to 4 x 5 in.;
- a 50 ml mini bottle takes a 3 x 1.5 in. label;
- measure the straight part of your bottle before you print: the label has to fit between the shoulder and the base.
Our go-to: the 4 x 5 in. Wine Bottle Labels, four to a sheet, with a free template.
Wine labels are the one label most people print only a few times a year: for a wedding, a bridal shower, and above all for holiday gifts. Getting the size right is what makes a homemade label look like it came from the winery. Here are the standard wine bottle label dimensions by bottle size, how to measure your own bottle, and what to print on.
Wine bottle label sizes at a glance
| Bottle | Approx. width across | Front label that fits | Our label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750 ml Bordeaux (straight sides, high shoulders) | about 3 in. | 3 x 4 in. to 4 x 5 in. | 4 x 5 in. |
| 750 ml Burgundy (sloped shoulders) | about 3.25 in. | 3.5 x 4 in. to 4 x 5 in. | 4 x 5 in. |
| 750 ml Champagne or sparkling | about 3.5 in. | 4 x 4 in. to 4 x 5 in. | 4 x 5 in. |
| 1.5 L magnum | about 4 in. | 4 x 5 in. or larger | 4 x 5 in. (leaves glass showing around it) |
| 375 ml half bottle | about 2.5 in. | about 3 x 4 in. | 4 x 5 in., trimmed in the template |
| 50 ml mini liquor bottle | varies (flask or round) | 3 x 1.5 in. | 3 x 1.5 in. |
Bottle shapes vary by winery, so treat the widths as a starting point and measure the bottle you have.
The standard wine label: 4 x 5 in. on a 750 ml bottle
Almost every gift bottle is a 750 ml bottle, and a 4 x 5 in. label is the full-size front label for it. On a Bordeaux bottle the label covers a little under half the way around, which leaves the winery's back label visible and gives the front a clean, finished edge. On a Burgundy or Champagne bottle it sits a little narrower against the wider glass, which looks just as intentional.
Our go-to is the 4 x 5 in. Wine Bottle Labels: four labels to an 8.5 x 11 in. sheet, in packs of 40 or 200, with free Canva and Word templates sized to the sheet (template 8380). The template comes in a tall and a wide layout, so the same label can carry a portrait design or a landscape one.
How to measure your bottle
- Find the straight section. Measure the height of the part of the bottle that is straight up and down, from just below the shoulder to just above the base. Your label's height has to fit inside it, or it will wrinkle where the glass curves.
- Measure around. Wrap a strip of paper around the bottle, mark where it overlaps and measure the strip. That's the circumference.
- Pick the width. A front label that reads flat is usually no wider than about 40 to 45 percent of the circumference. On a 750 ml Bordeaux bottle, roughly 9.5 in. around, that's about 4 in.
- Print a test. Print the design on plain paper, cut it out and tape it to the bottle before you print on the labels.
Half bottles, magnums and minis
375 ml half bottles are shorter and narrower, so a 4 x 5 in. label is usually too tall. Set your design to about 3 x 4 in. inside the 4 x 5 in. template, print, and trim along the edge with scissors or a paper trimmer.
Magnums are wider, about 4 in. across. A 4 x 5 in. label fits comfortably and leaves glass showing on both sides, which suits a dark bottle.
Mini bottles make the easiest holiday favors and stocking stuffers. The Mini Liquor Bottle Labels are 3 x 1.5 in., 14 to a sheet, and cover the front of a standard 50 ml bottle. For a matching party table, the Party Favor Label Set puts the mini bottle labels together with candy bar wrappers and mini candy bar labels in one order.
Which material for wine labels?
- Waterproof white vinyl (inkjet only): holds up to ice buckets, condensation and the fridge. The one to use for white, rosé and sparkling wine.
- 100% recycled white (inkjet or laser): uncoated paper with a natural, matte feel. Lovely on red wine and bottles that stay out of the ice.
Labeling wine as a holiday gift
A bottle with its own label is one of the easiest holiday gifts to make look personal, for neighbors, clients, teachers or the host of the party. A few ideas that print well at 4 x 5 in.:
- A family label: your family name, the year and "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays", the same design on every bottle you give.
- A client gift: your logo, "Cheers to a great year" and a short thank-you on the label, so the bottle does the work of the card.
- A hostess bottle: "Thank you for hosting" with the date of the party.
- A New Year's Eve bottle: a sparkling wine label with the year to open at midnight.
Put your label over the front label and leave the back label uncovered, since it carries the winery's alcohol content and other required details. For step-by-step printing, see how to design and print wine labels at home, and for free designs to start from, browse the free label designs. For more holiday gifts, see our stationery and kitchen gift sets.
The recommendation, once more: for a 750 ml bottle, print on the 4 x 5 in. Wine Bottle Labels in waterproof vinyl if the bottle will be chilled, and add 3 x 1.5 in. mini bottle labels for favors and stocking stuffers.
