Which are the best labels?

Every back-to-school season or start of daycare, the same question comes up: how do you make sure everything is properly labeled and avoid lost items? Personalized labels have become a must-have for parents, but which brand should you choose? Between durability, ease of use, and customization, it can sometimes be hard to know where to start.

In this blog, we compare several popular label brands for school and daycare to help you make the best choice for your needs.

How did we compare the brands?

We selected well-established brands that are frequently recommended by parents. Each brand is evaluated based on several key criteria:

• Price of the largest label set: What is the cost of the largest label set offered by each company?
• Shipping: Is free shipping available?
• Delivery times: What are the delivery timelines?
• Customer service: Does the company offer after-sales service if you’re not satisfied?
• Local business
• Points of sale: Where can you purchase the labels?
• Clothing labels: What type of clothing labels does the company offer?
• Durability: Are the labels dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, and wash-resistant?
• Customization options: How many themes and fonts does the company offer?
• Preview before printing: Is it possible to see a preview of the customization on the labels before ordering?

The Label Brands

Colle à moi

Colle à moi, a very well-known brand in Quebec, offers a complete range of customizable labels for all needs, particularly for school and daycare. Their products are known for their durability and reliable adhesion. All collections are hand-drawn by Annie, the company’s founder.

They offer a wide variety of products, including iron-on labels, adhesive labels in several different sizes, clothing stickers, silicone bottle bands, backpack identification plates, zipper pulls for identifying coats, book and clothing stamps, bento lunch boxes, and much more.

They use materials that are wash-resistant, dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, and scratch-resistant, making everyday life easier for parents. Colle à moi is an excellent choice if you want to easily label all of your child’s belongings, with the assurance that the labels will stay in place for a long time — they offer a satisfaction guarantee!

Standard shipping is free on orders of $20 or more, and their customer service is excellent.

Mabel’s Labels

Mabel’s Labels is a very well-known brand across Canada, with over 20 years on the market, making it one of the pioneers in personalized labels for children.

They also offer a wide variety of products for identifying personal belongings: iron-on labels, adhesive labels in several sizes, clothing stickers, silicone bottle bands, as well as personalized plates for backpacks, luggage, or medical information. You’ll also find several types of stamps (books, clothing, address), and much more.

They are appreciated for their colorful designs and their resistance to the dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, and scratching. Their range offers several combos suited for everyone, whether for daycare, school, or even summer camp. You can even create your own personalized combo. The price is, however, a little higher than some other brands.

Standard shipping is always free, with a satisfaction guarantee policy!

Clément

If you didn’t know, the Canadian company Clément doesn’t just offer children’s clothing — they also provide personalized labels to identify school and daycare belongings.

The brand offers a wide variety of designs, with label sets designed for school or daycare, as well as smaller sets for lighter needs. However, it is not possible to purchase individual pages of labels.

The labels are wash-resistant when applied to the care tag of clothing rather than directly on the fabric. They are also dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe, but not scratch-resistant. Clément does not offer refunds or exchanges on personalized labels.

The price is slightly more affordable than that of the bigger, more established brands. Standard shipping and in-store pickup are always free for labels.

Le Collant

Le Collant is an interesting option for parents looking for effective adhesive labels at an affordable price. Although less well-known than some of the bigger brands, this company offers quality labels that make it easy to identify school or daycare belongings, while also being wash-resistant, dishwasher-safe, and microwave-safe.

Their range includes different label formats, including iron-on labels and combos suited for everyone. They also offer practical stickers such as planner labels, snack labels, and reminders.

It’s a great alternative if you want to label your child’s belongings at an affordable price, with the guarantee that the labels will hold up for a long time.

Shipping is free on orders of $7 or more.

Bureau en Gros (Staples)

At Bureau en Gros, you can find labels from the Oliver’s Labels brand on their website. They offer several combos and different label shapes, with original designs and even special editions that kids love. The labels are wash-resistant, dishwasher-safe, and microwave-safe.

In addition to adhesive labels, the brand offers iron-on labels, backpack identification plates, silicone ID bracelets, and pins. It’s even possible to have labels printed with a photo.

Standard shipping is free, and you can also pick up your order at a nearby Bureau en Gros location.

In-store, they also carry plain paper labels with no name (much less durable), but they are budget-friendly and easy to replace, which may work if you don’t need an ultra-durable solution.

Jean Coutu

Jean Coutu offers simple, affordable labels, perfect for quickly identifying everyday items that won’t be exposed to water. The labels are sold on Avery-style sheets.

For a slightly higher cost, you can upload a photo to be printed on your labels. Customization remains limited: generally, only the child’s name can be added, and the labels are white with black text. You can also choose blank labels and fill them in yourself.

These labels are not wash-resistant (except for the iron-on labels), dishwasher-safe, or microwave-safe, and they don’t last very long since they are made of non-laminated paper. However, they are budget-friendly, and their accessibility is a plus, with locations found just about everywhere.

For plain white paper labels, you simply go to the cash register at a location to have them printed. For prints that include a photo or design, the order must be placed online. Shipping costs $4.99, but in-store pickup is always free.

Amazon

Amazon brings together a wide variety of label brands and styles for school and daycare. It’s a convenient place to quickly compare several options, but quality and durability can vary considerably from one product to another. It’s a good option if you’re looking for speed or a low price, as long as you read reviews carefully before buying.

As with Bureau en Gros and Jean Coutu, you can also find blank label sheets to fill in by hand.

Shipping varies by seller, and pre-personalized labels are often not included with free Amazon Prime shipping.

So, which is the best personalized label brand?

The market for school and daycare labels is full of options! You’ll find everything from budget-friendly solutions to more complete and durable ranges. The best choice will depend on your priorities: durability, variety, design, price, accessibility, or ease of use.

Before making your decision, think about your specific needs: do you need labels that are dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, wash-resistant, or do you need a wide range of customization options to appeal to your child? Also consider after-sales service and delivery times, especially if you’re getting ready for back-to-school season.

In short, the “best” brand is the one that best meets your needs and fits your lifestyle!