Whether you're freezing human stem cells or dinner entrees, you need the best possible freezer labels for sales, dating, and identification purposes. Well, you've come to the right place! We have the experience and expertise required to help you choose the perfect product for your needs.

Freezer labels are specialty labels formulated specifically for use in frigid environments. Every element of the label—including the substrate, adhesive, and inks—must not only be stable at room temperature, it must also be able to withstand the cold temperatures used in many food packaging/storage, laboratory, and warehouse settings. It's especially important that the adhesive has a high "tack," or stickiness level, and doesn't freeze or "deaden," causing the label to fall off the package. Nor can the inks used or the substrate itself degrade. The entire label has to last through multiple freeze-and-thaw cycles, especially in the case of the CRYOGENIC LABELS used in laboratories.

Freezer labels are not created equal; different types of cold require different types of labels. We stock a variety of specially matched combinations of label materials created for specific types of cold and even super-cold settings. We can provide guaranteed freezer-grade labels for the following uses:

1. Cold storage and distribution.
2. Blast freezing / industrial kitchen.
3. Co-packing, perishables.
4. Pre-frozen food packaging.
5. Cryogenic lab environments, including nitrogen exposure.
6. Pharmaceutical research and development
7. Sub-zero outdoor or warehouse elements, including pallets.
8. Corrective labeling for already-frozen surfaces.

Freezer labels fall into two basic categories: those meant for dry conditions, and those meant for conditions where frost and/or moisture might be associated with the cold. Dry freezer labels are usually made of paper; wet freezer labels are always made of moisture-resistant synthetics like vinyl. All our freezer labels come with pressure sensitive (PS) peel and stick coatings that require only firm pressure to adhere to just about any surface, including steel, plastics, and glass, and must be conformable to fit containers like test-tubes, beakers, and bags. The minimum application temperature for our standard, 2.3 mil white polypropylene freezer labels (that is, the lowest temperature at which they can be attached to a container) is -20˚ F. The normal service range for the adhesive is -94˚ to 194˚ F, though it can also handle dry ice (-112˚ F).

In addition to specialized, ready-to-apply custom labels, we offer blank freezer-label templates, so you can print your own. Formats include both roll and sheet, whether you want your labels pre-printed or blank.

What we need from you when you order

Before we can provide labels to best suit your needs, we'll need some specific information from you. It's best if you get all your ducks in a row before you contact us, to make it easier for us to serve you.

First, we'll need to know how you plan to use the labels. The reason we ask is so we can decide what kinds of labels to recommend. So: Are they for popsicles, frozen foods, or laboratory samples? Will they be used outdoors in the elements, during cold weather? Will they be used in a warehouse? Will they be exposed to liquid nitrogen or the severe cold produced by it, as opposed to the milder temperatures faced by frozen food labels? Will you be blast freezing? How long do your labels have to last? We'll need as many details as you can provide before we make our recommendations for the specific combination of label materials.

From there, the call can go in several directions. Most of our customers use freezer-grade labels for food processing and laboratory samples, though some use them in industrial and outdoor settings. First, we attempt to narrow down the variables by asking, "Are you looking for preprinted labels, or blank labels you can print yourself?" If it's possible to print your own labels with a desktop laser, inkjet, or thermal transfer printer (or even a photocopier), we most often recommend standard letterhead-size sheet label formats, available from OUR ONLINE STORE HERE.

We're always happy to print custom labels for you, and for some freezer label uses, it's a must. Many toners and inks can't stand up to the intense cold of lab freezers, for example. If you need pre-printed labels, we'll ask you to email us the graphics you want printed on the labels; before we can commit to a quote, we'll need to review your art file. Then we'll ask you how many labels you need, so we can add that to the equation. After we have that, we'll put our numbers together and get back to you with a full quote.

For more information about freezer labels, check our new freezer labels website: freezer-labels.com. We discuss the types of substrates used in cold environments, the various type of labels we offer and their specifications (including maximum cold restrictions), types of low temperature adhesives, and even the difference between all-temp and freezer labels. You'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about freezer labels—and maybe a little more!