Custom Post-it Notes are one of the few promotional products people actually use every day. They sit on desks, stick to monitors and get handed around the office, so your logo, phone number or message stays in view for weeks. A pad of 50 sheets puts your name in front of someone 50 times.
Before you order, it helps to know what you're choosing between: size, paper color, adhesive strength, quantity and turnaround. This guide walks through each one so you can order the right pad the first time.
Why genuine 3M Post-it Notes? Every pad we print at Stik2it is genuine 3M Post-it brand, with the same adhesive you buy in stores. Generic sticky notes often curl, fall off or leave residue. Genuine Post-it Notes stick, peel off cleanly and restick. The only 3M branding is on the backer sheet; your printed sheets carry only your design. Every order is printed in the USA and ships from the Midwest.
Choosing a size
The right size depends on how people will use the note.
| Size | Best for |
|---|---|
| 2" x 3" | Small giveaways, trade show bags, reminders |
| 3" x 3" | The classic. Desks, mailers and everyday notes |
| 3.5" x 2" | Business card size. Appointment reminders and leave-behinds |
| 4" x 3" | Room for a logo plus contact details |
| 4" x 4" | Bigger logos and short lists |
| 4" x 6" | Forms, checklists and to-do pads |
| 5" x 3" | Notes with a wider header for your logo and message |
| 8" x 3" | Shopping lists, long reminders and monitor-top notes |
| 8" x 6" | Desk planners, order forms and phone message pads |
| 10" x 3" | Long banners for keyboards, monitors and door tags |
| 10" x 6" | Large desk pads, weekly planners and meeting notes |
Most sizes come in 50-sheet pads. On larger orders (usually 250 pads or more) we also make 25-sheet pads, which lowers the cost per pad for giveaways. Need something else? We cut custom sizes by quote, make large wall pads up to 15.75" x 15.75", and offer custom shapes.
Which edge is sticky? The adhesive strip always runs along the first number in the size, like a header across the top of the note.
| Size | Adhesive along the |
|---|---|
| 2" x 3" | 2" edge |
| 3" x 3" | 3" edge |
| 3.5" x 2" | 3.5" edge |
| 4" x 3" | 4" edge |
| 4" x 4" | 4" edge |
| 4" x 6" | 4" edge |
| 5" x 3" | 5" edge |
| 8" x 3" | 8" edge |
| 8" x 6" | 8" edge |
| 10" x 3" | 10" edge |
| 10" x 6" | 10" edge |
Want a tall, portrait-style note instead? We can turn your design so the adhesive sits on the left or right side at no extra cost. Just say so in the artwork instructions when you order. Need the adhesive on a different edge, like the 6" side of a 4" x 6" pad? We can cut that as a custom item by quote.
Colored paper or full color printing?
This is the choice that confuses most first-time buyers, and it changes your price, minimum and turnaround.
Full color on white paper. We print your design in full color (CMYK) on white Post-it paper, so photos, gradients and multi-color logos all work. Want a colored note? We print the background color right onto the white sheet. The front looks fully colored, the back stays white, and you can still write on it easily. Full color has the lowest minimum (as few as 1 pad) and the fastest turnaround, and it's often the cheapest way to get a color we don't stock, like red.
One ink color on colored paper. We print one ink color on genuine colored Post-it paper, such as Canary Yellow, Recycled Blue or Cosmic Pink. The paper is colored all the way through, front and back. Ink choices are shown for each paper color, because some combinations don't print well. Some premium paper colors are only available on orders of 500 pads or more. See all the options on our colored Post-it Notes page.
Need an exact brand color? Choose Pantone match printing on orders of 500 pads or more.
A few things to know about color:
- We can't print white ink. To get a white logo, we print the background color around it so the logo shows as white paper.
- Send colors as CMYK or Pantone (PMS). Screen colors like RGB and hex codes can't be matched exactly in print.
- On white single-color pads, ink comes in black, red or blue.
Minimums and quantities
Some suppliers make you buy 250 pads or more. At Stik2it, minimums depend on the product:
| Product | Minimum order |
|---|---|
| Full color on white paper | 1 pad |
| One ink color on colored paper | 10 pads |
| Post-it Flags | 100 pads |
| Dynamic Variable (different design on every sheet) | 250 pads |
| Super Sticky, Pantone ink, premium paper colors, 25-sheet pads, printing on the back | 500 pads |
That 1-pad minimum makes it easy to test a design, order for a small team, or make a one-off gift before committing to a big run.
Why can't I order exactly 75 pads? Small orders run in set quantities, so you'll pick from the amounts listed on each product page. The next quantity up usually costs only a little more and brings the price per pad down. Custom quantities are possible on orders over 500 pads; chat with us and we'll set up a cart.
More than one design? For small orders, add each design to your cart as its own item. For larger full-color orders, we can split one quantity across several designs in multiples of 50 pads.
There are never setup fees, and every order includes a free proof.
Regular or Super Sticky?
Super Sticky Post-it Notes use 3M's stronger adhesive. They're made for vertical and hard-to-stick surfaces: doors, windows, computer monitors, file cabinets, trash cans and car windows. If your notes will be left on a door during a canvassing campaign or stuck to a window as a reminder, Super Sticky is worth it.
For desks, calendars, notebooks and everyday giveaways, regular adhesive works well and keeps your minimum and cost lower.
| Regular | Super Sticky | |
|---|---|---|
| Holds on | Paper, desks, notebooks | Doors, glass, monitors, vertical surfaces |
| Paper | White or colored | White (any background color can be printed) |
| Minimum | 1 pad (full color) | 500 pads for most sizes |
| Production | About 3 to 5 business days | About 7 business days |
Artwork and proofs
You don't need a designer to order custom Post-it Notes. You can upload finished artwork, or simply type your text in the artwork instructions box, or upload a Word doc, a photo or even a hand sketch. We'll lay it out for free and send a proof.
If you're preparing your own file:
- Send a PDF if you can, with fonts converted to outlines. Vector files and images at 300 dpi or more print sharpest; JPG and PNG work too.
- Using Canva? Download your design as PDF Print.
- Printing to the edge? Add a 1/8" bleed on every side, and keep phone numbers and other important text at least 3/16" from the edge. Each size has a template on its product page.
- Skip thin borders near the edge. They can look uneven after the pads are cut.
- Want your handwriting on the note? Write it in dark ink on white paper and scan or photograph it. It makes a great personal touch for realtors, teachers and thank-you notes.
You can upload artwork with your order. Have more than one file? Upload one, mention the others in the artwork instructions, and email them to info@stik2it.com with your order number.
Every order gets a free proof. We email a PDF proof, usually within a few hours. Nothing prints until you approve it by replying to the email, and your card isn't charged until then. Want changes? Just reply with what to fix and we'll send a new proof.
Turnaround and shipping
Production starts once you approve your proof and counts business days only:
| Product | Production time |
|---|---|
| Full color on white | About 3 to 5 days |
| One color on colored paper | About 5 to 6 days |
| Super Sticky, Pantone ink, Post-it cubes | About 7 days |
| Dynamic Variable (different design on every sheet) | About 10 days |
Then add shipping. Orders ship by UPS from the Midwest, so UPS Ground reaches most of the US in 1 to 4 business days. 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air are available at checkout.
Have a deadline? Chat with us before you order so we can check the production schedule. Pick a faster shipping option, put your in-hands date in the order comments, and approve your proof as soon as it arrives. The fastest orders are the ones that get approved the same day.
Beyond the standard pad
Once you've got the basics, there are a few specialty options worth knowing about:
- A different design on every sheet. Our 3" x 3" Dynamic Variable pads hold up to 25 or 50 different designs in one pad. Use them for tips, quotes, product photos or a whole calendar.
- Custom Post-it Flags. Each 4" x 3" pad holds four printed 3" x 1" flags, with up to four designs. Great for "sign here" tabs and page markers.
- Post-it cubes. A full cube holds about 760 sheets and a half cube about 390. They're a long-lasting desk piece, printed on the sides.
- Custom shapes. Circles, hearts, leaves and more. Pick from our library of existing shapes, or have a one-time cutting die made for a shape of your own.
- Forms and checklists. Phone message pads, to-do lists and order forms printed on 4" x 6" or 8" x 6" pads put Post-it Notes to work every day.
Ready to order?
Start with the Custom Post-it Notes collection to pick your size and paper, then upload your artwork or type your text. You'll get a free proof before anything prints, and you can order as few as one full-color pad.
Have a question that isn't covered here? Check our FAQ, chat with us on the site, or call 866.292.1821.