How to Calculate the Layflat of a Shrink Sleeve Label
Tips, Tricks and Best Practices
When designing shrink sleeve labels, one of the most important measurements to get right is the layflat size — the width of the flattened sleeve material before it’s applied to your container. Calculating it correctly ensures your label fits snugly around your container once shrunk, without wrinkles, distortion, or gaps.
Let’s break down how to calculate it and what factors you should consider.
What Is “Layflat”?
Shrink sleeves are a flat piece of film that have been folded in half with the ends seamed together to create a “sleeve” or tube shape. The layflat is the measurement of a seamed shrink sleeve when it’s flattened before application — essentially half the circumference of the sleeve once it’s opened into a tube. However, dividing the circumference in half isn’t always the right answer — you need to account for film properties, container shape, and shrink percentage.
While the general rule of thumb is to divide the container’s largest circumference by 2 and adding a few millimeters of wiggle room, it’s important to know that every container is different, thus every project requires significant testing by an experienced partner.
Ready to Get Started?
At Eastgate Group, we take pride in our ability to build solutions from the ground up. No two projects are the same because every customer has different requirements and expectations. For this reason, it’s important to get us involved as early in the process as possibly so we can bring you a tailored solution. Contact our team today to create remarkably precise package decorating.
