Label storage boxes and bins with name tags

Labelling storage boxes: contents or name?

Most products sold for labelling boxes are about the contents: label holders, cards to slide in, labels to write or print on, and symbols for toys. This works as long as the box stays on the same shelf. But a box labelled "Lego" says nothing about who it belongs to when it is among ten identical boxes at preschool or in a shared storage room.

What you want to solve	Suitable labelling	Why
Find the right box at home without opening it	Label holder with card, writable label or picture symbol	The contents change, so the label needs to be replaceable
Children who are going to tidy up themselves	Picture symbol for the contents, preferably a name if the box belongs to the child	Young children read pictures before they read words
Box or bin that leaves home (preschool, after-school club, sports practice, party)	Name label on the front	Whoever finds the box can immediately see whose it is
Siblings with identical boxes	One name label per child, preferably in different colours	The argument is about whose box it is, not what is inside it
Shared storage room, laundry room, basement	Name label with surname and phone number	Neighbours and property managers can get in touch instead of throwing them away
Warehouse, workshop, shop	Labels from a label printer, inventory cards or magnetic strips	Many items and codes, labels change frequently

Lappu only sells self-adhesive name labels. All labels in a set have the same text, so they are suitable for names, not for writing different contents on each box. For the contents at home, we recommend something you can change; for the owner, a name label.

When the name is what matters

Boxes and bins rarely go missing at home. They disappear when they leave home. Here are the most common situations:

• The preschool's spare-clothes box. Children often have their own box or bin on the shelf. Identical boxes get moved around when staff are tidying up, and a name label on the front ensures the right box ends up in the right place. See also name labels for preschool.
• Siblings' toy boxes. The same model in the same color, and suddenly it is unclear whose cars are where. One name label per child is enough.
• Crates that are lent out. Crates for parties, flea markets, moving help, or a neighbor's harvest. A borrowed crate with a name on it is easy to return to the right person.
• Shared spaces. A basement storage room with wire-mesh partitions, a laundry room, or a bike room. An unnamed box may be perceived as abandoned.
• Sports and after-school activities. Small boxes with hair ties, tape, or beads that go along with the child.

Give each child their own color or motif. Then even a child who cannot read can recognize their box.

Children's boxes: picture for the contents, name for the owner

Many preschools use pictures and symbols to show where things belong. The Swedish National Agency for Special Needs Education describes how visual support gives children structure and predictability and makes them more independent. The same idea works at home: a picture of a car on the car box and a picture of blocks on the block box make it easier for the child to tidy up independently.

Feel free to combine the two. The picture symbol shows what belongs in the box and is placed where it can be seen from above or from the front. The name label goes in a corner and shows whose box it is. If the child changes rooms or the box goes along to Grandma's, the name is what still remains correct.

Boxes whose contents change

Seasonal clothing, arts and crafts supplies, and saved children's clothes in different sizes change contents. Do not write the contents directly on the box if you know they will change. Two long-lasting options:

• Label holder with card. You replace the card, not the label.
• Number and list. Give each box a number and write a list on your phone or on the storage-room door showing what is in each one. Then you do not have to relabel them when you move things between the boxes.

The name of the box does not change, so that is where a self-adhesive name label is most useful.

Which boxes the label sticks to

Our name labels stick to plastic, metal, glass, and leather, and to fabric via the care label. They can withstand machine washing at up to 60°C, tumble drying, and dishwashers at up to 60°C. Read more about what name labels can withstand.

Type of box	Name label?	Comment
Plastic box, plastic crate, stackable box	Yes	The most common case. A smooth surface provides the best adhesion.
Tin box, metal bin	Yes	Wipe off dust and grease first.
Small plastic boxes that are washed	Yes	Dishwasher-safe up to 60°C once the adhesive has cured.
Fabric box or fabric container without a care label	No	The label adheres to fabric via the care label, not to the fabric itself. If the box has a care label, it can be used.
Woven basket	No	No smooth surface. Hang a label or a tag from the handle instead.
Cardboard and wooden box	No information	Not included in our specifications. A marker is sufficient for moving boxes.

We also have no information about how the labels withstand freezing temperatures or a cold storage unit. Try it on one box first if that is where it will be kept.

Where the label should go

• On the front, the short side facing out into the room. That is the side you see when the box is on a shelf or in a stack.
• Not only on the lid. Lids are easily switched between identical boxes. You can also place a label on the lid, but always put one on the box itself.
• Not on the bottom. It will not be visible, and it will wear when the box is pulled back and forth.
• Not over a handle opening or an edge. The label needs a flat surface all the way across.

For boxes that need to be visible from a distance, large name labels are suitable. For small boxes and cases, regular name labels are enough. In a living room where the boxes are on display, you can choose a simple design without a motif so that the label does not take over.

How to label the boxes, step by step

1. Sort first. Decide what should go in each box and whose it is. It is easier to label an established arrangement than to relabel.
2. Wipe the surface. The surface must be clean and dry. Dust and grease are what most often cause a label to come loose.
3. Place the name label on the front. Press firmly for approximately 10 seconds, especially in the corners.
4. Wait one day before washing or cleaning the box. The adhesive needs approximately 24 hours to cure.
5. Add the contents. Place a label holder, a picture symbol, or a writable label where it is visible if you want to show what is in the box.

Calculation example: two children and one storage unit

A calculation example to show how far one pack goes. The numbers of boxes are made up; the prices are Lappus prices.

• Child 1: four toy boxes, the box with spare clothes at preschool, and its lid. Six large name labels.
• Child 2: five toy boxes and one craft bin. Six large name labels.
• The family’s boxes in the basement storage: eight bins with surnames and phone numbers. Eight large name labels.

Since all labels in a set have the same text, you need one set per name: three sets of large name labels with 30 in each. One set costs SEK 139, or approximately SEK 4.63 per label. The leftover labels can be used on the backpack, lunch box, and water bottle. If you need to label many small boxes and containers, regular name labels offer more labels for your money: 124 for SEK 139, approximately SEK 1.12 per label.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find label holders for drawers?

Label holders are available from furniture stores, hardware stores, office supply stores, and home decor shops, in plastic, metal, and brass. Some are screwed on, while others are self-adhesive or hang over the edge. Lappu does not sell label holders, only self-adhesive name labels.

How can I create my own adhesive labels?

For contents, you can buy A4 label sheets and print them on a regular printer, use a label printer, or write by hand. For names, you can design name labels online with us: choose a design, color, and font and see the result right away. All labels in a set have the same text.

Where is the best place to store lunch boxes in a cupboard?

Place them near the sink or dishwasher so they are easy to put away and take out. Stack the boxes inside one another and store the lids upright in a separate box so you can find the right lid more quickly. Lunch boxes taken to school or work can be labeled with a name label that is dishwasher-safe up to 60°C.

What are some smart storage tips?

Sort before buying boxes, choose boxes of the same size so they can be stacked, and put the heaviest ones at the bottom. Label the contents with something that can be changed and the owner with a name. Boxes that leave the home should always have a name.

How can I best organize my kitchen drawers?

Divide large drawers with organizers or smaller boxes so that each item has its own place. Put the things you use every day at the front. A small label at the bottom of each compartment shows where things should go back.

Does the name label stay on if the container is washed?

Yes, our name labels are dishwasher-safe up to 60°C. Wait approximately 24 hours after applying the label so the adhesive has time to cure. Apply the label to a smooth, clean, dry surface and press the corners firmly.

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