Comparing Kids' Name Labels: Which Should You Buy for Back-to-School?

How many water bottles did your kid lose last school year? We know kids who've lost sneakers, lunch boxes and even winter boots. Whether your kiddo forgot their hoodie on the playground or had their backpack mistaken for another classmate's, the likelihood of their stuff being returned without any means of identification isn't very high.

With school just around the corner, it's time to invest in new name labels. Whether you've bought some in the past or are new to the world of labelling everything your kid owns, keep reading. Below, we compare Colle à Moi, Mabel's Labels and Oliver's Labels so you can find the best packages and products for your forgetful student.

What you need to know about kids' name stickers

While all three companies offer items that are unique to their brand, the types of products and packages available from each are quite similar. For instance, each company offers stick-on labels for accessories, clothing and shoes, as well as bag tags.

These companies also offer pre-set combo packages (e.g., daycare packages, clothing-label packages etc.) for parents who feel spoiled for choice and need help narrowing down their options.

Tip: If you have multiple kids, save money by ordering labels with just their last name. Your kids can share labels and when clothes get handed down, you won't have to update the label

Colle à Moi

Colle à Moi is a women-made company based in Montréal, Canada. As Quebec’s number-one brand, this company is committed to providing high-quality, budget-friendly products to the 100,000+ families who have trusted them over the past 10 years.

Products offered

• Name labels
• Water bottles
• Zipper pulls
• Eraser bands
• Allergy & ID bracelets
• Bag tags
• Personalized custom rulers
• Door hangers
• Stamps
• Stickers

Best package value

The School Combo: $36.50

With a whopping 145 labels of various shapes and sizes and one bag tag, you should have enough labels for every item your child intends to bring to school.

What makes Colle à Moi different?

The women at Colle à Moi know school can be a stressful, overstimulating environment for some kids, so they created the Calming Sensory Label to help soothe those who need it. These labels have a therapeutic texture, promoting concentration while providing comfort for kids who may struggle with nervousness, sensory-overload or ADHD.

Mabel's Labels

Coming from humble beginnings in a Hamilton, Ontario basement, the four moms behind Mabel's Labels have spent over 20 years growing their client base through providing them trendy, waterproof labels. The combination of beloved products and a 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed policy make Mabel's Labels one of Canada's leading brands.

Products offered

• Name labels
• Silicone bands
• Name stamps
• Bag tags

Best package value

Starter Label Pack: $38.50

With the most reviews and highest rating, the Starter Label Pack is the perfect first introduction to Mabel's Labels. This cost-effective combo includes 74 labels of various sizes and shapes and two personalized bag tags.

What makes Mabel's Labels different?

Mabel's Labels offers 18 different combo label packs—the most of the three companies we're comparing—to ensure consumers are equipped for any occasion. And the labels aren't just for kids. Some of these packages include the Preschool Clothing Label Pack ($28.50), Sleepaway Camp Label Pack ($43.75), Seniors Label Pack ($20.00), and the Medical Alert Label Pack (27.50).

Oliver's Labels

Oliver's Labels is a Toronto-based company founded in 2005. With their colourful designs, unrivaled durability and an exclusive tracking feature, this company offers truly premium products for less-than-premium prices.

Products offered

• Name labels (for both kids and adults)
• Wall art
• Car decals

Best package value

Trekker Package: $43.99

Not just for overnight camp, this package isn't the cheapest package, but it offers the most bang for your buck. This package includes 20 original labels, 30 mini labels, six shoe labels, 30 iron-on clothing labels, one large bag tag, and 35 Stick-eez clothing labels.

What makes Oliver's Labels different?

The team behind Oliver's Labels knows that labelled items still aren't exempt from being lost so they created a tracking system exclusive to their brand. Consumers can add Found-it free of charge to their labels. This system adds a unique I.D. code to your labels. If someone finds the lost item, they can report it online using the instructions on the label. When that happens, you receive an email and can contact the person who found your kid's water bottle or jacket.