Company Stamp: What to Include and How to Make One
Updated 28 September 2026
A company stamp makes paperwork look consistent and professional. Here's what to put on it, how to lay it out, and where a stamp does (and doesn't) carry legal weight.
The usual contents
- Full company name, including the legal form (Ltd, LLC, Inc., GmbH, SARL…).
- Address — street, postcode and city, or just the city on a round stamp.
- Contact details — phone, email or website.
- Registration or VAT/tax number, if you often need it on documents.
- Logo — optional, but it makes the stamp recognisable at a glance.
Layout examples
Round stamp: company name on the top arc, city and country on the bottom arc, logo or founding year in the centre. This is the classic look and works well on letters and certificates. Open the company stamp template.
Rectangular stamp: 3–5 lines — name in bold on the first line, then address, then contact details. This is better for delivery notes, envelopes and invoices where the recipient needs your details.
Does a company stamp make a document legally valid?
It depends on the country:
- Germany, the UK, the US and most of Europe: companies are not required to use a stamp. Contracts are made valid by signatures from authorised people, not by a stamp. A stamp is a convenience and a sign of professionalism.
- China and some other countries: the official company seal ("chop") is legally significant, often more than a signature, and must be registered and made by an authorised maker. A stamp you design online is not a substitute for a registered official seal.
- Many countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia: banks and authorities often expect a company stamp next to signatures in practice, even where the law doesn't strictly require it.
If a stamp is legally important where you do business, ask the authority or bank involved what they accept. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Digital and physical versions
Many businesses keep both: a digital PNG for PDFs and emailed invoices, and a self-inking rubber stamp for paper. Design it once in the stamp maker, download the PNG, and send the same file to a stamp shop — see how to order a rubber stamp from your design.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a company stamp to open a business bank account?
In most European countries and the US, no. Some banks elsewhere still ask for one on forms — check with your bank.
Should the stamp include my VAT number?
Only if you regularly need it on documents such as delivery notes. It keeps paperwork quicker but makes the stamp larger.
Popular templates
More guides
- How to Add a Stamp to a PDF (Free, 4 Ways)
Step-by-step: put a stamp image on any PDF for free with Adobe Acrobat Reader, macOS Preview, Microsoft Word or Google Docs. No paid software needed.
- How to Add a Stamp in Word (Every Page or Just One)
Put a stamp image in a Word document: insert it in front of text, keep the transparent background, repeat it on every page with the header, and export to PDF.
- Stamp Size Guide: Common Sizes in mm, Inches and Pixels
Standard rubber stamp sizes for round and rectangular stamps in mm and inches, plus how many pixels you need to print a digital stamp sharply.