How to Order a Rubber Stamp From Your Own Design
Updated 28 September 2026
Designed a stamp you like? Here's how to turn it into a physical rubber stamp — what file to send, which size and type to choose, and the mistakes that make a stamp print badly.
1. Design and download
Create the stamp in the stamp maker and download the PNG. Set the opacity to 100% before downloading — shops need solid black-and-white artwork, not a faded look. The ink colour on the design doesn't matter; you choose the ink when ordering.
2. Pick the stamp type
- Self-inking — the most popular. The ink pad is built in; thousands of impressions before re-inking. Best for offices.
- Pre-inked — sharper, cleaner prints, good for detailed logos. A little more expensive.
- Traditional wooden — needs a separate ink pad. Cheap, and you can switch ink colours.
3. Pick the size
Match the size to your design: round stamps are usually 30–50 mm, rectangular ones 38 × 14 mm to 70 × 30 mm. See our stamp size guide for what fits how many lines.
4. Check the design will print cleanly
- Line thickness: very thin lines (under about 0.2–0.3 mm at final size) may not print. Use a border width of at least 4–5 px in the maker.
- Text size: keep text at least 2 mm tall at the final size, or it fills in with ink.
- Logos: use a single-colour, high-contrast version. Gradients and photos don't work on rubber.
- Don't mirror it yourself: stamp makers mirror the artwork automatically. If you flip it, it will print backwards.
5. Upload and order
Most online stamp shops have an "upload your own design" option that accepts PNG, PDF or JPG. Some ask for vector files (SVG, EPS, AI) for the sharpest result; if yours does, many will convert your PNG for a small fee. Order a proof if the shop offers one, and check spelling, phone numbers and email addresses carefully — they can't be fixed after the rubber is cut.
6. Ink colours
Black and blue are standard for company and address stamps; red and green are common for status stamps like PAID or APPROVED. Self-inking stamps come with one colour; replacement pads let you switch later.
Frequently asked questions
What file format do stamp shops accept?
Most accept PNG, JPG and PDF; some prefer vector formats like SVG or EPS. The 500 × 500 px PNG from the stamp maker works for stamps up to about 42 mm.
Should I mirror my design before ordering?
No. The stamp maker mirrors it when making the rubber plate. Send the design the right way round.
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.