A sticker on the window is often the first thing a customer reads about a business: the name, the hours, the logo, the QR code for the menu. Window stickers and decals are cheap, quick to change and readable from the footpath, which is why so many Australian shopfronts, offices and cafés use them.
This guide covers what goes where on shop glass, the safety markings glass doors may need, the council rules for window signs, sizes that read from the street, and how to apply and remove vinyl on glass.
What can window stickers do for a shop?
- Logo on the door — the simplest way to make a plain glass door look like your business.
- Opening hours — the question every passer-by asks when the shop is closed.
- QR code — to a menu, a booking page, Google reviews or your Instagram.
- Payment and service stickers — cards accepted, delivery partners, "dogs welcome".
- Glass door markings — the band that stops people walking into the glass, which can carry your branding too.
Do glass doors need safety stickers?
Often, yes. Two Australian Standards deal with making glass visible, and a glass door in a shop or office may need to meet one or both.
AS 1288 (glass in buildings) calls for glass doors and side panels to be marked where the glass isn't already made obvious by frames, rails or other features. The marking is an opaque band at least 20mm tall, placed between roughly 700mm and 1200mm above the floor, and it has to be easy to see.
AS 1428.1 (access and mobility) applies to accessible entries under the National Construction Code: frameless or fully glazed doors and sidelights on an accessway need a solid line at least 75mm wide across the glass, with its lower edge 900–1000mm above the floor and at least 30% luminance contrast with what is behind it.
The marking doesn't have to be plain. Industry guidance says a pattern or a repeated logo can serve as the band, as long as it meets the height, width and contrast requirements. Your builder, glazier or building certifier can confirm what applies to your premises; the Australian Building Codes Board explains the accessway requirement in its guide to glazing on an accessway.
Do I need council approval for window stickers?
Usually not for small signs, but there are limits. In NSW, a business sign on the inside of a shop window is exempt development if it covers no more than 20% of the window or 6 square metres, whichever is smaller, along with some general conditions such as the landowner's consent. The NSW Planning advertising and signage fact sheet sets out the details.
Other states and individual councils have their own rules, and heritage areas and shopping centres often add more. If you plan to cover a large part of a window, check with your council or centre management first.
What size window sticker reads from the street?
People read shop windows from the footpath, about 3 to 5 metres away. Sign makers work on roughly 1cm of letter height for every 1.2 metres, so the important words need letters of at least 3–4cm.
| Sticker | Good starting size |
|---|---|
| Logo on a glass door | 15 × 15cm die cut |
| Opening hours | 10 × 15cm rectangle |
| QR code at a counter or door | 8.5cm square |
| Payment or "we're open" sticker | 7.5–10cm circle |
| Full window lettering | Ask us: we print up to 60cm |
Try any size on a shop door in our decal size planner.
Inside or outside the glass?
Our standard stickers are printed on the face, so they go on the outside of the glass, reading normally. The protective laminate takes the weather, so outside works well for doors, counters and car windows.
Stickers that sit on the inside of the glass and read through it are printed in reverse, sometimes called second-surface printing. They are protected from weather and from people picking at them, which suits busy shopfronts. If that's what you need, ask us before ordering.
For glass, our clear finish lets the window show around the design. Keep in mind that light colours look lighter against dark glass or a dark shop interior, so bold, high-contrast designs work best.
Can stickers crack a window?
Small stickers aren't a concern. Glass makers do warn that covering large areas of some glass, particularly tinted or large single panes, with dark film can cause heat stress and cracking in strong sun. If you're planning to black out most of a big pane, check with a glazier first.
How do I apply and remove a window sticker?
Glass is the easiest surface there is for vinyl. Clean it with soapy water, rinse and dry, and apply out of direct sun. For anything bigger than your hand, the wet method makes positioning easy: our guide to applying a vinyl decal without bubbles walks through it.
To remove a sticker, warm it with a hairdryer and peel slowly at a low angle. On plain glass, any leftover adhesive comes off with a little methylated spirits or adhesive remover and a cloth.
Car windows
Car glass has its own rules: the windscreen and front side windows need to stay clear, and the rear window depends on mirrors and state rules. See car and ute decals: what's legal where before putting anything on a car window.
For shopfronts, start with die cut stickers for a logo, rectangles for opening hours, or squares for a QR code. We print in Sydney within 1–2 business days and ship free Australia-wide.
