Best Waterslide Decal Paper in 2021 [Top 10 Item Revealed]

‘Wow, that decal looks great on it!’

We’re pretty sure you’d be delighted to hear such compliments whenever the people around you notice an attractive decal stuck on your car, mug, or on your bedroom wall.

No doubt, decals add a unique touch to the items they are suited for. You might want to use them for decorating your belongings, gifts, or even for your crafting business.

While you’ll find several types of decal papers in the market, the one that is the easiest to use are waterslide decal papers.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an expert in the crafting world, because anyone can use them!

However, not all of these decal papers are designed to work just the way you want them. With that in mind, we did our bit of research to help you select the best waterslide decal paper.

Keep reading to know more!

What Is Waterslide Paper?

Waterslide paper is a very thin transfer paper that contains a water-based adhesive layer on the back of the paper. It comes in translucent and opaque and can be used to transfer graphics to any smooth surface, such as glass, metal, and wood.

Up until recently, waterslide papers were only available in supplied designs, but now anyone can create their custom designs using printable decal paper for inkjet printers.

Differences Between Translucent And Opaque Decal Paper

Translucent waterslide papers are see-through. When you immerse a translucent waterslide paper in water, the edges of the printed decal blend in and disappear.

That means, when you apply the decal onto a surface, the color of the surface will be visible from under the decal.

While this can affect the coloration of the decal’s image, applying the decal onto a light-colored surface will cause the color to appear brighter.

On the other hand, opaque waterslide papers are fully white. When you apply such a decal onto a light or dark-colored surface, the decal’s color will remain vibrant. Also, if your decal’s image contains white color, which most printers can’t print, then you need to use water slide decal paper for getting the best quality prints.

Top 10 Best Waterslide Decal Papers on The Market 2021

#1. Printers Jack A4 Size Clear Decal Paper for Inkjet Printers

If you’re looking for clear decal paper for inkjet printers, you can check out this one by Printers Jack!

These A4 size papers are of premium quality, and they are made to ensure excellent decal printing. Whether you want to print colorful texts and images, you will get accurate results every time because the paper supports print quality of up to 5760 dpi.

Additionally, the color of your printed decals won’t fade over time nor crack during the transfer process. So, if you plan on using decals for craft projects, they will stay as is.

Since the decal is translucent, you can use it on light-colored mugs, plates, plastic bottles, candles, and wooden surfaces for great results. If you’re into nail art, you can also decorate your nails with beautiful decals!

One thing worth noting- your printed decals won’t be safe in the dishwasher, so if you are using them on tableware, you will need to wash them gently by hand.

For those of you who are using decals for the first time, Printers Jack wants to let you know how you can easily tell apart the front and back sides of the paper. The front side has a soft coated film, while the backside reflects light, and it contains the brand’s watermark all over.

Highlighted Features

• The color of the decal won’t fade
• The decal won’t crack while transferring
• Works on various surfaces
• Can be coated with epoxy resin
• Not dishwasher safe

#2. Hayes Paper Waterslide Paper

Here’s another clear decal paper you can use for your crafting needs, the Clear Waterslide Decal Paper by Hayes Paper.

These decal papers are perfect for both personal and commercial use because it offers premium printing quality. Whichever decal you print, you will get sharp details because of its high printing quality of 5760 dpi.

After printing, your decals won’t smudge, and the color won’t even fade, which are some of the important features you will want to look for in the best waterslide decal paper.

You can use the decals on glass, ceramics, metals, plastics, and jade. Also, you can apply thicker paper for your craft projects.

If you plan to use this clear decal on wood, you can apply a white pickling stain on the wood beforehand to make the decal appear vibrant.

For mugs, bowls, plates, and other tableware keep in mind not to throw the items into the dishwasher because it will cause the decals to melt. In order to protect your decals, there’s no safer option than hand washing.  

For such a reasonable price, you are getting the most out of these decal papers. The pack contains 20 sheets, which are enough to last you for a while.

Highlighted Features

• The color of the decal won’t fade or smudge
• Works on various surfaces
• Does not leave decal edges while transferring
• Can be coated with Mod Podge or acrylic sealant
• Not dishwasher safe

#3. Sunnyscopa Decal Paper

If you’re looking for a more affordable option, you can check out this clear decal paper pack by Sunnyscopa!

These waterslide papers are available in US letter size, and you’ll get 20 sheets in a single pack. That’s more than enough to print decals for personalized gifts, school projects, and also for business purposes!

When it comes to the printing quality, you’ll be getting high-resolution output with vivid colors. Not only that, but the decals adhere well to surfaces, like glass, candles, ceramics, and nails!

In case you face trouble with adhesion, Sunnyscopa suggests you check whether the decal has water bubbles in the adhesive layer or if the applying surface has debris. The presence of either of these can affect adhesion, so you will need to make sure the decal and its applying surface are both clean.

Printing these decal papers on your inkjet printer is very simple. All you need to do is print an image for the heavy decal paper, seal it with an acrylic spray, soak it in water, and then apply it to your desired surface! Additionally, you can apply a coat of varnish to add more durability to your decals.

In order to prevent your decals from getting damaged, you will need to avoid placing them in hot water and also washing them with acetone.

Highlighted Features

• Does not tear easily
• Adheres well to various surfaces
• Comes with clear instructions
• Can be coated with Mod Podge or acrylic sealant
• Not suitable for fabric

#4. Seogol A4 Size Clear Waterslide Paper

Like the previous waterslide paper, this one by Seogol is also affordable, and it helps you with all your crafting projects.

These papers deliver printing quality of up to 5760 dpi, which means even the finest details in your decal will be visible. Plus, the colors will be accurately reproduced, and the ink won’t smudge nor fade over time. Even the decal won’t crack during the transfer process.

You can use the decals on various surfaces, including plastic, ceramic, metal, bamboo, and jade. If you want a decal of your artwork on your mug, phone cover, or key ring, you can have it without a loss in print quality! You can even use the decals on your nails instead of spending dollars in the nail salon.

Since the inks on inkjet printers are water-soluble, Seogol suggests coating the decal with acrylic spray three times after printing. When doing so, you will need to make sure the first coat is completely dry before applying another coat. If you need to dry it faster, you can use a hairdryer.

The brand also recommends not exposing the decal under direct sunlight because it will cause the paper to turn yellow, and hence affect the decal color.

Highlighted Features

• The color of the decal won’t fade or smudge
• The decal won’t crack while transferring
• Can be used on various surfaces
• Can be coated with Mod Podge or acrylic sealant
• Should not be exposed to direct sunlight

#5. Kodiak Supplies A4 Printable Decal

Kodiak Supplies offers the finest waterslide decal paper for inkjet printers. These high-quality papers are bound to give you great decals!

The white decal paper is capable of supporting print quality of up to 5760 dpi, which is necessary for reproducing the fine details and vivid colors of an image. Plus, the adhesive bonds well to surfaces, like glass, ceramics, candles, jade, plastic, wood, marble, and a lot more.

If you plan to use decals on white papers for crafting projects, then this one will work great! The design will be the main focus, which your loved ones will appreciate when you give them gifts embellished with beautiful decals.

A good thing about these decal papers is that they don’t crack or tear easily. While they might look thin, they are indeed sturdy! So, when you are transferring your decal to an item, you can rest assured it will stay as is. Plus, you will find it easy to remove the backing after soaking it in water.

Many users suggest using several coats of acrylic spray on your decal to fully seal it before dipping the decal into water. Doing so will prevent the ink from running out of the paper.

Also, you will need to ensure you let each coat dry before applying the next coat. You can use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process.

Highlighted Features

• The adhesive backing comes off easily
• The decal won’t crack or tear while transferring
• Works on various surfaces
• Requires several coats of sealant before soaking in water
• The decal becomes permanent after 10 minutes

#6. AIVA Paper Group Water slide Decal Paper for Inkjet Printers

The AIVA Paper Group waterslide decal paper is another white-colored decal paper you will want to own for reliable printing results.

These papers are of US letter size, and you will be getting 20 sheets in a pack. So, if you are planning to print multiple decals, you can easily do so without worrying about the papers running out.

When it comes to print quality, these papers will deliver sharp images at 5760 dpi. Not only that, you will get vibrant colors, which won’t fade over time. There’ll be no mess in your printed decal because the paper holds up the ink well and resists smudges.

Whether you want to use decals for personal or commercial projects, these papers are an ideal choice. The decals will bond well onto plastics, metals, glass, and many more! You can also apply them to your nails instead of taking a trip to the nail salon.

What you’ll love about these papers is that they are removable. So, if you think you need to reposition your decal, you can gently lift it, and it will come off without leaving any residue on the surface!

AIVA Paper Group recommends not using the decals on fabric or in the dishwasher as doing so can damage the paper.

Highlighted Features

• Resists smudge and fading
• Works on various surfaces
• Not suitable for use on fabrics
• The decal removes easily without leaving residue
• Not dishwasher safe

#7. Rolurious Decal Transfer Paper

These A4-sized decal papers by Rolurious are bound to cut the costs of your crafting business.

The packet contains 20 sheets, which are enough to let you print as many decals as you need. Plus, you can use them on a wide range of solid surfaces, including ceramics, crystal, jade, bamboo, plastic, wood, metal, shell, and marble. Not to mention, you can use the decals to decorate your nails too!

If you’re a beginner when it comes to printing decals, then this is the right paper because it is very simple to use. All you need to do is print your decal, apply sealant on it, soak it in water, and you’re ready to go!

When you’re applying sealant before immersing the decal into the water, you will need to dry each coat before applying the next one.

After applying the decal on any item, it will generally take one to three days for it to dry naturally. If you’re using the decal on an oven-safe item, Rolurious recommends baking it in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes at a temperature of 100 to 110 degrees Celsius. If you don’t have an oven, you can microwave it for 30 seconds.

Highlighted Features

• Resists smudge and wear
• Works on various surfaces
• Can be baked in the oven or microwaved
• Can be coated with Mod Podge or acrylic sealant
• The backing comes off easily

#8. A-SUB Decal Paper

If you want to decorate those plain glasses lying on the shelf, you can try out this printable decal paper for glass.

The A-SUB waterslide decal paper lets you unleash your creativity. These clear decal papers deliver the right image quality to make your decals stand out. The paper holds the ink well without creating a mess, and it ensures the color remains vibrant for long periods. The decal won’t even smudge nor crack during the transferring process.

Since the inks used on inkjet printers are soluble in water, you will need to apply a thick layer of sealant evenly on the decal. Before doing so, it is recommended you let the ink dry. 

Unlike most decal papers, this one prevents bubbles from forming on the adhesive layer, so you don’t have to go through the hassle of using a hairdryer to remove them.

Since it is a clear decal paper, it will work great on light-colored surfaces. You can use it on glass, ceramics, metals, plastics, candles, and also your fingernails! Wherever you apply the decal, there’ll be no visible edges, so your loved ones will appreciate the neat-looking decals on their gifts.

If you use the decals on tableware, don’t forget to hand wash it instead of using the dishwasher!

Highlighted Features

• The color of the decal won’t fade or smudge
• The decal won’t crack while transferring
• Prevents the formation of bubbles
• Works on various surfaces
• Not dishwasher safe

#9. Epoch Paper White Decal Paper for Glass

For your personal or commercial projects, you don’t have to choose separate decal papers, because these papers by Epoch Paper are made to handle both!

These A4-sized papers deliver a high printing quality of up to 5760 dpi every time you print your decals. Plus, the paper will reproduce the exact color of the image while maintaining its vibrancy. You can use these white decal papers on various surfaces, including metal, glass, ceramics, bamboo, paper, and many more!

When it comes to printing, you will need to be aware of the ink brand you use. If you use ink cartridges by the same brand as your inkjet printer, the paper will deliver the optimum results, otherwise, the ink will bleed.

Apart from that, you will need to apply light coats of sealing spray before soaking the decal in water.

After transferring the decal, Epoch Paper recommends letting it dry naturally for a minimum of three hours. If you have applied the decal on an oven-proof ceramic, setting the temperature at 200 degrees Fahrenheit and baking the ceramic for 15 to 20 minutes will cure the decal.

Like most decal papers, this one isn’t dishwasher safe, so you will need to wash tableware gently with your hands.

Highlighted Features

• The color of the decal will remain vibrant
• The backing paper comes off easily
• Works on various surfaces
• Can be baked in the oven
• Not dishwasher safe

#10. MECOLOUR Premium Waterslide Transfer Paper

Despite being the cheapest option on the list, this decal paper for inkjet printer by MECOLOUR serves well for your crafting needs.

This clear paper comes in a pack of 5 sheets, which you will want to use for small projects. It ensures excellent printing quality at 5760 dpi, so all the intricate designs will appear sharp. Not only that, but the color will appear vibrant, and it won’t fade over time.

When transferring the decal onto a surface, the decal won’t crack nor tear because the paper is made of durable material. Also, the decal will adhere well to the surface without showing visible edges. You can use the decal on various surfaces, such as paper, jade, ceramics, metal, glass, plastic, and bamboo.

For drying the decal you can either let it dry naturally or bake it in the oven. If you want your decal to air dry, you will need to wait three hours for it to dry completely. You shouldn’t expose the decal under direct sunlight as it can cause the decal to wear off the surface.

If you are using decals on oven-safe ceramics, you can bake it in the oven at 110 degrees Celsius for 10 to 15 minutes. When done, you will need to let it sit for three days for the decal to dry naturally. It is recommended not to put the ceramic into the dishwasher as it can melt the decal.

Highlighted Features

• The color of the decal won’t fade
• The decal won’t crack or tear while transferring
• Works on various surfaces
• Can be baked in the oven
• Not dishwasher safe

Comparison Chart for Top 10 Waterslide Decal Papers

Waterslide Decal Paper Buying Guide : What Should To Look?

Printer Type

1. Inkjet Printer

Inkjet printers are commonly used at homes and offices around the globe. This type of printer uses ink to print text documents and images.

When printing on an inkjet decal paper, an inkjet printer projects tiny droplets of ink onto it which requires some time to dry up.

2. Laser Printer

Laser printers are mostly used in offices since this type of printer can handle a large volume of documents. Unlike inkjet printers, laser printers use toner to print text documents and images.

When printing on a laser decal paper, a laser printer passes a laser beam over a negatively charged drum, which then gathers the electrically charged toner and allows the toner to fuse onto the paper. The toner fuses with the help of heat generated by the laser printer, so the printed image doesn’t require drying time.

It is worth noting that some inkjet decal papers will also work on laser printers, but you can’t use laser decal papers on inkjet printers. For proper functioning, we recommend you choose a decal paper that is compatible with your printer.

Paper Size

Waterslide decal papers are typically available in A4 and US letter sizes. When it comes to the differences between these two paper sizes, a US letter paper is slightly wider and shorter than an A4 paper.

If you want to print more decals on a single sheet, a US letter paper is ideal. In that case, make sure your printer can accommodate the paper size.

Paper Quantity

If you are going to print a large number of decals, look for a pack containing 20 or more decal sheets. There are also five-sheet packs available for fulfilling your small-volume printing needs.

Surface Material

While decal papers work on any smooth surface, you shouldn’t forget the fact that not all papers are designed to go with all surfaces.

For example, some decal papers may not work on high-fiber surfaces, such as wood, but will work on glass, metal, or other surfaces. It is a good idea to note the surface materials on which you are going to apply your decal and then look for decal papers that work on such surfaces.

Base Color

Waterslide decal papers come in both translucent and white colors. However, using either of these decal papers on the wrong-colored base will lessen the vividness of the decal.

If you want to apply your decal on a light-colored surface, you will need translucent decal papers, and for dark-colored surfaces, white decal papers work great.

White decal papers can also fill in the white areas of your printed decal that your printer cannot print.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Can I Use Waterslide Decal Paper On?

You can use waterslide paper to transfer colored images onto any smooth surface, like glass, wood, metal, bamboo, ceramic, plastic, marble, and candles. Many craft enthusiasts prefer this type of paper to add a personal touch to their items.

Is Waterslide Decal Paper Dishwasher-Safe?

Waterslide decal papers aren’t dishwasher-safe. Although, sealing the decal with an acrylic sealant will prevent the ink from running off, putting the ‘decaled’ tableware into the dishwasher will damage the decal (and also the tableware if it isn’t dishwasher-safe).

However, you can take an extra step to protect the decal. You can either use Mod Podge, epoxy, or a laminating sheet on top of the decal to make it dishwasher-safe.

How Does Waterslide Decal Paper Work?

Waterslide decal papers are typically printed face up. These papers contain dextrose corn sugar and glucose, which are responsible for bonding the decal onto the surface. While dextrose corn sugar gives the decal sliding ability, glucose supports adhesion.

Where To Buy Waterslide Decal Paper?

If you don’t want to take a trip to the stationery shop, you have the convenience of ordering waterslide decal papers from your home. You’ll find reviews on the products as well, so you can have a read at them before placing an order.

Amazon offers a wide range of decal papers suited for various surfaces. You will find both white and translucent papers by different brands for your laser or inkjet printer. Also, the papers are available in different sizes, so you can select the size you need. 

Final Word

In this modern world, we always tend to look for the simplest ways of doing something, don’t we? Not only can we save our valuable time but also minimize the effort we would need to put on otherwise.

That’s to say, unlike rub-on decals, waterslide decals don’t require rubbing for transferring graphics. All you need to do is submerge the paper in the water and let the magic happen!

And if it’s done with the best water slide decal paper, there’s no room for disappointment regarding the graphic quality or surface compatibility. You’ll enjoy getting the most out of it!