The Ultimate Guide to Rubber Stamps – Types, Uses, Brands & Customisation

Whether you're a business owner, teacher, creative, or legal professional, rubber stamps can help you work smarter, faster, and with more flair. In this guide, we break down everything you need to know about stamps—from the best brands to the right types and uses—so you can choose the perfect stamp for your needs. 

Read our Rubber Stamp Guide UK below.

🔹 What Is a Rubber Stamp?

A rubber stamp is a tool used to create ink imprints of designs, text, or logos on paper or packaging. While originally made from natural rubber and wood, today’s stamps come in self-inking, pre-inked, and traditional styles, often with customisable designs for business and personal use.

🧰 Types of Rubber Stamps

Let’s explore the main types of rubber stamps and how they’re commonly used:

✅ Self-Inking Stamps

• Built-in ink pad

• Re-inks automatically after each impression

• Great for fast, repetitive stamping

• Popular for business use

🔗 Explore Self-Inking Rubber Stamps

✅ Pre-Inked Stamps

• Ink built into the stamp surface

• Clean and sharp impressions

• Ideal for high-quality logos or signatures

✅ Traditional Rubber Stamps

• Used with a separate ink pad

• Simple, cost-effective, and classic

• Great for creative or craft use

✨ Top Uses for Rubber Stamps

Rubber stamps serve dozens of professional and personal purposes. Here are the most common:

📌 Popular Pick:

Certified True Copy of an Original Document Stamp

🏆 Best Rubber Stamp Brands

Looking for quality and reliability? Here’s a breakdown of the most trusted stamp brands available:

🟥 Trodat

One of the world’s most popular stamp manufacturers, Trodat is known for its:

• High-quality self-inking mechanisms

• Professional-grade durability (e.g., Trodat Professional 5208)

• Eco-friendly manufacturing
  Perfect for high-volume use in offices or legal firms.

🟦 Colop

Colop offers modern, compact, and user-friendly designs. Highlights include:

• Clear, clean impressions

• A range of colours and sizes

• Sleek styles for creatives and businesses alike

Great for those who want function and flair in their everyday stamps.

🟨 Shiny

Shiny stamps are a budget-friendly, reliable option. You’ll find:

• Pre-inked and self-inking choices

• Wide size and colour range

• Long-lasting ink quality

Ideal for schools, small businesses, and hobby crafters.

🟩 StampDesign4U Custom Range

We also proudly offer our in-house collection at StampDesign4U.co.uk:

• Fully personalised logo and text stamps

• Fast production and UK delivery

• Quality-assured impressions

Custom options from 5-line text stamps to business logo stamps – made for any professional use.

🎨 Customising Your Own Stamp

Creating your own custom stamp is simple:

1. Choose your style: Self-inking, pre-inked, or traditional

2. Upload your design: A logo, address, or 5-line custom message

3. Select ink colour: Black, red, blue, green, violet

4. Approve proof (if needed): For high-accuracy designs

5. Place your order: Fast dispatch from our UK workshop

Start with our Custom Logo Stamp Collection

📦 What to Look for in a Quality Stamp

Before you buy, consider:

• ✅ Impression Size: Will your logo/text fit and stay readable?

• ✅ Ink Longevity: Will it last through 1,000+ uses?

• ✅ Material Quality: Durable casing and clean rubber impressions

• ✅ Speed: Does the brand offer express UK delivery?

At StampDesign4U, we tick every box — plus, we’re real people happy to help with every order.

🚀 Final Thoughts

Rubber stamps remain essential tools for branding, efficiency, and creativity. Whether you need a small custom stamp for your Etsy store or a professional certification tool for legal documents, the right brand and design matter.

Want help choosing the best stamp? Contact our friendly team for impartial advice or explore our bestsellers today. 

See How to Choose the Right Rubber Stamp for your Business.