What a static cling is
A static cling is a soft, thin film with no adhesive. It holds to smooth, clean glass on its own, so you can peel it off, move it and put it back as often as you like, and it leaves nothing behind.
Our clings are printed on clear cling film with white ink behind the colours, so the colours stay solid instead of see-through. They go on the inside of the glass and are seen through it from outside.
Two things to know. Clings are trimmed to a rectangle — the film isn't cut to the shape of the artwork — so a cling is always a square or rectangular piece on the glass. And they're an indoor film that holds up longer out of direct sun; on a south- or west-facing Las Vegas storefront that bakes all afternoon, a decal is the safer choice.
What a window decal is
A window decal is printed vinyl with an adhesive back. It stays where it's put, can go on either side of the glass, and comes in more kinds than a cling:
- Clear vinyl — only your artwork shows on the glass, with white ink behind the colours. A long-term adhesive: made to stay up.
- Frosted film — the etched-glass look for privacy, printed on or cut into bands, logos and patterns. An indoor film that comes off clean. See frosted window film.
- Blockout vinyl — solid white film printed in full colour, hiding the view completely. Inside or out; comes off clean.
- One-way perforated film — full colour from outside, a view out from inside. Goes on the outside; comes off clean. See perforated window film.
- Cut lettering — letters with no film between them, for hours, names and logos. See vinyl lettering.
Shapes, sides and reading direction
Clear, frosted and blockout decals can be cut to the shape of your artwork or into lettering; one-way film is trimmed to the glass. If your graphic is a logo with clear glass all around it, it's a decal.
A decal on the inside of the glass that has to read from the street is printed reversed, with the white layer behind the colours, so it reads the right way through the glass — the window quote asks which side it's going on and does that for you. A cling is seen through the glass by design, so you don't need to do anything different for it.
Side by side
| Feature | Static cling | Window decal |
|---|---|---|
| How it holds | No adhesive — clings to smooth glass | Adhesive vinyl |
| Side of the glass | Inside only | Inside or outside, depending on the film |
| Outdoors | No — an indoor film | Yes, on clear, blockout or one-way film |
| Shape | Trimmed to a rectangle | Rectangle, cut to shape, or cut lettering |
| Move and reuse | Yes — peel it, store it on its backing, put it back | No — it goes up once |
| Coming off | Nothing to leave behind | One-way, frosted and blockout come off clean; clear lettering film takes more work |
| Sun | Holds up longer out of direct sun | Clear, blockout and one-way are rated for outdoor use |
| Good for | Seasonal sales, rotating offers, rented space, event glass | Store hours, branding, privacy, storefront graphics that stay up |
How to choose
- How long is it up? A weekend sale, a holiday, an event week: a cling. Anything that should still be there next season: a decal.
- Which side of the glass? If it has to go on the outside — one-way storefront film, or glass you can't reach from inside — it's a decal.
- Will it come down and go back up? Rotating offers and seasonal displays that return every year suit a cling. Keep the backing sheet to store it on.
- Whose glass is it? A lease, a hotel's retail rules or a venue may limit adhesives on glass. A cling leaves nothing behind; one-way, frosted and blockout decals come off clean too. Ask before you order.
- What shape is the graphic? A logo or lettering with clear glass around it needs a decal cut to shape. Clings are rectangles.
- How much sun? A storefront that bakes all afternoon is decal territory. Clings like shade.
- Privacy or a view? Neither a clear cling nor a clear decal gives privacy. For privacy, use frosted film; to keep a view out through a full-colour graphic, one-way film.
Clings and decals at event venues
Convention venues care about what's left on their glass. At the Las Vegas Convention Center, window signs — static clings included — must leave no residue; clings on glass doors must be see-through or keep a 4-inch clear border and not cover the door's own stickers; and nothing goes on escalator glass.
At Venetian Expo, every cling — floor, wall, column or window — needs the Expo Event Manager's approval before it goes up, must be an approved material, and is installed and removed by the show's general contractor.
So for show glass, ask your show which material it approves and who applies it before you design. We print to the venue's and the show's spec and deliver for move-in — see the LVCC graphics rules and Venetian Expo graphics.
Sources: LVCC Facility Guide, July 2026, pp. 7–8, as of October 2026; Venetian Expo General Contractor & Production Guide, p. 6, as of October 2026. Rules change each season — confirm with your show.
Putting them up and taking them down
Clings: clean the glass, mist it lightly if the cling is large, and smooth it from the centre out with a squeegee or a soft card. To take it down, peel from a corner and lay it straight back on its backing sheet, flat or loosely rolled, so it's ready for next time.
Decals: small ones go up dry, masked with application tape. Big graphics and full panes are easier left to an installer, because adhesive film is hard to reposition once it's down. Our crew cleans the glass, applies and trims the film, and can come back to take it down when you're done — see installation.
Pricing either one
Clings and decals both price instantly in the window graphics quote. For a cling, answer “What should the glass do?” with Short promo, put it on the inside, and say it must come off clean — the quote recommends static cling. For a decal, pick the goal — lettering, privacy, see-through or solid — and the quote recommends the film and says why. Either way the price is for your own glass, and these are the things that change it:
- The glass area
- The film (one-way, clear, frosted, static cling, blockout)
- White ink behind the colours on clear film
- Cut lettering and application tape
- Installation, height and access
- Turnaround
Questions we get
What's the difference between a window cling and a window decal?
A cling has no adhesive: it holds to smooth glass on its own, goes on the inside, and can be peeled off and put back. A decal is adhesive vinyl — clear, frosted, blockout or one-way — that stays put, can go on the outside of the glass and is made to last longer.
Are window clings reusable?
Yes. Peel a cling off from a corner, lay it back on its backing sheet and store it flat or loosely rolled, and it can go back up next season. Keep it clean and out of the heat while it's stored.
Do static clings work on the outside of a window?
No. Static cling is an indoor film; it goes on the inside of the glass and is seen through it. For the outside, use an adhesive decal on clear, blockout or one-way film.
Do static clings stay up in the Las Vegas heat?
Out of direct sun, they hold up well for a promotion or a season. On glass that takes hours of afternoon sun, heat is hard on clings — a decal is the safer choice there.
Will window decals damage the glass or leave residue?
One-way, frosted and blockout decals are made to come off glass clean. Clear lettering film uses a long-term adhesive, so removal takes more time and a clean-up of the glass. A cling has no adhesive to leave.
Can a static cling be cut to the shape of my logo?
Our clings are trimmed to a rectangle, not cut to shape. For a logo or lettering with clear glass around it, use a decal on clear, frosted or blockout film cut to the artwork.
Which is cheaper, a cling or a decal?
It depends on the size, the film and any cutting, so there's no rule of thumb. Try both in the window graphics quote: change the goal and the price updates for your glass.