Written by Acorn Sales Company, manufacturing stamps and seals since 1964 · Reviewed by Holly R, VP of Sales and Marketing at Acorn Sales, against the Acorn Sales stamp pad and stamp ink listings on September 25, 2026 · Updated October 16, 2026
Choose a stamp pad that is larger than your stamp's impression and inked for the surface you are marking. Acorn's cloth stamp pads run from 1-1/2″ x 2-3/4″ at $5.95 to 9-1/4″ x 12-1/4″ at $99.95. The smaller pads come inked in red, blue, black, green or violet, or dry for special inks such as fabric ink and quick drying ink.
Which stamps need a stamp pad?
Stamps without their own ink. Wood handle rubber stamps, Shiny Duo hand stamps and some daters, such as the line date stamps and the Trodat 3450, need a separate pad, and their listings say so.
Self-inking and pre-inked stamps have the ink built in, and their listings say no separate ink pad is required. If yours is one of those, it does not need a stamp pad.
What size stamp pad do you need?
Pick a pad that is longer and wider than the rubber die, so the whole impression inks in one press. A 1-5/8″ square address stamp fits the 2-1/4″ x 3-1/2″ PAD-0, and a 3/8″ x 3″ signature stamp needs a pad longer than 3″, such as the PAD-0 at 3-1/2″ or the PAD-1 at 4-1/4″.
| Pad | Size | Price | Comes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAD-00 | 1-1/2″ x 2-3/4″ | $5.95 | Inked in 5 standard colors, or dry |
| PAD-0 | 2-1/4″ x 3-1/2″ | $5.95 | Inked in red, blue, black, green or violet, or dry |
| PAD-1 | 2-3/4″ x 4-1/4″ | $5.95 | Inked in red, blue, black, green or violet, or dry |
| PAD-2 | 3-1/4″ x 6-1/4″ | $9.95 | Inked in red, blue, black, green or violet, or dry |
| PAD-3 | 4-1/2″ x 7-1/4″ | $14.95 | Inked in red, blue or black, or dry |
| PAD-10 | 6″ x 8″ | $79.95 | Dry, ink sold separately |
| PAD-12 | 6″ x 12″ | $89.95 | Dry, ink sold separately |
| PAD-LT | 9-1/4″ x 12-1/4″ | $99.95 | Dry, ink sold separately; made for extra large stamps |
Custom PMS color matching is available on the PAD-0 and PAD-1 at an additional charge.
Which ink works best for rubber stamp pads?
The best ink for a rubber stamp pad is the one matched to the surface: water soluble Regular Rubber Stamp Ink for uncoated paper, waterproof Quick Drying Stamp Ink for coated or nonporous surfaces, and indelible Fabric Stamp Ink for cloth. Keep one ink type to a pad, and choose a dry pad for either special ink, because the standard colored pads already hold regular ink.
| What you stamp | Ink for the pad | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Plain paper, envelopes, kraft paper, corrugated | Regular Rubber Stamp Ink | Water soluble; soaks into uncoated stock; black, blue, green, purple or red |
| Glossy or coated paper, photo paper, Mylar, chrome coated labels | Quick Drying Stamp Ink on a dry pad | Waterproof; sits on a surface that will not absorb ink and dries in about 10 to 15 seconds |
| Cloth, linen, clothing | Fabric Stamp Ink on a dry pad | Indelible; no heat setting; the item can be washed right after marking |
| Self-inking or pre-inked stamp | No pad needed | The ink is built in, and the regular ink listing says not to use it with pre-inked stamps |
Which ink works on which surface?
Regular rubber stamp ink covers paper, corrugated, kraft paper and labels. For fabric, film or glossy labels, order a dry pad and the matching special ink, because the listings advise choosing a dry pad when you use special ink.
| Ink | Surfaces | Good to know | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Rubber Stamp Ink | Paper, corrugated, kraft paper and labels | Water soluble; black, blue, green, purple or red; meets USDA guidelines for use on food packaging | $11.95, or $3.95 for 6cc |
| Quick Drying Stamp Ink | Resin-coated photographic paper, Mylar and chrome coated labels | Waterproof; dries in about 10 to 15 seconds; black only; meets USDA guidelines for food packaging | $19.95 |
| Fabric Stamp Ink | Cloth, linen and clothing | Indelible and non-acid based; no heat setting needed; the cloth can be washed right after marking | $19.95, or $7.95 for 6cc |
Quick drying and fabric ink are both meant for a hand rubber stamp on a felt pad, which is why they pair with a dry pad rather than one already inked in a standard color.
Can rubber stamp pads be used on glossy paper?
A standard pad inked with water soluble stamp ink does not work well on glossy paper, because the coating keeps the ink from soaking in, so the print beads, smears or rubs off. For glossy or coated stock, use Quick Drying Stamp Ink, which dries in about 10 to 15 seconds, on a dry pad with a hand rubber stamp.
- Order the pad dry. The PAD-00 through PAD-3 can be ordered dry instead of inked in a standard color.
- Use a hand stamp. The quick drying ink listing pairs it with a regular hand stamp and a cloth covered felt pad, so use a wood handle or Shiny Duo stamp rather than a self-inking one.
- Test first. Stamp a scrap of the same glossy stock and check that it is dry before you run the whole job.
- Press straight down. Lift without rocking or sliding, since a glossy face shows any smear.
- Give it 15 seconds. Let each print dry before stacking or handling the sheets.
How do you mark fabric with a rubber stamp?
Use a wood handle rubber stamp, a dry pad and Fabric Stamp Ink. The listing gives two conditions for a lasting mark:
- Wash out sizing first. The ink "should not be applied on top of sizing," so new cloth with sizing should be washed before marking.
- No heat step. No preparation or hot iron is required, and the item can be washed immediately after marking.
That makes it a simple way to mark clothing and linens with a rubber name stamp.
Stamp pad colors
The PAD-00, PAD-0, PAD-1 and PAD-2 come inked in five standard colors: red, blue, black, green and violet. The PAD-3 comes in red, blue or black.
If a board, agency or client specifies an ink color for your documents, follow that rule first. Our stamp ink color guide covers ink color choices in more detail.
Related guides
- What Is a Company Stamp? The Business Stamps an Office Uses
- Office, Finance and Date Stamps
- Custom Rubber Stamps: How They Are Made and How to Order
Frequently asked questions
What size stamp pad do I need?
One that is longer and wider than your stamp's rubber die. Acorn's pads run from 1-1/2″ x 2-3/4″ to 9-1/4″ x 12-1/4″; a 1-5/8″ square stamp or a 3″ long signature stamp fits the 2-1/4″ x 3-1/2″ PAD-0.
Do self-inking stamps need a stamp pad?
No. Self-inking and pre-inked stamps have the ink built in. Wood handle rubber stamps, Shiny Duo hand stamps and some daters, such as line date stamps, need a separate pad.
What is a dry stamp pad for?
Special inks. The listings advise a dry pad when you use special ink such as Fabric Stamp Ink or Quick Drying Stamp Ink, and the three industrial pads always ship dry with the ink sold separately.
What ink should I use to stamp fabric?
Fabric Stamp Ink, an indelible, non-acid based ink for cloth, linen and clothing. It needs no hot iron, the cloth can be washed right after marking, and it works best with a hand rubber stamp on a felt pad.
What ink works on glossy paper or plastic labels?
Quick Drying Stamp Ink. Glossy and coated paper will not absorb regular water soluble ink, so a print from a standard pad stays wet and smudges. Quick Drying Stamp Ink is a waterproof ink that adheres to resin-coated photographic paper, Mylar and chrome coated labels, and it dries in about 10 to 15 seconds. Use it on a dry pad with a hand stamp. It is available in black only.
Which ink is best for a rubber stamp pad?
It depends on what you are stamping. Plain paper, envelopes and cardboard take Regular Rubber Stamp Ink, a water soluble ink in black, blue, green, purple or red. Coated, glossy or plastic surfaces need waterproof Quick Drying Stamp Ink, and cloth needs Fabric Stamp Ink. Self-inking and pre-inked stamps carry their own ink, so they need no pad at all.
What colors do stamp pads come in?
Red, blue, black, green or violet on the PAD-00 through PAD-2, and red, blue or black on the PAD-3. Custom PMS color matching is available on the PAD-0 and PAD-1 at an additional charge.
Find the right size on our Rubber Stamp Pads page.
