Yes. Metal is one of the easiest things for adhesive to grip, and stainless steel is smooth and stable, so standard vinyl bonds well to it.
Degrease it first
Stainless almost always carries a film you can't see: fingerprints, cooking grease, cleaning spray, or the oil that stainless steel polish leaves behind on purpose. Wipe the spot with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry completely before the sticker goes on. If you polish the steel, polish around the sticker afterward, and keep the polish off its edges.
Finishes
- Polished and brushed stainless both hold standard vinyl well.
- Embossed, patterned, or textured steel gives the sticker less to touch. Choose High-Tack Stickers.
- Some appliances have a fingerprint-resistant coating over the steel. Test one sticker somewhere out of sight first.
Not all stainless is bare steel
Insulated bottles and tumblers are stainless steel, but many are powder-coated on the outside, and that colored, slightly gritty finish is what the sticker meets. It needs High-Tack. See stickers on water bottles and tumblers.
Kitchens and cold equipment
In a kitchen, grease is the main problem. Degrease the exact spot, and apply to a cool surface rather than a hot one; our hood cleaning guide covers it in detail. On walk-in coolers, refrigerated cases, and cold lines, apply when the surface is warm and dry, not sweating.
Taking it off
Stainless is also easy to clean up. Warm the sticker with a hair dryer, peel it slowly, and lift any leftover adhesive with isopropyl alcohol. Skip scouring pads, which scratch brushed and polished finishes. Full steps: how to remove a sticker cleanly.