Custom Cardboard Cylinder Boxes with Fitted Lids

What is a cardboard cylinder box?

A cylinder box is a round tube with a base fixed at one end and a lid that slides over the other. It is made by rolling layers of board around a former, then wrapping the outside in a smooth paper that takes print well.

Many cylinders have an inner collar, a short second tube that stands proud of the base. The lid slides down over the collar and meets the base in a clean line. It closes with a gentle push of air, which buyers notice.

Cylinders sit in our full cardboard box range, alongside square and rectangular styles. Unlike most of them, cylinders arrive made up.

How do I measure for a cylinder box?

Cylinders are sized by inside diameter and inside height. Measure your product across its widest point to get the diameter. Then measure its full height, including any cap or lid of its own.

Add 2 to 4 mm to the diameter so the product drops in without scraping. Add a few millimetres to the height too, especially if a card disc or tissue sits on top.

For rolled prints, roll the paper loosely and measure the roll, not the flat sheet. Tight rolls are hard to get out and can crease the print. Our simple guide to measuring boxes explains inside and outside sizes.

Which lid style should I choose?

The lid changes how the tube feels in the hand. Here are the three we make most.

Can cylinder boxes be printed?

Yes. The outer wrap is printed flat and then rolled on, so artwork runs all the way round the tube. That gives you a 360 degree label with no seams on the front.

Print runs from one or two colours up to full colour CMYK. Plain kraft with a one colour logo is a popular, honest look for tea and soap. White or fully printed tubes suit cosmetics and gifts. Matte or gloss lamination, spot UV, foil stamping and embossing can all be added.

Our designers set your artwork on the wrap template for free. They make sure the join falls at the back of the tube, away from your logo.

Are cylinder boxes good for food?

Many food sellers use them for dry goods like tea, coffee beans, sweets and spices. The usual approach is to put the food in a sealed inner bag, then place the bag in the tube.

That keeps the board clean and the contents fresh, and it means the tube can be refilled or reused. Tell us what goes inside when you ask for a quote. We will suggest how to set up the inside of the tube for it.

Printed tea tubes often carry a brewing guide on the back panel. It is a small touch that saves a leaflet and keeps the advice with the product.

Can I post a cylinder box?

A short, squat cylinder is a presentation pack, so post it inside a carton with padding round it. Its round shape rolls about in a parcel, so fill the corners well.

Long, slim tubes for prints and posters are different. They travel well on their own, because the rolled walls resist crushing along their length. For flat artwork that must not be rolled, look at our flat art print shipping boxes instead.

What mistakes happen with cylinder boxes?

Giving the outer diameter of the product instead of its widest point is the common one. A bottle with a wide shoulder needs the tube sized to the shoulder, not to the base.

Another is ordering a lid that is too tight. A snug lid feels good, but on a tall tube it can trap air and push back. Finally, some buyers put artwork right on the join line. Keep key text away from the seam and our designers will flag it on the proof.

Height catches people out too. A lid with a deep skirt needs space above the product, or the lid will rest on the contents and refuse to close.

How long do cylinder boxes take?

We send a free digital proof first, showing the wrap flat with the join marked. When you approve it, production runs 4 to 6 business days.

Tracked delivery arrives in 2 to 3 business days and is free to every UK address. Because cylinders are made up, they take more room on arrival than flat cartons.

How do I order cylinder boxes?

Cylinder boxes start from £0.25 per unit, with the final figure on a written quote. Send the inside diameter and height, lid style, finish, quantity and artwork plan.

Our trade quote form for tubes collects these details, or you can start in Design Your Box. Email info@ordercardboardboxes.co.uk or message us on WhatsApp with any questions. Faulty, damaged or misprinted tubes reported with photos inside 10 days are reprinted or refunded.