Custom Printed Boxes with Your Artwork Inside and Out

What are custom printed boxes?

A custom printed box is any box we make to your size with your own artwork on it. The style, board and print all follow what the product needs.

Our photos show the range. There are mailers with a pattern outside and a bold colour inside. There is a sleeve sliding over a printed tray, and a black lidded box with a window. Each one started as a blank and a design file.

It is the broadest product we offer. If you already know the style you want, our printed and retail box range lists each one on its own page.

Which printed box style should I choose?

Start with how the box will travel and how it should open. A box that goes through the post has different needs from one that sits on a shop shelf.

How is the print done, and what does it cost?

Boxes can be left unprinted, or printed with one ink, two inks or the four CMYK process colours. One or two inks suit logos and simple patterns. CMYK handles photos, gradients and detailed illustration.

Inside print is a separate pass. It is often where the best moments happen, such as a hello message or a contrast colour when the lid opens. The green, pink and brown interiors in our photos show how much a single inside colour changes the feel.

Our lowest unit price is £0.25, and the figure moves with size, board, ink count and finishes. A written quote always comes first, so you know the cost before you commit.

Corrugated or folding board for a printed box?

Corrugated board is the choice for anything posted, because the fluted layer absorbs knocks. E flute, about 1.5 mm, gives fine print and neat folds. B flute at about 3 mm and C flute at about 4 mm add strength for heavier goods.

Folding board is thinner and smoother, and it suits retail cartons, sleeves and inserts. It comes in kraft or white, and white gives the brightest colours.

If you are not sure, tell us the product weight and how it travels. Our comparison of single and double wall board covers the heavier end.

How do I get the size right for a printed box?

Measure the product at its widest, longest and tallest points, including caps, handles or packaging it sits in. Add a small allowance so it goes in easily. For retail cartons a closer fit looks neater on the shelf, while posted boxes need a touch more room for wrapping.

Our sizes are always inside sizes, so the product fits whatever board you pick. The artwork is then laid out on the flat blank around those figures.

If you plan an insert, size the insert first and the box second. Our page on taking inside box measurements walks through each step.

What are the usual mistakes with printed boxes?

Low-resolution logos are the first. A logo copied from a website often looks soft when printed large on a lid.

Designs that run across folds come next. A word split over a corner is hard to read, so keep key text within one panel.

People also forget the inside. A plain inside can feel flat after a bold outside, and a single printed colour inside costs less than many expect.

Finally, too many finishes compete with each other. One special finish, used well, usually looks more polished than three.

A last trap is ordering before the product is final. If a bottle, jar or kit changes size after the proof, the box may no longer fit. Lock the product down first, then lock the box.

How long do custom printed boxes take?

Proofing time depends on how quickly artwork is settled, so allow for a round or two of changes. With approval in hand, printing, die-cutting and packing take 4–6 business days.

A tracked parcel then gets the order to you in 2–3 business days. Shipping is on us for every address in the UK.

Working to a launch or event date? Put it in your quote request. We can tell you straight away whether the timing works, so you can plan the rest of your launch around it.

How do I order custom printed boxes?

Send the style, sizes, board, print colours, finishes and quantity through the quote form. Design Your Box lets you try a style and size before you ask for a price.

Any box that lands misprinted, damaged or defective is covered by our 10 day window. Photograph the problem, send it over, and you will get a reprint or a refund.

Questions are welcome at info@ordercardboardboxes.co.uk or over WhatsApp, at any stage of the order.