Custom Printed Boxes for Retail and Gifts

What sits in the printed box range?

These are boxes chosen as much for how they look as for what they hold. The usual material is kraft or white folding board, with corrugated E flute used where a little more strength is needed.

Some styles are built for the shelf, like tuck end and window boxes. Others are made for gifting and keeping, like hinged lid and two piece boxes. A few, such as hexagon and pyramid boxes, exist mainly to stand out.

When you want your branding on any shape at all, our custom printed boxes in any style page is the place to begin.

Compare every printed box style

Each row below is a separate box page with its own sizes and photos. Use the best for column to narrow the list down to two or three styles.

Which base and closure should I pick?

The bottom of a carton decides how much weight it can carry. Tuck end boxes have a flap at each end and suit light goods such as soap or lipstick.

Snap lock bottoms fold in four parts and click together by hand. Auto lock bottoms are pre-glued, so the base forms itself as you open the box. That saves time and carries heavier jars and bottles. See our auto lock bottom boxes for heavier goods for typical sizes.

For gift boxes, the lid matters more than the base. A hinged lid stays attached, while a two piece box has a lid that lifts off completely.

How should a printed box be sized?

Retail cartons should fit the product closely so it does not rattle on the shelf. Allow 1 to 3 mm on each side for folding board and a little more for corrugated E flute.

Height on a tuck end box runs from the top flap to the bottom flap, so it is usually the longest side. A lipstick box, for example, might be 25 × 25 × 90 mm inside. Our tuck end boxes for light retail goods list a few typical sizes.

For gift boxes, measure the product with any tissue or insert in place. Too much depth lets the contents slide to one end when it is carried.

Show the product with a window

A die-cut window lets shoppers see what they are buying without opening the box. It works well for food, toys, soaps and anything with an attractive shape or colour.

Windows can be round, square or shaped to match your logo. Place them away from folds and keep at least 10 mm of board around the edge for strength. Our window boxes for shelf display page shows common window shapes.

Keep the window clear of where a barcode or ingredients panel needs to go. Plan the panels first, then place the window in the space left over.

Shaped boxes that stand out

A shaped box is remembered. Hexagon boxes suit candles, honey jars and tea. Pyramid boxes suit wedding favours, sweets and small gifts. Six corner boxes open wide and suit cakes and folded clothing.

These styles use more board and more cutting than a plain carton, so the unit price is a little higher. For favours and treats, our pyramid boxes for favours and sweets are made with a small base to keep the cost down.

Shaped boxes fit fewer to a shipping carton. Factor that in if you plan to post them in bulk.

Common mistakes with printed boxes

Artwork too close to the fold is the most frequent problem. Keep text at least 3 mm inside each crease and let background colour run 3 mm past the cut line.

Another mistake is choosing a lid style that does not suit the product. A heavy jar in a tuck end box can push the bottom flap open. Use an auto lock base for weight.

Finally, check colours on the proof, not on a phone screen. Screens are brighter than board, and kraft board makes colours look darker and warmer.

Paper-based and reusable options

If you want to cut plastic from your packaging, ask for a box without a film window or lamination. Uncoated kraft board with one colour print is the simplest paper-only choice.

Boxes that customers keep also reduce waste. A sturdy two piece or hinged box often ends up storing jewellery, cards or keepsakes. Our reusable boxes for gifts and keepsakes are built to be opened many times.

What affects the cost of printed boxes, and can I order small runs?

Our lowest unit price is £0.25, and yours is fixed in writing before you commit. Shaped styles, extra finishes and very short runs cost more per box.

The cheapest printed box is a tuck end carton in kraft board with one colour on the outside. Every extra colour, finish or inside print adds a little. Quantity brings the unit price down, because setting up the press costs the same for 200 boxes as for 2,000.

Six corner and two piece lid boxes also arrive flat but take longer to put together than a tuck end. If you pack by hand in large numbers, factor in the assembly time when you compare prices.

Many printed box orders are for a few hundred boxes, not tens of thousands. Short runs let you test a new product, a new size or a seasonal design without filling a stockroom.

Keep the first order simple. One style, one size and one or two print colours is the quickest route to a finished box. Add foil, windows or inside print once you know the design works. Our snap lock bottom boxes for hand packing suit small runs well.