Common box types
| Type | Good for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuck-end folding carton | Cosmetics, supplements, small goods on a shelf | Cheap to run in volume; flaps tuck in at top and bottom |
| Auto-lock bottom carton | Heavier items such as bottles and jars | Bottom snaps shut and holds weight better than a tuck |
| Mailer box | Online orders and subscription boxes | Printed inside and out; the unboxing is part of the design |
| Sleeve | Trays, soap bars, multipacks | A printed band around a plain box or tray |
| Rigid box | Gift sets and premium products | Wrapped board; more expensive and slower to produce |
Designing panel by panel
Each panel has a job. The front sells, the sides carry flavors, sizes or features, and the back holds the details shoppers check before buying. The top often shows when boxes are stacked in a shipper. We plan which panel says what before any styling, so the copy fits and nothing important lands on a fold or a glue flap.
Finishes and print
Gloss, matte and soft-touch coatings, spot gloss, foil and embossing all change how a box looks and what it costs. We design with the finishes your printer offers and mark each one on a separate layer in the file, the way printers ask for it. If a finish would push the cost past your budget, we say so before the design depends on it.
Files you get
A print-ready PDF on the printer's dieline with bleed, finish layers and color notes, plus the editable source files. If the printer rejects a file for a setup issue we made, we fix it.
Questions
Can you make the dieline for a custom box?
For standard styles we can draw a dieline from your product dimensions. For a structural design or an unusual insert, your packaging supplier's engineer should produce it, and we design on theirs.
Should I order a physical sample?
Yes, before a full run. A plain white sample of the box shows whether the product fits, and a printed proof shows how colors come out on that board.
Have a product and a size? Send the product dimensions, where it will sell, and any brand files you already have.
Request a quote