How Much Do Custom Boxes Cost? Real Price Ranges by Box Type

How much do custom boxes cost? At 1,000 units, most printed boxes fall between about $0.29 and about $7.98 each. Small paperboard cartons sit at the bottom of that range, corrugated mailers and shipping boxes in the middle, and large double-wall shippers and luxury rigid boxes at the top.

The type of box is the first thing that decides your price, before quantity or finish. A small tuck carton and a large shipping carton are different products made from different materials on different equipment, so comparing their prices directly is not useful.

This guide lists real per-unit ranges for each common box type, explains what moves the number within each category, and shows you how to map your own product onto the closest row. All figures include free US shipping and come from our current rates.

Key takeaways

• Box type sets the price band. Paperboard cartons cost cents, corrugated boxes cost a dollar or more, and rigid boxes cost several dollars at the same quantity.
• Within a type, size and finish do most of the work: a larger or laminated box can cost double a plain small one.
• At 100 units, expect roughly two to three times the 1,000-unit price; by 10,000 units, savings flatten out.
• Shipping boxes cost more than their plain look suggests because the board is heavy and the boxes are large.
• For any spec not listed here, the instant price estimator uses the same rates.

Custom box prices at a glance

Start here to find the band your packaging falls into. Each row is a specific spec, so treat it as a reference point rather than a promise for a different size or finish.

Two patterns stand out. First, finishes can outweigh size: the tiny tincture box with spot UV costs more than a larger one-color kraft carton. Second, big corrugated boxes climb fast, because board area and grade both rise together.

Retail folding cartons: the lowest-cost printed boxes

Folding cartons are single sheets of paperboard, printed flat, die-cut, then folded and glued. They ship flat, pack quickly and suit anything that sits on a shelf or goes inside a shipper. The folding cartons style page shows the full family.

Tuck end cartons

A straight tuck end carton closes both ends on the same side, giving an uninterrupted front panel. A reverse tuck end closes the ends on opposite sides, which uses board a little more efficiently. At the specs in the table, the two land within a couple of cents of each other because the reverse tuck carries a gloss lamination. Straight tuck end boxes and reverse tuck end boxes cover the options.

Kraft cartons and sleeves

Natural kraft paperboard with one-color print is the cheapest printed option we make. A 4x3x2 in kraft tuck carton runs about $0.36 at 1,000 units, and a small soap sleeve about $0.29. One color on kraft looks deliberate rather than budget, which is why handmade soap, tea and candle brands use it.

General-purpose product boxes

Most custom product boxes and custom cardboard boxes are tuck end cartons in 14 pt to 24 pt SBS. Expect prices near the tuck carton rows for small boxes, rising as dimensions grow. Heavier products may need an auto-lock bottom, which adds a little board and gluing but saves packing time.

What moves folding carton prices

Specialty cartons for beauty, candles, CBD and bakery

These are still folding cartons, but they usually carry finishes, windows or inserts that lift the price above a plain tuck box.

Cosmetic and skincare cartons

A 2.5x2.5x6 in cosmetic carton with soft-touch lamination and a foil logo is about $0.86 at 1,000 units. Without the soft-touch and foil, a similar carton would price close to the straight tuck row. Beauty brands often keep the embellishment because shelf presence matters at their price point. See cosmetic boxes for styles.

Candle boxes

A 3.5x3.5x4 in candle box with matte lamination, foil and an insert is about $1.03 at 1,000 units and about $2.33 at 100. The insert is the part many buyers do not budget for; it keeps a glass vessel centered and adds both a per-unit cost and a one-time die. Candle boxes come with or without inserts.

CBD tincture boxes

A narrow 1.5x1.5x4.5 in tincture box with gloss and spot UV is about $0.58 at 1,000 units. Board use is small, so finishes make up a large share of the price. If your product needs child-resistant packaging, that is a different structure with different pricing; confirm current requirements for your state program and product with the regulator.

Bakery boxes

A 10x10x5 in bakery box with a window in 18 pt SBS is about $1.82 at 1,000 units. The large footprint is what drives the price, not the print. For food-contact use, tell us how the product touches the board so we can specify suitable materials.

Mailer boxes: printed corrugated for direct shipping

Mailer boxes are die-cut from E-flute corrugated, lock without tape and double as the unboxing experience. They cost more than cartons because corrugated uses more fiber and each box is larger.

The jump from the smallest to the largest row reflects three stacked changes: more board, inside printing and add-ons. Our custom mailer boxes cost guide separates those effects so you can see which one matters for your product.

Shipping boxes and heavy-duty corrugated

Shipping boxes are regular slotted containers (RSCs): four flaps top and bottom that meet in the middle and get taped. They look simple, yet they are some of the pricier boxes per unit because they are large and made from thicker board. Custom shipping boxes are available in single and double wall.

Single-wall B-flute RSCs

Going from 12x10x6 in to 16x12x8 in raises every dimension by a few inches, and the price rises by about 60 percent at each quantity. Board area, not print, is what you are paying for. One-color print is the norm because shipping boxes get labeled and scuffed in transit.

Double-wall shippers

A BC-flute double-wall shipper at 18x14x12 in is about $7.98 at 1,000 units and about $27.15 if you order just 10. Double wall uses two fluted layers and three liners, so it resists crushing under stacked loads and protects heavy or fragile goods. Choose it when contents are heavy, when boxes travel on pallets under other freight, or when a product has failed in single wall. Heavy duty double wall boxes cover the range.

Watch out: a shipping box that is too large costs you twice: once in board and again in dimensional weight postage. Measure the packed product and size the box to it before choosing a grade. Confirm current dimensional weight rules with your carrier.

For grades, ECT ratings and standard carrier sizes, see the custom shipping boxes guide.

Display boxes and rigid boxes

These two categories sit at the upper end, for different reasons.

Counter display boxes

A 10x8x6 in E-flute counter display printed full color is about $2.26 at 1,000 units. Displays combine a shipper and a retail tray, often with a tear-away lid and a tall printed header, so they use more board than their footprint suggests. Because retailers order them in small numbers, many brands buy 100 to 500. Counter display boxes show common formats.

Rigid boxes

Rigid boxes are built from 2 mm greyboard wrapped in printed paper and assembled largely by hand. An 8x6x3 in rigid box with matte finish is about $4.05 at 1,000 units. A 10x8x3 in magnetic rigid box with soft-touch, foil and an insert is about $6.32. A small 3x3x1.5 in jewelry rigid box with foil and an insert is about $1.49. Our rigid box cost guide explains the build and the ways to save.

Custom shapes and die-cut structures

Hexagons, pillow boxes, gable boxes and fully custom structures do not have a single reference row, because the blank shape changes how many boxes fit on a sheet. A shape that nests tightly on the sheet wastes little board and prices close to a tuck carton of similar size. A shape with long flaps, curves or interlocking panels leaves more offcut and may need extra gluing points or hand folding.

If you are considering a special shape, price a standard tuck or mailer at the same internal dimensions first. That gives you a baseline, and the difference tells you exactly what the shape itself is costing. Custom die cut boxes include free dieline design, so the structure can be engineered before you commit to a run.

Why two quotes for the same box can be far apart

Buyers often request quotes for "a 6x6x6 printed box" and receive prices that differ widely. Usually the suppliers are pricing different boxes.

• Board grade. 14 pt SBS, 24 pt SBS, E-flute and B-flute are all "cardboard" to a customer, but they differ widely in cost.
• Inside versus outside dimensions. A box quoted on outer dimensions is smaller inside, and cheaper.
• Print coverage. Full bleed on every panel versus a logo on the lid.
• Coating. Aqueous, gloss, matte and soft-touch are priced very differently.
• Included services. Dieline, proofing, samples, plates, dies and freight may be included, itemized or missing.
• Lead time. Rush production can change the price.
• Quantity tiers. A quote at 1,000 units cannot be compared with one at 500.

The fix is to send every supplier the identical written spec, then compare delivered totals. Our custom packaging cost guide breaks a box price into its layers if you want to see where the differences come from.

Box types we do not price in this guide

Some packaging does not fit a simple per-box table. For pizza boxes, food-service items like cups and takeout containers, paper bags, pouches, labels, tape and tissue, the cost depends on factors such as food-contact coatings, barrier films, handle construction or roll length.

For those, describe the item, quantity and material in a quote request and we will price it directly. If you are a restaurant or food brand, the food and beverage page shows which formats we produce.

How to estimate your box price in five steps

1. Identify your box type. Retail carton, specialty carton, mailer, shipper, display or rigid. Use the at-a-glance table to find its band.
2. Compare your size to the reference spec. If your box is noticeably larger on every side, expect a higher price; smaller, a lower one.
3. Adjust for finishes. Add for lamination, soft-touch, foil, windows and inserts; subtract for one-color print on kraft.
4. Pick your quantity column. Move left for short runs and right for volume.
5. Confirm with the estimator. Enter your exact dimensions, board, print and extras on the pricing page, then request a quote for the final number.

How to order custom boxes from Box Sense

Once you know the band you are in, ordering is straightforward.

Send us the box type or product description, internal dimensions, product weight, board preference, print coverage, finishes, two or three quantities and your delivery location. If you are unsure about any of these, describe the product and how it is sold and we will recommend a spec.

We confirm quotes within 24 hours. Design support is free: we supply the dieline, set up your artwork and send a 3D digital proof with two revision rounds. Unprinted structural samples are free, and a printed sample of approved artwork is free on orders of 100 units or more.

Standard production is 8–12 business days after proof approval, with rush in 5 business days on most paperboard and corrugated styles. The minimum order is 10 boxes, there are no die or plate charges, US shipping is free and international shipping is quoted at cost. If a box arrives defective and you report it within 14 days, we reprint it free.

Frequently asked questions

How much do custom boxes cost for a small business?

Most small businesses buy between 100 and 1,000 boxes. At those quantities a printed tuck end carton runs about $1.15 to about $0.51 each, and an 8x6x3 in printed mailer about $2.64 to about $1.17, with US shipping included. Kraft cartons with one-color print are cheaper. Order at least a few months of supply to reach a better tier.

What is the cheapest custom box I can print?

The lowest-cost printed boxes are small kraft paperboard cartons and sleeves with one-color print. A 3.5x2.5x1.25 in kraft soap sleeve is about $0.29 at 1,000 units and about $0.19 at 10,000. A 4x3x2 in kraft tuck carton is about $0.36 at 1,000. Adding full color, lamination or a larger size raises the price.

How much do custom shipping boxes cost?

A 12x10x6 in single-wall B-flute shipping box with one-color print is about $2.08 each at 1,000 units, and a 16x12x8 in box about $3.32. Double-wall 18x14x12 in shippers are about $7.98 at 1,000. Shipping boxes cost more than their plain appearance suggests because they are large and made from thick corrugated board.

Why do custom boxes cost more than stock boxes?

Stock boxes are produced in huge runs of standard sizes with no printing, so their setup is spread across enormous volumes. Custom boxes are cut to your dimensions, printed with your artwork and finished to your spec in a dedicated run. The premium buys a proper fit, branding and often lower postage from right-sizing.

How much does it cost to print a logo on a box?

It depends on the box and how the logo is applied. Printing is part of the per-unit price, and a simple one-color logo costs less than full-color coverage. A foil-stamped logo adds a per-unit charge plus $60 one-time tooling, embossing is also $60, and spot UV is $40. Box Sense has no plate charges for standard printing.

Do custom boxes get cheaper if I order more?

Yes. A straight tuck end carton is about $1.73 each at 10 units, about $0.82 at 250 and about $0.36 at 5,000. The biggest savings come between 100 and 1,000 units. Past a few thousand units, material becomes most of the cost and the price per box falls much more slowly.

How much do custom rigid boxes cost?

An 8x6x3 in rigid box in 2 mm wrapped greyboard with matte finish is about $9.10 at 100 units and about $4.05 at 1,000. A 10x8x3 in magnetic closure box with soft-touch, foil and an insert is about $14.23 at 100 and about $6.32 at 1,000. Small jewelry rigid boxes start much lower because they use less board.

Next steps

Find your box type in the table above, then enter your exact dimensions and finishes in the custom box price calculator to see a figure for your spec. When you are ready, request a custom box quote and we will confirm pricing within 24 hours, supply a dieline and prepare a 3D proof.