Kraft Boxes Packaging Guide: Materials, Finishes & When Kraft Wins

Kraft board is the natural brown paperboard made from mostly unbleached chemical pulp. It reads as earthy, honest, and artisan the moment a customer picks the box up — which is why natural beauty, bakery, soap, bath-and-body, and eco-forward food brands keep coming back to it. Here is what kraft is, how it stacks up against bleached white SBS, and the finishes that still pop on the brown surface.

What is kraft board?

Kraft board is made by the kraft chemical pulping process — the same process that produces most packaging-grade paperboard worldwide. The difference between kraft and SBS is bleaching: SBS is bleached white, kraft is left in its natural tan-brown color. Kraft keeps the lignin tint, which gives the stock its warm, organic look.

Kraft board is strong because the long fibers from the kraft process are left largely intact. That is why kraft is the default for shipping cartons and corrugated board — and why kraft-faced folding cartons can hold up to retail handling without warping.

Why brands pick kraft

Three reasons dominate:

1. Brand signal. Kraft reads as natural, farm-to-table, artisan, and honest. For organic skincare, handmade soap, specialty bakery, and small-batch food brands, kraft tells the brand story before the customer reads a single word.
2. Cost. Kraft is often slightly cheaper than bleached SBS at the same point weight because it skips the bleaching step.
3. Sustainability optics. Kraft looks sustainable even when it is not certified — and when it is on recycled or FSC-certified stock, the look matches the substance.

Kraft weights (14pt to 24pt)

• 14pt – 16pt – soap bars, lip balms, small sampler cartons.
• 18pt – 20pt – candles, cosmetics, mid-size retail SKUs. Our most-ordered kraft weight.
• 22pt – 24pt – premium gift and luxury-feel without going full rigid.

Printing on kraft

Kraft prints differently from white SBS. The brown base absorbs light, so CMYK colors print darker and more muted than on white. The right approach:

• Use 1–2 color print on kraft for the cleanest look – black, white (as opaque ink), or a single Pantone spot color.
• Soy-based inks print especially well on kraft and reinforce the natural look.
• If you need full-color photo print on kraft, specify a white underbase to let colors sit on top of the brown; this costs more but matches a white-stock vibrance.
• Metallic foil (gold, copper) is the single most-impactful finish on kraft – the warm metal reads beautifully against the brown.

Industries that use kraft most

• Soap boxes – handmade and cold-process soap brands lean heavily on kraft
• Bakery boxes – small bakeries and specialty bread brands
• Cosmetic boxes – natural beauty and botanical skincare
• Eco-friendly boxes – sustainability-first brands
• Mailer boxes – DTC brands wanting an eco shipping touch
• Kraft paper – for wraps, liners, and tissue

Frequently asked questions

Is kraft board the same as cardboard?

Kraft board is a type of cardboard (paperboard). "Cardboard" is a general term covering both corrugated board and paperboard; kraft refers to the pulping process and gives the stock its natural brown color.

Is kraft board recyclable?

Yes — kraft board is widely accepted in US curbside paper recycling. Keep it recyclable by avoiding plastic film laminations.

Can kraft hold moisture-prone product?

For soaps, bakery items, and candles, kraft board handles typical shelf and retail conditions well. For deli, butcher, and food-service applications where grease and moisture are heavier, specify a food-grade kraft with grease-resistant coating — see our greaseproof paper options.

Does kraft cost more than SBS?

Usually a little less at the same weight because kraft skips the bleaching step. The price gap is small and often outweighed by brand positioning benefits.

Thinking about kraft for your line? We build free dielines on kraft boxes at 100-box minimums with soy-based inks and no die, plate, or setup fees. Request a free quote with your product and we will send pricing and material options inside one business day.