Custom Cardboard Boxes

Custom cardboard boxes - also called paperboard or folding cartons - are lightweight, single-layer cartons that fold flat, print cleanly, and snap up for retail, food, and product packaging. Packaging Vista prints cardboard boxes with your logo on smooth SBS cardstock or natural kraft in full CMYK and Pantone-matched color, in styles from straight and reverse tuck end to auto-lock bottom, sleeve, and window cartons. With a 100-box minimum, free design, dieline, and 3D mockup, and no die, plate, or setup fees, your boxes ship within 8 to 10 business days with free US delivery. Prefer them unbranded? See our plain cardboard boxes.

Cardboard box styles

The structure sets how the box folds, locks, and presents on the shelf. These are the cardboard box styles we make most often:

Straight and reverse tuck end boxes

The everyday paperboard carton. On a straight tuck end the top and bottom flaps tuck the same direction for a clean printable front; on a reverse tuck end they tuck opposite ways for a sturdier hold. Both fold flat and are the go-to for cosmetics, supplements, and retail goods - see our tuck-end boxes.

Auto-lock bottom boxes

Also called a 1-2-3 or snap-lock bottom, the pre-glued base snaps into shape when you square the box, saving assembly time and holding heavier products securely. A strong fit for bottled goods, jars, and weightier retail items.

Sleeve and tuck sleeve boxes

A printed band that slides over an inner tray or product, adding branding without the bulk of a full six-sided box - popular for soap, chocolate, and subscription kits.

Folding cartons and mailers

Folding cartons are the broad family of flat-folding paperboard boxes for shelf-ready retail packaging; paperboard mailers add a self-locking flap for direct-to-consumer shipping. See our folding carton boxes.

Window cartons

A die-cut opening, often patched with clear film, lets shoppers see the product inside. Window cartons lift conversions for food, gifts, and beauty - see window boxes.

Materials: SBS, kraft, and chipboard

Paperboard is measured by caliper in points (pt), where one point equals one-thousandth of an inch. We commonly run roughly 14 pt to 24 pt depending on the product:

• SBS (solid bleached sulfate) - a bright white, clay-coated board that delivers the smoothest, most vivid print surface for premium retail cartons.
• Natural kraft - an uncoated brown board with a recycled, earthy look that suits eco and artisan brands - see kraft boxes.
• Chipboard - a dense, economical recycled board used where stiffness matters more than a printed surface.

Lighter caliper suits small or light items, while heavier caliper adds rigidity for bigger or weightier products.

Custom cardboard boxes with your logo

We print cardboard boxes to your exact artwork in full CMYK and Pantone-matched color, with a free custom dieline and 3D mockup so you approve the fit and print before production. Add gloss, matte, or soft-touch lamination, foil stamping, embossing or debossing, spot UV, and window patching to match your brand. No die, plate, or setup fees - your branding, your dimensions, from the first 100 boxes.

Cardboard boxes by industry

The same paperboard structures adapt across product categories:

Pricing, minimums, and turnaround

Cardboard box price depends on size, board (SBS or kraft and its caliper), finishes, and quantity - and the per-box cost drops as volume rises. There are no die, plate, or setup fees, the minimum is 100 boxes, and standard production runs 8 to 10 business days after proof approval, with rush available. Every order includes a free dieline, 3D mockup, and free US shipping. Sourcing stateside? See why brands choose a US cardboard box manufacturer. Request a free quote with your size and quantity for exact pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between cardboard and corrugated boxes?

Cardboard (paperboard) boxes are made from a single solid layer of board, like SBS cardstock or kraft, which folds flat and prints cleanly for retail and product packaging. Corrugated has a fluted middle layer for shipping strength, so cardboard is the better fit when you want a lighter, smooth, foldable carton and corrugated is better for stacking and shipping.

What thickness or caliper of cardboard do you offer?

Paperboard is measured by caliper in points (pt), where one point equals one-thousandth of an inch, and we commonly run roughly 14 pt to 24 pt depending on the product. Lighter caliper suits small or light items, while heavier caliper adds rigidity for bigger or weightier products.

Which cardboard box style should I choose?

For most retail and product packaging a straight or reverse tuck end folding carton works well. Choose an auto-lock (1-2-3) bottom for heavier products, a sleeve for a slim branded band over a tray, and a window carton when you want shoppers to see the product. We design the dieline around your exact item.

Can I get SBS or kraft cardboard with my logo printed in full color?

Yes. We print on bright white SBS for vivid retail color or on natural kraft for an earthy, eco look, both in full CMYK and Pantone-matched color. You can add lamination, foil, embossing, spot UV, and window patching to match your brand.

What sizes and dimensions can I get?

Any size - cardboard boxes are made to your product's dimensions, given as length x width x depth. If you're unsure, send a sample or product specs and we'll size the box and supply a free dieline and 3D mockup to confirm the fit before production.

How much do custom cardboard boxes cost?

Cost depends on the box size, board and caliper, finishes, and order quantity, and it falls as volume increases. Because every job is custom, we quote per project rather than list a flat price - but there are never die, plate, or setup fees, and the minimum is just 100 boxes. Send your dimensions and quantity for an exact, no-obligation quote.

What's the lead time and minimum order on cardboard boxes?

You can order from 100 boxes with no die, plate, or setup fees, making it affordable to test a custom paperboard carton. Standard turnaround is 8 to 10 business days after proof approval, with free design, dieline, and 3D mockup included and rush production available.