Custom Tissue Paper

Custom tissue paper is the light, soft inside sheet – usually 17–28 gsm – that wraps a product inside a mailer or gift box. It turns opening a package into a branded moment.

It is the layer a buyer touches first: the whisper of paper they part before the product shows up. It comes printed with your logo, your color, or an edge-to-edge pattern.

Where the box guards and the label informs, tissue sets the tone. That is why apparel, cosmetic, jewelry, and subscription brands use it to make an ordinary shipment feel thought-through. It pairs well inside custom mailer boxes and gift boxes as the reveal layer that greets the buyer.

What custom tissue paper is

Tissue paper is a thin, light sheet valued for its drape and softness rather than strength. Most branded retail tissue sits between 17 and 28 gsm. Light enough to fold and crumple around a garment or bottle. Opaque enough to hold a printed color cleanly.

It ships as flat, pre-cut sheets that you fold over the product, tuck into a box, or use to nest a few items so they do not shift in transit. Because it is the first thing a buyer sees, tissue does reveal work that the outer box cannot. It slows the reveal and signals care.

Stocks and grades: MG versus acid-free

Two grade choices matter most. Machine-glazed (MG) tissue has one smooth, lightly sheened side and one matte side. The glazed face takes ink crisply and gives brand-color sheets a subtle finish. That is why it is the everyday pick for retail and gifting.

Acid-free (neutral-pH) tissue is the archival grade. With no leftover acidity, it will not move into and yellow the goods it touches over months of storage. For apparel, framed prints, leather, silk, wedding and heirloom pieces, or anything a buyer keeps wrapped, acid-free is worth picking. Both can be printed. The difference is what the sheet does to the product over time.

Why the interior layer earns its keep

The value of tissue is out of scale with its cost. A plain product dropped into a bare box reads as a transaction. The same product cradled in brand-color tissue and sealed with a sticker reads as a gift. That gap drives the unbox photos and re-shares small brands rely on for organic reach.

Tissue also does quiet work. It separates stacked items, fills void space so contents do not rattle, and adds a soft buffer against scuffs. It is the cheapest way to lift a shipment from OK to memorable.

Printing and customization

You can brand tissue three ways, from subtle to bold. A single-color logo repeated across a white or kraft sheet is clean and cheap. A solid brand-color sheet – matched to your Pantone – floods the whole inside with your brand look the moment the box opens. An edge-to-edge repeat pattern (logos, motifs, seasonal art) turns the tissue itself into signature packaging.

We print in full CMYK and match Pantone (PMS) for steady brand color. We use smudge-proof inks so the print lives through folding, handling, and a buyer's fingers without transferring. There are no die, plate, or setup fees. So a two-color logo or a full pattern both start from the same clean baseline.

Tissue paper grade and size guide

• 15x20 in: jewelry, cosmetics, small accessories, subscription inserts.
• 20x30 in: folded apparel, homewares, candles, larger gift sets.
• Custom cuts: sized to your specific box or bag for a tight fold.

Industries and use-cases

Apparel and boutique retail use tissue to wrap folded garments before they enter a mailer. Cosmetic and beauty brands nest bottles and compacts so nothing rattles and every unbox photographs well. Jewelry and accessory sellers use acid-free sheets to guard metals and finishes.

Subscription boxes and gifting services lean on patterned tissue as a repeat brand cue. Retail packaging programs hold a tissue color steady across a whole product line. Anywhere a buyer opens a box by hand, tissue is the layer that greets them.

Tissue versus wrapping paper

They are siblings, not swaps. Tissue is the soft inside layer that lines a box and wraps the product. Gift wrapping paper is the heavier outside sheet used to cover a box on the outside.

Many brands use both – patterned tissue within, matched wrap without – for a fully finished gift look. If your goal is the moment the lid comes off, pick tissue. If it is the wrapped parcel under the tree, pick wrapping paper. Our guide to custom tissue and wrapping paper walks through how to pair the two.

Minimums, turnaround, and pricing

Custom tissue starts at a 100-sheet minimum – low enough for a first product drop or a seasonal run. There are no die, plate, or setup fees, no matter how many colors you print. Every order comes with free design help and a digital proof before we go to press. Printing runs 8–10 business days with free US shipping.

Sheets are printed and cut in the USA. Because tissue is priced by size, sheet count, and number of ink colors, the fastest way to a firm number is to send your box size and art and request a quote.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between tissue paper and gift wrapping paper?

Tissue is the soft, light inside sheet that wraps the product inside a box. Gift wrapping paper is the heavier outside sheet used to cover the outside of a box. Tissue creates the unboxing moment, while wrapping paper finishes a parcel on the outside. Many brands use both together.

Should I choose MG or acid-free tissue?

Machine-glazed (MG) tissue has one smooth, lightly sheened side that prints crisply. It is a great fit for everyday retail and gifting. Acid-free (neutral-pH) tissue is the archival grade that will not yellow the goods it touches over time. So it is best for apparel, prints, jewelry, and anything a buyer keeps wrapped for months.

Can you match my exact brand color?

Yes. We print in full CMYK and match Pantone (PMS) references for steady brand color across runs. You can order solid brand-color sheets, a single-color logo, or an edge-to-edge repeat pattern. All are done with smudge-proof ink that lives through folding and handling.

What sizes does custom tissue come in?

Retail tissue ships as pre-cut flat sheets in stock sizes such as 15x20 in for jewelry and cosmetics and 20x30 in for apparel and larger gift boxes. We can also cut sheets to fit your specific box or bag. Send your box sizes and we will pick a size that folds neatly without extra bulk.

What is the minimum order and turnaround?

The minimum is 100 sheets with no die, plate, or setup fees. Every order comes with free design help and a digital proof. Printing runs 8–10 business days with free US shipping.

Will the ink smudge or transfer onto my product?

No. We use smudge-proof inks made for tissue. So printed logos, colors, and patterns hold up to folding, packing, and a buyer's handling without moving onto the goods inside.