Custom box styles explained.
Every custom box belongs to one of three families: folding cartons made of paperboard, mailer and shipping boxes made of corrugated board, and rigid gift boxes made of wrapped greyboard. Pick the family by what the box has to do, then the style by how it opens.
Order custom boxes online: 21 styles in any size from 100 boxes: $1,468.10 for 1,000 3″ × 2″ × 5″ tuck end cartons, delivered to your door, and an instant 3D proof.
See my priceFolding cartons: 8 styles for the retail shelf
Folding cartons are printed paperboard that ships flat and folds by hand. They are the box on a store shelf: light, crisp and printed edge to edge.
| Style | Best for | Price example, delivered |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse tuck end box | The most-ordered retail carton: cosmetics, supplements, candles, small goods. | $1.47 each at 1,000 (3″ × 2″ × 5″) |
| Straight tuck end box | Products pulled from the front of a shelf; a clean front panel with no flap seams. | $1.47 each at 1,000 (3″ × 2″ × 5″) |
| Auto-bottom box | Heavier products: the base pops into place and locks, no tape. | $1.47 each at 1,000 (3″ × 2″ × 5″) |
| Tuck top auto-bottom box | Heavy products that still open from a tuck lid: bottles, jars, kits. | $1.47 each at 1,000 (3″ × 2″ × 5″) |
| 1-2-3 bottom box | Medium-weight products with a snap-lock base folded by hand in three steps. | $1.47 each at 1,000 (3″ × 2″ × 5″) |
| Seal end box | Tamper-evident products, glued shut at both ends and torn open once. | $1.47 each at 1,000 (3″ × 2″ × 5″) |
| Hang tab box | Peg-hook retail displays: a tuck box with a punched header. | $1.47 each at 1,000 (3″ × 2″ × 5″) |
| Box sleeve | A printed band over a plain box or tray: gift sets and limited editions. | $1.47 each at 1,000 (3″ × 2″ × 5″) |
Mailer and shipping boxes: 8 corrugated styles
Corrugated board has a fluted core between two liners, so it survives a carrier. Mailer boxes ship on their own and open like a present; shipping boxes carry the most weight.
| Style | Best for | Price example, delivered |
|---|---|---|
| Mailer box | E-commerce and subscription boxes: ships on its own and opens like a present. | $2.34 each at 1,000 (9″ × 6″ × 3″) |
| Shipping box | Shipping and storage: the standard carton, all flaps the same length. | $4.78 each at 1,000 (12″ × 10″ × 8″) |
| Open-top shipping box | A base for a separate lid, or an open display and tote. | $4.26 each at 1,000 (12″ × 10″ × 8″) |
| Full overlap shipping box | Heavy or long products: the outer flaps overlap fully for a stronger top and bottom. | $6.79 each at 1,000 (12″ × 10″ × 8″) |
| Lid and base shipping box | Large or awkward products: a corrugated lid slides over the base. | $4.16 each at 1,000 (12″ × 10″ × 4″) |
| One-piece folder box | Flat products such as books, prints and apparel, wrapped in one piece. | $2.65 each at 1,000 (10″ × 8″ × 2″) |
| Five-panel folder box | Long, flat products: a fifth panel closes over the top. | $1.81 each at 1,000 (12″ × 4″ × 2″) |
| Die-cut tray | Open display trays and kit bases with locking corner walls. | $1.69 each at 1,000 (10″ × 8″ × 2″) |
Premium rigid boxes: 5 styles
Rigid boxes are thick greyboard wrapped in printed paper. They never fold flat, so they ship built and arrive ready to fill: the box people keep.
| Style | Best for | Price example, delivered |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic closure box | Premium gifts and launches: the lid snaps shut on hidden magnets. | $3.24 each at 1,000 (9″ × 7″ × 3″) |
| Lid and base gift box | Gift sets, apparel and keepsakes: a rigid lid lifts off a rigid base. | $2.80 each at 1,000 (8″ × 8″ × 3″) |
| Drawer box | Jewelry, cards and small gifts: a tray slides out of a sleeve. | $1.74 each at 1,000 (6″ × 4″ × 2″) |
| Book-style box | Collections and kits that open like a hardcover book. | $2.68 each at 1,000 (8″ × 6″ × 2″) |
| Shoulder box | Luxury reveals: the lid closes onto a raised neck, leaving a band of the base showing. | $2.95 each at 1,000 (6″ × 6″ × 4″) |
How to choose in 3 questions
- Will it sit on a shelf or ship in a carrier’s truck? Shelf: a folding carton. Carrier: a mailer or shipping box.
- How heavy is the product? Under about a pound, a tuck end carton; heavier, an auto-bottom or 1-2-3 bottom carton, or corrugated.
- Is the box part of the gift? A rigid magnetic or lid-and-base box turns the unboxing into the moment.
The order page shows a photo and a one-line answer for every style, and prices the one you pick instantly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common custom box style?
The reverse tuck end carton is the most-ordered retail box: the top tucks in from the back and the bottom from the front. For shipping, the mailer box is the most-ordered custom style.
What is the difference between a mailer box and a shipping box?
A mailer box is one piece of die-cut corrugated with a tuck-in lid that opens like a present. A shipping box (a regular slotted container) has four flaps top and bottom that meet in the middle and are taped shut.
What is a rigid box?
A rigid box is made of 1.5 to 3 mm greyboard wrapped in printed paper. It never folds flat, so it ships built and feels premium in the hand. Magnetic, lid-and-base, drawer, book-style and shoulder boxes are all rigid.