How we price custom packaging
Every price on CustomPacka comes from one published pricing model. It is the same model behind product pages, the 3D Box Builder, the Packaging Cost Calculator and our assistant, so you get consistent numbers wherever you look. For any box, it calculates:
- Board area: how much material your style needs at your exact size, including flaps, walls and glue areas
- Material cost: the price of the board, paper or film per square foot
- Printing: ink coverage and number of sides printed
- Conversion: die-cutting, creasing, gluing, folding and any hand assembly
- Finishes: lamination, foil, embossing, spot UV, windows and inserts
- Setup: plates, dies and machine make-ready, spread across your quantity
- Delivery within the contiguous United States
The table above shows the result for each style at its most popular size. Your written quote confirms the final price after a specialist checks your specification.
Why quantity matters most
Setup costs are roughly fixed per order. At 100 boxes they are divided by 100; at 5,000 by 5,000. That is why unit prices fall steeply between 100 and 1,000 boxes and then flatten out.
What this means in practice:
- If you are close to a price break, compare the total cost of the next quantity. Sometimes 1,000 boxes cost only a little more in total than 500.
- Do not overbuy. Boxes take storage space, and designs change. A few months of stock is usually sensible for a new brand.
- Combine sizes or designs in one order where possible: shared setup can reduce costs.
The cost drivers, one by one
Box style
Structures with more board, more gluing or hand assembly cost more. A reverse tuck end carton is the most economical retail box; a magnetic closure box is hand-wrapped greyboard with magnets and costs several times more at the same size.
Size
Larger boxes use more board and take more press and shipping space. Price grows roughly with board area, not volume, so a slightly taller box costs less extra than you might think, while a much wider one costs more.
Material
| Material | Relative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Recycled paperboard (CRB) | Lowest | Economical cartons |
| SBS / kraft paperboard | Low | Retail cartons |
| E-flute corrugated | Medium | E-commerce mailers |
| B/C-flute corrugated | Medium | Heavier shipping boxes |
| Double-wall corrugated | Higher | Heavy and fragile goods |
| Rigid greyboard (wrapped) | Highest | Luxury and gift boxes |
Printing
Plain boxes cost least. One or two spot colors add plates and ink; full-color CMYK covers any design. Printing the inside as well as the outside adds a second print pass. Learn more in the printing guide.
Finishes
Lamination adds a modest per-unit cost; foil, embossing and spot UV add tooling and a pass each. Windows and inserts add material and labor. Compare them in the finishes hub.
Delivery
Quotes include delivery within the contiguous US. Remote areas, liftgate delivery, split shipments and expedited freight are quoted separately.
Seven ways to lower your price per box
- Right-size the box. Smaller boxes use less board and cut shipping costs. Try the Box Size Finder.
- Order at a price break. Compare 500, 1,000 and 2,500.
- Choose one hero finish instead of several.
- Print the inside in one color instead of full color for a reveal at lower cost.
- Use kraft board with one or two colors for a natural look without full-color print.
- Standardize sizes across products so one larger order replaces several small ones.
- Plan ahead. Rush production and expedited freight add cost.
What is included in every quote
- Structural advice and a free dieline for your size
- Free artwork check and digital proof
- 3D preview of your real artwork
- Production with quality checks
- Delivery within the contiguous US
Samples are optional; see samples.
Payment
Payment terms are confirmed in your quote. Orders are usually paid in full or with a deposit before production. We accept PayPal, cards via Stripe, Wise and bank transfer, and can arrange other methods on request.
Pricing FAQ
Why are your prices estimates?
Final prices depend on full specifications, artwork coverage and delivery details. The estimates come from the same model as your quote, so they are close, and your quote confirms the exact price.
Is shipping included?
Yes, delivery within the contiguous US is included in our estimates and quotes. Alaska, Hawaii, remote areas and expedited freight are quoted separately.
Are there setup or plate fees?
Setup is included in the unit price, spread across your quantity. We do not add surprise plate or die fees to quotes.
Do custom sizes cost more?
No. Every box is made to order, so a custom size costs the same as a popular size with the same board area.
Do you offer discounts for large orders?
Unit prices fall automatically with quantity. Brands that reorder regularly can lock pricing for 12 months in the Reorder Program, and Pro members get 5% off orders over $500.
