Rectangular Boxes.

Every standard closure runs on a rectangle, including straight and reverse tuck ends, auto-lock bottoms and two-piece lid and base sets. Machines, pallets and shelves were designed around this shape, so none of these need special tooling. The choice comes down to contents weight and how the box is packed.

Tuck ends cost the least to glue and fill. Auto-bottoms pop open with the base already locked, which speeds up packing and carries more weight.

Start from the weight of the contents and the longest panel span. Paperboard runs from 14pt for light retail cartons up to rigid chipboard for presentation boxes. Once a panel spans about 12 inches or more, it wants a heavier caliper or a flute so it doesn't bow.

For shipping duty we move to corrugated, from E-flute for mailers up to BC double wall for heavier loads. Tell us the weight and we'll specify the lightest board that does the job.

A box cut to the exact size of its contents reduces void fill, transit damage and freight cost at once. Loose items shift and crush corners on the way, and an oversized carton costs more to ship under dimensional weight pricing. Since nothing here is stock-sized, there's no reason to round up.

A fitted insert finishes the job when the item is an awkward shape, and every standard insert style fits this format.

On the largest panel that faces the customer, which on a shelf is usually the long side. A shelf facing shows one panel, so the brand mark belongs there and supporting copy moves to the ends and back. Proportion carries brand weight before any ink goes on, and a long, low box reads very differently from a tall one or a squat cube.

The full finish menu is open to you, including CMYK and Pantone print, foil, embossing, spot UV and soft-touch. Window patches are the one option not offered here.

Give us the inside length, width and depth in inches, based on the item plus the clearance you want. Length and width describe the opening, and depth runs from the opening down to the base. The format is made to order in any size, so we cut to your numbers.

If you're unsure, send the item or its exact measurements and we will work out the clearance with any insert included.

We start rectangular boxes at 500 units. Because the shape runs on standard equipment, the unit cost drops quickly as the quantity climbs. Standard dies and common board sizes also keep setup simple on a first order.

Dieline setup and design help are free, and we ship anywhere in the US.

Standard production is 7 to 10 business days from approved artwork. Rush work turns around in 5 to 7 business days when a launch date is fixed. Samples are made in 5 to 7 business days and show you the board, the closure and the print before the full run.

Should you order, the sample fee is taken off the production invoice.

Yes, they palletise to full height and their compression strength is predictable. Four vertical corners share the load evenly, and cases fit a standard pallet footprint with little overhang. Shaped boxes lose stacking strength and leave gaps.

Because the structure costs so little, many brands put the savings into a finish the customer will notice, such as soft-touch or foil. Paperboard and corrugated versions both go into standard recycling.