Product family 02
Folding cartons
Printed cartons die-cut from coated board, shipped flat and locked open on the packing line. The workhorse of retail packaging, and usually the cheapest way to put a brand on a shelf when the artwork carries the product and the box only needs to protect it.
Specifications
The ranges we run for folding cartons.
| Parameter | Range we produce | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Finished size | 30–300 mm on the longest side | Larger cartons need a higher board weight to stay square |
| Board | 250 / 300 / 350 / 400 gsm SBS or FBB | Coated one side (C1S) or two sides (C2S) |
| Offset CMYK, up to 6 colours, plus Pantone | Single-pass printing keeps colour stable across panels | |
| Finishes | Matte or gloss varnish, matte lamination, spot UV, hot foil | Lamination is what protects a carton through courier handling |
| Structure | Straight tuck, reverse tuck, crash lock, sleeve, tray, hang tab | Crash-lock skips a gluing step on your packing line |
| Special options | Window patching, braille emboss, QR / data matrix print | Window film is PET or PLA on request |
| MOQ | 1,000 pcs for a standard die; 3,000 pcs for a new die | MOQ covers the die and the plate setup |
| Sampling | 5–7 working days for printed white samples | Digital or plain white sample first for structure sign-off |
| Production lead time | 18–28 days after sample sign-off | Window patching and foil sit at the top of the range |
| Packing | Bundled flat in 5-ply export cartons, 500–1,000 per carton | Flat packing keeps freight cost per unit low |
A folding carton is a print project more than a construction project. The quotation moves with board weight and finishing steps, not with the shape.
Where a folding carton is the right answer
- Fast-moving retailHigh SKU counts where artwork changes more often than the die
- Pharmacy and personal careRegulated panel space, batch codes, braille
- Multipacks and sleevesCarton or sleeve around an inner tray
- Test runs1,000 pcs gets a SKU onto a shelf without tooling debt
Where a carton will disappoint
- Fill above 8 kgThe board buckles at the crease before the courier is halfway there
- Gift positioningA tuck-flap carton reads as value packaging, not premium
- Repeated openingStore-display or reusable packs destroy a tuck flap in weeks
- Unsupported heightAbove roughly 300 mm the panel bows without an insert
If your product is heavier than 8 kg and the outer carton is the presentation pack, the honest recommendation is a corrugated mailer, not a heavier carton.
Sampling
Request a printed carton sample.
Send the internal dimensions, fill weight and artwork. For a new structure we cut a plain white sample first, then print a proof once the dieline is signed off.
A carton sample is cheap; a re-run because one panel was 2 mm short is not.
- Phone+86 188 1391 9413
- Emailcrystal1319@163.com
Questions we answer daily
Folding carton FAQ
Which board weight should I choose?
300 gsm is the default for a hand-held carton under 200 mm; 350 or 400 gsm for anything that stands upright on a shelf or carries a window. Over 400 gsm the crease starts to crack on dark solid colours, so we would rather add lamination than board.
Can you print inside the carton?
Yes, on a C1S or C2S board with the reverse panel printed before die-cutting. It is worth doing for unboxing content and for expiry or batch information that should not break the outside layout.
Do I need a new die for a size change?
A small change to one dimension can sometimes be absorbed by the existing die. A change to two dimensions or to the closure type means a new die, which is where the 3,000 pcs MOQ applies.
What is the difference between crash-lock and tuck-end?
Crash-lock bottoms pre-glue into a tray that pops open, which removes a manual folding step on your packing line. Tuck-end cartons are cheaper to produce but slower to pack. For lines above a few thousand units a run, crash-lock usually pays for itself.
How do cartons hold up in a courier box?
They do not, on their own. A carton is a retail pack, not a shipper. If the carton travels alone in a courier network, add matte lamination and quote a corrugated mailer as the outer — we make both and can size them together.
Carton or rigid box for this SKU?
Send the size, fill weight and channel. We will quote both so the cost and the shelf difference sit side by side.