Boxes · Folding cartons
Folding cartonsCustom folding
cartons
Lightweight paperboard cartons for the retail shelf — where the box is the advertisement and print quality is the whole point.
What a folding carton is
A folding carton is a single layer of smooth paperboard, die-cut, printed, and shipped flat for you to pop open and fill. It's the packaging of the retail shelf — cosmetics, supplements, food, small electronics — because paperboard takes sharp, high-fidelity printing that corrugated board can't match. Protection isn't its job; it rides inside a shipping box for transit and does its work when a shopper picks it up.
The three closure styles
| Style | How it closes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Straight tuck | Both flaps tuck from the same panel | Cleanest front face — premium retail |
| Reverse tuck | Flaps tuck from opposite panels | The economical default for light products |
| Auto-lock bottom | Base locks itself under load | Jars, bottles, anything with weight |
Board and print options
Two stocks cover nearly every job: SBS (solid bleached sulfate) is bright white and gives print its truest color — the default for retail. Kraft paperboard is the unbleached natural option; if that's the look you're after, our kraft tuck boxes page covers it properly. Typical thickness runs 14–24 pt depending on the product's weight. Full-color offset printing is standard, with matte or gloss coating optional — and honestly optional: uncoated stock has a texture of its own.
Reverse tuck unless you have a reason: it's the cheapest style, and most shoppers never notice the difference. Spend the savings on better artwork.
Windows and finishes
Die-cut windows (with or without a film patch) let the product sell itself and cost less than most people expect, since the cut happens on the same die. Foil, embossing, and soft-touch lamination exist and we'll quote them — but for runs under a few thousand units, strong design on good board usually outsells added finish. If you're new to preparing carton artwork, our dieline guide covers bleed, safe zones, and panel orientation in four minutes.
Common questions
What's the minimum order for folding cartons?
500 units per size and design. Cartons ship flat and store easily, so a 500 run takes up far less space than the same count of corrugated boxes.
Can folding cartons hold food products?
Food packaging depends on the contact type. Products in their own sealed container (jars, pouches, tubes) sit in standard cartons with no issue. Direct food contact needs appropriate food-grade board or a liner — tell us the product in your quote request and we'll spec it correctly.
Straight tuck or reverse tuck — does it matter?
Functionally, barely. Straight tuck keeps the front panel free of tuck slits for a cleaner face; reverse tuck is slightly cheaper to produce. If you're not sure, reverse tuck is the right default.
Do I need lamination or coating?
Only if the carton faces moisture, heavy handling, or you want a specific finish. Plenty of strong retail packaging is uncoated — the texture reads as considered, and it keeps cost down. We'll tell you honestly if your product needs the protection.
Can you design the carton structure for my product?
Yes — structural design is part of quoting. Tell us the product and its dimensions and we'll spec the style, board weight, and dieline, then you approve a proof before printing.
Quote this job
Send the details and quantity — we'll reply with one straight price that includes setup and shipping, plus a cheaper alternative if one exists. Minimum order: 500 units.
Request a quote