Custom packaging for small businesses — without warehouse-sized minimums.
Branded mailers, product boxes and gift packaging from 50 units, with a real person to help you choose a size, a material and a budget that makes sense at your stage.
- Start from 50 units
- Free design help and dielines
- Clear pricing at every quantity
- Minimum
- 50 units
- No plate costs
- Digital
- Design help
- Free
Is custom packaging worth it at your size?
Honest answer: not always on day one. If you ship 20 orders a week, a stock box with a printed sticker might be the smarter spend while you prove the product. Custom packaging starts paying back when one of these is true:
- Your product is a gift or impulse buy, where the box is part of what people pay for.
- Stock sizes waste space and you’re paying dimensional-weight shipping on air.
- Customers post unboxings, and a branded box turns them into free marketing.
- You’re pitching retailers, who expect retail-ready packaging.
When you do make the move, start with one hero box rather than a full range. A single well-made mailer box or product box used across several products keeps setup costs low.
Budget-friendly choices that still look custom.
These choices typically halve the unit price compared with a fully loaded first order.
| Material | Kraft or white E-flute — no need for rigid board on your first run |
|---|---|
| One or two colors, or digital full color at low quantities | |
| Finish | Choose one: matte aqueous coating or a single foil logo |
| Size | One size that fits several products, with a card insert to fill space |
| Inside print | A one-color “thank you” message — cheaper than full inside print |
| Quantity | Compare 100, 250 and 500 on your quote; the jump to 250 is often worth it |
How small brands usually grow their packaging.
Stage 1 — First 100–250 boxes. A digitally printed mailer or carton with your logo and brand color. Prove the design and the fit.
Stage 2 — 500–2,000 per order. Add inside print, a custom insert or a foil logo. Consider a second size if you’re over-packing small items.
Stage 3 — Retail or wholesale. Shelf-ready cartons, display boxes, and moving stable designs to offset printing for a lower unit price. See wholesale custom boxes.
At each stage we keep your dieline and approved artwork on file, so upgrading is a change request, not a fresh start.
Budgeting packaging for a new product.
A simple way to set a packaging budget is to work back from your retail price. Many small brands aim for packaging at a modest share of the cost of goods; the exact figure depends on the category — luxury and gifting can justify more, high-volume consumables less.
Three ways to stretch a small budget:
- Use one premium touch — a foil logo or a printed inside — instead of several finishes.
- Standard structures like mailer boxes and tuck end boxes avoid custom tooling.
- Order for 3–6 months rather than a year, so a design change doesn’t strand stock.
Mistakes small brands make with their first boxes.
- Sizing to the product’s listing dimensions instead of measuring the actual product with its closure.
- Forgetting the back panel — ingredients, warnings, company address and barcode take space.
- Choosing gloss for dark designs, then fighting fingerprints. Matte or soft-touch hides them.
- Ordering before shipping a test. Ship one packed box to yourself before approving thousands.
- Ignoring dimensional weight, which can cost more over a year than the boxes themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What is the smallest order you accept?
Most mailer, kraft and folding carton styles start at 50 units. Rigid and magnetic boxes start at 100.
Why is the price per box so much higher at 50 units?
Setup — proofing, die setup and press make-ready — is shared across fewer boxes. Your quote shows prices at higher quantities so you can see the difference and choose.
Can I order different designs in one small order?
On digital printing, yes: several designs in the same size and material can often be combined, with a small minimum per design. Ask when you request a quote.
Do you help if I do not have a designer?
Yes. Our team can place your logo, colors and copy on the dieline for free with your order. For a full brand design from scratch, we can recommend options.
What do I need to send for a quote?
The inside dimensions of the box (or the product size), the quantity, and the style you have in mind. Artwork is optional at the quote stage — a logo and brand colors are enough for us to price printing accurately.
Can I start with a small order and scale later?
Yes. Start at 50–250 units with digital printing, then move to offset at higher quantities using the same dieline and artwork.
Start small, look established.
Tell us what you sell and how you ship. We’ll suggest a starter box that fits your budget.