It is the first question almost everyone asks, and the honest answer is: it depends. That is not a dodge — custom packaging really is priced on the exact box you need. But “it depends” is only useful if you know what it depends on, so here is what actually shapes a packaging quote, in plain terms.
Why there’s no fixed price list
Every custom box is made to order: your dimensions, your board, your artwork, your quantity. Two boxes that look similar in a photo can be quite different jobs to produce — one might be a compact single-colour print on standard board, the other an oversized full-colour design on heavy stock. A fixed price list would either overcharge the first customer or undercharge the second, which is why we quote each job on its own details.
The five things that shape your quote
1. Size
A bigger box simply uses more board. Size also follows you beyond the packaging itself — a larger box costs more to post and store, which is one more reason to measure your product properly rather than rounding up “to be safe”.
2. Material
Corrugated cardboard, folding carton board and thick rigid board all behave — and cost — differently. The right choice depends on what the box must survive: the post, a shelf, or a moment of ceremony. Heavier and more protective boards sit higher on the scale.
3. Print
How much of the box is printed, and in how many colours? A crisp one-colour logo on kraft is a lighter job than edge-to-edge colour inside and out. Neither is “better” — they are different tools — but they are priced differently.
4. Finish
Finishing touches such as a matt or gloss finish change how the box feels in the hand as well as how it is produced. They are worth having when the product justifies them; they are also the easiest thing to leave off a first order and add later.
5. Quantity
The biggest lever of all. Setting up a print run takes the same preparation whether it produces a small batch or a large one, so the cost per box usually falls as the quantity rises. That said, we keep minimum orders low on purpose — ordering a sensible quantity you will actually use beats a bargain on boxes that sit in a storeroom for two years.
How to get an accurate quote first time
The more of this you can tell us, the quicker and sharper your quote will be:
- Your product’s measurements — length, width and depth
- Roughly how many boxes you need
- How the box will be used — posted, shelved or handed over
- Whether you have artwork ready, or just a logo and an idea
- Any date you are working towards
No artwork yet? That is genuinely fine — every order includes a free design proof, so you will see exactly how your box looks before anything is printed.
One place not to save
If the budget is tight, trim the finish or the quantity before you trim the board grade. A box that fails in transit costs you the product, the replacement postage and a little of the customer’s trust — all far more expensive than the sturdier board would have been.
When you are ready, request a free quote with whatever details you have, or get in touch if you would rather talk it through first. Delivery across the UK is free, and quotes carry no obligation.
