Custom boxes at The Best Price Boxes take 7 to 14 business days to produce after you approve the digital proof, and carrier transit is added on top. Your own artwork and approval speed usually decide the date more than the factory does, so a firm date is worth asking for on the quote.
Reviewed by the TBPB packaging team, October 2026.
Quick facts
| Detail | Answer |
|---|---|
| Production time | 7 to 14 business days, counted from proof approval (per our published shipping policy) |
| Before production | Quote, one business day to confirm box size, then a free digital proof |
| Transit | Added after production; varies by destination and method and is confirmed on your quote |
| Minimum order | None; one box or ten thousand |
| Rush orders | Handled case by case; tell us your deadline before you order |
| What moves the date | Box style, print method, finishing, and how fast artwork is approved |
How long does a custom box order take from start to finish?
Count four stages, and only one of them is the factory. First you send a size and quantity and we send a quote. Then we confirm the box size, which takes one business day. Next comes the free digital proof, which you approve or mark up. Production starts only when you approve that proof. After production, the carrier takes over, and transit time depends on where the boxes are going.
People tend to quote the production number and forget the first three stages. A customer who sends print-ready artwork on day one and approves the proof the same afternoon will have boxes moving much sooner than someone who goes back and forth on a logo for two weeks. Our shipping policy lays out the same stages if you want it in writing.
What does the 7 to 14 business day production window cover?
It covers printing, finishing, die cutting, gluing and packing. It does not cover design time, proof revisions or carrier transit. Where your order lands inside the range depends on three things: the box style, the print method, and the finishing you choose.
| Order type | Where it tends to sit in the range |
|---|---|
| Plain mailer box, standard print | Toward the short end |
| Folding carton with a coating or varnish | Middle of the range |
| Rigid box with foil stamping and spot UV | Toward the long end, because each finish is another step |
| Mixed order with several sizes | Governed by the slowest item |
That table is how we think about it, not a promise for your specific job. Two orders of the same box can finish on different days because of how the press schedule falls. Ask for a confirmed date on your quote rather than planning around the range.
What slows an order down?
Almost always the front end. The usual culprits are artwork that is not built on the dieline, images below print resolution, text that sits too close to a fold, and a proof that sits unanswered for several days. Each one costs a round trip. Our custom box artwork guide and the page on what the printer needs cover how to avoid those loops.
Second to that is changing the spec after approval. Switching from a gloss coating to a matte one, or adding a window, after the proof is signed off sends the job back to the start. Decide first, approve second.
How do I work backward from a hard date?
Start at the day the boxes must be in your hands and subtract in reverse. Take off the transit time on your quote, then the full 14 business days of production (use the long end when the date is fixed), then your proof approval, then the 1 to 2 days to confirm size, then the time you need to finish artwork.
Here is a worked example. Say you approve the proof on a Monday. Seven business days later is the Wednesday of the following week, and 14 business days later is the Friday of the week after that. So the boxes leave production somewhere in that Wednesday-to-Friday span, and transit comes after. If a trade show opens on the Monday immediately after that Friday, you have no room at all. Build in a buffer of a few business days beyond the long end, because a carrier delay is the one thing nobody at the factory controls.
Do rush orders work, and what do they cost?
We handle rush requests case by case. Tell us your deadline before you order, not after, and we will say honestly whether we can hit it. If we cannot, we will tell you instead of taking the order and missing the date. We do not publish a rush surcharge, because it depends on the box and the press schedule, so ask for it on the quote.
My honest advice: a rush is a bad plan for a launch date you cannot move. It is a fine plan for a reorder where the artwork is already approved and the spec has not changed.
Does order size change the schedule?
Less than most buyers expect. Because there is no minimum order, a single prototype and a run of several thousand follow the same stages. Larger runs can sit a little longer in production, and a small test order is the fastest way to catch problems with size or color before the big order. If you are unsure of fit, order the sample first, approve it, then place the real run. That costs you one cycle up front and usually saves two later.
Seasonal products are the exception to plan around. Holiday and gift boxes compete for the same capacity across the whole industry in the fall, so order those earlier than the calendar suggests.
Which box styles are quickest to turn around?
Simple styles with fewer steps. A printed mailer box with one print method moves faster than a rigid gift box that needs wrapping, foil and spot UV. If speed is the priority, ask us to quote the same product two ways, plain and finished, and compare the dates. Sometimes dropping one finish buys back several days. If you are still choosing a size, the mailer box sizes guide will save you a proof round.
Questions buyers ask
How long does it take to make custom boxes?
Production is 7 to 14 business days after you approve the digital proof, per our shipping policy. Add one business day earlier to confirm size, and carrier transit afterward. Ask for a confirmed date on your quote, since box style, print method and finishing all move it.
When does the production clock start?
When you approve the proof, not when you first contact us. Quote requests, size confirmation and artwork revisions all happen before that point, so sending print-ready artwork and answering the proof quickly is the fastest way to shorten the whole timeline.
Is there a minimum order for custom boxes?
No. You can order one box or ten thousand, and the stages are the same. A small sample order is a smart way to check size and print before committing to a larger run.
Can I get my custom boxes faster?
Sometimes. Rush requests are handled case by case, so tell us your deadline before you order. We will say honestly whether we can meet it. Simplifying the finish, such as skipping foil, is another way to pull the date in.
How do I get a quote and dieline?
Send your box dimensions and quantity, even a quantity of one, through the quote page. We confirm the size, send the dieline template for your artwork, and quote with a date so you can plan around it.
Does shipping time count in the production window?
No. The 7 to 14 business days cover printing, finishing, die cutting, gluing and packing. Transit varies by destination and carrier method and is confirmed on your quote. Shipping is free on every order.
How long does it take to make custom boxes?
Production is 7 to 14 business days after you approve the digital proof, per our shipping policy. Add one business day earlier to confirm size, and carrier transit afterward. Ask for a confirmed date on your quote, since box style, print method and finishing all move it.
When does the production clock start?
When you approve the proof, not when you first contact us. Quote requests, size confirmation and artwork revisions all happen before that point, so sending print-ready artwork and answering the proof quickly is the fastest way to shorten the whole timeline.
Is there a minimum order for custom boxes?
No. You can order one box or ten thousand, and the stages are the same. A small sample order is a smart way to check size and print before committing to a larger run.
Can I get my custom boxes faster?
Sometimes. Rush requests are handled case by case, so tell us your deadline before you order. We will say honestly whether we can meet it. Simplifying the finish, such as skipping foil, is another way to pull the date in.
How do I get a quote and dieline?
Send your box dimensions and quantity, even a quantity of one, through the quote page. We confirm the size, send the dieline template for your artwork, and quote with a date so you can plan around it.
Does shipping time count in the production window?
No. The 7 to 14 business days cover printing, finishing, die cutting, gluing and packing. Transit varies by destination and carrier method and is confirmed on your quote. Shipping is free on every order.
How to order
Send the dimensions and quantity to our quote page, even if the quantity is one. We will confirm the size, send the dieline and quote with a date. If you have a written quote from another supplier for the same specs, bring it; our price-beat guarantee means we beat it. Design help, samples and shipping are free. Browse the mailer boxes or read the minimum order guide if you are planning a first small run.
