What is the minimum order for chipboard boxes?

There is no minimum order. You can order a single chipboard box as a sample, or thousands for a full run. The price-beat guarantee applies at every quantity.

What thickness should my chipboard box be?

Small cartons usually work at 16 to 18 point, and larger retail cartons at 22 to 24 point. Thicker board gives stiffer walls but folds less cleanly on tiny boxes. Tell us the product weight and we advise.

Are chipboard boxes strong enough for shipping?

Not on their own. Chipboard suits shelf display and storage, but it lacks the cushioning of corrugated board. For parcels, use an outer shipper or choose a corrugated box instead.

Are chipboard boxes recyclable?

Chipboard is paper-based and usually accepted in paper recycling, but coatings and foil can affect that. Check local recycling rules, and ask us about uncoated or aqueous finishes if recycling matters to you.

Can chipboard boxes be printed on both sides?

Yes. We print the outside and, if you want it, the inside with a message or pattern. Inside printing adds a pass, so mention it when you request a quote.

How do I get the right chipboard box size?

Measure the product as packed on all three sides and add about 1/8 inch per side. Send those numbers and we draw the dieline, so the tuck, glue flap and windows sit in the right places.

Custom Chipboard Boxes, No Minimum Order

Chipboard boxes are printed cartons made from solid paperboard, usually recycled, that fold flat for storage and hold their shape once set up. TBPB makes them custom, to your size and artwork, with no minimum order, and if you bring a written quote for the same specs we will beat it.

What chipboard is, and what it is not

Chipboard is a dense, single-layer paperboard with a grey or white back. It is not corrugated, so there is no fluted layer to give cushioning, and it is not the thick rigid board used in luxury gift boxes either. People use the word loosely, so it is worth being precise. For a box that folds flat and prints well, chipboard in the 18 to 24 point range is the standard. A point is one thousandth of an inch, so 24 point is about 0.024 inches thick.

Where it works best

Chipboard boxes suit dry, light-to-medium products on a shelf: cosmetics, supplements, small electronics accessories, candles, games, cereal and snacks, board-book sets, and stationery. It is the sensible choice when the product needs structure and a good print surface, but not crush protection. A folding carton in chipboard stacks fine in a stockroom. It does not survive being thrown into a courier truck on its own.

That last point catches people out. If the boxes are going to ship directly, put them inside an outer shipper, or choose a corrugated style such as our custom durable boxes. For retail shelf cartons, the classic styles are the tuck top box and the straight tuck end box, both of which run in chipboard.

Weight, finish and print

Thicker board gives stiffer walls but is harder to fold cleanly on small boxes, so a tiny carton usually runs at 16 to 18 point and a large cereal-style carton at 22 to 24 point. Printing is full-colour CMYK on a white-coated surface. If your brand has a fixed colour, ask for a Pantone match. Matte or gloss aqueous coating is the economical finish; soft-touch lamination, foil stamping, spot UV and embossing add a premium feel when the product justifies it. Kraft-faced board gives a natural, unbleached look.

For a more upscale look, a drawer box uses thicker rigid chipboard wrapped in printed paper and feels very different in the hand. It is a different product from the folding style, with a heavier build and more storage space needed.

Getting the size right

Measure the product on all three sides and add about 1/8 inch per side. If the product comes in a bag, sleeve or plastic tray, measure it as packed. Send us the numbers and the quantity, and we draw the dieline so that the glue flap, tuck and any window sit where they should.

Board: chipboard folding carton, roughly 16 to 24 point, kraft-faced option
Styles: tuck top, straight tuck, lock bottom, sleeve, window carton
Print: CMYK, Pantone match, matte or gloss coating, soft-touch, foil, spot UV, embossing
Extras: windows, inserts, hang tabs, custom dieline
Quantity: no minimum order, from one sample upward

Common mistakes

Three come up again and again. First, ordering board that is too thin for the weight, so the carton bows on the shelf. Second, putting artwork across a fold line without allowing for the score, which splits the print at the edge. Third, choosing a glossy coating for a box that people will handle all day, where fingerprints show quickly. A quick conversation before artwork is finalized avoids all three.

Next step

Send the product dimensions, the quantity (even one) and how the box will be used. We draw the dieline and quote it. Browse more in our custom retail packaging range.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum order for chipboard boxes?
There is no minimum order. You can order a single chipboard box as a sample, or thousands for a full run. The price-beat guarantee applies at every quantity.
What thickness should my chipboard box be?
Small cartons usually work at 16 to 18 point, and larger retail cartons at 22 to 24 point. Thicker board gives stiffer walls but folds less cleanly on tiny boxes. Tell us the product weight and we advise.
Are chipboard boxes strong enough for shipping?
Not on their own. Chipboard suits shelf display and storage, but it lacks the cushioning of corrugated board. For parcels, use an outer shipper or choose a corrugated box instead.
Are chipboard boxes recyclable?
Chipboard is paper-based and usually accepted in paper recycling, but coatings and foil can affect that. Check local recycling rules, and ask us about uncoated or aqueous finishes if recycling matters to you.
Can chipboard boxes be printed on both sides?
Yes. We print the outside and, if you want it, the inside with a message or pattern. Inside printing adds a pass, so mention it when you request a quote.
How do I get the right chipboard box size?
Measure the product as packed on all three sides and add about 1/8 inch per side. Send those numbers and we draw the dieline, so the tuck, glue flap and windows sit in the right places.