Gift Card Boxes

A gift card box is a small printed carton, usually a little larger than a standard 3.375 by 2.125 inch card, that holds the card flat or standing and carries your branding on the outside. TBPB makes it custom with no minimum order, and beats any written quote you bring for the same specifications.

Why a plain card needs a box

A gift card slipped into a paper envelope looks like a receipt. The same card in a snug printed box looks like a present. For restaurants, salons, boutiques and spas, that difference shows up at the holidays, when gift cards are the easiest thing a customer can buy and the hardest to make feel personal. The box also gives you a place to print terms, a web address or a line that tells the recipient what they have been given, which a bare card cannot hold.

Sizes and styles that work

Standard gift cards are credit-card size, so most boxes follow one of a few patterns. A flat tuck box holds the card and a folded note in a shallow pocket. A pillow box curves the ends and suits a card plus a small trinket, such as a bookmark or a candle sample. A sleeve slides over a card holder and gives you full-colour print at a very light weight. If you mail gift cards, a flat mailer-style carton avoids bent corners. Measure the card with any holder it comes in, add about 1/8 inch of clearance per side, and give the lid a little vertical room if you add an extra card or flyer.

Board, print and finish

Gift card boxes are normally folding cartons made from 16 to 24 pt paperboard, which holds a crisp fold at this small scale. Thinner board risks a flimsy feel, while very thick board makes the tiny folds hard to close. Print can be CMYK or Pantone, and foil on a logo, spot UV on a pattern and soft-touch lamination give the box a finished look without adding much weight. Keep design simple. A small face holds one idea, not three, so choose one colour, one mark and one short line.

Think about the handover too. At a till, staff need to slip the card into the box in a couple of seconds, so a lid that fights back is a real cost in a busy shop. A thumb notch or a ribbon-style pull tab helps. If you sell cards online, a box that doubles as a keepsake, with a design customers keep on a shelf, builds repeat visits.

• Flat tuck, pillow, sleeve and mailer-style formats
• Sized to a standard card or to your own card and holder
• Paperboard or kraft, with CMYK or Pantone print
• Foil, spot UV, embossing and soft-touch finishes
• Sample quantities and full runs, no minimum order

Choosing between the formats

A gift sleeve is the lightest option and good for in-store handovers. A gift pillow box suits a card paired with something small. If the card ships by post, a gift mailer box protects it and the printing together. You can also browse the full custom gift boxes range.

One practical tip: test a real card in a prototype before printing a large run, because card thickness and holder style vary more than most people expect. Also remember that gift cards are sold in volume around a few dates each year, so plan the order well before the rush.

Send your card size, any extras it must hold and the quantity, even if it is one. We draw the dieline and send a proof.

Frequently asked questions