Custom kraft boxes are printed boxes made from natural brown paperboard or corrugated board, sized to your product and branded with your artwork. TBPB makes them with no minimum order, and if you hold a written quote for the same specs elsewhere, our price-beat guarantee means we beat it.
Kraft is a material, so choose the structure first
Search for kraft boxes and you will find everything from a thin folding carton to a double-wall shipper, because kraft only describes the color and fiber of the board. Kraft paperboard in roughly the 16 to 24 pt range folds into retail cartons such as tuck tops and sleeves. Kraft corrugated, usually E-flute or B-flute, is the one to pick when the box has to survive a courier network. Decide the job first: sit on a shelf, ship across the country, or carry a gift out of a shop. The style follows from that.
How brown board changes your artwork
Ink behaves differently on kraft. CMYK inks are translucent, so on brown stock every color prints darker and duller than the same file on white board, and a pastel will not look like your screen. Most good kraft packaging leans on one or two solid inks, black being the safest, with foil stamping or embossing added where a logo needs to catch light. If your product photography has to look true to life, a white-lined board is the better call, and a white kraft face is a reasonable middle ground. Ask for a proof before approving a large run, because the brown base surprises people.
Sizing a kraft box without guessing
For a folding carton, measure the product at its longest, widest and tallest points, then add about 1/8 inch of clearance per side. Do not size to the exact measurement, because kraft board is fibrous and thicker stock needs room at the folds. Corrugated needs more allowance again, since the flute adds wall thickness that eats into the inside space. Give us inside dimensions as length, width and height and we draw the dieline against them. If your product is soft or compressible, such as apparel or a wrapped bar of soap, you can run tighter. If it is rigid or fragile, leave the full allowance.
One more practical point: kraft fiber varies slightly from sheet to sheet, so two runs ordered months apart can show a small shade difference. That is normal for an unbleached board, and a single-color print hides it better than a large flood of ink.
- Structures: kraft paperboard folding cartons, kraft corrugated mailers and shippers
- Board face: natural brown kraft or white kraft
- Print: one-color, CMYK, or Pantone match, with foil stamping or embossing on suitable artwork
- Coating: matte or gloss aqueous coating where the artwork allows it
- Sizes: fully custom, drawn to your inside dimensions
When kraft is the wrong choice
Kraft reads handmade and natural. If your brand is clinical, glossy or metallic, brown board will fight it. Uncoated kraft also absorbs oil and moisture, so greasy or wet food needs a liner or a different material, and you should confirm food-contact requirements with your own regulatory adviser; TBPB prints the artwork you supply. Recycled content and compostability depend on the exact board spec, not on the word kraft, so ask for the spec rather than assuming it.
Which kraft style fits your product
Light retail products usually suit kraft tuck top boxes. Food to go and gift sets with a handle suit kraft gable boxes, and anything that travels by courier belongs in kraft corrugated boxes. You can browse every size and style in the kraft boxes category.
Next step: send your product dimensions and a quantity, even one, and TBPB draws the dieline and quotes it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order for custom kraft boxes?
No. TBPB has no minimum order, so you can order one custom kraft box to check the fit and color, or ten thousand for a full launch. The setup is drawn to your dimensions either way, and there is no penalty for ordering small.
Do kraft boxes take full-color printing?
Yes, but expect the brown base to darken and dull CMYK colors. Black, dark browns and metallic foil look best. If you need bright, accurate color, ask about white kraft or a white-lined board instead, and check a printed proof first.
What is the difference between kraft paperboard and kraft corrugated?
Paperboard is a single thin layer that folds into retail cartons. Corrugated adds a fluted layer between liners, which makes it thicker and far better for shipping. Choose paperboard for the shelf and corrugated for the courier network.
Are kraft boxes recyclable?
Plain paper-based kraft boxes are generally accepted in paper recycling, but coatings, foil and laminates can change that. Tell us how you plan to describe the box and we will help you pick finishes that fit the claim you want to make.
How do I size a kraft box for my product?
Measure your product length, width and height, then add about 1/8 inch per side for a folding carton. Corrugated needs a little more room because the flute thickness reduces the inside space. Send the numbers and we confirm the dieline.
Can I get a sample before a large order?
Because there is no minimum order, you can order a single box as a real sample in your actual board and print. That is the most reliable way to check how your color lands on kraft before you commit to a bigger quantity.
More Kraft Boxes
See the full Kraft Boxes range, or explore related options with no minimum order and our best-price guarantee:
