A paper cigarette box is the pack-level carton that holds a set of cigarettes, usually twenty, in a hinged-lid or slide-and-shell format printed on folding paperboard. TBPB prints custom paper cigarette boxes to your artwork and dimensions with no minimum order, and we will beat a written quote for the same specs.
The two main pack constructions
The hinged-lid pack, often called a flip-top, is the one most smokers recognize. A folded paperboard shell has a lid attached at the back, and an inner frame of lighter board keeps the cigarettes square and gives the lid something to lock against. The slide-and-shell style is a tray that pushes out of a sleeve, closer to a matchbox. It is simpler to produce and works well for small-batch or craft brands that want a different look from mainstream packs.
Both are folded flat, glued, and shipped to the filling line, so the die must be accurate to a fraction of a millimeter. A pack that is slightly off will jam on a packing machine, or it will slip open in a pocket.
Sizing around the product
Start from the cigarette itself: the length including the filter, the diameter, and the number per pack. A standard-size pack is built around a row layout, so the arrangement matters as much as the count. Send us a sample cigarette or a clean set of measurements and the arrangement you plan to use. We draw the dieline from that, and we add the inner frame, foil liner space and the lid return so it closes cleanly.
Materials, print and finish
Paper cigarette boxes are usually printed on folding carton paperboard in the 16 to 24 pt range, or the equivalent weight in gsm. Stiffer board keeps the corners square after repeated opening. Printed outer surface can carry CMYK, Pantone-matched colors, matte or gloss aqueous coating, soft-touch lamination, spot UV, foil stamping and embossing.
- Flip-top hinged lid or slide-and-shell structure.
- Inner frame and optional foil liner space.
- Pantone-matched brand colors on a printed outer shell.
- Foil stamping and embossing on logo areas.
- Reserved panels for mandated warnings and tax markings.
Where packs go wrong
Three faults come up again and again: a lid that pops open because the inner frame is too short, a glue flap that shows at the back edge, and artwork that wraps the hinge so a logo splits when the lid opens. We check all three on the dieline before anything prints. A prototype pack is the quickest way to confirm the fit with your own product and, if you run a filling line, with your own machine, so there are no surprises at volume.
Regulatory content is your responsibility
Tobacco packaging in the United States carries mandatory health warnings and labeling rules that depend on the product and the jurisdiction, and they change. TBPB is the manufacturer. We print the artwork you supply and keep the required panels clear, but you and your regulatory adviser decide what must appear and how large it must be. Please confirm that with them before sending the final file.
Related formats
If you are packaging full cartons of packs for wholesale, see our cigarette carton format. For larger-format smokes, cigar boxes are built differently, and the whole cigarette boxes category lists the options in one place.
To begin, send us the product dimensions and the pack count, even for a single prototype, and TBPB will draw the dieline and quote it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a paper cigarette box?
A paper cigarette box is the printed paperboard pack that holds a set of cigarettes, most often in a hinged-lid or slide-and-shell format. It is the retail unit the customer holds, as opposed to the outer carton that holds several packs.
Is there a minimum order for custom cigarette packs?
No. TBPB has no minimum order, so you can order one pack as a prototype to check fit on your filling process, or order a full production quantity. Construction and print standards are the same.
What board is used for hinged-lid cigarette packs?
Folding carton paperboard, commonly in the 16 to 24 pt range, with a lighter inner frame. The weight is a balance: stiff enough to keep corners square after repeated opening, thin enough to fold cleanly at the hinge.
Who is responsible for the health warnings?
You are. Tobacco labeling and warning requirements depend on the product and jurisdiction, and TBPB prints the artwork you supply. Confirm requirements with your regulatory adviser, and we will reserve the panels and sizes you give us.
How do I size a custom cigarette box?
Measure the cigarette length including the filter, its diameter, and decide the count and row layout. Send those, or a sample, and we calculate the box, the inner frame and the lid return in the dieline.
Can I add foil or embossing to the pack?
Yes. Foil stamping and embossing are common on the logo area of the lid, and soft-touch or spot UV adds contrast. We keep those effects clear of the warning panels so they stay legible.
More Cigarette Boxes
See the full Cigarette Boxes range, or explore related options with no minimum order and our best-price guarantee:
