Pet Food Boxes

Pet food boxes are printed cartons for dog and cat treats, dry food samples, freeze-dried toppers and bundled pet products, made to your size with your branding. TBPB prints them with no minimum order, and if you bring a written quote for the same specs we will beat it.

Box or pouch for pet food

This is the first decision and people skip it. Kibble and loose dry treats are usually sold in bags, because a carton on its own does not seal against moisture or oils. A pet food box earns its place in three cases: small-batch treats packed in a bag or tray inside the carton, sample and trial packs, and gift or subscription sets. For bulk kibble, look at our stand-up pouches instead. For treats, a box plus an inner bag is a common, sensible combination.

Fat, crumbs and what leaks

Pet treats are often oily, and oil shows through plain uncoated paperboard in time. If the treat goes directly into the carton, ask about a grease-resistant liner or an inner bag. Soft chews and jerky are the biggest culprits. Dry biscuits are less demanding, but fine crumbs find every gap in a tuck, so a well-cut dust flap or sealed inner bag helps.

Styles that work

A tuck top box is the standard retail carton for a treat bag or tray, and a window version lets shoppers see the product. A window pillow box suits small bags of treats or sample portions. Pet owners are drawn to a visible product, so a clear window on the front is often worth including. If the box doubles as a gift, add a rigid lid-and-base for holiday sets. Browse the wider custom food boxes range for more shapes.

Sizing and board

Measure the treat bag, tray or product as packed, then add about 1/8 inch per side for a folding carton. Paperboard in the 16 to 24 point range prints well and holds most dry pet products. Heavier loads, such as several bags of treats, need thicker board or E-flute corrugated for shipping. Kraft board suits natural or organic pet brands and looks good with simple one- or two-colour printing, though bright colours print duller on it.

Print and finish

Full-colour CMYK covers most pet brands. Pantone matching keeps your brand colour consistent across different box sizes. Aqueous coating adds scuff resistance, matte feels modern, and gloss makes photos of pets and treats look vivid. Spot UV on the logo or an illustrated animal works well, and soft-touch lamination suits premium treat lines.

• Styles: tuck top, window carton, pillow box, sleeve, rigid gift set
• Board: folding carton paperboard, kraft, E-flute corrugated for shipping
• Liners: grease-resistant coating or inner bag for oily treats
• Print: CMYK, Pantone match, matte or gloss coating, soft-touch, spot UV, foil
• Quantity: no minimum order, one prototype is fine

Pet food is regulated. Ingredient lists, guaranteed analysis, feeding guidance, net weight and claims must follow the rules for your product and market. TBPB prints the artwork you supply and does not check it, so confirm labelling and any contact-material needs with your own regulatory adviser.

When a different pack is the better call

If you sell by the pound, or your product is a heavy dry food, a box is rarely the right answer. A resealable pouch keeps food fresher after opening and ships lighter. If the line is just three or four treat flavours, one box size with different artwork per flavour keeps the order simple and the cost of changing artwork low. Tell us what you sell and how it is stored, and we will say plainly whether a box suits it.

Next step

Send the packed product dimensions, the quantity (even one) and whether treats go in loose or in a bag. We draw the dieline and quote it.

Frequently asked questions