Retail display boxes are printed cartons that hold a group of the same product and double as the display on a counter or shelf, with the front open or cut away so shoppers can see and grab the items. TBPB makes them custom with no minimum order, and a written quote for the same specs gets matched and beaten under our price-beat guarantee.
What a display box does that a shipper does not
A standard shipping carton protects units in transit and then goes in the trash. A display box does that job and then sells. The retailer opens it, tears or folds the front away and sets it on the counter, so the box becomes the point-of-sale unit. That is why the design starts from the shopper’s view: the product face, the brand panel and the price area, rather than just a case count. Impulse items do best in this format, such as lip balm, candy, supplements, small tools, cosmetics, phone accessories, snacks and sample-size goods, because they sit near the checkout and sell in volume.
Common structures
The typical style is a tray-style box with a lid that opens or detaches and a lowered front so units are visible. A tuck-lid display folds back to form a header behind the units, and a pop-up style opens flat. For heavier or stacked loads, corrugated gives crush strength so the box does not sag when it is full. For light items, 16 pt to 24 pt folding carton board prints sharply and holds a neat shape. Ask about tear-away perforations if the retailer wants to open the display quickly, and keep in mind that perforation placement changes how stiff the box is. For products that hang rather than sit, our hang tab boxes do that job better.
Sizing the box around the units
Start with a single unit. Measure it, then decide how many sit in a row and in how many rows, and how deep the display should be. Allow about 1/8 inch of clearance per side per unit, so a row does not jam when someone pulls one out. A display that is too tall hides the product behind its own front, and one that is too shallow lets units tip. Dividers keep rows straight, and an angled insert tilts the units toward the shopper. Our dispenser boxes are the right place to look if you want items to dispense one at a time.
Print that sells
Print the front and the visible edges in full color CMYK, with Pantone for the brand color, and keep the brand name big enough to read from a few feet away. Gloss lamination pops on bright consumer products, while matte reads calmer and sets off foil or spot UV details. Skip crowded back panels, since the box sits with its back to the wall. If you also want a hanging card for a connected item, look at our header card packaging. The wider selection is in the custom retail packaging category.
- Tray-style, tuck-lid and pop-up display structures
- Folding carton or corrugated, by weight and stacking needs
- Optional dividers, angled inserts and tear-away openings
- CMYK or Pantone printing with matte, gloss or spot UV
- Sized to unit count, row layout and counter space
Send the product dimensions, the unit count per display and your quantity, even if it is one, and we will draw the dieline and quote it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order for retail display boxes?
No. TBPB has no minimum order. You can order one display to test in a single store or thousands for a rollout. We draw the dieline from your product size and unit count, and the process is the same for any quantity.
How many units should a counter display hold?
It depends on counter space and how fast the product sells. Most countertop displays hold a few rows of the same item. Measure one unit, choose the row and depth layout, and we will build the box around it.
What board should I choose for a display box?
Folding carton paperboard in the 16 pt to 24 pt range suits light products and prints well. Corrugated is better for heavier or stacked loads because it resists crush. Tell us the filled weight and how many displays ship in a case.
Can the display box have a tear-away front?
Yes, we can add perforated openings so the retailer can open the display quickly. The perforation changes how stiff the box is, so tell us the product weight and we will place it to keep the box stable.
Can I use dividers or inserts to keep products upright?
Yes. Dividers keep rows straight and an angled insert tilts units toward the shopper. They add a little cost and assembly, so we recommend them for products that tip or slide, such as tubes and bottles.
How do I size a display box?
Measure one unit, decide the number per row and rows, and add about 1/8 inch of clearance per side. Check the counter footprint the retailer allows. Send the numbers and we will draw a dieline for approval.
More Custom Retail Packaging
See the full Custom Retail Packaging range, or explore related options with no minimum order and our best-price guarantee:
