Snap Lock Bottom Boxes

A snap lock bottom box is a folding carton whose base panels interlock to form a firm floor with no glue or tape. TBPB makes them custom to your product size with no minimum order, and if you bring a written quote for the same specs, we will beat it.

How the bottom works

The box ships flat with the side seam glued. You open it, fold the base panels in a set order, and a tab snaps into a slot to lock them. That locking floor carries more weight than a tuck bottom, which relies on friction, and is why snap lock bottoms are popular for bottles, jars, candles and gift items. It is slower to assemble than a pop-up style, so it suits products that are packed by hand in modest volumes more than a high-speed line.

Snap lock or auto bottom

An auto bottom box has a glued base that springs open when you lift the sides, which is quicker to set up. It also carries a similar load, and the glue means the base is fixed once it is made. A snap lock bottom is the better choice when you want no adhesive on the base, when you want to be able to flatten the box again, or when assembly time is not the bottleneck. If your priority is fast packing, ask us about both and compare samples side by side.

Sizing for weight

Measure the product length, width and height, including cap or lid. Then think about weight. A box for a heavy jar needs a thicker board than one for a lightweight box of tea, even if the dimensions match. Add clearance of about an eighth of an inch per side so the product slides in. Tell us the filled weight and we recommend a board that will not bow under it.

Think about reuse as well. Because the base locks without glue, a customer can fold the box back up and reuse it for storage or gifting, which suits brands whose customers keep their packaging. If the box goes out in the post, pack it inside a corrugated mailer, since a folding carton on its own offers little protection against knocks. Bottles and jars also benefit from a divider so they do not clink together.

Closure, board and print

The top can be a tuck, a reverse tuck or a hinged lid. Folding carton paperboard in the 16 to 24 pt range is typical, with a heavier board or a corrugated shipper if the product is heavy. Print in CMYK or Pantone, with matte or gloss coating, soft-touch lamination, foil stamping, spot UV or embossing. A reverse tuck end box is a lighter alternative when the product is small and weight is not a concern.

• Interlocking snap lock base with tuck or hinged top
• Folding carton paperboard, 16 to 24 pt, heavier board on request
• CMYK or Pantone print, matte or gloss, soft-touch, foil, spot UV
• Inserts and dividers for bottles, jars and sets

Food, cosmetics and supplements need compliant labeling, and you are responsible for it, so check with your own adviser. We print the artwork you supply. Send the product size, weight and quantity, even if it is one, and we draw the dieline and quote it. See other structures in our box by style range.

Frequently asked questions