To-go boxes are printed takeaway boxes, usually folding paperboard or light corrugated, with a lid or locking flaps that keep a meal, a pastry or a gift closed on the way out. TBPB makes them custom with no minimum order, and if you hold a written quote for the same specs we will beat it.
Pick the box by what goes in it
A sandwich, a dozen cookies, a slice of cake and a hot lunch need different boxes, and the common mistake is buying one size for all of them. Start with the heaviest, wettest or tallest item you plan to carry. Hot or oily food can soak through plain board, so say so early, and we will talk through liner or coating options. Confirm any food-contact requirement with your own regulatory adviser, because that responsibility sits with the seller.
Measure the food or its container, add clearance so it slides in, and leave a little headroom so the lid does not squash the top of a pastry or a decorated cake.
Closures that actually hold
Tuck flaps are fast and need no tape, but they can pop open if the box is overfilled. Locking tabs and auto-lock bottoms hold a heavier load and set up in a second. A full lid with a hinge feels more like a gift and suits bakery. For deliveries, a sticker or a printed band across the closure helps with tamper evidence and keeps the lid down when a bag is thrown on a passenger seat. A custom belly band does that job and carries your branding.
Handles, window cut-outs and vent holes are all possible, but each one weakens the board, so tell us which matter before we design the layout.
Board, print and finish
For light to medium loads, folding paperboard in the 16 to 24 pt range prints sharply and folds flat for storage. Heavier meals or stacking call for kraft board or a fine-flute corrugated. Print options are CMYK or Pantone-matched colors, with matte or gloss aqueous coating. A one-color print on kraft is a quick way to look branded without a heavy ink load.
- Styles: tuck top, auto-lock bottom, hinged lid, window, handle
- Material: folding paperboard, kraft, light corrugated
- Print: CMYK, Pantone, one-color on kraft
- Finish: matte or gloss aqueous coating
- Extras: windows, vent holes, belly bands, stickers
When another style fits better
For lightweight, dry goods a tuck top box is simpler and flatter to store. If the order ships by post rather than going across a counter, look at our mailer boxes. The wider custom retail packaging range has more options.
Practical test: fill a sample box, close it, carry it by the bottom for a block and tip it a little. If food shifts, the box is too big. If the lid bows, it is too small or the board is too thin.
Storage is the part people forget. To-go boxes arrive flat, and a busy counter has no room for bulky stacks. Folding styles that pop open in one motion keep the line moving at lunchtime, so ask for a design that your staff can assemble without thinking about it.
If you sell more than one item, consider two sizes rather than six. A small and a large cover most menus, and fewer sizes means fewer mistakes at the pass.
Next step: send the box size you have in mind or the item you carry, with a quantity (even one), and TBPB draws the dieline and sends a quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is a to-go box made of?
Most are folding paperboard in the 16 to 24 pt range, kraft board or fine-flute corrugated for heavier loads. The material you choose depends on how heavy, hot or oily the contents are. Tell us what you carry and we recommend the board and any liner.
What size to-go box do I need?
Measure the food or its container, then add clearance so it slides in and some headroom so the lid does not press down. Start from your largest item. Send us the dimensions and we draw the dieline so the closed box fits without rattling or bowing.
Can to-go boxes be used for hot or greasy food?
Possibly, but plain board can soak through, so it needs a liner or coating discussed up front. Food-contact suitability is the seller’s responsibility, so confirm requirements with your own regulatory adviser. We print your artwork and help choose a build that suits the product.
How do I keep a to-go box closed?
Locking tabs and auto-lock bottoms hold well, tuck flaps are fastest, and a hinged lid feels like a gift. For deliveries, add a printed belly band or a sticker across the closure. Avoid overfilling, since that is the usual reason a lid pops open.
Is there a minimum order for custom to-go boxes?
No. TBPB has no minimum order, so you can order a single box to test the fit or thousands for a rollout. Send the size for a quote, and if you hold a lower written quote for the same specs, we will beat it.
Can I print my logo on to-go boxes?
Yes. We print CMYK or Pantone-matched artwork on paperboard, kraft or corrugated, with matte or gloss coating if you want it. One-color logos on kraft are a simple way to look branded. We send a proof for approval before production.
More Custom Retail Packaging
See the full Custom Retail Packaging range, or explore related options with no minimum order and our best-price guarantee:
