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Tube packaging is a cylinder made from spiral wound paperboard, a round container with a paper or metal end at each end, used to ship posters and documents without a crease, present spirits, cosmetics and tea, and hold snacks and supplements in a container that stands on a shelf. We make paper tubes in three families, mailing tubes, rigid presentation tubes and push up tubes, in any diameter and length, plain kraft or fully printed, with no minimum order. The number that decides the tube is wall thickness: a mailing tube for posters is wound to about 1/16 inch, a presentation tube for a bottle to 1/8 inch or more, and the difference is what stops the tube crushing when a parcel is stacked on it.
A round wall is strong along its length and weak across it, which is why a tube protects a rolled print better than any box and why the wall has to be thicker than you would expect for a heavy bottle. Get the wall right and the tube does everything else on its own.
Three families of paper tube
| Family | Construction | Ends | Typical sizes | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mailing tube | 3 to 4 ply kraft, about 1/16 in wall | plastic or paper plugs, or a crimped end | 2 x 24, 3 x 36, 4 x 48 in | posters, prints, blueprints, fabric, banners |
| Rigid presentation tube | 5 to 8 ply, 1/8 in wall and up, wrapped in printed paper | paper lid and base, often with a metal rim | 2 x 6 to 4 x 14 in | spirits, candles, cosmetics, tea, gift sets |
| Push up tube | 3 to 5 ply, paper disc that pushes up | paper cap | 0.75 x 2.75 to 1.6 x 4 in | deodorant, balm, lotion bars, solid perfume |
| Snack and food canister | 5 ply with a foil or PE liner, 1/8 in wall | metal or paper base, plastic or paper lid | 2.5 x 5 to 4 x 8 in | coffee, tea, nuts, protein, pet treats |
Sizing
Tubes are specified as inside diameter by usable length. For a rolled print, the diameter follows how tightly the paper can roll without cracking: 2 inches for lightweight posters, 3 inches for heavy stock and photographs, 4 inches for canvas and multiple sheets. Length is the short edge of the sheet plus an inch. For a bottle or a candle, the diameter is the product plus a quarter inch and the length is the product height plus the lid depth.
| Contents | Inside diameter | Length | Wall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 x 24 in poster | 2 in | 19 in | 1/16 in mailing |
| 24 x 36 in poster or print | 3 in | 25 in | 1/16 in mailing |
| Blueprints, 36 in edge | 3 in | 37 in | 1/16 in mailing |
| 750 ml spirit bottle | 3.5 in | 13 in | 1/8 in rigid, paper lid |
| 8 oz candle jar | 3.5 in | 4.5 in | 1/8 in rigid |
| 12 oz coffee | 3.5 in | 6 in | lined 1/8 in canister |
Ends and closures
Mailing tubes take a plastic plug at each end, or a paper plug for a plastic free option, or a crimped end that seals at the factory and a plug at the other. Presentation tubes take a slip on paper lid with a paper or metal rim; a metal rim lid is the premium signal and it stops the lid fraying. Push up tubes take a paper cap. Canisters take a peel back seal under the lid for freshness. A ribbon pull or a die-cut window can be added to any presentation tube.
Print and finish
Kraft tubes print one or two colors directly on the board. Presentation tubes wrap in printed art paper, 128 to 157 gsm, with matte or gloss lamination, foil, embossing or soft touch, exactly as a rigid box does. Because the wrap is flat before it is wound, artwork is supplied as a rectangle on the dieline we send, with the seam position marked so a logo does not land on it.
In short
What to send us: what goes in the tube and its size, whether it ships or presents, and how it is sealed. What you get back: the tube family, inside diameter, length and wall for the job, the end style, a dieline with the seam marked, and a physical sample. What it costs you to start: nothing. Free design, free dieline, free samples, no minimum order.
Tube packaging questions
What size mailing tube do I need for a poster?
2 inch inside diameter for lightweight posters, 3 inches for heavy stock and photographs, 4 inches for canvas or several sheets. Length is the short edge of the sheet plus an inch: a 24 by 36 print needs a 3 by 25 inch tube.
What is the difference between a mailing tube and a presentation tube?
Wall thickness and finish. A mailing tube is 3 to 4 ply kraft, about 1/16 inch, with plugs, built to protect a roll in the mail. A presentation tube is 5 to 8 ply, 1/8 inch or more, wrapped in printed paper with a rimmed lid, built to hold a bottle or a candle and look good doing it.
Can paper tubes be used for food?
Yes, as lined canisters: 5 ply board with a foil or PE liner, a metal or paper base and a lid with a peel seal, for coffee, tea, nuts, protein powder and pet treats. Tell us the product and we will specify the liner.
Are paper tubes plastic free?
They can be. Paper plugs instead of plastic on mailing tubes, paper lids on presentation tubes, and paper caps on push up tubes make the whole tube paper. Lined food canisters and metal rimmed lids add a non paper component.
Is there a minimum order?
No. A dozen tubes for a launch or a full production run. Free design and dieline, free samples, and a printed proof before the run.
No minimum order. One or a full run. Free design and dieline, and a printed proof before production. Free samples so you can roll your print or seat your bottle in a sample before you commit. Price match: send a written quote for the same size, board, print and quantity and we will beat it.
Related: paper tube packaging, cosmetic paper tubes, cardboard deodorant tubes and all tube packaging.
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