Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Custom Canvas Tote Bags
Custom Bags
Specify thisMade to order · US · UK · Canada · Australia
Custom Retail Packaging Built Around Your Product
No stock sizes. Send the product dimensions and the quantity you need, and we return a specification, a lead time and a written price.
Made to order, never stock Minimum order 100 units Written specification with every price Delivery across the US, UK, Canada and Australia From $0.30 per piece at volume
Custom Retail Packaging, Specified for Each Product
The Retail Packaging makes printed packaging to order for brands that sell through shops, online stores and wholesale accounts. Every job starts from the product rather than a catalog size: you send the dimensions, the weight and how it will be sold, and we specify the structure, the board or film, the print route and the finish around it. That covers folding cartons, rigid gift boxes, corrugated mailers, paper bags, pouches, labels, sleeves, trays and counter displays, so one supplier can handle the primary pack, the shipper and the shelf display for the same launch.
The minimum is 100 units on every format, which lets a new product test a structure before committing to volume. Short runs print digitally with no plate cost; longer runs move to offset or flexo, where the unit price falls, and prices start from $0.30 per piece at volume. Each quote arrives as a written specification with a lead time, so you can compare it line by line with what you buy today.
Production takes 3 to 5 business days after you approve the proof, and transit takes a further 5 to 7 business days to addresses in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. We supply the dieline, prepress checks every file, and nothing prints until you sign off. If you are not sure which structure fits, the packaging specification tool narrows it down in a minute.
Short runs
Low Minimum, Quick Turnaround
Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Custom Cotton Tote Bags
Custom Bags
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Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Custom Garment Bags
Custom Bags
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Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Custom Jute Tote Bags
Custom Bags
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Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Custom Monogrammed Tote Bags
Custom Bags
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Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Custom Tote Bags
Custom Bags
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Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Velvet Bags
Custom Bags
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Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Display Mailer Boxes
Custom Display Boxes
Specify thisEight Ranges That Carry Most of the Volume
By industry
What You Sell Decides the Specification
A candle, a supplement bottle and a folded shirt have almost nothing in common as packaging problems. These are the four sectors we quote most, and what actually drives each one.
Food and beverage
Grease resistance, food-contact compliance and speed at the counter decide the specification.
Custom Food Packaging — 34 formats
Beauty and personal care
Shelf presence and finish quality carry most of the weight, alongside ingredient panel space.
Custom Cosmetic Packaging — 25 formats
E-commerce and DTC
Dimensional weight, carrier survival and the unboxing moment drive the format choice.
Custom Mailers — 32 formats
Home and candles
Fragile contents need structural protection without hiding the product.
Custom Candle Packaging — 12 formatsFrequently specified
Formats Buyers Ask For Most
Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Mailer Boxes
Custom Mailers
Specify this
Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Cosmetic Boxes
Custom Cosmetic Packaging
Specify this
Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Candle Boxes with Window
Custom Candle Packaging
Specify this
Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Kraft Paper Bags
Custom Bags
Specify this
Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Stand Up Pouches
Custom Pouches
Specify this
Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Custom Die Cut Stickers
Custom Stickers
Specify this
Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Soap Display Boxes
Custom Display Boxes
Specify this
Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Rigid Boxes with Inserts
Custom Packaging Inserts
Specify this
Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Coffee Cups
Custom Printed Cups
Specify this
Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
Chocolate Boxes
Custom Food Packaging
Specify thisSpecification builder
Build your specification in under a minute
Set what you know, leave the rest. Everything here travels with your request, so nothing gets retyped.
- 100-unit minimum
- 3–5 day production
- Free dieline
- No obligation
YOUR BRAND
Drag to rotate
How it works
Six Stages, No Surprises
The only variable is how long each stage takes, and that depends almost entirely on how complete the information is at the start.
The full processRequirement
Dimensions, weight, quantity, deadline, destination.
Specification and quote
Board grade, structure, print method, lead time, written price.
Dieline
A template cut to your product, not a stock rectangle.
Prepress and proof
Bleed, resolution, fonts and cut lines checked before plate.
Production
Print, die-cut, finish and assemble. 3 to 5 business days.
Delivery
Flat or assembled, to one address or split across sites.
Matching the Box Style to the Product's Journey
Most problems on a first packaging order are not print problems. A carton designed to sit on a shelf gets sent through a parcel network and arrives crushed, or a rigid gift box is chosen for a product that ships in the thousands and the freight bill doubles. Start from where the pack goes after it leaves you, then pick the structure.
| How it reaches the customer | Structure that usually fits | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Picked off a store shelf | Reverse tuck end or auto-lock bottom carton | Auto-lock uses more board but holds weight a tuck end cannot |
| Posted to a home address | Roll-end tuck front mailer | Size it tight; carriers bill on volumetric weight |
| Shipped by the case to a retailer | Display case with tear-away front | It has to survive pallet stacking before it sells |
| Handed over as a gift | Rigid two-piece or hinged lid | Ships assembled, so it takes far more truck space |
| Gifted, but posted | Collapsible rigid | Ships flat, sets up close to a full rigid box |
| Carried out hot from a counter | Locking-corner food tray | Needs a grease-resistant board |
If two rows describe your product, say so in the quote request. A shelf carton packed inside a plain shipper often costs less than one structure trying to do both jobs. Our guide to retail box styles and closures covers each structure and what it costs to make.
Measuring Your Product for a Made-to-Size Box
Every box we make is cut to your numbers, so the numbers have to be right. A die is made for one set of dimensions, and a resize after tooling means paying for the die twice.
- Measure the widest point in all three directions, with the product exactly as it will be packed: cap on, pump fitted, label applied, garment folded.
- Check the awkward spots. Bottles are usually widest at the shoulder and jars at the lid, not at the base.
- If the product varies, measure several units. Handmade soap and hand-poured candles differ from batch to batch, so size to the largest.
- Add clearance per side, not overall: 1 to 2 mm each side for a snug rigid product, 5 to 10 mm for soft goods in a mailer.
- If there is an insert, size it first. The cavity sets the inside of the box, and the outside follows from it.
Send these along with your measurements:
- Product weight, which decides the board grade
- Quantity, plus any reorder you already expect
- Delivery country and the date you need stock in hand
- Whether it sells on a shelf, ships to customers, or both
- Artwork, or a note that you need design help
The packaging size and clearance guide has the full clearance table and the measuring mistakes behind most failed first runs.
How Quantity Decides the Print Method and Finish
You do not need to choose a printing method yourself, because the quantity mostly decides it. It still helps to know what each route gives up, so the quote makes sense when it arrives.
| Quantity | Usual route | What you gain | What you give up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 to about 1,000 | Digital | No plates, several designs in one run, shorter schedule | Brand colors built from process inks: close, not exact |
| Larger runs of cartons and wraps | Offset litho | Sharp detail, matched spot colors, falling unit price | A plate per color, so it pays off only past the crossover |
| Larger runs of corrugated, bags and film | Flexography | Strong solid colors at a low unit cost | Fine detail and gradients are harder to hold |
Finishes follow the same logic:
- Matte, gloss and soft-touch lamination need no tooling, so they cost about the same per unit at 200 boxes as at 20,000.
- Aqueous coating is the cheapest protection available and keeps paperboard recyclable.
- Foil, embossing and debossing need a die, which is a one-time cost. On a short run, keep foil to a small logo mark.
- Spot UV runs through its own screen and pays off from mid volumes upward.
For worked numbers on where digital stops making sense, see our comparison of the five packaging print methods.
Materials
Claims You Can Defend
Recycled content, curbside recyclability and certified compostability are three separate claims with three separate evidence requirements. Brands get into trouble by treating them as one.
Tell us which claim you intend to print on the pack and we specify a material that supports it — or say plainly that it does not exist at your price point. Our comparison of sustainable packaging materials sets out where each option falls short.
Our approach| Option | Cost vs conventional | Recovery route |
|---|---|---|
| Recycled paperboard | 0–5% higher | Curbside, widely accepted |
| Aqueous coating | Broadly neutral | Keeps paper recyclable |
| Mono-material film | 10–20% higher | Store drop-off only |
| Certified compostable | 20–40% higher | Industrial facilities only |
Get a price
Tell Us What You Are Packing
Most quotes go back the same working day. If your requirement needs a structural mock-up first, we say so instead of guessing at a number.
- No obligation and no account required
- Written specification with every price
- Artwork upload up to five files
Prices start from $0.30 per piece for large-volume orders. Final pricing depends on size, material, printing, finishes, and quantity.
No obligation
Request a quote
Send us the product details and quantity. We reply with a specification and a written price, usually within one business day.
Answers
Questions buyers ask first
What does The Retail Packaging actually make?
We manufacture custom retail packaging to order — 371 formats across 26 categories, covering folding cartons, rigid boxes, corrugated mailers, paper bags, pouches, labels, sleeves, trays and retail displays. Everything is cut to your dimensions rather than pulled from a stock catalog.
How much does custom packaging cost?
Prices start from $0.30 per piece for large-volume orders. Final pricing depends on size, material, printing, finishes, and quantity. A small run of digitally printed cartons and a 50,000-unit flexo run sit at opposite ends of that range, which is why we quote each project rather than publishing a price list.
What is the minimum order quantity?
It depends on the format and the printing route. Our minimum is 100 units on any format. Below about 1,000 units we print digitally, which removes the plate cost; above that, offset and flexo become cheaper per unit. Tell us your quantity and we will quote the most efficient route.
How long does production take?
Most orders move through production in 3 to 5 business days once artwork is approved, with shipping on top. Hand-assembled rigid boxes and specialty finishes sit at the longer end. We confirm a firm date in writing with every quote.
Can I get a sample before committing to a full run?
Yes. We can produce a plain structural sample so you can check that your product actually fits, or a printed prototype so you can judge color and finish. Sample costs are normally credited against the production order that follows.
What artwork files do you need?
A print-ready PDF or vector AI file works best, with fonts outlined, images at 300 dpi and CMYK color. We send you a dieline template for your chosen size, and our prepress team checks every file before it goes to press.
Do you help if I do not have artwork yet?
Yes. Our design team can build packaging artwork from a logo and a brand direction, or adapt existing artwork onto a new dieline. Tell us what you have and we will tell you what is missing.
Which materials can I choose from?
Paperboard, kraft board, corrugated, rigid grayboard, laminated barrier films, recycled grades and certified compostable stocks. The right choice depends on the weight of your product, how it ships and any food-contact requirement.
Which countries do you ship to?
The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, on the same timeline in all four: 3 to 5 business days of production after artwork approval, then 5 to 7 business days in transit. Freight is quoted per consignment with your price.
Can you produce recyclable or compostable packaging?
Most of our formats can be produced on recycled board or with recyclable materials, and several can be made certified compostable. Recycled content, curbside recyclability and compostability are three different claims, so tell us which one you need to support and we will specify a material that genuinely backs it.
Do you print on the inside of boxes?
Yes, interior printing is available on mailer boxes, folding cartons and rigid boxes. It is most worth the cost when the product does not fill the box, because that is when the customer actually sees the inside face at opening.
How do I start an order?
Send a quote request with your product dimensions, the quantity you need and your deadline. We reply with a specification, a lead time and a written price, usually within one business day.
Next step
Tell us what you are packing
Send the product dimensions and the quantity you need. We come back with a specification, a lead time and a written price.