Custom Paper Tubes

Lids, Bases and Closures

A three-piece tube has a lid and a base of the same diameter that slide over a shorter inner neck, so the lid closes flush against the base and the outside reads as one clean cylinder. It gives a controlled fit and a tidy join line. A two-piece tube is simpler: the lid slides straight over the body, which suits less formal products and keeps the cost down.

Ends can be made from card discs, metal ends or plastic plugs. Card ends keep the tube looking natural and are the most common choice. Metal ends give a premium, industrial feel and suit coffee and spirits. For powders and loose products, a sifter lid or a peel-off foil membrane seals the contents until first use.

The fit of the lid is worth getting right. Too tight and customers struggle to open it; too loose and it falls off when the tube is picked up. Lid fit is set on the dieline; ask for a plain sample if you want to test it by hand before the printed run. Customers who want an easy friction fit often choose paper tubes with matching lids.

Sizing Your Tube

Paper tubes can be made in a huge range of diameters and heights, so the starting point is your product. Measure the widest point and the full height, including any cap or lid, and add a little clearance. For bottles and jars, the tube needs to clear the shoulder; for rolled items, it needs to clear the roll comfortably so customers can pull it out easily.

If your product sits loose inside, an insert holds it in place. Card inserts with a cut-out, foam inserts or a shredded paper fill all work. For products sold in several sizes, consider keeping one diameter and varying the height, so the range looks coherent on a shelf.

Wall thickness is the other dimension to consider. Thin-walled tubes suit light products and keep costs down, while thicker walls give a sturdier, more premium feel and better crush resistance for heavier contents such as bottles or candles in glass. We will recommend a wall thickness to suit your product and how it will be sold or shipped.

Printing and Wrap Papers

The wrap paper is printed flat before being wound around the tube, which means full colour artwork, photography and patterns are all possible. Because the tube is round, think about how the design reads as it turns. A logo placed on one side, with a pattern running around the rest, works well. Text should be kept away from the seam where the wrap overlaps.

Speciality papers add character. Kraft wraps give a natural, artisan look, textured stocks such as linen or felt-marked papers add a tactile quality, and coloured papers can carry a single foil logo for a luxurious, minimal design. The inside of the tube and the lid can also be printed or lined with a contrasting colour.

Supply artwork on our flat template, which marks the wrap height, the overlap and the band covered by the lid. On a three-piece tube the lid hides part of the body wrap when the tube is closed, so keep logos, ingredients and barcodes clear of that band and place them where they show with the lid on. Our side-by-side print and finish guide explains how wrap papers differ from direct print.

Finishes That Suit the Curve

Matt and gloss lamination protect the wrap and change its character. Soft-touch lamination gives a velvety feel in the hand. Foil stamping in metallic colours catches the light as the tube turns. Embossing and debossing work well on tubes too, though the curve needs to be taken into account when the dies are made.

Keep the finish in proportion to the product. A simple kraft tube with a one colour logo can look just as considered as a heavily foiled tube, and it often suits natural or handmade products better. Choose one standout feature, such as a foil logo or a textured wrap, rather than layering every finish on a single tube. Balms and solid sticks suit push-up paper tubes for balms, which take the same finishes.

Ordering Paper Tubes

Send us your product dimensions, the tube style you prefer and your artwork for a custom quote, which we email within one working day. Minimums are quoted per job, so you can trial a tube for a new product before committing to a large run.

We provide a free design proof before production. Once approved, tubes take 4 to 7 working days to make, and delivery is free and tracked across the UK mainland, usually in 2 to 3 working days. If any tubes arrive damaged or misprinted, report it within 10 days for a reprint or refund. Browse the full tubes and canisters range if you need postal tubes or food tubes in the same order.