Custom Pencil Boxes

Graphite Sets Versus Colouring Sets

Graphite pencil sets are bought by people who draw seriously or are learning to. They want to see the range of grades, from hard to soft, and they usually care more about quality than colour. A restrained box, perhaps kraft or a single dark colour with a foil grade chart, suits them. Include an eraser or a sharpener slot if the set comes with one.

Colouring sets are bought for range and fun. The box needs to show the colours, either through a window or a printed swatch strip, and the design can be playful. For children's ranges, rounded corners and a strong board make the box last longer in little hands.

Watercolour pencils and pastel pencils sit somewhere between the two and often benefit from a printed note on how to use them, which fits nicely inside the lid. Plain tuck cartons for classroom sets are described under pencil cartons for school packs.

Sizing a Box for Your Set

Measure one pencil from end to end once sharpened, then measure the width of the row with all the pencils lying side by side. Round pencils need slightly less width than hexagonal or triangular ones. Add 2 to 3 mm to length and width so the set drops in without forcing.

For depth, measure the thickest pencil. If you are packing two rows, either stacked or in a tiered tray, double it and add the thickness of the divider. Remember that a sharpener, eraser or blending stump will need a pocket of its own.

Pencils that are shorter than standard, such as half-length party pencils, need a box made for them, not a standard box with spare space, because they will slide and blunt their points.

Coloured pencils with thicker cores, such as soft artist pencils, are often slightly wider than school pencils. If you change pencil supplier between batches, measure again, because a box that fits one maker’s pencils snugly may be too tight or too loose for another’s. Our guide to measuring a product for a box covers rows of slim items.

Board, Print and the Feel of the Box

A 350 gsm folding boxboard suits most colouring and school sets. For a premium artist set, a thicker board or a rigid construction gives weight and durability. Kraft board feels natural and craft-like; white board shows bright colours best.

Full colour print allows illustrated designs and accurate shade swatches. A matt laminate protects the box against bag wear and fingerprints, while soft touch laminate makes an artist set feel special. A foil logo or a spot UV highlight on the set name adds a finishing touch.

Inside the lid or on the tray is a good place for a shade chart with colour names. It helps users find replacements and reminds them of the brand every time they open the box.

Think about how the box will age. A white matt box shows pencil marks and fingerprints after a few weeks of use, while a mid-tone or patterned design hides them. For sets aimed at children, a laminated finish that wipes clean is worth the small extra cost.

Selling to Schools and Shops

Schools and education suppliers buy in larger quantities and want boxes that stack neatly in a stock cupboard and can be labelled with a child's name. A plain panel on the lid for names is a simple, practical addition. Strong boxes with a tuck closure survive classroom life better than slide trays.

Retail stationery shops want a box that works on a peg and on a shelf. A hanging tab with a euro slot gives flexibility, and an end panel with the set size printed large helps when boxes are stacked on their side.

Gift shops and museum shops look for a box that feels like a present. A two-piece lid, a ribbon pull or a printed belly band lifts the set into gift territory. Museum shops often pair the set with printed sticky notes in matching colours.

Measure the Pencils From the Batch You Will Pack

Pencils from different makers vary by a millimetre or two in both length and diameter, and a tray that holds one brand snugly will rattle or jam with another. Take pencils from the batch you will actually pack, measure the longest one sharpened and the diameter across the barrel, and count the rows you want. For a tiered tray of 24, note which colours sit on the top row, because that is what shows through a window or when the lid lifts. Then tell us the style, the board and the quantity for each set size.

A custom quote comes back by email within one working day, with low minimums quoted per job and simple items from £0.25. After you approve the free proof, production takes 4 to 7 working days and boxes are delivered flat by free tracked courier to UK mainland addresses in 2 to 3 working days; misprints or damage reported within 10 days are reprinted or refunded. If you sell sets of different lengths, one tray with a printed end stop can cover two sizes. Sets that need to be seen on the shelf suit the pencil boxes with a clear window.