Custom Mailer Boxes
Custom Shipping Boxes
Custom Cardboard Boxes
Custom Kraft Boxes
Custom Product Boxes
Custom Retail Boxes
Custom Tuck End Boxes
Custom Pillow Boxes
Custom Window Boxes
Custom Rigid Boxes
Custom Gift Boxes
Custom Magnetic Boxes
Custom Sleeve Boxes
Custom Printed Boxes
Custom Boxes with Logo
Custom Box Inserts
Custom Retail Boxes
Boxes made to sell from a shelf or a counter. Printed on every visible face, finished to catch the light and built in the style that suits how the product is displayed and picked up.
- Design proofFree, approved by you before printing
- PriceCustom quote by email within one working day
- Production4–7 working days after proof approval
- DeliveryFree and tracked, UK mainland, 2–3 working days
- Misprints or damageReported within 10 days, reprinted or refunded
Packaging That Sells From the Shelf
In a shop the box is the first thing a buyer touches. It has a couple of seconds to say what the product is, who made it and why it is worth picking up. Retail boxes are designed for that moment: the front panel carries the brand and the product name, the sides carry the details, and the finish helps the box stand out under shop lighting.
Most retail boxes are folding cartons in white or kraft card, because card prints fine detail and keeps the shelf price sensible. When a product needs to be seen, we add a window. When it needs to feel premium, we move to rigid board. When it sells online too, a printed E flute box can do both jobs.
Retail Box Types
- Tuck end and crash-lock cartons for everyday products
- Window boxes that show the product without opening
- Counter display boxes that open into a tray
- Drawer and sleeve boxes for gifts and accessories
Designing for the Shelf
Put the brand and product name on the face that will point outwards, keep key details on the side panels and leave room for a barcode on the base or back. Our free design proof shows every panel flat so you can check this. For a box built around one item, see custom product boxes.
Planning for the Shelf
A retail box has a few seconds to be noticed and understood. Before artwork starts, it helps to answer these questions:
- Where does it sit: shelf, peg, counter or a gift display?
- Which panel faces the buyer, and how far away are they?
- What must be read in one glance: brand, product, variant or price?
- Where do the barcode and legal text go without crowding the front?
- Does the buyer need to see or touch the product through a window?
The answers decide the structure as much as the print. A product on a peg needs a hang tab; a counter product may suit a printed counter display box that holds several units.
Retail Structures Compared
The common shop structures and where they work best:
| Structure | Shown on | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Tuck end carton | Shelf | Light to medium products |
| Hang tab carton | Pegboard | Light products with a euro slot |
| Window carton | Shelf or counter | Products worth seeing |
| Counter display tray | Till point | Several small units together |
| Rigid retail box | Premium shelf | Heavier or high-value products |
Folding cartons cover most of these and are the economical route in larger runs.
Finishes Under Shop Lighting
Shop lighting is bright and even, and it changes how a finish looks. Gloss lamination makes colour richer and reflects light, which helps on busy shelves. Matt and soft touch look calmer and suit premium or natural brands, but they make dark colours slightly lighter.
A spot UV or foil logo on a matt box catches the light as a buyer moves along the aisle, without making the whole box shiny. If the box will be handled often, lamination of any kind protects the print from fingerprints and scuffs. Compare the options in the board and finish photo tables.
A window lets the product do the selling.
Popular Retail Boxes Sizes
Internal sizes in mm. Retail boxes are made to the size of your product.
| Length × Width × Depth | Often used for | Board |
|---|---|---|
| 50 × 50 × 120 mm | Cosmetics, oils, tubes | Folding carton |
| 80 × 80 × 200 mm | Bottles, tall jars | Folding carton |
| 120 × 120 × 60 mm | Food treats, candles | Folding carton or window |
| 150 × 100 × 50 mm | Stationery, accessories | Folding carton |
| 200 × 150 × 70 mm | Gift sets | Folding carton or rigid |
| 250 × 180 × 100 mm | Counter display trays | E flute |
Measure the product with any inner packaging in place.
Board
White folding carton card for bright colour, kraft card for a natural finish, E flute for heavier products and rigid greyboard for premium lines.
Full colour on all faces is standard for retail. Small text such as ingredients, warnings and barcodes stays sharp on card.
Finish
Gloss lamination makes colours pop under shop lights; matt and soft touch give a quieter, premium feel. Spot UV and foil pick out the logo.
Full colour with gloss lamination.
Production and Delivery
Production takes 4–7 working days after you approve the free design proof. Retail cartons are glued, packed flat and delivered in outer cartons. Delivery to the UK mainland is free and tracked, and arrives in 2–3 working days once the boxes leave production. The tracking link comes to you by email.
Reprints and Refunds
Check the boxes when they arrive. If any are misprinted or damaged, report it within 10 days with a photo and we reprint or refund the boxes affected. Read the full returns and reprints policy.
Retail boxes arrive flat, glued and ready to fold.
Retail Boxes Specification
| Style | Tuck end, crash-lock, window, counter display, drawer or rigid |
|---|---|
| Size | Made to your internal length, width and depth in mm |
| Board | Folding carton card (white or kraft), E flute corrugated or rigid greyboard |
| 1 colour to full colour; outside, inside or both | |
| Finish | Matt or gloss lamination, soft touch, spot UV, foil, embossing |
| Inserts | Card, corrugated or foam, cut to your product |
| Minimum order | Low, quoted per job |
| Price | From £0.25 a box; custom quote by email within one working day |
| Proof | Free design proof before printing |
| Production | 4–7 working days after proof approval |
| Delivery | Free tracked UK mainland delivery, 2–3 working days |
Design Your Retail Box
Choose the box photo closest to your retail boxes, add your logo, drag it into place and set the size. Send it with your sizes and we reply with a custom quote and a free design proof.
Drag the logo, or select it and use the arrow keys (Shift moves faster, + and − resize).
Related Boxes
Other styles that work well on a shop shelf.
Custom Product Boxes
Folding carton boxes that hold and present a single retail product.
Custom Window Boxes
A die-cut window so the product shows without opening the box.
Custom Tuck End Boxes
Straight or reverse tuck cartons that ship flat and fold in seconds.
Custom Pillow Boxes
Curved card boxes for small, light items, samples and favours.
Retail Boxes Questions
What customers ask before ordering retail boxes.
Which board is best for retail boxes?
White folding carton card for most products, because it prints bright colour and fine detail. Kraft card suits natural brands. Rigid board suits premium lines.
Can retail boxes have a window?
Yes. A die-cut window, with or without a clear film, can be added to most styles. See custom window boxes.
Do you make counter display boxes?
Yes. Display trays that open to show a row of products on a counter can be printed and made to size.
Can you print ingredients and barcodes?
Yes. Send the text and barcode with your artwork and we lay them out on the panels you choose.
What finish looks best in a shop?
Gloss lamination makes colours brighter under lighting. Matt or soft touch with a spot UV logo gives a quieter, more premium look.
Can I hang retail boxes on a peg?
Yes. A hang tab with a euro slot can be added to the top of the box.
Do retail boxes come assembled?
Folding cartons are delivered glued on the side seam and flat, so they open and close in seconds. Rigid retail boxes arrive built and ready to fill.
Can several retail box designs share one order?
Yes. Different flavours or variants can share one box size with different artwork. Each design is shown on the proof.
How do retail box prices change with quantity?
Folding card retail boxes become noticeably cheaper per box as runs get larger, because the set-up is shared across more boxes. The custom quote can show two or three quantities side by side.
How long do retail boxes take?
4–7 working days for production after proof approval, then 2–3 working days for free tracked UK mainland delivery.