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 Sleeve Boxes
A tray that slides out of a printed sleeve, sometimes called a drawer box or a slide box. The sleeve carries the branding; the tray holds and presents the product. Made in card, kraft or rigid board.
- 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
Two Parts, One Reveal
A sleeve box is made of two pieces: an open-ended outer sleeve and an inner tray that slides through it. Pushing the tray out is a slower, more deliberate opening than lifting a lid, which is why sleeve boxes are popular for jewellery, chocolates, tea and small gifts. A ribbon or a thumb cut on the tray makes it easy to pull.
Because the two parts are separate, they can be very different. A printed sleeve can slide over a plain kraft tray, or a plain sleeve can hide a tray printed in a bright pattern. Both can be made from folding card for lighter products, or from wrapped rigid board for a heavier, premium feel.
Products That Suit Sleeve Boxes
- Jewellery, watches and accessories
- Chocolates, sweets and tea
- Soap bars, candles and cosmetics
- Cards, stationery and small gifts
Sleeve Only?
If you already have a box or tray and only need a printed band around it, we can make the sleeve on its own. That is a cost-effective way to brand plain stock boxes or food trays. For a hinged lid instead of a drawer, see custom magnetic boxes.
Card or Rigid Construction
Sleeve boxes are made in two ways, and the choice depends on the product and the budget:
| Build | Sleeve | Tray | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folding card | Printed card tube | Folding card tray | Soaps, chocolates, small gifts |
| Rigid | Wrapped greyboard | Wrapped greyboard tray | Jewellery, premium gifts |
| Mixed | Printed card sleeve | Rigid or corrugated tray | Kits that need a stronger base |
A sleeve can also slide over an existing box you already use. See printed packaging sleeves for existing boxes if that is all you need.
Getting the Slide Right
The fit between tray and sleeve decides how the box feels. Too tight and the tray sticks; too loose and it falls out when the box is tipped. We size the sleeve from the tray dimensions and the board thickness, so the tray slides with a light push.
A ribbon pull or a thumb notch makes the tray easier to draw out. A ribbon pull is glued under the tray base and shows at one end; a thumb notch is a half-moon cut in the sleeve edge.
- Give us the product size and the tray depth you want.
- Say which end the tray should open from.
- Choose a ribbon pull, a thumb notch or neither.
- Tell us if the sleeve carries different artwork on each face.
Printing the Sleeve and Tray
The sleeve is what the customer sees first, so it usually carries the brand and the product name. The tray can stay plain, take a solid colour or carry a pattern that shows as it slides out. Printing the tray in a contrasting colour gives a small reveal for very little extra cost.
Because the sleeve is a separate part, a range of products can share one tray and change only the sleeve design, which keeps reorders simple. For chocolates and confectionery, compare printed chocolate gift boxes.
A printed sleeve over a solid colour tray.
Popular Sleeve Boxes Sizes
Internal tray sizes in mm. Sleeves are sized to slide smoothly over the tray.
| Length × Width × Depth | Often used for | Board |
|---|---|---|
| 90 × 60 × 30 mm | Soap bars, jewellery | Folding carton |
| 100 × 100 × 40 mm | Rings, earrings, chocolates | Rigid greyboard |
| 160 × 110 × 50 mm | Tea, gift sets | Folding carton or rigid |
| 200 × 140 × 50 mm | Accessories, stationery | Rigid greyboard |
| 220 × 180 × 60 mm | Chocolate selections | Folding carton |
| 300 × 220 × 80 mm | Larger gifts, clothing | Rigid or E flute |
Give us the tray contents size; we size the sleeve around the tray.
Board
Folding carton in white or kraft for lighter products, wrapped rigid greyboard for premium boxes and E flute for drawer mailers.
Print the sleeve, the tray, or both, from 1 colour to full colour. A common choice is to print the sleeve and keep the tray a solid colour.
Finish
Matt or gloss lamination, soft touch, spot UV, foil and embossing. Ribbon pulls and thumb cuts are available on the tray.
Full colour sleeve on white card.
Production and Delivery
Production takes 4–7 working days after you approve the free design proof. Card sleeve boxes ship flat; rigid sleeve boxes arrive built. 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.
Card sleeves and trays arrive flat; rigid ones arrive built.
Sleeve Boxes Specification
| Style | Sliding tray in an outer sleeve; ribbon pull or thumb cut; sleeve only on request |
|---|---|
| Size | Made to your internal length, width and depth in mm |
| Board | Folding carton card (white or kraft), rigid greyboard or E flute corrugated |
| 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 Sleeve Box
Choose the box photo closest to your sleeve 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 presentation boxes.
Custom Rigid Boxes
Greyboard wrapped in printed paper for a firm, weighty feel.
Custom Kraft Boxes
Natural brown board left plain or printed with dark inks.
Custom Gift Boxes
Presentation boxes for hampers, corporate gifts and keepsakes.
Custom Magnetic Boxes
Rigid boxes with a hinged lid that closes on hidden magnets.
Sleeve Boxes Questions
What customers ask before ordering sleeve boxes.
Is a sleeve box the same as a drawer box?
Yes. Sleeve box, drawer box and slide box all describe a tray that slides out of an outer sleeve.
Can I order just the sleeve?
Yes. Printed sleeves on their own are a cost-effective way to brand plain boxes, trays and food containers.
How do customers pull the tray out?
A ribbon pull or a thumb cut on the end of the sleeve makes the tray easy to slide.
Can the tray and sleeve be different colours?
Yes. A printed sleeve over a solid colour tray, or a plain sleeve over a patterned tray, are both popular.
Will the tray slide out by itself?
No. We size the sleeve so the tray slides smoothly but stays in place when the box is tilted.
Can sleeve boxes have inserts?
Yes. Card, foam and wrapped inserts fit inside the tray and hold the product in place as it slides out. See custom box inserts for the materials.
Are rigid sleeve boxes much heavier?
They are heavier and feel more substantial, which suits jewellery and gifts. Card sleeve boxes are lighter and ship flat.
Can sleeve boxes be posted?
Pack them in a mailer or carton. A corrugated drawer box is available if it must travel on its own.
Can several products share one tray with different sleeves?
Yes. Keeping one tray size and changing only the printed sleeve is a common way to run a range, and it keeps reorders simple.
How long do sleeve boxes take?
4–7 working days for production after proof approval, then 2–3 working days for free tracked UK mainland delivery.