Custom Telescoping Boxes With Deep Lids

Materials and Wraps

Telescoping boxes are usually made from rigid greyboard, which is thick, dense and does not fold. The board is wrapped in printed paper, textured paper or a speciality material such as linen-look or leather-look paper. The wrap folds over the edges and into the inside, so the box looks finished from every angle.

Board thickness depends on size and weight. A small jewellery or watch box can use a thinner board, while a box for a bottle of spirits or a set of glasses needs a heavier grade. We recommend a thickness when we quote, based on what you tell us about the product.

For lighter items or bigger runs, a telescoping box can also be made in folding board or corrugated board. It will not feel as solid as rigid board, but it keeps the same two-piece opening at a lower cost. Board thicknesses and wrap papers are listed on the board and finish page.

Printing and Finishing Custom Telescoping Boxes

Because the lid is the first thing anyone sees, it carries most of the design. A single logo in foil on a deep-coloured wrap is a classic luxury look. Embossing or debossing adds texture you can feel, and spot UV gives a subtle shine on a matte surface. The base can be plain, printed in a contrasting colour or patterned to give a second moment when the lid comes off.

Print the inside of the lid with a message, a pattern or a short story about the product. It is visible the moment the lid is lifted and costs relatively little to add. Ribbon colours, tissue and inserts all build on that first impression. Company gift sets in this style are covered on the corporate gift boxes with inside print page.

• Foil logos in gold, silver, copper or colours
• Embossing and debossing
• Soft-touch and matte laminates
• Inside-lid printing

Inserts That Hold Heavier Products

The strength of a telescoping box is wasted if the product moves around inside. A fitted insert keeps it still and positions it exactly where the customer's eye goes. Foam inserts suit glass, electronics and heavy items; card inserts covered in the same wrap paper suit jewellery, cosmetics and stationery; a simple raised platform makes a small product look bigger and more important.

For gift sets, an insert with several cavities arranges each item neatly. Tell us the dimensions and weights of everything inside and we will design the layout, then show it on the proof.

Weight distribution matters with heavier items. A heavy product placed off-centre can make the lid tilt as it slides off, which spoils the effect. A well-designed insert keeps the weight in the middle, so the lid rises straight and the base stays flat on the table. For bottles, a cradle that holds the neck and the base keeps them from rocking.

If you plan to post the box, think of it as an inner box. Even rigid board can be scuffed in a courier network, so place it in a fitted shipping carton and keep the beautiful outside for the moment the customer opens it.

Where Telescoping Boxes Are Used

Brands choose these boxes when the packaging needs to feel as valuable as the product. Watchmakers, jewellers and fragrance houses use them for premium lines. Spirits brands use deep telescoping boxes for bottles and glass sets. Shoe and accessory brands use them for limited editions. Corporate gift companies use them for executive gifts and awards, and photographers and wedding businesses use them for prints, albums and keepsakes.

They also make excellent long-term storage. Customers tend to keep a solid two-piece box, which means your logo stays on their shelf for years.

Decide How Far the Lid Should Drop

The one choice that defines a telescoping box is lid depth. A full telescope, where the lid reaches the table, gives the slowest opening and the stiffest box, but it uses twice the board and costs the most. A partial lid of a third of the height shows a band of base colour and opens faster; a shoulder style sits flush and frames the product. Decide which feel suits the price of what goes inside, then send the inside size, the product weight, the wrap and any insert.

A custom quote is emailed within one working day and sets out how size, wrap and finishing affect the price, since rigid boxes cost more than folding cartons; minimums are low and quoted per job. The free proof shows the lid, base and insert. Production takes 4 to 7 working days after approval and free tracked UK mainland delivery follows in 2 to 3 working days; boxes that arrive dented or misprinted are reprinted or refunded if reported within 10 days. For a lid that stays attached, the hinged-lid rigid boxes with magnets use the same wraps.