Custom Tuck Boxes with Rise-Up Inserts

Straight Tuck or Reverse Tuck

A straight tuck end box has its top and bottom flaps tucking in from the same side, so the front panel stays clean and uninterrupted. It is the most common choice for rise-up designs because the lid opens backwards, lifting the insert toward the customer.

A reverse tuck end has flaps tucking from opposite sides and is slightly more economical to cut, but the lid opening direction changes how the insert presents. For a rise-up effect, we normally recommend straight tuck, though we can adapt the insert to either style if your existing range already uses reverse tuck cartons.

Both styles ship flat and fold into shape in seconds. The insert is pre-glued to the correct flap, so your packing team only needs to fold the carton, place the product on the platform and close the lid.

Sizing the Box and Insert

Measure the product's width, depth and height, including caps or any outer sleeve. The carton is sized with a small clearance on width and depth, and the height is set so the product sits fully inside when closed, with enough space beneath for the insert to fold.

Decide how far you want the product to rise. A lift of around a third of the product's height shows it off without letting it tip out. Taller items can rise more, while short items may need a raised plinth so the effect is visible at all.

If the product is round, such as a lipstick tube, the platform can include a die-cut collar that holds it upright as it rises. For flat items like straps or cards, a slot or tab keeps them in place. We will show the insert design clearly on the proof so you can check it against a real sample.

Test the action with your heaviest variant. A glass roll-on is heavier than a plastic lipstick of the same size, and a platform that lifts one smoothly might struggle with the other. We can make a plain sample so you can open and close the box a few times with the real product before committing to the printed run.

If several products in your range differ slightly in size, ask whether one carton and insert can cover them all. A small adjustment to the collar often allows a single design to fit a family of products.

Board and Finishes

Rise-up boxes are usually made from a good-quality folding boxboard, thick enough to hold the mechanism's shape but thin enough to fold crisply. White board shows full-colour print accurately; kraft gives a natural look. For premium ranges, a metallic board or a soft-touch lamination makes the carton feel more expensive in the hand.

Because the insert is seen the moment the box opens, consider printing it too. A contrasting colour, a pattern or a short line of text on the platform adds to the reveal. Foil on the front logo and spot UV on the product name are popular finishing touches that catch light on a shop counter.

Keep the inside of the carton in mind when choosing colours. A dark exterior with a bright insert creates a striking contrast as the product rises, while matching the two gives a calm, unified look that suits minimal brands.

Using the Box as a Counter Display

Retailers often leave one opened carton standing beside the till so customers can see the product without handling stock. A rise-up box does this naturally. For a range of shades or scents, a row of opened cartons forms a simple tester display with no extra stands required.

If you supply shops, mention this when ordering. We can add a hang tab to the back for peg display, or design the carton to fit inside a counter display box that holds a set number of units, so stockists receive a ready-made point of sale. Testers that stay on the counter permanently are better in our counter display boxes for testers.

Tell Us How High the Product Should Rise

A rise-up box is drawn from the lift, so the first figure we need is how far the product should come up when the flap opens: enough to clear the carton edge and be gripped, usually 20 to 30 mm, or a full reveal where the product stands clear of the box. Measure the product with its cap or lid, because the platform is cut to its footprint and the box height is the product height plus the rise. Choose straight tuck or reverse tuck by how the box is packed and whether it sits on a shelf or hangs on a peg. Decide if the platform is printed in a contrasting colour, which is where the reveal gets its effect. Artwork is the carton design and the platform colour, sent as vector files, and the free proof shows the carton, the insert and how they connect. A custom quote comes by email within one working day, minimums are quoted per job, and boxes are made in 4–7 working days after approval with free tracked delivery on the UK mainland. The same carton without the mechanism is our reverse tuck end boxes without the insert.