Custom Cardstock Boxes & Cardstock Packaging
Cardstock sits between paper and corrugated, and that middle position is exactly why it dominates retail shelves. Thick enough to hold a shape, thin enough to fold flat and print beautifully, cheap enough to use in serious volume. Almost every carton you pick up in a store is cardstock. We produce a lot of cardstock packaging at ZEE Packaging and choosing the right caliper is where most decisions get made.
Caliper Decides Everything
A cardstock box performs according to its thickness.
- 12pt to 14pt suits light retail items and sachets
- 16pt to 18pt covers the majority of what we run
- 20pt to 24pt handles weight without bowing
- 28pt approaches a near rigid feel
- Too thin and the panel bows on a shelf
- Too thick and the crease cracks rather than folding cleanly
Most cardstock packaging failures we get asked to fix are a caliper chosen from the footprint rather than the filled weight.
Print Quality Is The Strength
This is where cardstock genuinely outperforms corrugated.
- A smooth coated surface reproduces fine detail properly
- Photography reproduces far better than on fluted board
- Foil and spot UV sit cleanly on a flat surface
- Registration holds tighter without a flute underneath
- Solid color panels lay down more evenly
- Small text stays legible where corrugated would blur it
- Reverse tuck end the cheapest cardstock box we run
- Straight tuck end a cleaner front panel for retail
- Seal end carton glued, common in food and pharma
- Auto lock bottom carrying weight and assembling fast
- Snap lock bottom cheaper, folded by hand
- Window carton showing the product through a die cut
Sizes We Print Regular
Every cardstock box is built to your product, though these run often:
- 2" x 2" x 4" for a cosmetic tube
- 3" x 2" x 5" for pharma and blister packs
- 4" x 4" x 6" for a candle or jar
- 6" x 4" x 8" for a food carton
- 8" x 6" x 2" for a flat item
- 5" x 3" x 7" for a bottle
Send us the filled weight, since a glass bottle in 16pt bows within days on a shelf.
Board And Finish
- SBS C1S, coated one side, our default for printed work
- SBS C2S where you print inside and out
- CCNB with recycled content and a grey back
- Kraft board for a natural or artisan position
- Matte, gloss and soft touch lamination
- Foil, spot UV, emboss and deboss all available
Aqueous coating is worth knowing about. It protects reasonably and keeps the carton in a normal paper recycling stream, unlike plastic film.
Materials Worth Considering
- Recycled content grades where a grey back is acceptable
- FSC certified board, certificate available on request
- Soy based ink through the whole run
- Aqueous coating rather than lamination
- Compostable window film in place of PET
- Right sizing so no board is wasted per unit
How Your Job Moves Through
- 100 unit minimum, so a small brand can order properly
- Free 3D mockup and flat proof before anything prints
- Free dieline drawn by our own designer
- Physical sample on request to check the fit and fold
- Urgent turnaround at 5 to 8 business days
- Free shipping worldwide with nothing hidden
Frequently Asked Questions
Which caliper should we choose?
16pt to 18pt covers most retail. Anything with real weight needs 20pt or above, otherwise the base panel bows.
Why does my crease crack?
Usually board too thick for the score depth, or heavy ink coverage on the fold. We adjust the score to suit.
Is cardstock strong enough to ship?
Not on its own through a courier. It suits retail display, with a corrugated shipper around it for transit.
How much is a cardstock box?
Rough estimate is $0.15 to $0.55 per unit for a standard carton, $0.30 to $0.80 with finishing and $0.55 to $1.40 on larger formats at moderate quantity. Volume moves it. Shipping is included in our price. This is estimate only, so ask our team for a exact quote.
Can it hold a glass bottle?
At 20pt or above with a cradle, yes. Below that the base gives way under the weight fairly quickly.
What is CCNB?
Recycled board with a grey underside. It costs a little less, though the grey back puts some brands off.
Can it be fully recyclable?
Yes, with aqueous coating and no plastic window. It then goes straight into household paper collection.
