Custom Halloween Boxes & Halloween Packaging
Halloween is a deadline business. The whole season lands in about six weeks and then it is gone, so a late delivery is not a small problem, it is a missed year. That is the thing we talk about most when brands come to us for halloween packaging at ZEE Packaging. Get the timing sorted first, then worry about the print.
Plan Backwards From October
Retail buyers are placing halloween box orders in spring, not autumn.
- February to April, artwork and dieline for your halloween box
- May to June, proofing and sampling
- July, production for retail shelf
- August, shipping and distribution
- September, product on shelf, halloween packaging in store
- Early October, ecommerce and last minute restock
If you come to us in September we can still run urgent turnaround, but options narrow and the finishing choices get limited.
- Treat box and favor box small folding carton halloween box for candy and party bags
- Tuck end carton retail seasonal halloween packaging, cheapest per unit
- Mailer box for subscriptions and curated halloween boxes sent direct
- Rigid lid and base premium gifting, chocolate and confectionery
- Bucket and handle carton trick or treat carry style
- Coffin, cauldron and pumpkin shapes custom die cut halloween boxes, very popular
Sizes We Run Regular
Every halloween box is made to your product, but these come up constantly:
- 3" x 3" x 3" for small treats and favors
- 4" x 4" x 4" for a candy halloween box
- 6" x 6" x 4" for cupcakes and bakery halloween packaging
- 8" x 6" x 3" for curated gift sets
- 10" x 8" x 4" for a subscription halloween box
- 12" x 9" x 4" for retail multipacks
Getting The Look Right
Seasonal print is heavy on ink and that brings its own issues.
- Black is the dominant color here, and flat black shows every scuff
- Matte lamination hides marks far better than gloss on dark halloween packaging
- Orange and purple need spot Pantone, CMYK builds them dull
- Glow in the dark ink works but needs a light base underneath
- Metallic and holographic foil sells very well on a halloween box
- Spot UV over a matte base gives that wet look on cobweb and slime art
Finishing That Fits The Season
- Foil stamping, gold, copper, holographic and orange
- Emboss or deboss on a pumpkin or skull motif
- Die cut window in a bat or ghost shape
- Soft touch on premium halloween boxes
- Glitter free options, plenty of retailers now refuse glitter
Board Choices
- SBS C1S for full color printed halloween boxes
- Kraft board for rustic and natural halloween packaging
- Corrugated E flute for shipping and mailers
- Rigid greyboard 36pt for premium confectionery boxes
- Cardstock 16pt to 22pt for treat cartons
For anything food contact we use grease resistant board and food grade ink.
Greener Options
- Recycled kraft halloween boxes with no lamination
- FSC certified board, certificate on request
- Soy based ink
- Plain die cut window instead of PET film
- Right sized halloween packaging so you ship less air
How We Work
- 100 unit minimum on any halloween box design
- Free 3D mockup and flat proof
- Free dieline from our own designer
- 5 to 8 business day urgent turnaround
- Free shipping worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the real cutoff to order?
For retail shelf, July. For ecommerce, mid September on urgent turnaround. After that we can usually still help but the finishing options shrink.
Why does my orange print dull?
CMYK cannot hit a bright orange. We run it as spot Pantone, 021 or 165 usually, and it comes out far closer to what you designed.
Does glow in the dark ink actually work?
It does on a light base. On straight black it barely registers, so we print a white underlay first on that part of the halloween box.
What is the price of a Halloween box?
Rough estimate is $0.30 to $0.90 per unit for treat cartons, $0.95 to $2.30 for mailers and $2.20 to $5.50 for rigid at moderate quantity. Foil, glow ink and custom die cut push it up. Shipping is included in our price. This is estimate only, so ask our team for an exact quote.
Can you cut a custom shape like a coffin?
Yes, custom die cut is one of the most requested things in this category. We make the tooling and it stays on file for next year.
Is kraft okay for candy?
For wrapped candy yes. For direct contact we switch you to grease resistant food grade board instead.
How do we stop black board scuffing?
Matte lamination. Uncoated black halloween packaging marks within one handling, we would not ship it bare.
