Custom Playing Card Boxes & Playing Card Packaging
A deck of cards is one of the smallest things we print for and one of the most demanding. The tuck box gets opened and closed hundreds of times, carried in a pocket, and on a custom deck it is often the piece collectors care most about. We produce a lot of playing card packaging at ZEE Packaging and the tolerance on these is tighter than almost anything else we run.
Fit Is Everything On A Tuck Box
A few thousandths of an inch decides whether a playing card box works.
- Too tight and the cards scuff going in and out
- Too loose and the deck rattles and the box loses its shape
- Card stock thickness varies by supplier, so we size to your actual deck
- A 52 card deck with jokers and ad cards sits taller than clients expect
- Sleeve or no sleeve changes the internal dimension noticeably
- Send us a real deck and we work the dieline from it
Most fit complaints we get come from a box sized on a spec sheet rather than a physical deck.
The Details Collectors Look For
Custom decks sell to a knowledgeable audience.
- Embossed or debossed tuck faces, which feel considerably better in hand
- Foil stamping, particularly on the front seal panel
- Printed interior, since it shows every time the box opens
- A cleanly die cut thumb notch for easy card removal
- Seal sticker placement designed in rather than added afterwards
- Crisp edges and square corners, because collectors photograph these
- Standard tuck end box the classic playing card box
- Tuck box with a thumb notch easier access, the usual retail choice
- Rigid two piece box premium playing card packaging for collector decks
- Slipcase over a tuck a nice layered presentation
- Double deck box two deck sets and gift formats
- Window carton shows a deck or a card back through the front
Sizes We Print Regular
Every playing card box is built to your deck, though these run often:
- 2.5" x 3.5" poker size, standard tuck dimension
- 2.25" x 3.5" bridge size
- 2.5" x 3.5" x 0.75" for a standard 54 card deck
- 2.5" x 3.5" x 1.4" for a double deck box
- 3" x 4" x 1.5" for a rigid collector format
- 7" x 4" x 1.5" for a two deck gift set
Measure the deck stacked and squared, since card stock thickness varies enough to matter.
Board And Finish
- SBS C1S at 16pt to 18pt, the standard for a tuck box
- 20pt where you want a stiffer, more premium feel
- Rigid greyboard 36pt for collector playing card packaging
- Matte lamination, which resists pocket wear far better than gloss
- Metallic and holographic foil, both popular in this category
- Coated inner face so the cards do not scuff on bare board
Kinder Material Choices
- Recycled board with an aqueous coating instead of plastic film
- FSC certified stock, certificate available on request
- Soy based ink through the whole run
- A paper seal sticker rather than shrink wrap
- Compostable window film where a window is used
- Right sized playing card packaging so you ship less air
What An Order Looks Like With Us
- 100 unit minimum, which suits a crowdfunded or small deck run
- Free 3D mockup and flat proof before anything prints
- Free dieline drawn by our own designer
- Physical sample on request so you can test the fit with real cards
- Urgent turnaround at 5 to 8 business days
- Free shipping worldwide with nothing hidden
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get the fit right?
We size from a physical deck rather than a specification. Card stock thickness varies between printers, and a millimetre either way is the difference between a good box and a frustrating one.
Can you emboss the tuck faces?
Yes, and it is one of the most noticeable upgrades available. Emboss with foil on the front panel is the combination collectors respond to most.
Do you print the inside?
We do, and we push for it. The interior shows every time somebody opens the deck, so it is a cheap way to add a lot of perceived value.
What is the price for a box of playing cards?
Rough estimate is $0.12 to $0.35 per unit for a standard tuck, $0.30 to $0.80 with foil and embossing and $1.60 to $4.00 for a rigid collector format at moderate quantity. Finishing moves it most. Shipping is included in our price. This is estimate only, so ask our team for a exact quote.
Should we use a thumb notch?
For retail, usually yes. It makes the cards much easier to remove without bending the box, which extends its life considerably.
Matte or gloss lamination?
Matte handles pocket wear far better. Gloss picks up fingerprints and scuffs quickly on something carried around.
Can you do a seal sticker instead of shrink wrap?
Yes, and plenty of decks go that route now. It looks more considered and removes plastic from the pack entirely.
