Custom Shampoo Boxes & Shampoo Packaging
Shampoo lives in a wet room. That single fact changes more about the carton than anything else, and it is the thing most brands forget when they design shampoo packaging. A box that looks perfect in the proof can go soft and warp within a week of sitting near a shower. We print a lot of shampoo box work at ZEE Packaging so here is what actually matters.
Moisture Is The Real Enemy
Uncoated board wicks moisture fast. If your shampoo box lives in a bathroom, it needs protection.
- Lamination on the outside, matte or gloss, both resist humidity well
- Aqueous coating as a cheaper alternative on retail shampoo packaging
- Avoid raw uncoated kraft unless the box gets binned right after opening
- Watch heavy ink coverage on folds, damp board cracks easier there
- Snug fit so a wet bottle dont slide and soften one panel
Structures We Run
- Reverse tuck end the everyday shampoo box, cheapest to produce
- Straight tuck end cleaner front face for shelf
- Seal end carton glued top and bottom, tamper resistant shampoo packaging
- Auto lock bottom for heavier bottles, pops open one handed
- Rigid box salon and luxury shampoo boxes
- Corrugated mailer ecommerce and subscription shampoo packaging
- Sleeve over a duo shampoo and conditioner sold together
Sizes We Print Most
Every shampoo box is built to your bottle, but these come up constantly:
- 2" x 2" x 6" for 8oz bottle
- 2.5" x 2.5" x 7" for 12oz, our most ordered shampoo box
- 2.75" x 2.75" x 8" for 16oz
- 3" x 3" x 9" for 32oz salon size
- 5" x 2.5" x 7" for a shampoo and conditioner duo
- 6" x 5" x 8" for a full haircare gift set
Send the bottle height including the pump or flip cap, plus the widest point, and we build the dieline around it.
Board Choice
- SBS C1S, the standard for printed shampoo packaging
- SBS C2S when you print inside and out
- 18pt to 20pt for 8oz and 12oz bottles
- 22pt to 24pt for 16oz and larger, heavier liquids need it
- Kraft board for natural and sulfate free ranges
- Rigid greyboard 36pt for salon gift sets
A 32oz bottle in 16pt board will bow the base panel. We would rather move you up a grade than replace a run.
Finishing
- Soft touch lamination, very popular on premium shampoo boxes
- Matte film with spot UV over the logo
- Foil stamping in gold, silver and rose gold
- Emboss or deboss on kraft, subtle and affordable
- Metallic and pearlescent stock for salon ranges
- Printed inner panel, cheap and it gets noticed
Copy That Has To Be On Pack
- Full ingredient list in INCI order
- Net contents in fl oz and ml
- Hair type and benefit claim on the front
- Sulfate free, paraben free and vegan marks if applicable
- Batch and expiry area, leave it blank for coding
- PAO symbol and barcode with quiet zone
Our prepress team checks all of it against the dieline so nothing gets trimmed at the edge.
Greener Options
- Recycled kraft shampoo box with no film
- FSC certified board, certificate on request
- Soy based ink
- Uncoated finish for bar shampoo, no moisture issue there
- Right sized shampoo packaging so you ship less air
How We Work
- 100 unit minimum on any shampoo 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
Will the carton hold up in a bathroom?
Laminated stock handles humidity far better than uncoated. For any shampoo box that stays on a shelf near a shower we always recommend matte or gloss film.
Can you do shampoo and conditioner in one box?
Yes, either a divided carton or a sleeve holding both bottles together. Both work well for duos and gift sets.
How much is a shampoo box?
Rough estimate is $0.30 to $0.90 per unit for folding cartons, $0.95 to $2.30 for mailers and $2.20 to $5.50 for rigid at moderate quantity. Foil and soft touch add to that. Shipping is included in our price. This is estimate only, so ask our team for a exact quote.
What board for a 32oz salon bottle?
22pt minimum, 24pt is safer. Liquid weight is the thing that catches people out at that size.
Do you print the ingredient panel for us?
We print what you supply, we dont write the compliance copy. Send final wording and we lay it out on the dieline.
Can you make bar shampoo packaging too?
We do plenty of it. Uncoated kraft cartons work nicely there because moisture is not the same issue.
How small can the ingredient text go?
6pt is our floor. Anything under that starts breaking up on press and becomes hard to read.
