Custom Flexo Printed Boxes & Flexo Printed Packaging
Flexo prints directly onto corrugated using flexible rubber plates. It is fast, it is cheap at volume, and it is what almost every plain shipping carton with a logo on it uses. It will not give you photographic quality, but for most shipping applications nobody needs that. We produce a lot of flexo printed packaging at ZEE Packaging and this is where cost efficiency lives.
Direct Onto Corrugated
A flexo printed box takes ink straight onto the board.
- Flexible rubber plates transfer ink directly to the surface
- No lamination stage, so it costs considerably less
- Ideal for one or two colors at high volume
- It runs fast, which keeps unit prices low
- The flute texture shows slightly through the ink
- Perfect for shipping cartons where sharpness is not critical
Most brands choosing a flexo printed box do so because litho lamination costs far more than the application justifies.
Know What It Cannot Do
Being honest here saves disappointment later.
- Fine detail and small text lose definition
- Photographic images do not reproduce well
- Solid color coverage can look slightly mottled
- Registration is looser than litho, so tight overlaps drift
- Color range is limited compared with full process printing
- The corrugated flute affects how ink lays down
- Regular slotted carton the classic flexo printed box
- Roll end tuck front mailer ecommerce flexo printed packaging
- Full overlap container doubled faces with printed branding
- Half slotted container open top with printed sides
- Die cut mailer a shaped format with simple print
- Shipper display tearing open into a retail unit
Sizes We Print Regular
Every flexo printed box is built to your product, though these run often:
- 8" x 6" x 4" for a standard order
- 12" x 9" x 6" for a mid size shipment
- 6" x 4" x 2" for small items
- 16" x 12" x 10" for larger goods
- 10" x 8" x 4" for an ecommerce mailer
- 20" x 16" x 12" for bulk formats
Board And Ink
- Kraft corrugated, the standard base for flexo work
- White corrugated where you want brighter color
- E flute for lighter items with finer print
- B flute for general shipping strength
- One or two colors as standard, more where budget allows
- Water based inks, which are standard in flexo
Bold logos and simple type work best. A two color design in flexo often looks better than a complicated one, since the process rewards simplicity.
Why It Suits Sustainable Briefs
- No lamination, so the box recycles curbside cleanly
- Water based inks rather than solvent based
- Recycled corrugated, standard across most grades
- FSC certified board, certificate available on request
- Less ink used than full coverage printing
- Right sizing so no board is wasted per order
Flexo is genuinely one of the greener printing routes, since there is no plastic film layer added over the top.
How Your Order Runs Here
- 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 print quality
- Urgent turnaround at 5 to 8 business days
- Free shipping worldwide with nothing hidden
Frequently Asked Questions
Flexo or litho lamination?
Flexo for shipping cartons and simple branding. Litho where retail print quality genuinely matters, accepting the higher cost.
How many colors can we use?
One or two is standard and most economical. More is possible, though costs rise with each additional plate.
Will photographs reproduce?
Not well. Flexo on corrugated suits logos, type and solid shapes rather than photographic imagery.
Is there a plate cost?
Yes, once per color, then reused on every reorder. It is modest compared with litho plate making.
Does the flute show through?
Slightly, which is normal on corrugated. E flute shows less than B flute if that matters to you.
Is it recyclable?
Fully, since there is no lamination. That is one of the main advantages over a litho laminated box.
How much does a flexo printed box cost?
Rough estimate is $0.35 to $0.90 per unit in one color, $0.50 to $1.30 in two colors and $0.90 to $2.20 on larger formats at moderate quantity. Volume moves it substantially. Shipping is included in our price. This is estimate only, so ask our team for a exact quote.
