Packaging that survives freight, and still looks right when it arrives.
From a first concept sketch to a production run that ships, we design, source, and produce custom packaging — rigid boxes, folding cartons, mailers, bags, labels, and more — and connect it straight through to freight and fulfillment, so the version you approved is the version your customer opens.
Packaging for however your product ships.
Whether you need a single box or a full program across formats, here's what we regularly design, source, and produce — for retail shelves, e-commerce orders, and everything that has to survive a box truck in between.
Gift & Retail Boxes
- Rigid & magnetic closure boxes
- Folding cartons
- Drawer & tray-and-lid boxes
- Window & display boxes
Shipping & E-commerce
- Corrugated shipping boxes
- Branded mailer boxes
- Poly mailers & courier bags
- Protective inserts & padding
Bags
- Standard & luxury paper bags
- Non-woven & PVC bags
- Ziplock & mylar bags
- Food-safe packaging bags
Labels, Tags & Extras
- Labels & stickers
- Hang tags
- Tissue paper & inserts
- Display packaging & POS
The details that decide how packaging looks, feels, and holds up.
Material and finish choices affect cost, durability, and unboxing experience as much as the box shape does. Here's what's commonly available to work with.
Materials
Finishes
A note on finishes
Some finishes have real production constraints worth knowing before you finalize artwork. Spot UV needs clean vector artwork and can call for a second pass if it isn't registered precisely. Fine, small-point foil-stamped text is more prone to flaking or blurring than bolder lettering. We flag these trade-offs during sampling, before they show up in a full production run.
From first sketch to a box that ships, in four phases.
The exact number of steps depends on the project, but it generally runs like this.
Brief & Concept
Tell us the product, rough quantity, and where it's headed. We turn that into structural concepts and a first cost range.
Sample & Refine
A physical prototype lets you check structure, material, and finish before committing to a production run — adjustments happen here, not after the units are made.
Produce & Inspect
Approved samples move into production, with quality checks built into the run rather than left to a single inspection at the end.
Ship & Deliver
Freight, customs paperwork, and delivery are connected to the same project — so packaging arrives with the rest of your shipment, not on its own separate timeline.
What affects packaging cost, and roughly when to start.
Every project is priced on its own specifics, but the factors that move the number are consistent.
- Packaging size & structure
- Material type
- Print area & number of colors
- Special finishes (foil, UV, embossing)
- Structural complexity
- Whether original design is needed
- Whether prototyping is needed
- Order quantity
- Shipping & warehousing needs
Ordering at different volumes
Per-unit cost generally comes down as quantity goes up, since setup and tooling costs spread across more units — but added finishes or a more complex structure can offset that at any volume.
Common starting points we hear are in the 500, 1,000, and 5,000-unit range, but there's no fixed minimum on our end — tell us your target quantity and we'll tell you what it does to the cost and timeline.
Sampling typically takes days to a couple of weeks depending on complexity; production and freight timelines depend on quantity and destination. We'll give you an actual timeline once we know the specifics of your project.
A festival gift box, from concept sketch to a shelf in Canada.
Structural design, sampling, and production, connected through to freight and delivery — one packaging project, start to finish.
Read the case study →Custom packaging questions we hear most.
How do I source custom packaging from China?
Most projects start with a brief — the product, rough quantity, and packaging type you have in mind. From there we develop structural concepts, connect you with production for sampling, and manage the back-and-forth on materials and finishes until a prototype is approved for production. You don't need an existing factory relationship to start; you also don't need to hand over the whole process if you already have one.
How much does custom packaging cost at different order quantities?
It depends on size, material, print area, finishes, structural complexity, and whether original design or prototyping is involved, on top of quantity itself. Per-unit cost usually drops as volume increases, since setup costs spread across more units. Common starting points are around 500, 1,000, or 5,000 units, but there's no fixed minimum — share your target quantity and specs and we'll put together an actual quote.
How long does custom packaging take to produce?
Sampling typically takes days to a couple of weeks depending on how complex the structure and finishes are. Production and freight timelines on top of that depend on order quantity and destination. We'll give you a real timeline once we know the specifics of your project, rather than a generic estimate that doesn't hold up.
What information do I need before requesting a packaging quote?
It helps to have: the product going inside (size, weight, fragility), the packaging type you're picturing (mailer box, rigid box, folding carton, bag, etc.), your target order quantity, and where the packaging needs to ship to. If you have them, a structural die-line and print-ready artwork (vector files, Pantone or CMYK color specs) speed things up — if you don't, we can develop the structural die-line for you and walk you through what artwork format we'll need once a concept is approved. Any existing brand assets or reference images, plus your rough budget and timeline, round things out. You don't need all of it nailed down — we can help fill in the gaps.
Can one company handle packaging, sourcing, freight, and customs together?
Yes — that's the point of connecting these as one process instead of separate vendors. Packaging design and production, sourcing, freight, and customs paperwork can all run through the same project, so nothing falls through the cracks between a factory, a freight forwarder, and a customs broker who don't talk to each other. You can also use just the packaging piece on its own if that's all you need.
What's the difference between a rigid box, a folding carton, and a mailer box?
A rigid box is built from thick, non-folding chipboard — sturdier and more premium-feeling, common for gifting, jewelry, and beauty. A folding carton is thinner board that ships flat and folds into shape, common for retail shelf packaging where cost and stacking matter. A mailer box is a corrugated, self-locking box designed to survive freight and courier handling, common for direct-to-customer e-commerce. Which one fits depends on your product, sales channel, and budget — we can help you figure out which starting point makes sense.
Have a packaging project in mind?
Tell us what you're making, roughly how many you need, and where it's shipping. We'll help you figure out the right materials, finishes, and starting point.