Rigid greyboard — the chipboard core of set-up boxes
Rigid greyboard: the weight and the hard edge of a set-up box.
Dense, thick chipboard — 1.5mm to 3mm — that is cut, wrapped and glued into rigid boxes. It is never printed directly; the wrap paper carries the print and the greyboard carries the structure.
- Thickness
- 1.5mm – 3mm
- Surface
- Wrapped, never printed direct
- Best for
- Rigid & gift boxes
What greyboard is
Recycled fibre, pressed dense, cut to shape.
Greyboard — also called chipboard — is a thick, dense board made from recycled fibre. It is not pretty and it is not meant to be: it is the structural core of a rigid box, cut to panels, scored or mitred at the corners and glued into shape before a printed or specialty paper is wrapped over it. The wrap is what the customer sees; the greyboard is what they feel.
Thickness is chosen for the box's size and the product's weight: 1.2mm–1.5mm for small jewelry boxes, 2mm for most gift and cosmetic boxes, 2.5mm–3mm for large or heavy boxes. Thicker board gives a harder edge and more weight in the hand.
- 1.2 – 1.5mmSmall boxes
- 2mmStandard rigid
- 2.5 – 3mmLarge or heavy
Box styles
Box styles made in Rigid Greyboard.
Materials & finishing
Board plus wrap plus finish.
Every finish on a rigid box is applied to the wrap paper before it is laminated to the greyboard.
Materials & finishes
- Greyboard1.5mm – 3mmThe structural core.
- Printed wrap128 – 157gsmFull-color art paper.
- Specialty wrapTextured · linen · leatheretteTactile surfaces.
- Inner linerPrinted or plainThe inside face.
Finishes on the wrap
- Foil stamping on wrap
- Embossing & debossing
- Soft-touch lamination
- Matte or gloss lamination
- Spot UV
- Ribbon pulls & magnets
What greyboard is used for
Every rigid box.
Gift boxes
Lid-and-base, magnetic, drawer.
Jewelry boxes
Small, thin-board boxes with fabric inserts.
Cosmetic & fragrance
Premium rigid presentation.
Electronics
Device boxes with cradles.
Spirits & wine
Heavy-board boxes for bottles.
Book-style boxes
Hinged kits and sets.
Start a quote
Three answers is all it takes to open a job.
Structure, board and finishing come next — with our team, on the full quote form.
No account needed. Artwork and reference images can be attached on the next step.
Greyboard questions
Before you ask.
Anything not covered here, put it in the notes on your quote and we will answer it directly.
Ask on your quoteCan greyboard be printed directly?
No. Greyboard is gray and rough; the print goes on a paper wrap that is laminated over the board.
Which thickness do I need?
1.2mm–1.5mm for small jewelry boxes, 2mm for most gift and cosmetic boxes, 2.5mm–3mm for large or heavy boxes. We recommend against the product.
Is greyboard recycled?
Greyboard is made largely from recycled fibre. Recyclability of the finished box depends on the wrap and finishes.
Why are rigid boxes more expensive than cartons?
They use more material and are assembled by hand rather than folded on a line. The result is weight and a hard edge a carton cannot give.
Resources
Guides on rigid boxes
Rigid boxes vs folding cartons: which should your product be in?
The two constructions behind most custom product packaging solve different problems. Here is how to choose between them on weight, price point, delivery and feel.
Read the guideWholesale rigid boxes for luxury brands
Rigid boxes carry weight, hard edges and a lid that resists — and they cost more in material, labor and freight. What changes when you buy them in the thousands, and how to protect the feel while controlling the cost.
Read the guideCollapsible rigid boxes for high-volume orders
A collapsible rigid box keeps the greyboard weight and the hard edge but ships flat. At volume that changes the freight and storage arithmetic more than any material substitution.
Read the guideRigid boxes vs folding cartons at 1,000+ units
The rigid-versus-carton choice looks different once quantity is real. How the two cost curves diverge, what freight does to the comparison, and the middle-ground options most brands overlook.
Read the guide
Related packaging
Packaging built on greyboard.
Start here
Send us your dimensions. We’ll send back a box.
Or talk to a packaging specialist: (209) 444-0744