SBS paperboard — solid bleached sulphate board for folding cartons
SBS paperboard: the bright white board behind sharp retail print.
Solid bleached sulphate board is the standard stock for folding cartons — a clay-coated, bright white paperboard that prints accurately, folds cleanly and takes every finish from soft-touch to foil. Specified by caliper for the product's weight.
- Caliper
- 14pt – 24pt
- Surface
- Clay-coated, bright white
- Best for
- Folding cartons
What SBS is
A single sheet of bleached fibre with a coated print face.
SBS — solid bleached sulphate — is made from bleached virgin fibre pressed into a single, uniform sheet and clay-coated on one or both sides. The coating gives a smooth, bright white surface that holds fine detail and accurate color, which is why it is the default board for cosmetics, supplements, food and any retail carton where the print has to be exact.
It is specified by caliper — thickness in thousandths of an inch. Lighter cartons for tubes and small goods run 14pt–16pt; standard retail cartons 16pt–18pt; heavier products, auto-lock bases and larger boxes 20pt–24pt. Thicker board folds and scores just as cleanly; it simply carries more.
- 14pt – 16ptLight cartons, sleeves
- 16pt – 18ptStandard retail
- 20pt – 24ptHeavy products, lock bases
Materials & finishing
How SBS prints and finishes.
The coated face is the reason SBS exists: it takes CMYK, Pantone, foil, emboss, spot UV and every lamination without compromise.
Materials & finishes- C1SCoated one sidePrint face coated, reverse uncoated. The carton standard.
- C2SCoated two sidesFor cartons printed inside and out.
- PrintCMYK · PantoneOffset litho for accurate color.
- ScoreClean foldsUniform fibre scores without cracking.
Finishing
- Matte lamination
- Gloss lamination
- Soft-touch lamination
- Aqueous coating
- Foil stamping
- Embossing & debossing
- Spot UV
- Window patching
What SBS is used for
Almost every retail carton.
Cosmetic cartons
16pt–18pt with soft-touch lamination.
Supplement cartons
18pt–24pt auto-lock for bottle weight.
Food cartons
Coated grades for retail food packaging.
Product boxes
Any small good sold on a shelf.
Sleeves and bands
14pt–16pt for lightweight wraps.
Rigid box wraps
Lighter SBS as a printed wrap paper.
Compare
SBS or kraft?
| SBS paperboard | Kraft board | |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Bright white, coated | Natural brown, uncoated |
| Accurate, saturated CMYK | Muted; single colors read best | |
| Finishing | Takes every finish | Foil, emboss, spot UV; lamination changes the look |
| Positioning | Retail, beauty, clinical | Craft, natural, eco |
| Cost | Standard | Similar; often slightly lower |
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.
SBS 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 quoteWhat does SBS stand for?
Solid bleached sulphate — a single-ply paperboard made from bleached virgin fibre, clay-coated for print.
Which caliper should I choose?
16pt–18pt for most retail cartons; 20pt–24pt for heavier products, auto-lock bases or larger boxes; 14pt–16pt for sleeves and light cartons. We recommend against the product's weight.
Is SBS recyclable?
SBS is a paperboard and is widely recyclable; laminations and foils can affect local recyclability, which we can advise on when specifying.
Can SBS be printed on both sides?
Yes. C2S board is coated both sides for cartons printed inside and out; C1S has a coated print face and an uncoated reverse.
Resources
Guides on choosing board
How to choose the right packaging material for a custom box
SBS, kraft, corrugated or greyboard? The board decides how a box prints, feels, protects and costs. A practical guide to matching material to product.
Read the guidePackaging finishes explained: lamination, foil, emboss, spot UV and windows
What each finish does, what it looks like, what it combines with and when to specify it. The short reference for anyone briefing a custom box.
Read the guide
Related packaging
Packaging made from SBS.
Start here
Send us your dimensions. We’ll send back a box.
Or talk to a packaging specialist: (209) 444-0744