Two-piece lid & base
Separate lid lifts off a base tray. The classic presentation box.
Custom rigid boxes — set-up boxes
Custom rigid boxes, made to your measurements.
Wrapped greyboard construction for products that should feel heavier than they are. Lid-and-base, magnetic, drawer and book-style structures, cut to your dimensions, wrapped in printed or specialty paper and finished with foil, emboss or soft-touch.
- Construction
- Wrapped greyboard
- Sizing
- Made to your dimensions
- Minimum order
- 50 boxes
What a rigid box is
Board that holds its shape. A wrap that carries the print.
A rigid box — also called a set-up box — is built from thick greyboard that is cut, scored and glued into its final shape, then wrapped in a printed paper. Unlike a folding carton it does not ship flat: it arrives assembled, holds its shape under weight and gives the product a hard, square edge.
That construction is why rigid boxes carry premium products: cosmetics, jewelry, electronics, spirits, gifting and subscription kits. The board gives weight; the wrap gives the print surface; the insert holds the product exactly still.
- Greyboard1.5mm – 3mm
- Printed wrap128 – 157gsm art paper
- Specialty wrapTextured · linen · leatherette
Rigid packaging in detail
See the construction up close.
A wrapped greyboard presentation box with a magnetic front flap, filmed as it is opened and turned in the hand: a matte black wrap, gold foil pattern and lettering on the lid and inside face, and a fitted foam insert with cut cavities that hold each item still.
- Structure
- Magnetic-closure rigid box, hinged front flap
- Surface
- Matte black wrap with gold foil pattern and lettering
- Insert
- Fitted foam with cut cavities
- Runtime
- 54 seconds
Rigid box styles
Six constructions. Pick the one your product opens best in.
Every structure below is built to the product's internal dimensions and wrapped after assembly.
Style guides
Read the construction in detail.
Build your rigid box
Five decisions, in the order we make them with you.
Each decision is made against the product, in this order, before a proof is issued.
Choose the structure
Magnetic, two-piece, drawer, collapsible or book-style, chosen for how the product is opened.
Choose the wrap
Printed art paper, textured or linen stock, kraft, metallic or leatherette over 1.5–3 mm greyboard.
Choose the print
Full color, Pantone brand colors, or a single mark on a plain wrap, inside and out.
Choose the finish
Lamination is included. Add foil, embossing, debossing or spot UV where the brand needs contrast.
Choose the insert
Board, foam or fabric-wrapped, cut to the product's footprint so it sits still and presents well.
Custom sizing
Sized to the product, not to a catalog
Rigid boxes are made to the product's internal dimensions — length, width and the depth the product needs with its insert — plus the clearance a lid needs to lift cleanly or a tray needs to slide. There is no fixed size list: the greyboard is cut for your job, and the outside dimensions follow from the board gauge and the wrap.
Send the product's dimensions and weight, or send the product. We return a dieline with the board pieces, wrap layout, turn-in allowance and insert cavity marked, confirm the cavity depth and the outside dimensions with you, and only then cut board.
- Measure
- Internal L × W × D of the product
- Tell us
- Quantity, print, finish, insert if needed
- Range
- Set at quote
Materials & finishing
Greyboard for weight. Wrap for the print.
A rigid box is board plus wrap plus finish. Gauge is chosen for the product's weight; the wrap paper carries the print and every finish is applied to it before lamination.
Materials & finishes
- Greyboard1.5mm – 3mmThe structural core. Thicker board for larger or heavier boxes.
- Printed wrap128 – 157gsmFull-color printed art paper laminated over the board.
- Specialty wrapTextured · linen · leatheretteUncoated or embossed papers for a tactile outer surface.
- Inner linerPrinted or plainInterior wrap in a contrast color or full-color print.
Finishes on the wrap
- Matte or gloss lamination
- Soft-touch lamination
- Foil stamping
- Embossing & debossing
- Spot UV
- Ribbon pulls & closures
Customization
Wrap, print and finish — your call.
Any combination the structure will carry. Options are confirmed against your artwork at quote.
Wrap papers
- Full-color printed art paper
- Textured & linen papers
- Kraft wrap
- Metallic & pearlescent papers
- Leatherette & soft-touch papers
Finishing
- Matte or gloss lamination
- Soft-touch lamination
- Foil stamping
- Embossing & debossing
- Spot UV
Inserts & closures
- Die-cut board inserts
- Foam inserts
- Fabric-wrapped platforms
- Magnetic closures
- Ribbon pulls & sleeves
Inserts
Inserts that hold the product still
A rigid box is only as good as what stops the product moving inside it. Inserts are cut to the product's footprint and specified by weight and fragility.
- Die-cut board inserts
- Foam inserts, cut or moulded
- Moulded pulp
- Fabric-wrapped platforms
- Tissue and ribbon
Client work
Made for Poppi. Made for Amazon Studios.
Two collapsible rigid boxes we produced, filmed on a phone in our own hands rather than staged. Poppi's "Soda's Back" launch box: a printed collapsible rigid box with a printed inner lid, a die-cut insert for the cans and a printed base. And the Coming 2 America press box for Amazon Studios and Prime Video: a matte black collapsible rigid box with a gold-foil lid that ships flat and assembles in seconds. Both brands have agreed to be named here.
- Made for
- Poppi · Amazon Studios / Prime Video
- Structure
- Collapsible rigid box, ships flat
- Full-color wrap, printed inside and out
- Finish
- Gold foil lettering (Coming 2 America)
Poppi "Soda's Back" box, openedThe full box: lime-and-magenta printed wrap, lid lifted to show the magenta die-cut insert with cut cavities for the cans, and the printed base.79 seconds · no sound Printed inner lid and insertInside the lid is printed too. The insert holds each can still; a stand-in can is used here to check the fit.21 seconds · no sound Poppi box, exteriorThe outside of the box turned on the bench: front, sides and the edge where the printed wrap meets the board.27 seconds · no sound Coming 2 America box, flat to assembledThe Amazon Original Movie press box arrives flat and is folded up by hand: matte black wrap, gold-foil title on the lid, magnetic closure.52 seconds · no sound Black collapsible rigid boxThe same construction in plain matte black with white lettering: open, then folded flat in one movement.18 seconds · no sound
Filmed by Custom Boxez on production samples. Clips are muted and play only when you press play. Client names appear with their agreement; no quantities, prices or results are stated.
Compare
Rigid box or folding carton?
The two constructions solve different problems. The right answer depends on the product's weight, price point and how it reaches the customer.
| Rigid box | Folding carton | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Greyboard core, paper-wrapped, arrives assembled | Single sheet of paperboard, die-cut and glued, ships flat |
| Feel | Heavy, hard-edged, premium | Light, crisp, retail |
| Print surface | Wrap paper — any finish before lamination | Board itself — coated for sharp print |
| Typical use | Jewelry, cosmetics, spirits, gifting, electronics | Retail shelf, cosmetics, food, supplements |
| Freight & storage | Bulky unless collapsible | Flat-packed, efficient |
| Unit cost | Higher — hand assembly | Lower at volume |
Finished work
Rigid boxes we have made.
Magnetic, two-piece, drawer and book-style constructions in printed and specialty wraps.
Full gallery
Magnetic-closure cube, matte black wrap, spot UV Magnetic cube open, fitted insert Two-piece lid and base, printed wrap 
Drawer box, white wrap, gold foil 
Book-style box, spot UV and silver foil Drawer boxes with ribbon pulls 
Magnetic box, printed liner 
Sleeve and lid, silver foil lettering
How it works
From dimensions to a finished rigid box.
You do not need a dieline, a spec sheet or print-ready artwork to start. You need to know roughly what you are packing.
Tell us what you're packing
Product dimensions, weight, quantity and what the box has to survive. A photo or sketch is enough to start.
Structure, wrap layout & insert cavity
We recommend a lid-and-base, magnetic, drawer or book-style construction, draw the insert cavity around the product and issue a dieline showing the board pieces and the wrap layout with its turn-in allowance.
Board gauge, wrap & finish
Greyboard gauge is set by the box's size and the product's weight; the wrap paper is chosen for the print and for the feel in the hand. Foil, embossing and spot UV are applied to the wrap before it is laminated to the board.
Proof, then hand assembly
You approve a proof before any board is cut. The wrapped pieces are assembled by hand, magnets and ribbons are fitted and the insert is placed. Quantities and lead time are stated in writing.
Delivery
Finished packaging is delivered free to your address in the United States, flat or assembled as the structure requires. Allow 3–5 working days for ground shipping after production.
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.
Rigid box 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 is a rigid box?
A box built from thick greyboard that is cut, glued into shape and wrapped in printed paper. It arrives assembled and holds its shape under weight, unlike a folding carton that ships flat.
What is the minimum order for custom rigid boxes?
The minimum order for custom rigid boxes is 50 boxes. Rigid boxes are hand-assembled, so unit prices fall as quantities rise; your quote shows the price at each quantity you ask for.
Can rigid boxes be shipped flat?
Collapsible magnetic constructions fold flat and snap up. Standard lid-and-base and drawer boxes arrive assembled.
Which wrap papers can you print on?
Full-color art paper is standard. Textured, linen, kraft, metallic and leatherette papers are available for the outer wrap, with a printed or plain inner liner.
Can you add foil or embossing to a rigid box?
Yes. Foil stamping, embossing, debossing and spot UV are applied to the wrap before it is laminated to the board.
Do you make the inserts?
Yes. Die-cut board, foam, moulded pulp and fabric-wrapped inserts are specified to the product's footprint and weight.
What artwork files do you need?
Print-ready vector artwork — AI, PDF or EPS — with fonts outlined and images at 300 dpi, laid onto the dieline we supply. If you only have a logo, our design team prepares the print-ready files with you.
How long do rigid boxes take to produce?
Standard production is 10–12 working days from proof approval and payment. Ground shipping adds 3–5 working days, and delivery is free on every order. Both are stated in writing on your quotation.
Can I get a sample before the full run?
Standalone samples are chargeable, because making one box or a handful takes the same setup and production steps as a full run. On a qualifying bulk order, once the order is placed we produce a pre-production sample for your approval at no extra sample charge, and the remaining quantity runs after you approve it.
Do you work with agencies and resellers?
Yes. Agencies, designers, print brokers and resellers place packaging with us under their own client relationship; see Agency & Trade Partners for how a partner job runs.
Resources
Before you specify a rigid box
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 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 guideHow to measure your product for custom packaging
Length, width, depth — and the clearance, weight and count that turn those numbers into a box that fits. What to measure and how to send it.
Read the guide
Placing this for a client?
Agencies, designers, print brokers and resellers run rigid boxes through us under their own client relationship: estimating, dielines, sampling, production and delivery behind your studio.
Start here
Send us your dimensions. We’ll send back a box.
Get a Custom Quote
Or talk to a packaging specialist: (209) 444-0744