Folding cartons — snap-lock (1-2-3) bottom
Custom Snap Lock Bottom Boxes
A snap lock bottom carton, also called a 1-2-3 bottom, has four base panels that fold and interlock by hand in three moves, with no glue on the base. It carries more weight than a tucked base and costs less than an auto-lock, at the price of a few seconds' folding per carton. Heavier retail products packed by hand are its territory.
- Family
- Folding cartons
- Best for
- Heavier retail products packed by hand
- Minimum order
- 50 boxes
- Sizing
- Made to your dimensions
Construction
How it is built, and how it opens.
How it is built
The blank is a tuck-top carton with a base made of four panels of different shapes: two that fold in first, a third with a tongue, and a fourth that locks over it. Only the side seam is glued on the folder-gluer, so the flat carton is as thin as a plain tuck-end carton. The base panels are die-cut with the slots and tongues that let them lock, and the whole carton is printed on one sheet, so the base can carry print too.
How it locks
The packer squares the carton and folds the base in order: the two side panels first, then the tongue panel, then the locking panel, whose tab snaps under the tongue. Once locked, the base is held by the geometry of the panels and by the product's weight pressing down on them, so it does not open unless deliberately unlocked. A short instruction sheet is supplied with the first order.
Board and print
Because the base locks rather than glues, the board needs enough stiffness for the tab to snap and hold, so snap-lock cartons usually run on SBS from 16 pt to 24 pt or on kraft board from 18 pt to 24 pt. The board is printed directly, in CMYK or Pantone, outside or inside and out. Lamination is included; foil stamping, embossing, debossing, spot UV and a window are applied to the sheet before die-cutting.
Packing, shipping and cost
Snap-lock cartons ship flat and stack thinner than auto-lock cartons, because there is no pre-glued base folded inside. Per unit they cost less than an auto-lock and a little more than a reverse tuck end, the difference being the more complex die. Packing is slower than an auto-lock, so the style suits products packed by hand in moderate numbers, and products heavy enough that a tucked base would give way.
What it suits
Where a snap lock bottom box earns its place.
Heavier retail products
Jars, tins and bottles packed by hand where the base must not push open.
Candles
Glass jars in a cube carton with a printed base and, where needed, a board cradle.
Homewares and gifts
Mugs, ornaments and ceramics in a square carton that stands on shelf.
Food in jars
Preserves, honey and sauces in a kraft carton with a single-color print.
Kits with several items
A tall carton with a divider insert, where the locked base carries the combined weight.
Finished work
Folding cartons we have made.
Tuck-end carton · Print inside and out 
Tuck-top carton · Full-color print 
Straight tuck end carton · Full-color print 
Auto-lock bottom carton · Full-color print
- Internal dimensions (L × W × D) and the product's weight. Every carton is cut to your dimensions.
- Board: SBS or kraft, and gauge if you have a preference; the base tab needs stiff board.
- Top closure: friction tuck or slit lock.
- Print: outside only or inside and out, and whether the base panels should carry print; finishes: lamination, foil, embossing, spot UV, window.
- Quantity and how the cartons are packed, so we can confirm the base suits your packing method.
Or consider
When another style does the job better.
Auto Lock Bottom
Choose it when packing speed matters and the pre-glued base is worth the slightly higher unit cost.
Read the guideReverse Tuck End
Choose it for lighter products where a tucked base is enough and the lowest unit cost is the goal.
Read the guideCorrugated Lid & Base
Choose it when the product is heavy enough that paperboard is no longer the right material.
See the style
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.
Snap Lock Bottom 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 snap lock bottom box?
A folding carton whose four base panels interlock by hand in three moves, with no base glue. Also called a 1-2-3 bottom.
Is the base strong?
Yes. Once locked, the panels are held by their geometry and by the product's weight pressing down on them. It carries considerably more than a tucked base.
How long does it take to fold the base?
A few seconds per carton once the packer has done a handful. An instruction sheet is supplied with the first order.
What is the minimum order for custom snap lock bottom boxes?
The minimum order for custom snap lock bottom boxes is 50 boxes, the same as every structure we make. Your quote shows the price at each quantity you ask for.
How long does production take?
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.
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.
Same family
Other folding cartons styles.
Start here
Send us your dimensions. We’ll send back a box.
Or talk to a packaging specialist: (209) 444-0744