Reverse tuck end
The top flap tucks in from the back and the bottom flap from the front. A practical everyday layout for lightweight products.
Printed folding cartons for shelf and kit packaging
Custom Tuck Boxes
Custom tuck boxes are printed paperboard or chipboard cartons that close with a tuck flap, the familiar box on a pharmacy or beauty shelf. They ship flat and fold in seconds. Send your product size, quantity and artwork, and we will quote the tuck style that suits it.
- Printed on every panel
- Ships flat, folds fast
- Quoted to your size
What custom tuck boxes are
A tuck box starts as a single printed and die cut sheet that folds into a carton. The ends close with flaps that slide into the opening, so the box needs no tape or glue at the closure. Because the sheet is printed before it is folded, custom tuck boxes can carry artwork, product details and barcodes on every panel.
Tuck boxes ship flat, which saves storage space until you pack them. They are usually made from paperboard, such as chipboard or a bleached white board, for lighter products. That is why buyers also search for chipboard boxes or custom chipboard boxes when they mean a printed tuck carton. Some styles can be made from thin corrugated board when the product needs a sturdier carton. Finish can be gloss or matte to match the rest of your packaging.
Get a custom tuck box quote
Add your product dimensions, quantity, preferred closure and artwork status in the notes. We confirm the options we can supply and the cost in your quote.
Tuck box closure styles
The closure decides how the box opens on the shelf and how quickly it packs. These are the common tuck styles buyers ask about.
Straight tuck end
Both flaps tuck in from the same side, which keeps the front panel uninterrupted for artwork that wraps the box.
Tuck top with lock or auto bottom
A tuck flap on top and a stronger folded or pre-glued bottom, for heavier items or products that are packed quickly.
Tuck boxes for cosmetics, candles, soap and supplements
Cosmetics
Tuck boxes for lipstick, serums, creams and other beauty products give a single item a printed home on the shelf. A straight tuck end keeps the front panel clean for artwork, and a gloss or matte finish can match the rest of a beauty line.
Candles
Candle tuck boxes are sized around the jar or tin, often with a lock or auto bottom for the extra weight of glass. Print can carry the scent name, burn instructions you supply and barcodes on separate panels.
Soap
Bar soap fits neatly in a small tuck carton, with room on the panels for the scent, ingredients you supply and a barcode. Tell us the bar size and whether it is wrapped before it goes in the box.
Supplements
Supplement bottles and pouches often ship in a tuck carton that holds the bottle upright and carries the label information you provide. Many brands then pack the tuck boxes inside a larger printed shipper.
How ordering works
- Step 1
Measure the product
Length, width and depth of the item the tuck box must hold.
- Step 2
Choose a closure
Reverse tuck, straight tuck, or a stronger bottom. Not sure? We can suggest one.
- Step 3
Add quantity and artwork
Your expected order size, delivery ZIP, and the panel artwork or a note that it is still being designed.
- Step 4
Get your quote
We confirm the options we can supply, the finish and the cost.
Pricing and order details are confirmed in your quote.
When a tuck box is the right fit
A tuck box presents a single product on a shelf or inside a larger box. When the order ships direct, it usually goes inside one of our custom printed shipping boxes. For a kit or gift that gets kept, a rigid box may suit better; compare custom rigid boxes. If the product is perishable and needs insulation in transit, see our insulated shipping boxes.
Tuck box styles and materials
General construction facts for the common tuck carton layouts. The board and closure for your order are confirmed in your quote.
| Reverse tuck end | Straight tuck end | Tuck top, lock or auto bottom | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it closes | Top and bottom flaps tuck in from opposite sides | Top and bottom flaps tuck in from the same side | Tuck flap on top, folded or pre-glued bottom |
| Board | Paperboard or chipboard | Paperboard or chipboard | Paperboard, chipboard or thin corrugated |
| Print area | Every outside panel | Every outside panel | Every outside panel |
| How it arrives | Flat, folded when packed | Flat, folded when packed | Flat; an auto bottom pops open |
| Typical use | Lightweight single products | Artwork that wraps the front panel | Heavier items such as jars and bottles |
Other products packed in tuck boxes
Beyond the four product types above, we quote custom tuck boxes for these uses. We do not name customers on this page.
Pharmacy and OTC
Single-product cartons with space on the panels for the label copy you supply.
Test kit components
Small cartons for the parts of an at-home kit, packed inside a larger printed shipper.
Coffee and tea
Printed cartons for bags, tins and sachets on a shelf or in a gift set.
Retail accessories
Tuck boxes for small accessories that hang or stand on a retail shelf.
One quote for the box, insert, gel packs and shipper
Tuck boxes often travel inside a larger shipper. When the product ships cold, one quote covers the cartons, the printed mailer, a liner or EPS shipper, and the gel packs.
- Printed boxCustom Tuck Boxes, printed to your artwork
- Foam insertCustom foam inserts that hold each item in place
- Gel packsGel packs for shipping for the pack-out
- Insulated or EPS shipperInsulated shipping boxes or styrofoam shipping coolers
Tell us what you ship, the box size and how each order is packed, and we will quote the pieces together so you deal with one contact. Test your complete pack-out before regular use.
Custom tuck box questions
What is a tuck box?
A tuck box is a folding carton cut from one printed sheet that closes by sliding a flap into the box opening. It arrives flat, folds into shape when you pack it, and shows your artwork on every side. Tuck boxes are common for supplements, cosmetics, OTC products and small kit components.
What is the difference between reverse tuck and straight tuck?
On a reverse tuck end box the top and bottom flaps tuck in from opposite sides, which is a common, efficient layout. On a straight tuck end box both flaps tuck in from the same side, so the front panel stays clean at both ends. The better pick depends on your artwork and how the box is displayed.
Are tuck boxes the same as chipboard boxes?
Many are. Chipboard is a common paperboard for tuck cartons, so a printed chipboard box that closes with a tuck flap is a tuck box. Tuck boxes can also be made from bleached white board or thin corrugated. Tell us the product weight and the look you want, and we will suggest a board.
Can a tuck box have a stronger bottom?
Yes. Instead of a tucked bottom, many tuck boxes use a lock bottom or an auto bottom. A lock bottom folds flaps together by hand, while an auto bottom is pre-glued and pops into place as the box opens. Both suit heavier products. Tell us the weight and we will suggest an option.
What should I send for a custom tuck box quote?
Send the product dimensions, the quantity you are planning, your preferred closure if you have one, and your delivery ZIP. Attach your artwork or tell us it is still in progress. We look over the details and send back the tuck box options available to you, with costs.
Can tuck boxes go inside a printed shipping box?
Yes. A common setup is a tuck box for the individual product packed inside a larger printed shipper. If your program uses both, tell us how many tuck boxes go into each shipper and we can quote the packaging together, along with any gel packs for shipping the order needs.
Related custom packaging and shipping supplies
Custom Printed Shipping BoxesPrinted mailers and corrugated shipping cartons for orders that ship direct.Custom Rigid BoxesSet-up boxes with a printed wrap for kits, gifts and premium products.Styrofoam shipping coolersEPS coolers with corrugated outer cartons, sold by the case.Gel packs for shippingGel packs quoted with your boxes for perishable shipments.
Ready to quote your custom tuck boxes?
Share the product size and how many cartons you need, and we will price the tuck styles that fit.