FREE Shipping All Across the USA Low MOQs, no hidden freight fees — to all 50 states.
FREE 3D Design Tool Build & preview your box online before you order.
FREE Design Support Our US team perfects your artwork & 3D mockup.
Custom tuck end boxes are the folding-carton family — including both straight tuck end (STE) and reverse tuck end (RTE) — that anchors most US retail packaging. Cost-effective, fast to assemble, and printable on all six panels, tuck-end boxes are the everyday default for cosmetics, supplements, food, small electronics, and thousands of consumer SKUs. We print in SBS, kraft, and specialty stocks from 100 units.
For US retail brands, DTC startups, and private-label programs that need the standard high-utility folding carton at flexible run sizes.
About Custom Tuck End Boxes
The folding carton that runs most of retail
Tuck-end is the workhorse of US retail packaging. The construction is simple — a flat, printed paperboard blank with tuck flaps at the top and bottom that fold in to close the box — but that simplicity is exactly what makes it dominant. Tuck-end cartons ship flat, assemble in seconds by hand or on a semi-auto cartoning line, print cleanly on all six exterior panels, and cost less per unit than any other retail folding format. If you have picked up a cosmetics box, a supplement carton, a tea package, or a small consumer product this week, odds are you handled a tuck-end.
Straight tuck end vs. reverse tuck end
- Straight tuck end (STE): both top and bottom tuck flaps close on the same side of the box (usually toward the back). Marginally faster on auto-cartoning lines; the choice for high-volume production.
- Reverse tuck end (RTE): top and bottom tuck flaps close on opposite sides — giving a more secure hold and a cleaner front face. The default for most retail-shelf-visible product.
- When to spec each: STE for high-volume, auto-cartoning production and cost-optimized runs; RTE for retail-facing, shelf-visible, moderately weighted product. For heavier product or tamper evidence, step up to seal-end.
Design and print
Tuck-end cartons print full-color CMYK on all six exterior panels, with Pantone spot matching included at no extra cost. Add foil stamping, embossing, spot UV, and window die-cuts for retail-shelf differentiation. Our US-based designers dieline to your product with the correct board-caliper allowance so the box holds the product snug without bulging or gaping.
Categories where tuck-end dominates
Tuck-end is the everyday folding-carton default for cosmetics, supplements, tea and beverage, artisan food, small electronics, tech accessories, and specialty retail. For a broader overview of paperboard formats, see our custom paper boxes pillar; for tamper-evident sealed cartons, our seal-end boxes.
Ordering, MOQ, and lead time
Minimum order is 100 units. Standard production is 7–10 business days; rush 3–5 available. Every order includes a free 3D mockup, free dieline support, a physical sample on request (refunded on your first order), and free US shipping. Request a tiered quote for exact price breaks at 100 / 250 / 500 / 1,000+.
Why US brands choose us for custom tuck end boxes
Custom Box Printing manufactures custom tuck end boxes from our US production facility, with free standard shipping anywhere in the contiguous United States and a 7–10 business day turnaround. We've printed custom tuck end boxes for solo founders launching their first product line, growing direct-to-consumer brands placing 5,000-unit runs, and established retail brands with 50,000+ unit production schedules — and we treat all three the same: low MOQs (100-unit runs), free design support, no setup or die-plate charges, and a 3D digital mockup before anything goes to press.
Every custom tuck end boxes order includes free in-house dieline and artwork support — our US-based designers will polish your existing files, or build a custom dieline from scratch to fit your exact product dimensions. We send you a 3D mockup to confirm look and proportions before production. For color-critical work, request a physical sample free — let’s talk about a customized sample so you can confirm the look before a full run.
Materials, print, and finish options
Tuck-end boxes are folding cartons — the retail-shelf standard for paperboard packaging. Most tuck-end cartons print on 14pt to 18pt SBS (bright white, color-accurate CMYK) for retail; 20pt to 24pt for larger footprints or heavier product; and kraft for eco-forward brand voices. All stocks take matte, gloss, soft-touch, or textured lamination, plus foil, spot UV, embossing, and window die-cuts. Board weight follows product weight and box size — heavier product needs heavier board to hold shape on the shelf.
Available finishes include:
- Lamination: Gloss, matte, soft-touch, or velvet finish for a premium hand-feel.
- Foil stamping: Gold, silver, copper, or custom foil colors for high-visibility brand marks.
- Embossing & debossing: Tactile raised or recessed surface effects on logo or key artwork.
- Spot UV: Selective gloss coating that creates contrast against matte areas.
- Eco-friendly options: Recycled kraft, widely recyclable paperboard and water-based inks.
- Compliance: soy-based inks; child-resistant-style constructions for CBD/cannabis on request.
If you're not sure which combination will work best for your custom tuck end boxes, mention it in your quote request — our team will recommend the right material, print spec, and finish based on your product, budget, and brand positioning.
How to order your custom tuck end boxes
- Request a quote — use the "Get Free Quote" button on this page, or call (855) 792-3890 (toll free). Tell us your box style, dimensions, quantity, material preferences, and any deadline.
- We respond within 1 business day with pricing, lead times, and material recommendations. No pressure, no commitment.
- Free design + 3D mockup — we build your dieline (or polish your existing artwork) and send you a 3D digital mockup to approve.
- Optional physical sample — request a custom sample (refunded on your first order) to hold the real box in hand — let’s talk it through.
- Production & free US shipping — once you approve, we print and ship in 7–10 business days, free anywhere in the United States.
Custom Tuck End Boxes Weight and Price Calculator
Get an instant weight estimate (per box, total order, and shipping dimensional weight) and a per-unit price estimate for your custom tuck end boxes. Enter dimensions in inches or centimeters — the calculator converts automatically. For a firm quote, request a free quote.
Pick your box material
Choose the stock first — each calculator below has its own length × width × height inputs.
Part 1 Weight calculator
Finished box weight and the dimensional weight US carriers (USPS, UPS, FedEx) use for shipping.
Dim weight uses the US domestic divisor of 166 (L × W × H ÷ 166 in pounds). Carriers bill the greater of actual or dimensional weight.
Part 2 Price calculator
Instant per-unit and total estimate in the US-market range for the spec below. Firm pricing requires your artwork and exact spec.
US-market estimate based on 2026 rates. Exact pricing depends on artwork, exact stock, Pantone requirements, and finish combinations. No setup, die, or plate fees at any quantity.
Custom Tuck End Boxes — Frequently Asked Questions
