The Ultimate Guide to Choosing custom printed gift boxes wholesale

04 Aug.,2025

 

A Buyer's Guide to Wholesale Printed Gift and Apparel Boxes

What are Printed Gift and Apparel Boxes?

Printed gift and apparel boxes are packaging containers specifically designed to hold and present gifts, clothing items, accessories, or other similar products. These boxes are typically made from cardboard or paperboard materials, and they come in various shapes, sizes, and designs to cater to different needs and preferences.

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Printing refers to the customization options available for these boxes. They can be personalized with colors, patterns, graphics, logos, or text to align with a specific theme, occasion, or brand identity. Depending on the desired outcome and budget, the printing process can be done using techniques such as offset printing, digital printing, or screen printing.

Materials Used for Gift and Apparel Boxes:

When it comes to wholesale gift and apparel boxes, you’ve got material options. The most popular and budget-friendly are:

Cardboard: Your standard brown cardboard is cheap, recyclable, and gets the job done. For a premium look, choose white or colored cardboard. Cardboard works for most lightweight items but won’t last forever.

Corrugated cardboard: The corrugated layer makes it more durable than regular cardboard. Great for shipping and storage. Corrugated cardboard comes in brown and white.

Kraft paper: That rustic, crafty paper you see everywhere. Kraft paper gift boxes are all the rage and perfect for artisanal and handmade goods. The material is lightweight but can tear easily, so handle it carefully.

Recycled paper: Recycled paper in various shades of brown, gray, and natural tones is ideal for an eco-friendly vibe. Made from post-consumer waste, it’s sustainable but may not have the smoothest finish.

Cotton canvas: A canvas gift box adds a high-quality feel to premium items. Cotton canvas is hard-wearing, long-lasting, and comes in various colors to match your brand. However, it typically costs more than paper and cardboard.

The options don’t end there. You’ll also find gift boxes in materials like bamboo, felt, burlap, and faux leather. When selecting a material, consider your product, brand image, budget, and how well the box needs to protect the contents. The right gift box can make all the difference in the unboxing experience.

Customization Options for Printed Boxes

Customization is one of the most important factors when ordering printed gift boxes or apparel boxes. Customized elements allow you to tailor the boxes to your needs and brand. There are several options for customizing printed boxes.

Box size

First, choose a box size that properly fits your products. Standard sizes range from small shirt boxes to large furniture boxes. You can also specify custom dimensions for a perfect fit.

Printing

Full-color printing on all sides of the box allows for bold, eye-catching designs. You can print your company logo, product images, or custom artwork. Spot UV and embossing add texture and dimension. Consider foil stamping for an opulent metallic finish.

Coatings

Protect your printing and add extra shine with laminate or aqueous coatings. Soft-touch coatings give boxes a velvety feel. These coatings help your customized boxes make a lasting impression.

Interior trays and dividers

Interior components organize your products inside the box. Trays keep items separate and elevated. Dividers section off areas of the box. These additions make unboxing a more premium experience for customers.

Custom inserts

Take customization to the next level with specialized inserts tailored to your product. Foam, wood, and die-cut cardboard inserts securely hold items in place. Custom inserts turn your printed gift boxes into a showcase.

With multiple customization options, you can design printed gift boxes and apparel boxes that perfectly reflect your brand. Customization allows you to create an unboxing experience that always wows your customers. Carefully customized details will make your wholesale printed boxes stand out on store shelves.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Box Supplier:

When choosing a wholesale box supplier, several factors should influence your decision. The following are some of the most important things to consider:

Quality

Look for a supplier that offers high-quality, durable boxes that will adequately protect your products. Check if they use sturdy corrugated cardboard and strong seams and handles. Ask for samples so you can inspect the quality yourself. The last thing you want is for your boxes to fall apart during shipping or storage.

Customization

Customization options are key Unless you plan to use plain brown boxes. Look for a supplier that offers sizes, styles, and printing options to suit your needs. Embossing, debossing, and foil stamping can help make your brand stand out. Ask about minimum order quantities for custom boxes, affecting your costs and inventory management.

Pricing

Compare pricing between different suppliers to get the best deal on your boxes. Remember that higher volume orders will typically qualify for lower per-unit pricing. Don’t just choose the cheapest option—ensure you’re still getting high quality at a good value. Some suppliers may also offer discounts and specials for new or repeat customers.

Customer Service

Look for a supplier with a reputation for great customer service. Things like fast response times, meeting promised delivery dates, and a willingness to work with you to resolve any issues is extremely important. Read online reviews from the supplier’s other customers to determine the level of service you can expect.

You can find a wholesale box supplier that suits all your needs by considering factors such as quality, customization, pricing, and customer service. Doing your research upfront will help ensure a long and productive business relationship.

Benefits of Custom Printed Boxes

Using printed gift and apparel boxes offers many benefits for businesses:

Branding: Boxes prominently display your company logo, colors, and messaging. This helps to build brand recognition and loyalty.

Product protection: Custom boxes are designed to house your goods during shipping to prevent damage properly. This results in fewer returns and happier customers.

Premium feels: Stylish printed boxes give products an upscale, premium feel. This can justify higher price points and help attract high-end customers.

Customization: Boxes can be designed to fit your products specifically. This includes adding slots, dividers, handles, and more for optimal utility.

Eco-friendly: Many printed gift and apparel boxes are made from sustainable materials like recycled cardboard. This “green” approach appeals to environmentally conscious consumers and businesses.

Conclusion:

The Definitive Step-By-Step Guide to Custom Boxes (Jan. )

Admit it. We’ve all done it. You’re not meaning to be nosy, but you can’t help but notice the package your neighbor has sitting on his doorstep.

It might be that distinctive, smiley box from Amazon, or one of those Blue Apron boxes that seem to crop up everywhere—or maybe it’s something you’ve never seen before.

Just the other day while driving in my neighborhood, I saw a bold, purple-colored box with the words “Purple Carrot” emblazoned on the side. What’s a Purple Carrot? I’d never heard of the company. But the vibrant colored box was enough to capture my attention and stick out in my mind.

Guess what I did when I got home? I googled Purple Carrot and found out they’re a plant-based meal delivery service. Talk about effective marketing.

By merely using distinct, recognizable packaging, Purple Carrot piqued the interest of a casual observer (me), and eked out a little free advertising too.

For businesses of all sizes, effective custom packaging can yield impressive marketing results.

Just consider these stats:

  • In a Dotcom Distribution study, over 60% of those surveyed said that gift-like packaging gets them excited about what they ordered.
  • 40% of these online shoppers said they would be more likely to purchase from a retailer again if the retailer used premium packaging.

And pretty packages can lead to social shares:

  • 50% said gift-like or branded packaging makes them more likely to recommend a brand to others.
  • People obsess over packaging. In , there are more than 92 million “unboxing” videos on YouTube.

Suffice it to say, custom packaging is an easy way to spike interest in your products and build excitement for your brand. Not to mention that your competition is probably already putting effort into how they package their products. Don’t get left behind.

So how can your business stand out from the crowd?

Dongdian supply professional and honest service.

Let’s take a look at how you can incorporate custom boxes and branded packaging into your marketing arsenal.

And fear not, there are price points that will work for every size business.

Why Go Custom?


Custom Boxes We Created For T-Mobile

Gone are the days of haphazardly tossing some goods in a post office box and calling it a day.

The physical box you put your product in is important, so put some thought into it. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Don’t miss this opportunity.

Making a memorable brand experience is especially relevant for one very important consumer group—millennials. Millennials now make up nearly 25% of the US population and possess an annual purchasing power of over $1.3 trillion dollars. For millennials, feeling a connection with a brand is of paramount importance when making purchasing decisions.

Unique packaging is a great way to initially wow your customers and make them feel special. When done right, you’ll increase brand exposure, through social sharing, and directly pump up brand loyalty and sales.

Where To Start

It all begins with choosing the type of outside shipping box you need.

Boxes come in all shapes, colors, materials, and sizes, but cardboard and corrugated rectangular boxes are the most popular choices, because they’re sturdy and affordable.

When it comes to packaging design or box design, there are two main types of packaging to consider: Fully customized boxes and printed stock boxes.

Let’s take a closer look:

Type of Box & Packaging Who Should Use It? What Does It Cost? Fully Customized Boxes & Packaging Companies looking to create an entirely branded “unboxing experience”. These types of boxes often include lots of little extras that set them apart from the competition, including stylish print designs, fitted inserts and dividers, custom wrap or tissue paper, and custom container boxes or bags inside. Can be a few additional pennies per box, but can increase to several dollars per box. The cost depends on many factors, including the size of the colors used in printing, box material, number of boxes, inserts included and more. Printed Stock Boxes & Packaging Companies who want to create the same kind of unboxing impact, but at a lower cost than ordering custom boxes. Varies, but it’s typically less expensive than going fully custom. As with custom packaging boxes, the cost of printed stock boxes varies widely depending on specifications.

You can choose to go the fully customized route, but maybe a printed stock box will fit your needs. It’s always best to ask packaging companies for a quote. A lot will depend on your budget and the type of products you’re shipping.

With a custom box, you can pick any size you want, add fancy designs, fitted dividers, inserts, throw in some custom tissue paper, or make use of inner boxes and bags.

In other words, you can get exactly what you want and know that your brand will have something entirely unique.

When you design your custom retail packaging, don’t let the inside flap of your shipping box go to waste. Take a company like Loot Crate, for example. They use this piece of precious real estate by including “unboxing instructions,” as a way to encourage social sharing.

Of course, you’ll pay more for a fully customized box. But a killer box design doesn’t have to break the bank. A few extra pennies per box can go a long way towards crafting a stunning custom package.

Successful packaging starts with a compelling design.

Your company probably already has a logo or a particular color associated with your brand. Try to incorporate these elements into your boxes or other packaging. It will promote brand awareness and help people remember you.

There are all kinds of variables that can inflate the costs of your packaging. When weighing your printing options, don’t forget to consider things like cutting dies, printing plates, flute size, dielines, and minimum orders.

Keep in mind printing costs are usually lower for bigger orders. So if you can, figure out what you’ll need down the road, and order accordingly.

And always get a printed sample proof before approving the job for production. You’d hate to place a large order only to have your company name misspelled, or the colors to be all wrong. That’s definitely not the kind of branding you want.

NOTE: We offer 100% free design for all of our customers who need help. Don’t have a design? Let us help you make it.

Choosing The Right Type of Box: Custom Boxes By Industry

You might be surprised to learn that there are custom boxes for specific industries. Some packaging is crafted to suit specific product box styles, and others to match unique retail box needs.

Type of Packaging Who Should Use It? How Much Does It Cost? Cosmetic Boxes Anyone who sells cosmetic-related products that need to keep the products stable and safe during transit. Cosmetic packaging includes cream boxes, eyelash boxes, eyeliner boxes, lipstick boxes, lip gloss boxes, hair extension boxes, makeup boxes, nail polish boxes and more. Order minimum is typically 100 boxes, all the way to 500,000 boxes. Most cosmetic boxes are relatively low-cost compared to other box options, because the size of the boxes are smaller. Display Packaging Custom display boxes for store end-caps, cash register and checkout displays. These boxes can include cosmetic display boxes, display packaging for candy and other types of products.

Display packaging can be created with a minimum order of 100 boxes. It’s formulated with no-bleed inks, so the design will be crisp and vivid.

Pricing will range based on box dimensions, design and quantity.

Eco-Friendly Boxes Ideal for environmentally-conscious businesses, who want to help reduce waste from discarded boxes, eco-friendly boxes are made with crucial attention and care toward using sustainable materials .

You’ll enjoy considerable cost savings by using recycled bux board boxes or kraft stock.

Eco-friendly boxes can also incorporate raised ink and embossed patterns for a trendy, upscale look.

Food & Beverage Boxes

These boxes are perfect for businesses in the food industry, where safety of the items inside the box is crucial.

These include bakery boxes, cake boxes, pizza boxes, popcorn boxes, wine boxes and more.

Pricing will range based on box dimensions, design and quantity.

The high quality printing and paper used in the printing of food and beverage boxes is designed to help maintain freshness.

Gift Boxes

Sending a holiday gift? Want to impress your customers with a high-end gift wrapped with ribbons?

Gable boxes, favor boxes, handle boxes and gift card boxes are great options.

Pricing will range based on box dimensions, design and quantity. Metalized Boxes

For anyone who’s looking to add a touch of sophistication to their products.

With gold foil boxes or silver foil boxes, metalized boxes can include embossing and raised ink to add a layer of dimension and pattern to the box.

They can also include a customized window cut-out to showcase the product inside.

The cost of gold foil or silver foil boxes will depend on several factors, including the size of the box and any additional enhancements you’d like to add to the finished product. Retail Boxes

Retail boxes are perfect for a most direct-to-consumer products.

Examples include soap boxes, candle boxes, product boxes, mailer boxes and much more.

Minimum orders are usually 100 custom retail boxes, and can be produced in quantities up to 500,000.

Pricing will range based on box dimensions, design and quantity.

On A Tight Budget? Think Beyond The Box

Not every company has the budget to digitally print their logo on the side of their shipping boxes. But that doesn’t mean you have to forfeit all attempts at promoting your brand. The little things inside the box are an important component of adding that personal touch.

Looking for a little inspiration? It’s not hard to find.

Even a cursory search on Pinterest will have all kinds of packaging eye candy pop up.  Many pinners devote whole boards to packaging ideas.

Here are some ideas to consider:

Notes

How about the thrill of receiving a personalized, handwritten note?

If you find one of those tucked inside your product box, you’ll take notice. A simple thank you note can go a long way.  And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. For mere pennies, you can print up some thank you inserts, and make your customers feel special.

You can get as fancy as you want, but if money’s tight, you can even print some out on your own computer.

For more custom printed gift boxes wholesaleinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.