Why Do You Size the Box From the Case Rather Than the Frame?
Frame dimensions describe the frame itself and they stop at its outer edge. Adult frames run roughly 121 to 145 mm across, with a lens width of about 40 to 60 mm. A case built around that frame adds hinge clearance and shell thickness on every side of it.
Published case sizes give you a starting point rather than a finished dieline. One hardshell case is marketed with internal dimensions of 6.4 by 3.0 by 2.1 inches, which describes the cavity and not the outside. Send us the case with a frame seated inside and we measure the closed unit here.
| Reference figure | Published dimension |
|---|---|
| Classic hard glasses case | 160 by 65 by 30 mm |
| Extra large hard case | 160 by 75 by 36 mm |
| Hardshell case interior | 6.4 by 3.0 by 2.1 inches |
| Adult frame width | Roughly 121 to 145 mm |
What Does the Impact Resistant Lens Rule Mean for Your Carton?
Eyeglasses and sunglasses sold in the United States must be fitted with impact resistant lenses under 21 CFR 801.410. The test drops a five eighths inch steel ball weighing about 0.56 ounce from 50 inches onto the lens. A lens that fractures under that ball fails and the finished pair does not ship.
The record trail matters more to the carton than the test itself does. The manufacturer keeps invoices, shipping documents and lens test records for three years. A lot field and a batch field on the panel are what tie a finished pair back to those records. The carton makes no claim about the lens unless your own test data supports the wording.
| Rule element | What 21 CFR 801.410 states |
|---|---|
| Who it covers | Eyeglasses and sunglasses sold in the United States |
| The test | A five eighths inch steel ball dropped from 50 inches |
| Pass condition | The lens must not fracture under the drop |
| Records | Invoices, shipping documents and test records kept three years |
Which Board and Insert Does a Box That Ships on Its Own Need?
Plenty of eyewear now goes direct to the wearer and the retail carton becomes the shipper. A 300 to 350 GSM folding carton handles an optical shelf but not a delivery network on its own. E flute board takes that load and still prints a full color outer panel.
The insert does the rest of the work inside the box. A case that slides around arrives with scuffed corners and a hinge worked loose, so a die cut card cradle or a foam bed holds it still. That is the whole job of a box insert in this category. Our guide to measuring a box covers the gap between inside and outside dimensions.
Which Structure Suits Optical Retail and Direct Shipping?
Four structures cover nearly every eyewear program that comes through our floor. A straight tuck end is the cheapest route for a cased frame going onto a shelf. A sleeve and tray turns the long panel into the face, which suits a narrow shelf position. A drawer box reads as a gift and a two piece rigid box reads as a designer line.
Foil stamping on a wrapped lid is how an optical house signals a premium frame at retail. We build those as rigid boxes with a wrapped shell and a fitted tray inside.
Should an Eyewear Box Carry a Window?
A window shows the case rather than the frame and that is the trouble with it. A shopper looking at a closed case learns nothing new through the plastic. Optical retail sells on the frame instead, which is why most display sits open on a tray.
A branded case changes that answer, because the case itself carries a designer mark worth showing. A frame packed without a case also has something worth showing through a window. A printed counter tray holds a row of cartons upright beside the till in either situation.
Minimum Order, Lead Time, and Samples
- The minimum order is 100 boxes per size and design, so one case size starts at 100 cartons
- Folding cartons run 8 to 10 business days after you approve the dieline
- Rigid and magnetic frame boxes run 10 to 12 business days after dieline approval
- A plain sample takes 3 to 5 business days and a printed sample takes 7 to 10
- Price breaks land at 500 and 1,000 units on the same artwork
Request a Quote
Send one case with a frame seated inside and your run quantity to our quote form. We measure the closed case here and quote a tuck end and a rigid option on one dieline.
The Customized Boxes