What Size Box Does Your Tube Need?
Most pages in this category say they build to your tube and then give you nothing to measure against. Here are the two numbers that decide the carton.
Internal width equals the tube diameter plus 4 mm. Two millimeters of clearance each side lets the tube drop in without forcing, and it leaves room for the insert wall.
Internal height equals the assembled tube height with the cap on, plus 3 mm. Measure with the cap seated rather than the body alone, because the cap is what the lid closes against.
A common gloss tube is about 16 mm in diameter. An 8 ml doe-foot tube of this size is around 107 mm long from tip to tip. This means a carton size of approximately 20 × 20 × 110 mm would work well.
| Tube profile | Typical capacity | What to measure |
|---|---|---|
| 16 mm slim, doe foot | 5 to 8 ml | Wand length, since it sets where the cap seats |
| 16 mm standard, doe foot | 8 to 10 ml | Assembled height with the cap on |
| Squeeze tube, oval or round | 8 to 15 ml | The widest point of the body, not the neck |
| Roller ball | 5 to 10 ml | Ball housing diameter, usually wider than the body |
| Airless pump | 10 to 15 ml | Pump travel, since the head sits proud of the body |
Tube heights can vary even when they have the same capacity, so use these measurements as a starting point. For the best fit, send us one filled tube or provide its height and diameter. We will make the die based on the actual tube size. Sending a sample tube gives the most accurate fit.
How Deep Should the Insert Cavity Be?
The cavity has one job, which is to stop the tube tipping when the carton is on its side. That happens when it holds roughly the lower third to half of the tube.
Doe foot wands, squeeze tubes and roller balls each need a different depth, because the weight sits in a different place. A roller ball is heaviest at the top, so it needs a deeper cavity than a squeeze tube of the same height. Tell us which applicator you use and we set the depth from that.
Which Board Weight Suits a Lip Gloss Carton?
A lip gloss carton is a small folding carton. It is not corrugated, and corrugated flutes are far too thick to fold cleanly at this size.
| Board | Caliper | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 250 to 300 GSM SBS | 0.30 to 0.38 mm | Single tube cartons, the lightest option |
| 300 to 350 GSM SBS | 0.35 to 0.46 mm | The standard for cosmetic cartons |
| 350 to 400 GSM SBS | 0.42 to 0.55 mm | Taller cartons, gift sets, heavier tubes |
| Kraft board, 300 to 350 GSM | 0.35 to 0.46 mm | Natural ranges and a recycled look |
| Kraft wrapped grayboard | 1.5 to 2.0 mm | Rigid gift sets and limited editions |
300 to 350 GSM is the right answer for almost every gloss carton. Below that a tall narrow box bows in the middle. Above it the score lines fight you and the box springs open on the shelf.
White SBS takes the widest range of print. Brown and black kraft suit natural ranges, though pale inks print muted over a brown base. Holographic board is available and it prints best with a flood white underneath.
Which Box Structure Should You Choose?
Structure matters as much as board weight on a box this narrow.
| Structure | How it works | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse tuck end | Flaps open from opposite sides | The default. Lowest cost per unit and it nests well on the die |
| Straight tuck end | Both flaps open from the same side | The back panel stays clean, which suits a printed inner |
| Tuck top with auto bottom | The base locks flat as it is opened | High volume filling lines |
| Two piece base and lid | The lid lifts off | Gift sets and premium single units |
| Sleeve and tray | A printed sleeve slides over an inner tray | Multi shade sets |
We do not quote roll end tuck front for gloss cartons. That is a corrugated mailer structure and it is the wrong tool for a 20 mm wide box.
Where Does Your Logo Go on a Box This Narrow?
Custom printed lip gloss boxes carry every process below, with one constraint that comes from the size rather than the press.
A 20 mm panel does not hold fine detail. A logo with hairline serifs, or a tagline set underneath it, will close up when it is printed at that width. Keep the mark simple and let the finish carry the impression.
- CMYK for full color artwork, or Pantone when a shade has to match your brand guide exactly.
- Both faces of the board can carry print, so the inner panel can hold shade names or a short line of copy.
- Spot UV lifts a logo off a matte background and reads as premium under counter lighting.
- Foil stamping and embossing suit gift ranges. Debossing gives a quieter finish and works well on kraft.
- Soft touch lamination hides fingerprints, which matters on a box customers pick up repeatedly.
Each extra color adds a plate and a pass on an offset run, so a four color design costs more than a single color one. On the short digital runs we use below 1,000 units that gap narrows, because there are no plates to make. Ask us to price lip gloss boxes with logo printing both ways and pick the option that suits your budget.
Which Lip Care Box Do You Need?
This page covers single tube cartons. If you are packing something else in the same range, these are the right options.
| Box type | Best suited for | What we usually quote |
|---|---|---|
| Custom lip gloss display boxes | Counter units holding 12 to 24 tubes | 350 to 400 GSM with a die cut tray |
| Custom lip gloss gift set boxes | Two or more shades in one insert | Two piece rigid, or sleeve and tray |
| Magnetic closure boxes | Influencer mailers and limited drops | Kraft wrapped grayboard with magnets |
| Custom lip balm packaging | Stick balms and pots | 300 GSM reverse tuck end |
| Lip liner cartons | Pencils and retractable liners | 300 GSM, narrow profile |
| Custom CBD lip gloss packaging | CBD ranges needing a compliance panel | Same board, extra panel space |
| Mailer boxes for direct shipping | Sending cartons to customers | E-flute corrugated outer |
Running the whole range on one board and one finish keeps it looking like one family. It also brings the cost down, because we plate and set up once.
Do You Supply the Tubes as Well?
No, and it is worth saying plainly because it saves everybody time.
We build the printed carton and the insert that holds your container. The tubes come from your filler. Send us one you already fill, or the assembled measurements, and we build the die around it. If your filler supplies a custom shape we cut the cavity to that instead.
There is one thing worth knowing about the tube itself. Gloss creeps toward the cap when a tube lies flat, which is why the insert holds it upright rather than laying it down. That is a packing decision as much as a presentation one.
Minimum Order, Lead Time, and Samples
- Minimum order: 100 boxes per size. Each size needs its own die.
- Production: 8 to 10 business days after dieline approval.
- Plain samples: 3 to 5 business days.
- Printed pre-production samples: 7 to 10 business days.
- Flat view and 3D mock-up: free of charge, before anything goes to print.
- Artwork: vector PDF or AI on our dieline with 3 mm bleed, and any Pantone colors identified.
- Shipping: free across the contiguous US. Export orders quoted separately.
For lip gloss packaging wholesale, pricing steps down at 500 units and again at 1,000 units on the same artwork. Tooling is a one time cost. Your first order pays for the die, and repeat orders in the same size and structure do not pay for it again.
A 100 unit run gets the same dieline and print checks as a 10,000 unit run. Tell us the quantity and the date you need stock on hand, and we will quote the rush option and the best price option side by side.
Request a Quote for Custom Lip Gloss Boxes
Send us the tube you fill, or its assembled height and diameter. Add the quantity, your destination and the structure you have in mind. If you already have artwork, send that too and our design team will check the dieline at no cost.
We will come back with a dieline sized around your tube, a 3D mock-up, the insert specification, and a firm price.
The Customized Boxes