Folding carton
Folding carton · Kraft
Kraft boxes
Kraft boxes are boxes made from unbleached brown board and printed with your brand. We make them as tuck cartons, mailers, lid-and-base gift boxes and sleeves, from 50 units per design.
- Over 30 years in print and packaging
- Free structural design
- From 50 units
- Plastic-free options
- Style
- Carton, mailer, lid and base
- Board
- Kraft paperboard or corrugated
- Best for
- One- or two-color brands
- Minimum order
- 50 units
- Typical production window
- 10–12 days
- Paper-first materials
- 100% recyclable
- For structural design
- $0
Overview
What is a kraft box?
Every ink sits on brown, so it prints darker than on white board. One or two strong colors look right. Pastels, white and full-color photos don't. If your brand depends on those, pick white board instead.
Kraft describes the board, not the shape. It's paperboard or corrugated that hasn't been bleached, so it keeps its brown color and visible fiber. Almost any box style can be made in kraft.
Brands pick it because it looks natural without saying so. The catch is color: the brown shows through ink, so the print shifts darker and warmer than your screen.
- Kraft paperboard. A single brown sheet, for tuck cartons, soap and tea boxes.
- Kraft corrugated. Brown liners with a fluted middle, for mailers that go in the post.
- Kraft-wrapped rigid. Greyboard wrapped in kraft paper, for gift boxes with lids.
Specifications
Kraft boxes: specifications
Every box is drawn to your product, so these are the options, not a fixed catalogue. Your specialist confirms the exact spec on the proof.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Styles | Tuck-end carton, mailer, lid and base, sleeve and tray |
| Board | Kraft paperboard, kraft corrugated (E-flute or B-flute), or kraft-wrapped greyboard |
| One or two strong ink colors recommended. White ink possible as an underlay | |
| Inserts | Kraft or white paperboard |
| Add-ons | Die-cut windows, hang tabs, handles |
| Size | Drawn to your product |
| Recyclability | 100% recyclable. Skip lamination and window film to keep it plastic-free |
| Minimum order | 50 units per design |
| Structural design | $0. We draw the dieline around your product |
| Proof | Digital proof on your dieline, checked for bleed, folds and barcodes |
| Production | 10–12 days on most orders, from proof approval. Shipping time is on top |
| Default finish | Aqueous coating on every box. Water-based, and it recycles with the box |
| Point of contact | One packaging specialist, from first sketch to delivery |
Board and build
How ink colors print on kraft
Ink is slightly see-through, so the brown changes every color.
| Ink | On kraft | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Crisp and high contrast | Best choice |
| Dark green, navy, deep red | Slightly darker, still clean | Works well |
| Mid orange, mid blue | Noticeably muddier | Check on the proof |
| Pastels, light grey | Close to invisible | Avoid |
| White | Needs a white underlay | Avoid, or budget for underlay |
Custom kraft boxes: how they print goes through this in detail, with examples.
Compare
Kraft or white board?
Kraft isn't the better board, just a different one.
| Kraft | White paperboard | |
|---|---|---|
| Looks | Brown, natural, fibrous | Bright, smooth |
| Color print | Darker, warmer | True to screen |
| Recyclability | Recyclable | Recyclable |
| Best for | Bold one- or two-color logos | Photos, pale colors, exact matching |
Picking kraft doesn't make a box more recyclable. Paper and paperboard already had a 68.2% recycling rate in 2018, brown or white, per the EPA. If you want certified wood, look for the FSC label, not the color.
Sizing
Sizing a kraft box
Kraft boxes are sized the same way as any other: length x width x depth, measured on the inside, with length and width at the opening.
Send your product's size or a photo on a ruler. We add clearance on the dieline. How to measure a box has the method.
Who orders kraft boxes
- Soap makers. See custom soap boxes.
- Bakeries. See custom bakery boxes.
- Candle brands. See custom candle boxes.
- Natural skincare. Kraft cartons with one dark ink.
Finishes
Finishes that suit kraft.
Kraft is usually uncoated and slightly rough. Some finishes land better than others.
Foil stamping
Gold, copper and black foil stand out sharply against brown.
Debossing
Pressed in, no ink. Suits the look of kraft.
Spot UV
Less crisp on rough kraft. Keep it to bold shapes.
Soft-touch
Adds plastic film. That undoes most of the reason to pick kraft.
Quote
Get a quote for kraft boxes
One measurement and a quantity is enough to start. Your specialist replies with a structure, so you can see the box before you commit to anything.
How it works
Four steps, one person.
The specialist who picks up your first email stays with the project until the boxes arrive.
Step 01
Tell us what you're packing
Send the product dimensions, how it ships and how many you need. A photo on a ruler is enough to start.
Step 02
We draw the structure
Your packaging specialist builds the dieline around your product. Structural design is free.
Step 03
You approve the proof
Drop your artwork onto the dieline. We check bleed, folds and barcodes, and send a digital proof.
Step 04
We make and ship
Production takes 10–12 days on most orders. Boxes ship flat, packed in cartons, to your door.
FAQ
Kraft boxes: questions.
What is the minimum order for kraft boxes?
50 units per design, in any kraft style.
Can you print white on kraft boxes?
Not with standard ink. White needs an underlay printed first, which adds a pass on press.
Are kraft boxes more eco-friendly than white boxes?
Not automatically. Both recycle. If you want certified fiber, ask for FSC-certified board rather than relying on the color.
Can kraft boxes go in the mail?
Kraft corrugated mailers can. Kraft paperboard cartons are too thin and need a mailer around them.
How long do kraft boxes take?
10–12 days on most orders, counted from proof approval. Shipping time is on top.
Honest fit
When not to hire us.
Your brand color is pale or bright
Pastel pink on kraft reads as beige, and a white logo disappears. Use white board.
You need fewer than 50 boxes
Our minimum is 50 units. For 10 or 20, a stock box with a printed sticker will cost you less.
You need boxes next week
Production runs 10–12 days before shipping. If your launch is sooner, buy stock boxes now and switch to custom for the next run.
You want plain brown boxes
If nothing gets printed, a stock box supplier is cheaper and faster. We're worth it once the box carries your brand.
Pricing a kraft box?
Send the product size and your logo colors. We'll tell you how it'll print and send a proof.
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