Buyers use "cardboard" for two different materials, and the printing route changes with each. Corrugated board has a fluted layer sandwiched between liners and is built for shipping and display. Paperboard is a single solid caliper used for retail cartons that sit on a shelf. Tell us which one you need, or describe the product and we will spec it on the quote.
The three printing methods and where each one fits
| Method | How it works | Usually fits |
|---|---|---|
| Digital | Prints straight to the sheet with no plates | Short runs, several artwork versions, fast proofing |
| Offset lithography | Prints a litho sheet that is then laminated to the board | Photography, fine detail, gradients, larger runs |
| Flexography | Prints directly onto corrugated with flexible plates | Line art, logos and solid colors on shipping boxes |
Which method your job runs on depends on the board, the artwork and the quantity, and it is written on your quote. Plates are included either way, so switching methods does not create a separate tooling line on your invoice.
What the board does to the printed result
A brown kraft liner shifts every ink laid on it warmer, so a color that looked right on screen prints muted. A white top liner gives you a neutral base and much closer color. On heavy solid coverage over corrugated, the flute underneath can telegraph faintly through the print, which is why full-bleed dark backgrounds are usually better suited to a laminated litho sheet than to direct flexo. Paperboard holds the finest detail and takes matte or gloss lamination, spot gloss and foil cleanly.
Sending artwork that prints the first time
Send vector artwork with fonts converted to outlines, images at print resolution, colors set in CMYK plus any Pantone references you want matched, and roughly an eighth of an inch of bleed past every cut line. If you do not have a dieline yet, our design support is included and we will build one from your product dimensions. You then get a digital proof, and nothing goes on press until you approve it. If you want to see the structure in hand first, ask during the quote conversation, which is where physical samples are arranged.
Minimum, pricing and turnaround
The minimum is 100 boxes. Bulk pricing starts from about $0.48 per unit, and your written quote states the real number for your size, board and finish. Turnaround is quoted per product across three lanes: rush combines expedited production with air freight, standard moves by air, and cost saver moves by sea. Production starts from about 7 business days, plus 2 to 5 days for delivery, and specialty imported items can run up to about 12 weeks. A rush adds roughly 7 to 25 percent depending on how tight the schedule is and what the job involves.
Send your dimensions, quantity and artwork through the quote form and we will come back with the print method, the board and a per-unit price in writing. If you already know you want stock-style cartons, start at cardboard boxes, and if you are still comparing methods read offset versus digital printing.
