Combs are easy to package badly. They are long, thin, light and made of something that snags, and they almost always sell from a peg hook rather than a shelf. Those four facts drive the whole specification. To order, go to the comb boxes page.
Measuring, which is the quick part
Measure the comb at its overall length including any handle or tail, at its widest across the back, and at its thickest point, which on most combs is the spine rather than the teeth. Add about 1/16 in in the length and 1/8 in across the other two axes. State the result as internal length x width x depth. If you sell several comb styles, size on the largest and use one carton rather than tooling several.
Grain direction and why a thin carton bows
Paperboard is stiffer along the grain than across it. On a carton that is six or eight inches long and an inch wide, the long panel is the one everybody sees, and if the grain runs the wrong way that panel will bow visibly on a peg hook. Ask for the grain to run lengthwise and name it on the spec. It costs nothing and it is the single biggest difference between a comb pack that looks sharp and one that looks tired after a week in a store.
The snagging problem
Comb teeth are fine and they catch on an uncoated or rough inner board face, which can pull fibres off and leave the comb looking dusty. It also makes the pack noisy when shaken, which reads as cheap. Three ways round it, in order of cost:
| Approach | What it does | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth or coated inner face | Reduces snagging and fibre pickup | Simplest, keeps the pack single material |
| Printed card liner or backer | The comb rests against card, not board | Adds a component, gives a second print surface |
| Blister or clamshell on a card | Holds the comb still and shows it fully | Adds a plastic component to the pack |
Hanging it without tearing it
A peg hook puts the entire weight of the pack on a small area of board. A plain round slot in light caliper board will tear, especially after customers have handled it. The fixes are a reinforced tab where the board is folded double behind the hole, a euro slot shape that spreads the load across a wider bearing edge, or stepping the caliper up. Keep the tab at least half an inch clear of any score line, and remember that the tab area adds to the overall pack height even though nothing is inside it.
Show the product or print it
Combs sell partly on the look of the teeth and the material, so a window is common. A die cut aperture with film shows the product and adds a second material. A large aperture with no film keeps the pack paper only and exposes the comb to handling. If you go with a window, keep the film well back from the scores so the panel folds cleanly, and consider a bar across a long aperture so the panel does not flex. The format is covered on the window boxes page.
Minimum, price and turnaround
Comb packaging starts at 100 units, from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes, confirmed on your written quote. The cutting die, the printing plates, design support, US shipping and a digital proof are included, so a carton cut to your comb length carries no tooling charge and you are not forced onto a near standard size. Turnaround is stated per product across three lanes, rush (expedited production plus air freight), standard (air) and cost saver (sea), from about 7 business days of production plus 2 to 5 days for delivery. Rush adds roughly 7 to 25% depending on the job.
Send the comb measurements, say whether the pack hangs, and tell us if you want a window. Order at comb boxes, or price your spec at request a quote.
