This is a specification reference for eyeliner cartons. To order, go to the custom eyeliner boxes page. Below is what to decide and what to write down, arranged so you can work through it once and quote from it.
Format first, because the cavity differs
| Format | Shape to package | Cavity note |
|---|---|---|
| Wood or mechanical pencil | Long, thin, near uniform diameter | Very narrow carton, caliper matters most here |
| Liquid liner pen | Slim tube with a wider cap or collar | Measure at the cap, which is usually the widest point |
| Gel pot with a brush | Squat jar plus a separate applicator | Two items, so either a wider carton or a fitment |
| Kohl or crayon in a case | Short and thick relative to a pencil | Closer to a standard small carton proportion |
Specification fields to complete
| Field | What to state |
|---|---|
| Product format | Pencil, liquid pen, gel pot or crayon |
| Component measurements | Length, widest diameter with cap fitted, and weight |
| Internal dimensions | Length x width x depth with clearance, marked internal |
| Structure | Straight tuck end, reverse tuck end, tuck with dust flap lock, or tray and sleeve |
| Board caliper | Stated in points, with grain running lengthwise |
| Fitment | Needed if more than one component, or if the product is loose in the cavity |
| Process, colour count, spot colours named, faces printed | |
| Coating and finish | Matte, gloss, soft touch, spot varnish, foil, emboss or deboss |
| Shade versions | The number of versions and the quantity per version |
| Hang tab | Required or not, and the hook type if it is |
| Packing | Units per inner, inners per case, pallet pattern |
Caliper on a very narrow carton
Folding carton board is specified in points, where one point is one thousandth of an inch. On a carton that is five inches tall and half an inch wide, the front panel has almost no width to stiffen it, so caliper does more work than it does on a larger box. Ask for the caliper on the quote rather than leaving it to be assumed, and ask for the grain to run lengthwise so the long panels stay flat. A slightly heavier board on a small carton is a small absolute cost and a large visible difference.
Running a shade range
Eyeliner lines are usually one structure in several shades. One dieline plus versioned print is the efficient route, and it lets you add or retire shades without re-engineering the carton. For a long shade list at modest volume per shade, digital print handles the versioning better than plate based printing because there are no plates to change. The 100 unit minimum applies per item, so a ten shade range is ten items, and it is worth planning the shade count with that in mind.
Finish, and what survives a handbag
Soft touch is the signature cosmetic finish and shows marks. Matte with a spot gloss on the logo is more durable and nearly as distinctive. Foil on a narrow panel works well because there is a strong vertical axis to design along, and a deboss is safer than an emboss on a light caliper board because the board compresses rather than stretching. The comparison is on embossing vs debossing.
Price, minimum and delivery
Eyeliner cartons start at 100 units per version, 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 exact component costs no more to tool than 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.
Fill in the fields, send them with your component measurements, and we will come back with a dieline and a price per version. Order at custom eyeliner boxes, see the related format on mascara box dimensions, or price your spec at request a quote.
