Flip top is a closure family rather than a single box. Picking the right member of that family is mostly a question of how often the box gets opened and how much it has to hold. This guide covers how to specify one; the flip top boxes product page is where to order.
The two builds
| Hinged lid folding carton | Rigid flip top | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Single layer paperboard, creased | Rigid press board wrapped in printed or textured paper |
| Closure | Friction, a tuck tab or a slit lock | Usually concealed magnets |
| Feel on opening | Light and quick | Weighted, with a distinct snap |
| Best for | Repeat use retail packs, consumables, mints, small goods | Premium presentation, gift sets, electronics |
| Ships flat | Yes | Sometimes, depending on construction |
If the box will be opened dozens of times, the hinge crease is the failure point on a carton and the reason a rigid wrap lasts longer. If the box is opened once and kept, either works and the decision is about presentation.
Sizing, and the lid proportion
- Measure the contents as they will sit, including any tray or insert.
- Add clearance, about 1/16 to 1/8 in per side for a carton and a little more for a rigid box, because a wrapped rigid cavity is less forgiving.
- Decide the lid depth. A lid that covers a third of the box height reads as deliberate; a very shallow lid on a deep base looks like an afterthought.
- Check the hinge length. A long hinge on a light board will bow, so increase the caliper or shorten the hinge span.
Magnets, and what to tell us
Concealed magnets in a rigid flip top are specified by strength and position. Too weak and the lid drifts open in a bag; too strong and the box is hard to open one handed and can snap shut on fingers. Tell us the weight of the contents and whether the box will be handled in a shop by customers, and we will propose a placement. Magnets also matter for shipping, since some carriers ask about magnetic material in air freight, so say if you are shipping by air in volume.
Where flip tops earn their cost
They suit anything the customer returns to: a pack of cards, a set of consumables, a device that lives in its box between uses, a gift that becomes storage. They are a poor fit where the box is opened once and discarded, since a simpler tuck end carton does that job for less. They are also a poor fit for heavy contents in a carton build, because the weight hangs on the hinge.
Materials and finish
Options include rigid press board for the wrapped build, standard white cardstock and kraft eco friendly brown cardstock for the carton build, plus textured, coloured, foil metallic and holographic stocks. Finishing includes gloss and matte lamination, spot UV, foil stamping and embossing. On a rigid flip top, a textured wrap with blind embossing is the combination that reads most expensive for the least ink.
Ordering
The minimum is 100 boxes, pricing runs from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes confirmed on your written quote, and the die, plates, design support, US shipping and a digital proof are included. Turnaround is quoted per job in three lanes, rush (expedited production plus air freight), standard (air) and cost saver (sea), from about 7 business days, plus 2 to 5 for delivery. Rigid constructions with magnets sit at the longer end of that range and imported specialty work can run up to about 12 weeks.
Order on the flip top boxes page, or send contents dimensions and your preferred build to the quote form. Related: tuck end boxes.
