A hanging box is an ordinary carton with one extra feature that decides whether it gets stocked: a tab that fits the retailer's peg fixture. Get the tab wrong and the pack either will not hang or tears off the hook in a week. Get it right and you gain shelf space that boxes without tabs cannot use.
Tab formats
| Format | How it hangs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Round hole | Punched hole drops over the peg | Simplest and cheapest, weakest under weight |
| Euro or keyhole slot | Narrow slot with a rounded opening | The common European retail standard, seats more securely |
| Delta or sombrero hook | Shaped die cut that grips the peg | Resists lifting off when shoppers browse the row |
| Header card | Separate printed card sealed above the pack | Adds branding space, used where the box itself is too small |
| Integrated tab | Tab folded from the box panel itself | No extra part, but the fold must be reinforced |
Reinforcement, because tabs tear
The failure point is always the top of the hole where the whole weight of the pack pulls against a thin band of board. Three things reduce that. Laminating the panel adds tear strength across the fibers. Doubling the board at the tab, by folding the panel back on itself, roughly doubles the material at the load point. A self-adhesive plastic hang tab applied over the board takes the load entirely and is the usual answer for heavier packs. Which one you need depends on the pack weight, so weigh a filled sample before you decide.
Placement rules
- Center the tab over the pack's center of gravity, not over the geometric center of the panel, or the box will hang crooked.
- Confirm the peg diameter and the fixture pitch with the retailer before the die is cut. Fixture specs vary by chain.
- Keep the tab area clear of artwork you care about, since the hook sits in front of it on shelf.
- Check the pack still stands upright on a shelf, because many retailers move stock between pegs and shelves.
The digital proof issued before print shows exactly where the tab lands, and design support is included if you need the tab drawn into an existing layout.
Barcodes and shelf data
A hanging pack is scanned at the till and often audited on the peg, so the barcode has to be on a flat area, away from the tab and clear of any fold. Keep it off the panel that curves around the hook, and check that the pack can be scanned without being taken off the fixture. Retailers frequently specify barcode placement as part of their packaging spec, so ask for the document rather than guessing.
Which box styles take a tab
Tuck end cartons, window boxes, blister-style packs, pillow boxes and clear plastic boxes all accept a hang feature. Because the die is included at no charge, adding a tab to an existing structure is a design change rather than a tooling purchase.
Minimum, price and turnaround
The minimum is 100 units. Unit pricing starts at about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes and is confirmed on your written quote. Turnaround is stated per product in three lanes: Rush (expedited production plus air freight), Standard (air) and Cost saver (sea), with production from about 7 business days plus 2 to 5 days for delivery. Specialty imported constructions can run up to about 12 weeks.
Get a hang tab quote
Send the pack weight, box dimensions and your retailer's fixture spec through the quote form. See also hang tab box dimensions and packaging for retail shelf.
