Ordering custom packaging is more predictable than most people expect. There are six steps and only two of them need anything from you beyond a decision.
The six steps
- Send the specification. Product dimensions or a physical sample, quantity, and any artwork you already have. If you do not know the box style, describe the product and what it has to survive.
- Get a written quote. It names the structure, the board, the finish, the freight lane, the production time and the per-unit price. Everything after this is fixed against that document.
- Approve the dieline. Design support is included, so if you do not have a dieline we build one from your dimensions. This is the stage to change size, not later.
- Approve the digital proof. You see exactly what will print. Production does not start until you approve it in writing.
- Production. The job runs at West Chicago or Guangzhou, depending on the lane on your quote.
- Delivery. US shipping is included in the quoted price.
What to have ready before you ask for a quote
| Information | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Product dimensions, filled and closed | The internal box size is built from this, not from a catalogue size |
| Quantity | Per-unit pricing moves with volume, and the minimum is 100 per size |
| Your date | Determines which of the three freight lanes is realistic |
| Artwork, or the intent to have us build it | Print-ready vector files shorten the schedule considerably |
| How the box travels | A parcel-shipped box and a shelf box need different board |
Choosing a freight lane
Turnaround is quoted per product across three lanes. Rush pairs expedited production with air freight and adds roughly 7 to 25 percent depending on the job. Standard moves by air. Cost saver moves by sea and gives the lowest landed cost when your date allows it. 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. Because the lane is set at quote stage, tell us the real date early rather than after the quote is issued.
What is included, so you can compare quotes properly
The cutting die, the printing plates, design support, US shipping and the digital proof are included in the per-unit price. When you compare us to another quote, check whether their tooling, artwork and freight are inside their number or underneath it, because that is usually where two quotes that look different turn out to be the same.
Common mistakes worth avoiding
Ordering from a competitor's box dimensions rather than your product's. Designing artwork before the dieline exists, then discovering a fold runs through the logo. Approving a proof on a phone screen instead of at actual size. And leaving the proof sitting unapproved for a week on a job that was booked as urgent.
Start at the quote form, or email sales@iboxfactory.com with your dimensions. If artwork is your next question, read what is a dieline and how to design packaging artwork.
