A vague brief produces a vague quote, and then a second quote, and then a sample that is not what you pictured. The fastest way to a price you can actually use is to fill in eight fields. You do not need all the answers to start, but you should know which ones you are leaving open.
The eight fields
| Field | What to write | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Product dimensions | Length x width x depth at the widest points, and say internal or external | The dieline and the board usage |
| Product weight | Filled weight per unit | Board grade, flute, whether double wall is needed |
| Quantity | The order quantity, plus a likely reorder volume | Unit price, more than any other single field |
| Box style | Tuck carton, mailer, rigid, sleeve, wrap, or a photo of something similar | Tooling shape, assembly, packing speed |
| Material | Kraft, coated white board, corrugated with a flute preference, rigid board | Look, strength, cost |
| Number of colours, full coverage or spot areas, inside printing | Plate count and press time | |
| Finish | Matte, gloss, soft touch, spot gloss, foil, emboss | Extra passes and lead time |
| Deadline | The date it must be in your warehouse, not the date you want to order | Which turnaround lane applies |
Questions to settle before you send it
Who packs it, and how fast?
A carton packed by hand can be snug. A carton loaded on a line needs clearance and a construction that opens reliably. Say which, because it changes the tolerance we design to.
Where does it end up?
A box that sits on a retail shelf is designed differently from one that ships alone through a parcel network. If it does both, say so, and say which matters more.
Is the artwork ready?
If it is, send it. If it is not, ask for the dieline first and design into it. Design support and a digital proof are included, so there is no reason to guess at the shape.
What has gone wrong before?
The most useful line in any brief is a description of the last box that failed. Crushed corners, a lid that popped, a colour that shifted: each of those points at a specific fix.
What you get back
A written quote with the unit price, the minimum, the board and print spec, and a turnaround lane. Pricing starts from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes and is always confirmed in writing rather than read off a chart. Turnaround is quoted per product across three lanes: rush, which is expedited production plus air freight and runs a premium of roughly 7 to 25 percent depending on the job, standard on air, and cost saver on sea, from about 7 business days in production plus 2 to 5 days for delivery. Specialty imported constructions can run up to about 12 weeks, which is exactly why the deadline field matters. Production runs from West Chicago in the United States and Guangzhou in China.
If your brief involves a size you are unsure of, cube utilization explains why the box size is worth settling before the artwork. When the eight fields are filled in, send them with a quote request and you will get a dieline and a price back in writing.
