Small candle brands get stuck in the same place: the packaging supplier wants a thousand units and the brand sells a few hundred a season. Our minimum is 100 boxes per size and artwork, which is deliberately sized to a single vessel in a single design.
What 100 units actually buys
One hundred boxes covers one size in one artwork. That is worth spelling out, because it is where new brands miscount. An 8 ounce tumbler and a 12 ounce jar are two sizes, so two hundred boxes. A summer design and a winter design in the same size are two artworks, so also two hundred. If you are launching a line, the cheapest structure is usually one carton size that fits your best-selling vessel, with the range distinguished by artwork rather than by shape.
Size around the lid
Measure the vessel filled, with the lid fitted. Wooden lids, domed metal lids and knobbed lids all add height that a spec sheet for the glass will not show you. Then measure the widest point of the vessel, which on a tapered tumbler is the rim and not the base. Add clearance so the candle drops in rather than being pressed in, because pressing a glass vessel into a tight carton is how chipped rims happen. Send those numbers and our included design support builds the dieline. Common footprints are listed on candle box dimensions.
Structures that suit glass
| Structure | Fits | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Tuck end carton | Tumblers and straight-sided jars | Lowest unit cost, least protection |
| Auto bottom carton | Heavier vessels | The glued base holds weight better than a tuck base |
| Two piece rigid box | Gift and premium lines | Best presentation, ships assembled |
| Carton with an insert or collar | Anything that will be shipped alone | Adds a component, prevents the vessel moving |
If candles go out in the mail as single orders, the auto bottom or the insert is not a luxury. A tuck bottom under a full glass jar is the failure point.
Pricing and how to lower it
Bulk pricing starts from about $0.48 per unit, and your written quote gives the figure for your size, board and finish. The die and the printing plates are included, so reprinting the same size later does not create a new tooling charge. The two levers that move your price most are quantity and freight lane, not finish. Read how to reduce packaging costs before adding foil.
Turnaround
Turnaround is quoted per product across three lanes: rush pairs expedited production with air freight and adds roughly 7 to 25 percent, standard moves by air, and cost saver moves by sea. Production starts from about 7 business days plus 2 to 5 days for delivery, and specialty imported constructions can run up to about 12 weeks. For a seasonal candle brand, that means the autumn range is a summer decision. If you want to see and handle the structure before committing, ask during the quote conversation, which is where physical samples are arranged.
Send your vessel dimensions and artwork to the quote form. Related pages: custom candle boxes and low minimum custom boxes.
