A hundred boxes is a real order, not a sample. It is enough to run a weekend market, launch one menu item, photograph a product properly, or put a branded box in front of a buyer. Here is what that gets you and what it costs you.
What 100 units includes
Everything that a large order includes: the cutting die built to your dimensions, the printing plates, design support to turn your artwork into a print ready file, US shipping, and a digital proof you approve before anything prints. None of those are charged separately at any quantity, which is what makes a 100 unit test viable in the first place.
Formats that run at 100
- Bakery and pastry boxes, with or without a die cut window.
- Takeout cartons, noodle boxes and gable boxes with handles.
- Sandwich wedges, clamshells and sleeves.
- Pizza boxes, including odd footprints for rectangular or half pies.
- Cookie, chocolate and candy cartons for retail or gifting.
- Food trays and inserts to hold portions in place.
Where the cost goes at low volume
| Lever | Effect at 100 units |
|---|---|
| Number of print colors | The biggest single lever. One or two colors on kraft is the low cost route |
| Board choice | Standard board costs less than specialty stock and prints predictably |
| Finishing | Lamination, foil and spot UV add process steps. Skip them on a first run |
| Number of sizes | One size at 200 units beats two sizes at 100 each on unit cost |
| Freight lane | Standard or cost saver instead of rush keeps the freight component down |
Unit pricing starts at about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes. At 100 units you will be above that figure, and your written quote states the actual number before you commit to anything.
Food contact
Board and coating specification changes when food touches the packaging directly. Flag direct contact on your quote request, and confirm the requirements that apply to your product and the market you sell in.
How fast it moves
Turnaround is stated per product in three lanes: Rush (expedited production plus air freight, at a premium of about 7 to 25% depending on the job), Standard (air) and Cost saver (sea). Production runs from about 7 business days plus 2 to 5 days for delivery. A small order does not automatically move faster, because the proof approval step is yours, and that is usually the slowest part of a first run.
What 100 units will not do
It will not get you volume pricing, and it will not cover a busy service for long. Work out your real weekly usage before you order, because a hundred boxes across a seven day trading week is a few days of stock, not a month. A first run is a test of the design, the fit and the print, and it should be sized as one.
Scaling from a hundred
When the test works, the same die and plates run again at higher volume with no new tooling, and the unit price falls. That continuity is the practical argument for starting at 100 rather than guessing at a large first order.
Start your first run
Send your dimensions, quantity and artwork through the quote form. See also custom food boxes for the full range and the minimum order explained, or how to reduce packaging costs if budget is the constraint.
