One hundred boxes. That is the number, and it is worth being precise about what it does and does not get you, because "low minimum" is a phrase that hides a lot of caveats elsewhere.
What 100 units buys
At 100 boxes you get a genuinely custom box: your dimensions, your construction, your artwork printed on the box itself. You are not buying a stock box with a printed sleeve or a label applied over someone else's design. The die is drawn for your product and it is included, which is the part that usually blocks small runs elsewhere, because tooling charged separately makes a hundred units uneconomic.
What changes as the quantity climbs
| Decision | At the 100 unit minimum | At higher volume |
|---|---|---|
| Unit price | Higher, because setup is spread over fewer boxes | Falls toward the bulk floor of about $0.48 per unit |
| Tooling | Included | Included |
| Number of designs | Best kept to one, so setup is not repeated | Versioning gets cheap once the die exists |
| Freight lane | Worth comparing, since a small order moves easily by air | Sea becomes the obvious saving |
| Construction | Everything is available, but complex rigid builds cost more per unit at low counts | Complex builds become more defensible |
Who this quantity actually suits
- A first retail run where you want to see the box in a customer's hands before committing.
- A corporate gifting programme with a fixed recipient list.
- A seasonal or limited edition that will not be repeated.
- Wedding, event and hamper work, where the guest count is the quantity.
- Testing two constructions against each other before scaling the winner.
How to spend a small run well
At low quantities, the money goes further on the things that photograph and feel expensive than on heavier board. A tight fitting insert, an uncoated stock with one strong colour, and a printed inside panel do more for the opening than a thicker wall does. Save the foil for a small mark rather than a whole panel, because on a hundred units the setup for a large foil area is a real share of the price.
Get the sizing right before anything else, since the box is drawn once. The layer-by-layer method is on gift box dimensions, including the tissue and filler height that people forget.
Lead time at low volume
Turnaround is quoted per product across three lanes: rush (expedited production plus air freight, with a premium of about 7 to 25% depending on the job), standard (air), and cost saver (sea) at the lowest cost and longest wait. The floor is from about 7 business days plus 2 to 5 for delivery. Specialty imported builds, which include some rigid constructions, can run up to about 12 weeks. Small orders move easily by air, so if you have a date, ask for the standard lane price alongside cost saver and compare. Boxes are made at West Chicago in the United States and Guangzhou in China.
Ordering
If the minimum itself is the question you came with, what is the minimum order for custom boxes answers it for every category. For construction options, start at custom gift boxes. Then send your dimensions, quantity and in-hands date to /quote/. Samples are arranged through that conversation rather than sold as a kit.
