Order from custom mascara boxes. This page is the specification side: what to measure, what to choose, and the details that make a slim carton work on a shelf and on a packing line.
The measurement
Mascara is deceptively simple to measure and easy to get wrong. The wand is inside the cap, so the closed assembled unit is the only thing worth measuring. Take the height from the base of the tube to the very top of the cap. Take the width at the widest point, which on many designs is the cap or a decorative collar rather than the barrel. If the tube has a squared or faceted profile, measure the corner diagonal, not the flat.
Then add clearance. A slim carton with no clearance will scuff a glossy tube every time it is loaded, and a slim carton with too much will let the tube rattle and fall over on a shelf. The target is a tube that slides in with light thumb pressure.
Structures that suit a narrow carton
| Structure | Why it suits mascara |
|---|---|
| Straight tuck end | Both flaps open the same way, cleanest front face, easy to load |
| Reverse tuck end | Flaps open opposite ways, slightly stronger closure on a tall carton |
| Tuck with a locking tab | Stops the flap springing open on a very slim, tall profile |
| Rigid sleeve and tray | Prestige positioning, higher cost, slower to pack |
Print on a narrow panel
The front panel of a mascara carton is small, and most of the decisions come down to what you give up. Long product names and claim text fight for the same space as the brand mark. Foil reads beautifully on a narrow panel because there is not much competing with it. Heavy solid coverage on a slim carton shows cracking at the folds more visibly than on a wide panel, so if you are printing a deep black, say so on the quote and check it carefully on the proof.
One die, a whole range
Mascara ranges multiply: volumising, lengthening, waterproof, a limited edition. If they all use the same tube, one cutting die covers the entire range and only the artwork changes. Since the die and plates are included, this is the low-cost way to run a coherent family. Ask to proof the extremes of the artwork rather than a representative middle version.
Cost and lead time
Minimum order is 100 boxes. Price starts from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes and is confirmed on your written quote, because board, coverage and finishing all move it, and on small cartons finishing moves it most. Design support, US shipping and a digital proof before anything prints are included. Production runs from West Chicago in the US and Guangzhou in China in three lanes: rush (expedited production plus air freight, a premium of about 7 to 25% depending on the job), standard (air) and cost saver (sea), from about 7 business days, plus 2 to 5 for delivery. Specialty imported finishes can run up to about 12 weeks.
If mascara is going out as part of a set, brush set box dimensions covers the multi-item layout and insert. Send your assembled tube height and widest dimension through the quote form, then order at custom mascara boxes once the structure is settled.
