Supplement packaging fails in two predictable places: the carton is sized to an empty bottle, and the label copy arrives after the design is finished. Both are avoidable on a spec sheet. This page is the guide. To order, use the custom supplement boxes product page.
Measure the filled, labelled container
Bottle drawings give you the moulded dimensions. What goes in the carton is a bottle with a cap torqued on, a label wrapped round it, and sometimes an induction seal that adds a fraction to the shoulder. Take your measurements from a real finished unit:
- Width at the widest point, which is usually the label overlap seam rather than the bottle wall.
- Height with the cap on, including any tamper band.
- For pouches, thickness at the fill line when the pouch is standing and full, which is not the flat dimension.
Then decide the clearance. A carton that is too tight scuffs the label as it is inserted on a filling line. A carton that is too loose lets the bottle rattle and reads as cheap on a shelf.
What to put on the spec sheet
| Specify | Why it changes the quote |
|---|---|
| Inside dimensions, length x width x depth | Sets the die and the board consumption per box |
| Board caliper | Thicker board resists denting on a filling line but costs more per box |
| Closure style | A straight tuck, a reverse tuck and a glued seal end all behave differently on automated equipment |
| Hand pack or machine pack | Machine packing has tolerance requirements that hand packing does not |
| Tamper evidence | A tamper feature is a structural or finishing decision, not something added later |
| Print colours and finish | Each colour is a press consideration and each finish is a separate pass |
Plan the panel space before the design
Supplement cartons carry more required text than almost any other retail category: the ingredient and facts panel, net quantity, directions, storage, batch and expiry space, and a barcode with its quiet zone. Lay all of that out first and design into what is left. Determining exactly what your product and market require is your responsibility and your advisor's, not ours. We print what you supply, and design support is included to help fit it on the panels you have.
Leave a clean, unvarnished area if a batch code will be printed or laser marked after the fact, because ink will not sit reliably on some coatings.
Minimums, pricing and lead time
The minimum order is 100 boxes per size and artwork. Pricing starts from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes, confirmed on your written quote. Included: the die, the plates, design support, US shipping and a digital proof before anything prints. There is no sample kit to buy, so if you need to test a carton on a filling line, raise it in the quote conversation.
Production runs at two plants, West Chicago in the United States and Guangzhou in China. Turnaround is stated per product across Rush (expedited production plus air freight), Standard (air) and Cost saver (sea) lanes, from about 7 business days plus 2 to 5 days for delivery, with specialty imported items running up to about 12 weeks.
Send a photo and the measurements of a filled, labelled unit to the quote form, or order directly on the supplement boxes page. Related: custom pharma boxes.
