What Is a Tuck Box and How Does It Work?
A tuck box is a folding box with flaps that tuck into the frame to hold it shut. A tab slides into a slot to lock the lid. No tape and no glue at the opening. That makes it fast to pack by hand and easy for a customer to open on a shelf.
The box ships flat and folds up in seconds, so you save room in storage and pay less on freight. It is one of the most common retail cartons for light products.
Tuck End Styles We Print
Different tuck ends suit different products. Here are the styles you can order.
Straight Tuck End (STE): The top and bottom flaps fold in from the same side, so both tucks face the back panel. The front stays clean for your artwork, which is why it works for products shown face-out on a shelf. See our straight tuck end boxes.
Reverse Tuck End (RTE): The top flap tucks from the back and the bottom flap tucks from the front. It uses less board and costs a little less to produce, so it is popular for cosmetics, supplements, and light retail goods. See our reverse tuck end boxes.
Tuck Top With Auto-Lock Bottom: The base panels lock together as you pop the box open, so it holds heavier items without the bottom giving way. Handy when you pack quickly or ship the product inside.
1-2-3 Bottom Tuck Top: A snap-lock base that folds into place in three moves and carries more weight than a plain tuck bottom.
Windowed tuck boxes, die-cut shapes, and boxes with a paper insert are all options too. A window shows the product without opening the box. An insert holds it steady in transit.
Materials and Thickness
Two stocks cover most tuck box orders:
Cardstock (SBS): A smooth white board that prints sharp color. Common weights run from 14pt to 24pt. Best when you want bright artwork and a clean retail look.
Kraft: A brown, uncoated board with a natural texture. It suits soap, candles, and any brand going for a plain, recyclable feel. See our kraft boxes.
For heavier products, we can print on corrugated stock for extra wall strength. Not sure which weight fits your product? Send us the item weight and we will suggest a stock.
Both kraft and cardstock are recyclable. If sustainability is the point of your brand, look at our eco friendly boxes.
Printing and Finishes
We print in CMYK for full-color artwork and in Pantone (PMS) when you need an exact brand color to match every run.
Finishes you can add:
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Matte or gloss lamination
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Spot UV on a logo or detail
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Foil stamping in gold, silver, or rose gold
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Embossing or debossing for a raised or pressed effect
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Soft-touch coating for a velvet feel
You can print the inside of the box too, so the first thing a customer sees on opening carries your brand.
Sizes and Dimensions
We cut tuck boxes to your exact measurements, so the box fits the product with no rattle. There is no fixed catalog of sizes. A few reference points customers start from:
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Small: around 2 x 2 x 3 inches for lip balm, jewelry, or samples
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Medium: around 4 x 4 x 6 inches for cosmetics, supplements, or candles
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Large: around 8 x 8 x 10 inches for apparel, kits, or multi-packs
Give us length x width x height and the product it holds. We will confirm the flat size and send a dieline.
Products That Fit Tuck Boxes
Tuck boxes work for light retail and e-commerce goods across a lot of categories:
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Cosmetics and skincare
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Supplements and vitamins
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CBD and wellness products
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Soap, candles, and bath goods
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Small electronics and accessories
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Snacks and packaged food
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Toys, stationery, and gifts
If your product is light and sits on a shelf or ships in a mailer, a tuck box likely fits.
Why Order Tuck Boxes From iCustomBoxes
We print and ship custom packaging Canada from Toronto for businesses across Canada. Here is what you get:
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Low minimums. Only need 100 boxes to test the market? That is our minimum, so you are not stuck with pallets of stock.
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No die or plate charges. You pay for the boxes, not the setup.
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Free design help. Send us a logo and a rough idea. Our team lays out a print-ready dieline for you.
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Free shipping in Canada. Delivered to your door.
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10 to 12 business day turnaround. From approved artwork to shipped order. Ask about rush production if you are on a deadline.
Send your specs and get a quote back the same day.
