MOQ and how it works
Our minimum order quantity is set by the production step, not by the number of boxes you want.
| Order | MOQ | What triggers it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard version, our existing structure and finish | 300 pcs | Press setup and paper minimum |
| Custom size or custom design | 500 pcs | A new die-cut drawing and cutting die |
| With your logo, Pantone spot color or a new moulding | 1,000 pcs | A print plate or a colour-matched ink run, and any custom insert tooling |
Two practical notes. First, the tier is decided by the single most demanding element in your brief, not by the average – one Pantone spot color anywhere in the artwork moves the whole order to the 1,000 pcs tier. Second, quantities are per design and per size, so two sizes of the same box are two minimums.
This box is a flip-top gift pack for small items, a format we also supply for beauty tools and accessories. The structure is chosen because a hinged lid stays attached and swings open, which reads as a deliberate pack rather than a plain carton.
What drives unit cost
| Driver | Effect on unit price | Where the money goes |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Largest single lever | Press setup, plates and die are fixed; they spread across the run |
| Box size | Direct | Board area per box, and the number of boxes per sheet and per carton |
| Board type | Moderate | Grey board, white cardboard or black cardboard; board weight scales with size |
| Surface paper | Moderate to high | Coated and art papers are cheapest; fancy and specialty papers cost more |
| Printing | Moderate | Four-color offset needs four plates; one-color and digital avoid that |
| Finishing | Low to high per operation | Lamination is cheap per box; foil stamping needs a die and slows the line |
| Insert | Moderate | A die-cut paperboard tray is cheapest; EVA and foam tooling cost more |
| Freight volume | Often overlooked | Flat-packed folding boxes move far more boxes per container than assembled rigid boxes |
Cost-down options
- Keep the size, simplify the finish. Matt lamination with a spot UV logo costs a fraction of full foil stamping and reads well on shelf.
- Drop to one spot color plus black. Two plates instead of four, and no change in perceived quality on a simple layout.
- Use a standard size. Staying inside our existing die range removes the cutting die cost entirely and moves you from the 500 pcs tier back to 300 pcs.
- Consolidate sizes. Two products in one box size halves the number of minimums you have to carry.
- Use a die-cut paperboard insert instead of EVA or foam tooling where the product allows it.
- Plan the freight. Folding, flat-shipped boxes reduce container volume substantially compared with assembled rigid boxes.
Specifications
| Item | Parameter |
|---|---|
| Structure | Flip-top box; also produced as tuck, drawer, lid and base, book shape, collapsible and corrugated |
| Dimensions | Made to your dimensions; best unit cost inside our existing die range |
| Board | White cardboard, grey cardboard, black cardboard |
| Surface paper | Coated, fancy, kraft, art or black paper, 110-157 gsm |
| Printing | Four-color offset, silk screen, digital |
| Finishing | Glossy or matt lamination, UV spot coating, gold foil (hot stamping), embossing, sharp edge, press texture |
| Insert | Die-cut paperboard, EVA, blister, PE foam or plastic holder |
| Color | Pantone, CMYK |
| MOQ | 300 pcs standard; 500 pcs when the size or design is customized; 1,000 pcs with your logo, Pantone spot color or new moulding |
| Production time | 18-25 days for regular orders; 10-15 days for small runs; 25-30 days for soft-touch or special shapes |
| Service | OEM / ODM |
Lead time & logistics
Artwork, 3D mockups and dielines are free and take 1-3 days. Sampling takes 5-10 days, with custom sample fees from US$50 to US$210. Once your order is placed, a free pre-production sample is confirmed by photo or video before mass production. Production is 18-25 days for regular orders, 10-15 days for small runs and 25-30 days for soft-touch or special shapes, starting 1-3 days after sample approval.
We ship DDP door-to-door as standard with customs clearance and duty included; FOB Nansha and EXW Guangzhou are also available. Express takes 5-10 days, air freight 8-15 days, truck 30-35 days, rail 45-50 days and sea freight 40-60 days. Send us your target quantity and destination postcode and we will quote the landed unit cost rather than an FOB figure you then have to add freight to.
See the paper box range and the beauty equipment box format for close variants.
FAQ
How much does the unit price drop as quantity rises?
It depends on how much of the cost is fixed. For a box where plates, dies and setup dominate, moving from 500 to 5,000 pcs can cut the unit price by roughly half. Where materials dominate, the curve is much flatter. Send us a quantity ladder and we will quote each step.
Can you hold a price for a repeat order?
We can hold the price for a defined period and quantity. Paper prices move, so tell us the annual volume and we will quote against that rather than a single shipment.
What is the minimum order quantity?
300 pcs for the standard version, 500 pcs when the size or design is customized, and 1,000 pcs when a logo, Pantone spot color or new moulding is required.
