Custom Packaging Inserts

Cardboard Box Inserts

Custom cardboard Box Inserts produced to your size and substrate, with printing and finishing handled in one run.

Minimum order
100 units
Production
3–5 business days
Construction
packaging insert
Delivery
US, UK, Canada, Australia

No obligation

Start a quote

Name, email, phone and what you are packing and how it ships. Attach artwork if you have it. We reply with a specification and a written price, usually within one business day.

The more detail you give, the more accurate the quote.

Drop files here or browse

PDF, AI, EPS, SVG, PNG, JPG, WEBP or ZIP. Up to 5 files, 10 MB each.

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    The build detail that decides cardboard box inserts

    Send the internal dimensions, or a physical box. External measurements are the most common cause of a misfit insert.

    Cardboard Box Inserts are die-cut from board or routed from foam to hold each item in a fixed position, so nothing shifts between the packing bench and the customer.

    What cardboard box inserts have to cope with

    Cardboard Box Inserts hold a product inside a box the buyer already uses, where only the cavity is being made. That is the starting point for the specification, because send the internal dimensions, or a physical box. External measurements are the most common cause of a misfit insert.

    In service they are used for operations improving protection without changing the outer box they already buy.

    Where cardboard box inserts are actually used

    Cardboard Box Inserts are specified for operations improving protection without changing the outer box they already buy. Send the internal dimensions, or a physical box. External measurements are the most common cause of a misfit insert.

    • Operations improving protection without changing the outer box they already buy
    • Fragile product protection
    • Multi-piece gift sets
    • Subscription box presentation

    Holding the contents in place

    Where a product needs to be held still, a fitted insert cut to its profile does more for damage rates than a heavier outer board. It usually costs less too, because you can drop a grade on the outer.

    • Multi-cavity layout
    • Finger cut-outs for easy removal
    • Foam upgrade for fragile items
    • Printed instructions on the insert face

    The substrate for cardboard box inserts

    Die-cut board, chosen light because the outer box carries all the load.

    The options we would consider for this format are below; send the internal dimensions, or a physical box. External measurements are the most common cause of a misfit insert.

    • E-flute corrugated
    • Chipboard
    • Moulded pulp
    • EVA foam
    • Polyurethane foam
    • Rigid board with fabric wrap

    How cardboard box inserts fail, and what prevents it

    The insert is cut to the box's external dimensions and will not fit inside it.

    Send the internal dimensions, or a physical box. External measurements are the most common cause of a misfit insert.

    Sizing cardboard box inserts

    Sized to the internal dimensions of the existing box, which are smaller than its stated size.

    Send the contents rather than a box size. Box dimensions are quoted externally by most suppliers, and the insert has to fit the internal space.

    Finishing cardboard box inserts

    Usually unprinted. The insert is not seen unless the pack is a presentation piece.

    Every finish listed here is its own pass through the line, so each one is priced on its own rather than folded into a single figure.

    • Unprinted kraft
    • Flood colour
    • Matte lamination
    • Fabric wrap

    Proving it before the run

    We can produce a plain unprinted sample so you can check the fit and structure of cardboard box inserts before committing.

    Sample costs are normally credited against the production order.

    From enquiry to delivery

    The useful starting point is the product, not the pack. Give us its measurements and the quantity, and we work the packaging insert outward from there.

    You approve the quote, we send the dieline, prepress proofs it, and production follows. The proof stage is where changes are still free.

    Reference

    Cardboard Box Inserts at a specification level

    ProductCardboard Box Inserts
    CategoryCustom Packaging Inserts
    ConstructionPackaging insert
    MaterialCorrugated, chipboard, moulded pulp or foam
    Tolerance1 mm – 2 mm around each cavity
    AssemblyDrop-in, no adhesive required
    MaterialsE-flute corrugated, Chipboard, Moulded pulp, EVA foam
    PrintingFlexography, Digital press, Unprinted natural
    FinishesUnprinted kraft, Flood colour, Matte lamination, Fabric wrap
    Minimum orderMinimum order is 100 units on any format, and unit cost falls sharply as the quantity rises.
    Lead time3 to 5 business days after artwork approval
    ShippingAcross the US, UK, Canada and Australia

    Specification builder

    Specify Cardboard Box Inserts in under a minute

    Set what you know, leave the rest. Everything here travels with your request, so nothing gets retyped.

    • 100-unit minimum
    • 3–5 day production
    • Free dieline
    • No obligation
    Approximation only — proportions, colour family and finish character. Not a colour proof, and the panel shown is a placeholder, not your artwork.
    Packaging type
    Box style
    Quantity
    Colour
    Material
    Printing
    Finish

    Drop files or browse

    Up to 5 files, 10 MB each.

      Prices start from $0.30 per piece for large-volume orders. Final pricing depends on size, material, printing, finishes, and quantity.

      What you get

      What the structure is doing

      The dimensions that matter

      Sized to the internal dimensions of the existing box, which are smaller than its stated size.

      What goes wrong in transit

      The insert is cut to the box's external dimensions and will not fit inside it.

      Where it is used

      Specified for operations improving protection without changing the outer box they already buy.

      The detail that decides it

      Send the internal dimensions, or a physical box. External measurements are the most common cause of a misfit insert.

      This format sits in our custom packaging inserts range, alongside 20 other made-to-order formats.

      Answers

      Cardboard Box Inserts: questions buyers ask

      Specification, minimums and lead times for cardboard box inserts.

      Do you need the inside or outside dimensions of my box?

      Inside. Most box specifications are quoted externally, and board thickness means the internal space is smaller. Send internal measurements or, better, a physical box.

      Will a heavier board reduce my damage rate?

      Only if boxes are arriving crushed. If they arrive intact with damaged contents, the product is moving inside and a heavier outer changes nothing. A fitted insert solves that case, usually at lower cost.

      Do you supply inserts with the outer?

      Yes, and for cardboard box inserts we prefer to specify both together. A cavity that holds the contents still often lets us drop a grade on the outer, so the pair can cost less than an over-specified box alone.

      Which insert material should I choose?

      Board is cheapest and suits light or regular shapes. Foam holds irregular and fragile items better and absorbs shock. Moulded pulp sits between them and is the more recyclable of the cushioning options. Send the item and we will recommend.

      What happens after I approve the quote?

      We issue a dieline template sized to your product, prepress checks your artwork against it, and a proof comes back for sign-off. Nothing runs until you approve that proof, and packaging inserts then take 3 to 5 business days.

      Can you hold the specification for repeat orders?

      Yes. Once a first run is approved we hold the board, structure, dimensions, print method and finishes against your account, so a reorder references the same specification exactly rather than being re-derived. It also means a reorder can be priced against a larger quantity without re-opening the specification.

      Do you offer recycled or recyclable options?

      Recycled grades are available across most of the substrates we run for packaging inserts. Recycled content, kerbside recyclability and certified compostability are three different claims though, so tell us which one you intend to print.

      What file format should I send artwork in?

      A print-ready PDF or a vector file, with fonts outlined and any raster images at 300 dpi at final size. We supply the dieline to design onto, and prepress checks bleed, safe area and crease clearance before issuing a proof. The dieline we supply carries the crease positions, so keeping type clear of a crease is easier to solve at layout than at proof.

      What is the minimum order for cardboard box inserts?

      A flat 100 units on any format. Most packaging inserts in this range are quoted from 100 units upward because unit cost falls sharply above that, but the minimum exists so you can validate a structure first.

      How long do cardboard box inserts take to produce?

      3 to 5 business days after artwork approval, plus freight. Packaging insert runs with applied finishes can take longer because each finish is a separate pass, and we confirm a firm date in writing with the quote.

      What do cardboard box inserts cost?

      Prices start from $0.30 per piece for large-volume orders. For this format the biggest levers are quantity, print route, board grade and how many finishing passes are involved. We quote each element separately so you can see where the money is going. An insert often lowers the total rather than raising it, because holding the contents still lets us drop a grade on the outer.

      Can I see a sample first?

      Yes. We can send a plain unprinted sample so you can check the fit and structure, or a printed prototype for colour and finish. Sample costs are normally credited against the production order. On cardboard box inserts the thing to check is whether the contents still sit tight once the pack is closed, because movement inside is what causes damage rather than the board grade.

      Next step

      Start on Cardboard Box Inserts

      Send the dimensions, the quantity and how it ships. We reply with a full specification and a written price, usually within one business day.