Straight tuck end (STE)
Both flaps fold from the rear panel; clean, uninterrupted front face.
Retail Merchandising
Custom Tuck End Boxes
$68.00 per pack of 100 boxes · $0.68 per box Tax added at invoicing
Free delivery to 23 markets
Total: $68.00 for 100 boxes
No payment is taken online. Add your boxes and submit the request — a packaging specialist confirms sizing, artwork and freight, then we get back to you with the final invoice and payment options once the details are confirmed.
- Free standard DHL delivery
- Free dieline, digital proof and artwork check
- 8–12 business days production, then 3–6 days transit
- 30-day replacement guarantee on print and manufacturing defects
Need a different size, quantity or finish? Build a custom spec or email sales@boxes-custom.com.
A tuck end box is a folding carton closed by tucking flaps into the box body at the top and bottom. Straight tuck end (STE) folds both flaps from the back; reverse tuck end (RTE) folds them from opposite panels. The choice affects both shelf appearance and unit cost.
- STE or RTE quoted side by side. You see the cost difference before choosing appearance over efficiency.
- Locking tucks available. Friction and slit locks stop flaps working open in transit.
- No glue at pack-out. Hand-erect and fill without adhesive, tape or machinery.
- Ships and stores flat. Flat blanks stack densely, so stock holding costs stay low.
What are custom tuck end boxes?
Reverse tuck is cheaper because the flaps come off opposite edges of the blank, which nests more tightly on the press sheet. Straight tuck costs marginally more but hides both tuck edges behind the box, giving an uninterrupted front panel — the reason cosmetics and premium supplements almost always specify STE.
Tuck security is a real engineering concern. A plain tuck flap works loose in transit; a friction lock, slit lock or tuck-and-tongue closure holds. If the carton is going to be shipped rather than hand-carried out of a store, specify a locking tuck at dieline stage.
Tuck ends are also the easiest format to hand-pack at speed. There is no glue at pack-out, no tape and no tooling, so a small team can erect and fill several hundred an hour — which is why the format dominates startup and small-batch retail packaging.
Custom Tuck End Boxes at a glance
| Box category | Retail Merchandising |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | 100 boxes |
| Unit price from | $0.68 per box |
| Production time | 8–12 business days after artwork approval |
| Printing | Digital CMYK, flexographic spot colour, offset litho-lamination |
| Materials | SBS 300–400 gsm, Coated recycled board, Kraft board, Metallised board |
| Finishing | Matte and gloss lamination, Anti-scuff varnish, Spot UV, Foil stamping, Emboss, Window patching, Braille |
| Ships to | 24 countries by DHL — free to 23, Japan quoted separately |
Custom Tuck End Boxes: styles and constructions
The construction decides how the box closes, how much it protects and what it costs. These are the formats we produce most often for custom tuck end boxes.
Reverse tuck end (RTE)
Flaps fold from opposite panels; most board-efficient and lowest cost.
Tuck top auto-bottom
Glued crash-lock base with a tuck lid — faster and stronger for heavier SKUs.
Tuck end with locking tabs
Friction or slit locks that resist opening in transit.
Materials
- SBS 300–400 gsm
- Bright white with the best print and crease performance.
- Coated recycled board
- Lower cost with a grey reverse; suits non-food goods.
- Kraft board
- Natural uncoated look for eco and artisan positioning.
- Metallised board
- Shelf pop for beauty and premium supplements.
Printing & finishing options
- Matte and gloss lamination
- Anti-scuff varnish
- Spot UV
- Foil stamping
- Emboss
- Window patching
- Braille
Who orders custom tuck end boxes
- Cosmetics, skincare and supplement brands
- Small-batch and startup retail packers
- Electronics accessory and stationery brands
- Anyone hand-packing without automated equipment
Popular custom tuck end boxes sizes
Every order is cut to your interior dimensions — these are the sizes customers request most often, and a useful starting point if you are not sure where to begin.
| Size (L × W × D) | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 1.5 x 1.5 x 4 in | Serums, droppers, lip products |
| 2 x 2 x 5 in | Supplement bottles, small jars |
| 3 x 1.5 x 6 in | Tubes, mascara, slim SKUs |
| 4 x 3 x 2 in | Compacts, palettes, small electronics |
| 5 x 4 x 3 in | Multi-piece retail sets |
How to choose custom tuck end boxes
-
Choose STE for shelf, RTE for cost
Straight tuck hides both flap edges; reverse tuck saves board. Decide which the SKU needs.
-
Specify a lock if it ships
Plain tucks work loose in parcel networks. Add a friction or slit lock at dieline stage.
-
Step up caliper for tall boxes
Slim, tall cartons below 300 gsm bow. 350–400 gsm keeps them straight on shelf.
-
Test the tuck with the real product inside
A carton that closes empty may not close over a tightly-fitted bottle.
Custom Tuck End Boxes pricing by market
We manufacture for brands in 24 markets. Prices below are for one pack of 100 boxes at the standard specification. Delivery is free everywhere except Japan, where air freight is quoted separately.
| Market | Currency | Per box | Pack of 100 | Excl. tax | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | USD | $0.68 | $68.00 | — | at invoicing |
| United Kingdom | GBP | £0.64 | £64.46 | £53.72 | included |
| Canada | CAD | CA$0.93 | CA$93.16 | — | at invoicing |
| Australia | AUD | A$1.14 | A$113.70 | A$103.36 | included |
| Ireland | EUR | €0.77 | €76.95 | €62.56 | included |
| New Zealand | NZD | NZ$1.29 | NZ$129.03 | NZ$112.20 | included |
| Singapore | SGD | S$0.99 | S$99.32 | S$91.12 | included |
| Market | Currency | Per box | Pack of 100 | Excl. tax | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | EUR | €0.74 | €74.45 | €62.56 | included |
| France | EUR | €0.75 | €75.07 | €62.56 | included |
| Netherlands | EUR | €0.76 | €75.70 | €62.56 | included |
| Belgium | EUR | €0.76 | €75.70 | €62.56 | included |
| Austria | EUR | €0.75 | €75.07 | €62.56 | included |
| Italy | EUR | €0.76 | €76.32 | €62.56 | included |
| Spain | EUR | €0.76 | €75.70 | €62.56 | included |
| Sweden | SEK | 8.93 kr | 892.50 kr | 714.00 kr | included |
| Denmark | DKK | 5.82 kr | 582.25 kr | 465.80 kr | included |
| Norway | NOK | 9.18 kr | 918.00 kr | 734.40 kr | included |
| Finland | EUR | €0.79 | €78.51 | €62.56 | included |
| Switzerland | CHF | CHF 0.65 | CHF 64.69 | CHF 59.84 | included |
| Market | Currency | Per box | Pack of 100 | Excl. tax | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JPY | ¥112 | ¥11,220 | ¥10,200 | included |
| South Korea | KRW | ₩1,010 | ₩100,980 | ₩91,800 | included |
| Hong Kong | HKD | HK$5.30 | HK$530.40 | — | n/a |
| United Arab Emirates | AED | AED 2.62 | AED 262.04 | AED 249.56 | included |
| Israel | ILS | ₪2.97 | ₪296.89 | ₪251.60 | included |
The headline price includes local VAT or GST where that market requires it. If you are VAT-registered you reclaim that, so the excl. tax column is your real cost. US and Canadian prices add sales tax at invoicing instead. Volume pricing improves at 250, 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 units — see wholesale custom boxes for the volume tiers.
Further reading
Guides from our structural, prepress and production teams that are directly relevant to specifying custom tuck end boxes.
How to read a dieline and supply artwork that prints first time
Bleed, safe zones, glue-tab knockouts, grain direction and barcode quiet zones — the ten-point pre-flight list.
Read the guide →Digital vs flexographic vs offset: which printing method costs less
Where the crossover points sit between the three processes, and how to cut print cost without cutting quality.
Read the guide →Rigid vs folding carton vs corrugated: choosing a construction
A structural comparison of cost, strength, print quality, freight and lead time across the three board families.
Read the guide →FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between straight tuck end and reverse tuck end boxes?
On a straight tuck end both flaps fold in from the back panel, so no flap edge shows on the front. On a reverse tuck end they fold from opposite panels, which nests more efficiently on the press sheet and costs slightly less. STE looks better on shelf; RTE is cheaper.
Will tuck end boxes stay closed in shipping?
A plain tuck can work loose. Specify a friction lock, slit lock or tuck-and-tongue closure, or plan to seal with a branded sticker. For parcel shipping we recommend a locking tuck as standard.
Are tuck end boxes suitable for heavy products?
Up to about 500 g in a standard tuck end. Above that, a tuck-top auto-bottom carton with a glued crash-lock base is the better choice because the base cannot burst open.
What board thickness do tuck end boxes use?
300–400 gsm covers most retail SKUs. Tall slim cartons need 350 gsm or more to avoid bowing on shelf, and heavier contents benefit from 400 gsm with a locking base.
What is the minimum order for custom tuck end boxes?
100 boxes per size and artwork on digital printing, with price breaks at 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,500 units. Offset production becomes economical from roughly 2,500 units.
Can tuck end boxes have windows?
Yes. A die-cut aperture patched with clear PET (or PLA for compostability) is common on cosmetics and confectionery. Windows soften the panel, so we usually step the board up one caliper.