Why nobody can quote a rigid box from a photograph alone
A custom rigid box has no list price. The same 200 × 150 × 60 mm magnetic box can cost very differently depending on board thickness, wrap stock, how many finishing passes the lid takes and whether the insert is folded card or die-cut EVA foam.
We do not publish a rate card, because doing so would mean quoting a specification you may not need. What we can do is tell you which decisions move the price.
The seven cost drivers
In rough order of impact on a typical rigid box order:
- Quantity — tooling, plates and make-ready are fixed costs spread across the run
- Size — board and wrap are bought by the sheet, so box footprint decides sheet yield
- Board thickness — 3 mm costs more than 1.5 mm in material and in wrapping labour
- Wrap stock — coated art paper is the baseline; textured, metallised and hand-made stocks cost more
- Finishing passes — each foil, emboss or spot UV pass is a separate set-up
- Insert type — folded card is cheapest, die-cut EVA and thermoformed trays cost more
- Assembly and kitting — hand-fitting linings, ribbons and multi-compartment gift sets adds labour
How quantity changes the per-box price
Tooling — the cutting die, foil block and embossing die — is paid once. On a small first run that cost sits heavily on each box; on a repeat run it disappears entirely, which is why the second order of the same design is always cheaper per unit than the first.
This is also why it is worth prototyping properly. A structure change after tooling is cut means new tooling.
Getting an accurate quotation quickly
Send product dimensions and weight, an indicative quantity, your target timeline and any reference box or artwork. If you do not have dimensions, a photograph of the product next to a ruler is enough for us to start.
