What a gift box is made of

A rigid box has a load-bearing layer and a visible layer.

• Greyboard – A stiff core made from recycled fibre, usually 1.5–3 mm thick. Thicker board is chosen for larger boxes and heavier products. At the fold lines a V-shaped groove is milled into the board so that the wall can be folded to a right angle without cracking the wrap.
• Wrapping paper – Most often printed coated paper of roughly 120–157 g/m², but also textured, metallic and designer papers or textile coverings such as velvet or suede. The wrap is glued onto the board and turned over the edges to the inside.
• Inner lining – Paper on the inside walls that covers the turned-in wrap, or an insert for the product.

Construction

• Lid and base – A two-piece box with the lid fitted over the base. The shoulder version has a third part, an inner collar on which the lid sits.
• Hinged box – The lid is joined to the base by a spine and opens like a book. It is closed by a magnet hidden under the wrap.
• Drawer box – An inner drawer slides out of a sleeve.
• Collapsible rigid box – Grooved board supplied flat. During assembly the walls are raised and the corner flaps are joined with pre-applied double-sided adhesive; in some versions the walls are held by magnets. One manufacturer states that up to four times as many flat boxes fit on a pallet as assembled ones.
• Folding carton – A lighter box made from a single die-cut blank of solid board of roughly 200–500 g/m², offset printed. Suitable for light products.

The box is closed with magnets, a ribbon or simply the fitted lid. The magnets are usually neodymium and are set into recesses in the board before the wrap is applied.

We supply collapsible gift boxes with a magnetic closure and with a ribbon. Shape, colours and print are handled according to the customer’s brief.

Finishes

• Lamination – A thin film over the print in a gloss, matt or soft-touch finish. It protects the print from abrasion but turns the paper into a composite material.
• Spot UV varnish – Gloss varnish only on selected areas, for example the logo.
• Hot foil stamping – A metallic or coloured design transferred by foil under heat.
• Blind embossing – A relief without ink, either raised or debossed into the surface.
• Printing – Offset for full-colour designs, screen printing, and digital printing, which needs no printing plate and is therefore also used for short runs.
• Window – A cut-out covered with transparent film.

Inserts

The product is held in the box by an insert with a cut-out matching its shape. Board, foam (PE foam, polyurethane foam), moulded pulp parts or inserts covered with satin or velvet are used. Loose small items are held by decorative paper fill, SizzlePak.

Points to watch

• Insert dimensions – The board, the wrap and the insert all have their own thickness. Specify the product dimensions and the internal dimensions of the box, not the external ones.
• Artwork at the edges – The wrap is bent over the edges and corners and turned inside. Check the position of the artwork on the dieline drawing and on a sample.
• A gift box is not a shipping pack – For dispatch it is placed in a cardboard box with void fill, for example air cushions.
• PPWR and packaging volume – From 1 January 2030, under the PPWR, packaging must not include features that only increase the perceived volume of the product – double walls, false bottoms and unnecessary layers. Exemptions apply to designs and trademarks protected before 11 February 2025.
• Sorting – Board and paper without lamination go into paper recycling. Under Czech sorting rules, laminated paper does not belong in paper recycling and ends up in mixed waste. If the box is meant to end up in paper recycling, choose a wrap without plastic lamination.

A rigid box or other packaging

If the box is mainly used for transport, a printed cardboard box is sufficient. Full-colour print combined with the strength of corrugated board is achieved by lamination. For bottles there is wine packaging, and for handing over a gift, bags.

What to send with your enquiry

• Product: dimensions and weight, ideally a sample
• Construction: lid and base, hinged lid with magnet, drawer, or collapsible version
• Internal box dimensions and type of insert
• Artwork, colours and required finishes
• Sorting requirements, for example a wrap without lamination or a paper insert
• Quantity and required delivery date

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a rigid and a collapsible gift box?

Both have a greyboard core wrapped in paper. A rigid box is supplied assembled, a collapsible one flat and is only assembled at packing. The collapsible box therefore takes up less space in transport and storage.

What is the insert made of?

Board, foam, moulded pulp or board covered with fabric. It is chosen according to the weight of the product, the desired appearance and whether the box should be entirely paper-based after use.

Can the box be printed with a logo in a small quantity?

For small quantities the industry mainly uses digital printing, because it needs no printing plate. Foil stamping of a logo requires its own stamping die. Please state the number of pieces and send the artwork with your enquiry; we will set out the options in our quotation.

Can a gift box be sent by courier?

A gift box is designed for presentation, not for transport. For dispatch it is therefore placed in a cardboard box with void fill, which protects it from impacts and from damage to the wrap.