Custom boxes and packaging are important branding tools for businesses today. For e-commerce companies, it’s a must-have. Your packaging is the first thing a customer sees when their shipment arrives at their door. Opening a box with fun packaging makes the experience way more exciting.

A lot of brands today stick with plain cardboard boxes to ship their items. But having custom packaging makes your brand stand out from the sea of boring boxes. The packaging you use is just as important as what you put inside the box.

What is Custom Packaging?

Custom packaging is what your brand uses to ship your products in. It should reflect your company’s brand identity and be consistent with your colors, logos, fonts and so on. 

But why is custom packaging so important?

1. Customer experience

When a customer orders something from your website, their experience shouldn’t end there. Sending their order in a custom box puts a smile on their face when they receive it. Everlane is an example of a company that has really mastered its customer experience, from shopping to shipping.

2. Brand recognition

When you use custom packaging, customers will know exactly who their package is from. A cool, creative, or even minimalist box sets your brand apart from others. Someone else might see your box sitting on a neighbor’s doorstep and wonder who it’s from.

3. Easy customization

With custom boxes, you can easily switch up the design for different holidays, seasons or products. You could even ship customers birthday-themed packaging during their birth month. It’s the little things that make customers take notice and want to keep supporting your brand.

The 12 Best Companies for Custom Boxes and Packaging

If you’re looking for custom boxes or packaging for your business, here are the 12 best companies that we recommend. This overview will help you find a company that meets your design needs, as well as your budget.

1. Arka

About:

Arka offers custom printed packaging that is personalized based on your company’s needs. According to their website, they offer the lowest minimums, competitive rates, premium materials, and quality customer service.

Depending on the product you need to ship, Arka offers mailer boxes, shipping boxes, cartons, poly mailers, and accessories like tape, tissue paper and stickers. Arka’s minimum order count is 10 units.

Ease of Use:

• Wide range of packaging types
• Choose your box type, dimensions and quantity online
• Provide your artwork to an Arka designer
• Get a proof within two business days

Features:

• Arka lets you design your boxes online, along with sourcing accessories plus unbranded.
• Shopify and BigCommerce apps for easy integration with your online store
• Connects to your warehouse, WMS and 3PL.
• 30-day money back guarantee for returns or reprints

Price:

Prices vary based on the type of package, the dimensions and the size of the order. For reference, an order of 250 standard mailer boxes at 10 x 8 x 4 are $3.34 each.

Bottom Line:

Arka is he best option we’ve seen for your custom packaging needs. We like that they offer affordable rates and a money back guarantee. If you want ease of use then you can connect them to your online store or warehouse for transparency in your supply chain.

2. Refine Packaging

About:

Refine Packaging makes it easy for startups, midsize businesses, and large companies to design and order custom boxes and affordable packaging online. The manufacturer offers free quotes, low minimums, free design support, competitive rates, and excellent customer service. 

The company produces custom packaging boxes for a wide variety of industries and box styles, such as product boxes, eco-friendly shipping boxes, corrugated cartons, cosmetics packaging boxes, mailer boxes, and much more that can be found on their website. 

Refine Packaging works with well-known brands like Marriott Hotels, Pandora, Old Spice, MetLife, T-Mobile and many other brands worldwide, so you know their quality and pricing is battle-tested and first-class. As an official partner of 99designs, you’ll have an easy way to match with design experts to create world-class product packaging at an affordable price. 

Their user-friendly website has live chat, so you can speak with a helpful customer support representative without any wait times. After a quick chat or form submission, a company representative will contact you with a price estimate and gather your artwork to begin the production process. 

Ease of Use:

• Choose the type of box you want, select the dimensions you need and the quantity.
• Chat live or fill out a form online to request a free quote.
• Get one-on-one expert support to find the type of box you need, determine your box dimensions, and custom finishing. 
• Submit your artwork for printing.
• Receive free 2D and 3D mockups of your artwork before production begins.
• Get discounts for high volume orders.
• Get your final order delivered within 8-10 business days with standard shipping, or faster with rushed shipping options.

Features:

• Live chat 24/7 customer support
• Free shipping
• Free design support
• Free die and plates
• Fast turnaround times
• Low minimums

Bottom Line:

Refine Packaging is easily one of our top choices for best overall custom box manufacturer for startups, midsize businesses, and large companies. Their experience with household-name companies let’s us know that their team provides trusted customer support and top-notch products. We also like that every customer receives one-on-one expert support during the entire order who can advise you throughout the often complicated custom packaging process. 

3. Packwire

About:

Packwire brings your packaging ideas to life and makes your brand stand out. They work with companies of all sizes, from startups to big retailers, and will help you design every aspect of your package without technical design skills.

Use Packwire’s online design studio to create your package from scratch. The 3D viewer allows you to see how your finished box will look from all angles. They offer custom mailer boxes, rigid gift boxes, folding cartons and custom shipping boxes.

Before you check out and send your design for production, you’ll get an instant price quote. On average, shipping takes 10-14 business days.

Ease of Use:

• Use the online studio to design your box or send your own dieline
• Choose the type of box, material, size and quantity you want
• Get a shipping estimate after adding items to your cart

Features:

• Online art studio with 3D visualization
• Instant price quote
• Live chat for customer support

Price:

Prices vary by box size, type and material. For reference, an order of 250 12”x12”x10” shipping boxes is $3.76 per box. 

Bottom Line:

Packwire knows how to design great custom packaging. Their online design studio is easy to use, even if you don’t have design skills. Packwire’s products are high quality, but they won’t break your budget. The shipping time is longer than some other companies, but you’ll know how long it will take before you place your order.

4. The Custom Boxes

About:

The Custom Boxes offers custom packaging solutions for customers across a wide range of industries. They offer boxes for specific products, like cosmetics, blister cards, wine boxes, cereal boxes, eco-friendly boxes, gold & silver metallicized boxes and much more.

To place an order, all you need to do is fill out a form with your preferred box style, material, quantity and colors. A company representative will contact you with a price estimate and gather your artwork. 

The Custom Boxes has an average shipping time of 8-10 business days, although rush shipping is available for a quicker turnaround time. 

Ease of Use:

• Fill out a form online to request a quote
• Submit your artwork for printing
• Get your final order in 8-10 business days with standard shipping

Features:

• 24/7 customer service
• Free shipping
• Money back guarantee

Price:

Prices vary by box size, type and material. Request a quote online to get a rate for your project.

Bottom Line:

The Custom Boxes is your one-stop-shop for all things custom packaging. They’ve been doing this successfully for years and can tackle any type of project. The company offers a huge selection of packaging, so you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for. Keep in mind that they don’t have an online design tool, so you’ll need to create your artwork separately and submit it. 

5. Packlane

About:

Packlane offers custom packaging for companies that want to ship one-of-a-kind boxes. They offer a custom design lab, live design preview, and instant quotes for custom orders.

Packlane offers three styles of packaging—mailer boxes, folding cartons, and shipping boxes—that can fit most types of products. They offer full CMYK color printing to make your colors and logos stand out. The number of colors or graphics you use won’t increase the price.

You can choose from a variety of different materials for your box based on the product you’re shipping. Packlane offers packages made from thin or thick paperboard, corrugated cardboard, and boxes in a wide range of colors.

Packlane works with major brands like Everlane, Benefit Cosmetics, L’Oreal and Halo Top Ice Cream, so you know the end result will be top notch. Most orders ship within 10 days or less. 

Ease of Use:

• Choose the type of box you want, select the dimensions you need and the quantity
• See your price quote before checking out
• Use the inspiration gallery to see example designs
• Get discounts for high volume orders
• Orders ship within 10 days or less

Features:

• Online design tool to custom your box with colors, logo and fonts
• View your package in 3D to see what the final product will look like
• Get additional print methods, products and consultation services through Packlane Plus

Price:

Prices are based on the type of box, the dimensions and the quantity you choose. For reference, an order of 200 standard shipping boxes that are 12”x12”x12” would cost $5.53 per box.

Bottom Line:

We liked Packlane because they work with big name brands, and that usually means you can rest assured that they deliver quality products. Even if you aren’t design savvy, it’s easy to create custom designs on your own in the online design lab. We also like that you can see your price quote before placing the order. There’s no need to work with a representative or wait around for a price quote.

6. Packola

About:

With Packola, you can design custom packaging and boxes in minutes. It’s easy to customize, design and pay for your boxes online. You can complete your entire project without having to work through a representative.

Packola has an online design platform that allows you to easily customize your package on the website. You can choose from product boxes, mailer boxes, and shipping boxes, depending on the product you need to ship.

The 3D design studio lets you customize every aspect of your package and see it from every angle. When you’re ready to check out, you’ll know exactly how much your boxes will cost. Most orders ship between 10-12 business days.

Ease of Use:

• Easily design custom packaging without graphic design tools
• See your quote before you checkout
• Save your designs for future orders

Features:

• Online 3D design studio
• Live chat support
• No minimum order quantity

Price:

Prices vary based on the type of package, the dimensions and the size of the order. For reference, an order of 250 standard shipping boxes that are 12”x12”x12” would cost $5.16 per box.

Bottom Line:

Packola holds up to its promise of offering affordable custom packaging. We enjoyed using the online design tool, and the 3D editor made it easy to see what the final packaging would look like. If you get stuck or have questions, the online chat tool can offer live support in an instant.

7. Sticker Mule

About:

Sticker Mule specializes in custom poly mailers and stickers. Their mailers are lightweight, waterproof, durable and affordable. They work with major companies like Netflix, Uber, Shopify, PayPal, Facebook and Mailchimp.

Sticker Mule offers free proofs, free artwork help, free shipping and a fast turnaround time for orders. They offer custom templates for their mailers, labels and stickers, which you can use to create your own artwork.

The best part is, Sticker Mule will send you the order within four days, which is tough to beat. Shipping is free for most countries, regardless of the order size. If you’re unhappy with your order, it’s easy to get refunded or redesign it for no added fee.

Ease of Use:

• Use a template or upload your own artwork
• Free shipping in just four days
• Add custom stickers, labels and tape to your order

Features:

• Free design help from Sticker Mule designers
• Get customized design templates
• Minimum of 10 mailers per order

Price:

Prices vary based on the type of mailer and the size. For reference, 200 10”x13” mailers would cost $2.08 per unit.

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for poly mailers and accessories, Sticker Mule is a great option. Keep in mind that the company specializes in mailers only, and they do not offer regular cardboard boxes of any kind. Their prices are on par with other companies, and you can’t beat the four day shipping time for standard orders.

8. Brand in Color

About:

Brand in Color is all about custom packaging made simple. All you have to do is choose your box type and size, customize it with your own graphics and place your order. You can use the online design editor to design your box with your brand’s colors, logos and fonts.

The company offers shipping boxes, mailer boxes and pizza boxes, so you’re guaranteed to find what you’re looking for. Prices start at just $1 per box, so you can maximize your budget.

The minimum order count is 25 boxes, and shipping is really fast. Brand in Color will send you your final designed packages within just three business days after your artwork is approved.

Ease of Use:

• Pick your box type and size, customize it online and place your order
• Get shipping in three business days
• Save your design for future orders
• Get a price quote before checking out

Features:

• See examples of past work in the inspiration gallery
• Design your box from scratch or used a predesigned template
• Online designer gives you the tools to customize your box in 3D

Price:

Prices vary based on the type of package, the dimensions and the size of the order. For reference, an order of 250 12”x12”x12” shipping boxes starts at $3.92 per box. 

Bottom Line:

Brand in Color offers affordable custom packaging, especially for larger orders. We also like their online design studio which makes it easy to create unique packaging without graphic design skills. Brand in Color will send your order in three days, which is one of the best shipping times of the companies we reviewed.

9. Fantastapack

About:

Fantastapack has one of the best reputations in the industry for delivering high quality custom boxes and packaging. They’ve worked with big-name companies like Google, Netflix, Zappos and Snapchat, so you know they can get the job done well.

Fantastapack offers a wide variety of packaging, including subscription boxes and mailers, shipping boxes, custom labels, custom retail displays and preprinted boxes. If you’re not sure what box type and material you need, they’ll send you a sample kit with some ideas.

You can either design your box through Fantastapack’s online art studio, or upload your own original artwork. From there, you’ll fill out an online quote form with the specifications of your package and send it off for your quote.

Ease of Use:

• Design your custom packaging online
• Fill out a form online to get a quote
• Get a PDF dieline of your artwork emailed to you after submission
• Shipping takes 10 calendar days after your artwork is submitted and approved

Features:

• Use the free online art studio to design your packaging
• Help center has articles to answer all your questions
• Rush shipping options for faster delivery in 7 business days
• Live chat for customer support

Price:

Prices vary by box size, type and material. For reference, an order of 250 12”x12”x12” shipping boxes starts at $5.68 per box. 

Bottom Line:

Overall, Fantastapack is a great option for custom boxes and packaging, especially for ecommerce companies. We like that customers have the option of designing their packaging in the platform, or uploading their own artwork. The shipping time is a little longer than other companies we reviewed, so keep that in mind if you decide to place an order.

10. BuyBoxes.com

About:

Buyboxes.com has great options for custom packaging and boxes. In addition to shipping, mailer and gift boxes, they also offer unique options, like reverse tuck boxes, drink carriers, counter displays and donation bins.

The online design studio is easy to use if you want to create your packaging from scratch. Buyboxes.com also offers graphic design services if you want to work with an expert to bring your ideas to life.

Orders are shipped within 2-10 business days after the final design is approved. You can also request rush shipping by calling the company after your order is submitted.

Ease of Use:

• Choose your box type, size, material and quantity
• Use the online design studio to design your package in 3D
• Save your designs for future orders
• See your price before you check out

Features:

• Online design studio
• 8 package styles to choose from
• No minimum order size
• Instant price quote
• Custom inserts are available

Price:

Box prices depend on the size, type and material you choose. For reference, an order of 250 12”x12”x12” shipping boxes is $6.24 per box. 

Bottom Line:

Buyboxes.com is more on the expensive side, but it’s well worth the price. They offer a variety of different box types to choose from, as well as custom inserts for specific products. The online design tool is helpful if you don’t want to create your own artwork in a graphic design software. Even if you have a small order, Buyboxes.com will make it happen.

11. PakFactory

About:

PakFactory works with over 1,000 businesses to create custom boxes. They are committed to providing excellent customer service, and every customer gets paired with a packaging specialist to manage their project.

To start your project, you’ll request a quote by providing details for your packaging. You’ll get a personalized rate within a few days after submitting the request. Then, you will send your dieline and get a sample of the final product. 

Rigid boxes have a minimum order quantity of 500 units, whereas folding cartons and corrugated boxes are a minimum of 250 units. For most boxes, the production time is 5-7 business days and shipping takes an additional 5-7 business days. 

Ease of Use:

• Request a quote online from your packaging specialist
• Submit your dieline artwork and box specifications
• Get a sample of the final box and start production

Features:

• Get paired with a dedicated packaging specialist
• Order folding carton, corrugated and rigid boxes
• Request a quote online
• Custom insert options available
• Packaging design and dieline templates available for purchase

Price:

PakFactory’s boxes are priced based on the type of box, material, size and quantity. Request a quote to get an estimate for your project.

Bottom Line:

Overall, PakFactory is a good option if you have a large order to fill. We appreciate their focus on customer service, and one-on-one project management from their packaging specialists. PakFactory is ideal for people who have graphic design experience, because the company does not offer an online design studio or design help.

12. Pakible

About:

Pakible makes it easy to create custom packaging and branded boxes. They offer four types of packages—shipping boxes, mailer boxes, poly mailers, and bubble mailers. You can also order product inserts, gift boxes, retail packaging, cartons and more.

To start your order, you’ll provide all the details of your project, including the type, size and quantity of packages you need. You’ll also upload your design specifications and assets.

Because Pakible works with over 400 manufacturers, you’ll be given three different bids for your project. Once you choose the best one, your design will be sent to production.

When your design is ready, you’ll be given a physical sample of the final product at no cost. On your personal dashboard, you can see the status of your order in real-time and get updates on shipping.

Ease of Use:

• Upload your artwork and packaging specifications
• Get three price bids from manufacturers
• Get a free sample of the final product
• Set up your online dashboard to track production, shipping and more 

Features:

• Online submission form
• Multiple price quotes
• Dashboard helps you track your order
• Order custom inserts

Price:

Pakible’s prices vary based on your packaging specifications. Use the online quote tool to request a custom rate for your project.

Bottom Line:

Pakible’s approach to packaging design is different and unique. We like the fact that they provide three different price quotes, so you know you’re getting the best rate. They don’t have an online design tool or offer graphic design help, so Pakible is a good option if you want to design your artwork from scratch. 

Conclusion

These are our top 12 picks if you’re in the market for custom boxes and packaging. Hope it helps!