Soap box
18pt kraft or SBS200 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA soap box is a folding carton sized for a bar of soap, on 18pt natural kraft or white SBS, with a tuck at each end and an optional die-cut window so the bar shows through. We produce them from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof, for bars from 3 to 5 ounces, usually 2.5 by 1 by 3.5 to 3.5 by 1.25 by 4 inches.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a soap box when the bar sells at a market, a boutique or online and needs a surface for the scent name, the ingredients and the weight. An open die-cut window on kraft is a common format for handmade soap, because the bar is seen and smelled and the box costs little. It stacks in a display, protects the corners of a soft bar and stops two bars scenting each other.
Choose a belly band if you want the whole bar visible and only need a strip for the brand, since a full box hides three sides. Choose a window carton on SBS if the bar is sold through retail chains that want a glossy printed pack and a sealed PET window rather than an open cut-out.
Specifications
| Board | 18pt natural kraft or 18pt SBS |
|---|---|
| One color flexo, offset CMYK, or digital | |
| Finish | Uncoated kraft, matte aqueous, soft-touch lamination, foil |
| Closure | Straight tuck end, reverse tuck end, or open-ended sleeve |
| Insert | None needed, optional paper wrap around the bar |
| Window | Optional open die-cut or PET film, any shape |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, glued, in bundles of 100 |
| Sizes we run | 2.5 x 1 x 3.5 in 2.75 x 1 x 3.75 in 3 x 1.25 x 4 in 3.5 x 1.25 x 4 in any size from 2 x 0.75 x 2.5 to 5 x 2 x 6 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
What size box fits a standard bar of soap?
Most handmade bars are cut from a loaf at about 3.5 by 2.5 by 1 inches and weigh 4 to 5 ounces. A 2.75 by 1 by 3.75 inch box takes that with a little room. Bars vary a lot, so measure three bars from the same batch and send us the largest. Cold process soap shrinks as it cures, so measure a cured bar.
Kraft or white board?
Natural kraft reads as handmade and hides scuffs, and one color ink on it is the cheapest print there is. White SBS gives cleaner color and takes soft-touch or foil if you want a spa look. Both are 18pt and both are recyclable as mixed paper. Send us your label or your brand colors and we will say which suits.
Will the soap stain the box?
A fresh cold process bar can leave an oil mark on uncoated kraft after a few weeks, especially superfatted recipes. A matte aqueous coating on the inside stops that. Or wrap the bar in a strip of glassine or tissue before boxing. Fully cured bars, six weeks or more, rarely mark the board at all.
Open window or film window?
Open die-cut for markets and online, because the buyer can smell the bar and the box stays fully recyclable. PET film if the box goes into retail where dust and handling matter, or if the bar is soft and the window edge would dent it. The film is glued inside and adds nothing to the lead time.
Can I print the ingredients on it?
Yes, on the back panel, and we lay out a zone for the INCI list, the net weight and your address before you place artwork. One color flexo on kraft handles type down to about 6 point. If your list is long, a side panel takes the overflow. We cannot advise on what you may claim; keep panel space for what your regulator requires.
How is the soap box different from soap wrap paper?
The soap box is an 18pt kraft or SBS folding carton with tuck ends and an optional die-cut window, so the bar is protected on all sides and the box stacks on a shelf, from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. Soap wrap paper is a printed paper band or full wrap sealed with a sticker or glue dot, the lowest-cost way to brand a bar, from 1,000 units in 6 to 8 business days. Bars that ship, stack or sit in retail do better in the box. A market stall or a gift shop that hand-sells bars can use the wrap.
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Ready to price your soap box?
Send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day. Your digital proof follows, usually within one business day of your artwork. Design help and the Swatch Book of materials are free.