Window rigid box
1200 gsm, PET window200 minimum · 10 to 14 business daysA window rigid box is a wrapped 1200 gsm board box with a die-cut opening in the lid backed by clear PET film, so the product shows through without opening the box. We produce them from 200 units in 10 to 14 business days after proof. Common sizes are 8 by 6 by 3 and 10 by 8 by 3 inches, for chocolates, cosmetics, candles and retail gift sets.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a window box when the product is the thing to show and a photo on the lid would sell it short. Chocolates, macarons, colored candles, cosmetics in glass and small ceramics all look better through a window than printed on a wrap. It is also the right box for retail, where a customer wants to see what they are paying for before they pick it up. The window can be a circle, an oval, a brand shape or a simple rectangle.
Choose a magnetic closure box instead when the reveal is the point, because a window gives it away before the lid lifts. Choose a window carton when the box is for a shelf and ships flat, since a rigid window box arrives assembled and takes far more space in a carton for the same shelf presence.
Specifications
| Board | 1200 gsm grayboard, lid die-cut before wrapping |
|---|---|
| Offset CMYK on the wrap, foil, blind deboss around the window | |
| Finish | Matte art paper, soft-touch, linen, kraft |
| Closure | Lift-off lid, magnetic flap or drawer, your choice |
| Inserts | Die-cut paperboard tray, velvet-flocked, foam |
| Window | Clear PET film, 8 mil, glued behind the wrap, any shape up to 70 percent of the lid |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 14 business days after proof |
| Ships | Assembled, in cartons of 20 to 40, window film protected |
| Sizes we run | 6 x 4 x 2 in 8 x 6 x 3 in 10 x 8 x 3 in 12 x 9 x 4 in any size from 4 x 4 x 1.5 to 16 x 12 x 5 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
Will the window film scratch or cloud?
PET at 8 mil is stiff enough not to ripple and hard enough to resist casual scuffs. It will scratch if dragged across a rough surface, so window boxes are packed lid to lid with a tissue sheet between them. For a retail box that will be handled a lot, we can add an anti-scratch coating to the film.
How big can the window be?
Up to about 70 percent of the lid face. Beyond that the lid loses the board it needs to stay rigid and the corners start to twist. On an 8 by 6 inch lid that means a window of roughly 6 by 4 inches. Keep at least three quarters of an inch of wrapped board on every side of the aperture.
Is the edge of the window clean?
Yes. The board is die-cut before wrapping and the wrap is turned into the aperture by hand, so you see wrapped paper right up to the film with no raw board. A tight radius on the corners of a rectangle is harder to turn cleanly, so we suggest a 1/8 in corner radius or larger.
Can the window be a custom shape?
Yes. A circle, an oval, a hexagon or your logo outline all work, and the shape is cut with the same die as the lid. The only limits are the 70 percent rule and a minimum of 1 inch across any part of the aperture, because narrower than that the wrap tears when it is turned in.
Is the film food safe if chocolates touch it?
The PET film we use is food-contact grade, and so is the SBS paperboard tray we design for chocolates and macarons. The wrapped grayboard walls of the box itself are not rated for direct food contact, so for edible products the tray or a cup must sit between the food and the box.
How is the window rigid box different from a window carton?
The window rigid box is wrapped 1200 gsm board with the lid die-cut before wrapping and 8 mil PET glued behind, so the window edge is clean and the box is kept; it closes with a lift-off lid, magnetic flap or drawer and arrives assembled. A window carton is 16 to 24pt SBS or kraft with PET glued behind a die-cut opening, shipped flat and opened once. Both start at 200 units in 10 to 14 business days after proof. Gift assortments suit the rigid box; shelf products sold in volume suit the carton.
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Ready to price your window rigid 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.