Lotion boxes
18pt SBS500 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA lotion box is a tall, narrow folding carton built around a pump or squeeze bottle rather than a jar, with interior locking tabs at the base that hold the bottle upright so the pump head doesn't press against the lid in transit. We run them on 18pt SBS from 500 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. A standard 8 ounce pump bottle fits a 2 by 2 by 7 inch carton.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a lotion box when the product ships in a pump or squeeze bottle rather than a wide-mouth jar, since the box needs to be tall and narrow with the bottle held by the base rather than cradled by a collar at the shoulder the way a jar is. It's the right call for body lotion, hand cream in a pump, sunscreen, and most liquid skincare that comes in a cylindrical bottle.
Choose a cream jar box instead if the product is a wide, short jar rather than a tall bottle, since that carton's collar sits at the jar's shoulder and won't hold a narrow bottle steady. Choose a stand up pouch if the product is refillable or sold in a soft package rather than a rigid bottle.
Specifications
| Board | 18pt SBS, 20pt for a bottle over 12 ounces |
|---|---|
| Offset CMYK, one color, Pantone match, metallic ink | |
| Finish | Soft-touch lamination, matte aqueous, foil, blind deboss, spot UV |
| Closure | Straight tuck end, auto lock bottom for a taller or heavier bottle |
| Insert | Die-cut paperboard locking tabs at the base, no separate insert piece |
| Minimum | 500 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, glued, in bundles of 50 |
| Sizes we run | 1.75 x 1.75 x 5 in, 4 oz bottle 2 x 2 x 7 in, 8 oz bottle 2.25 x 2.25 x 8.5 in, 12 oz pump bottle any size from 1.5 x 1.5 x 4 to 3.5 x 3.5 x 10 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
How does the bottle stay from sliding inside the box?
Four die-cut tabs fold up from the base panel and grip the bottle's lower third, so it's held by friction rather than floating loose. It works for straight-sided cylindrical bottles; an oddly shaped bottle may need a custom tab pattern, which we can spec to your bottle's actual outline.
Can the pump head poke through the top?
No, standard depth leaves clearance above the pump head so the lid closes flat without pressing on it. Tell us your bottle's total height including the pump and we'll size the carton with the right headroom.
What if my bottle is square rather than round?
The same tab system works for a square or oval bottle. We just cut the tabs to the bottle's actual cross-section rather than a round one. Send us the bottle's dimensions or a sample and we fit the dieline to it.
Does the box need a window to show the product color?
Some skincare brands like this, yes. A die-cut window with a clear film patch on the front panel is a common add and doesn't change lead time.
Is this suitable for a glass bottle?
Yes, glass bottles are common in this format. The base tabs and a snug carton width matter more for a glass bottle than a plastic one, since there's no give if it shifts in transit.
How is a lotion box different from a cream jar box?
The lotion box is tall and narrow, built around a pump or squeeze bottle with locking tabs at the base so the pump head does not press into the lid; it moves to 20pt above 12 ounces and to an auto lock bottom for tall bottles. The cream jar box is wider and shorter, with a collar at the shoulder of a squat jar. Both start at 500 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. Bottles with pumps go in the lotion box; jars go in the cream jar box.
Similar styles
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Ready to price your lotion boxes?
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.