Match box
18pt SBS sleeve, kraft tray, supplied empty500 minimum · 12 to 14 business daysA custom match box is a small slide-tray box, a printed paperboard sleeve over a kraft tray, built for restaurants, bars, weddings and retail gifting. We supply it empty: the printed sleeve on 18pt SBS and the tray, from 500 units in about 12 to 14 business days after proof, ready for your match supplier to fill.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a match box for a tabletop or gifting item where the branding needs to be seen and handled repeatedly: restaurant and bar tables, wedding favors, hotel welcome kits.
Choose a printed sticker or a hang tag instead if you just need a brand mark on an existing product, since a match box only earns its place when it ends up filled and on a table.
Specifications
| Sleeve | 18pt SBS paperboard, printed and die cut |
|---|---|
| Tray | Kraft slide tray, sized to your match length |
| Match type | Not included: boxes ship empty for your match supplier to fill |
| Match count | Tray sized for 40 to 50 standard-length matches, or to your count |
| Offset CMYK on the sleeve, up to 2 sides | |
| Finish | Matte or gloss lamination on the sleeve |
| Minimum | 500 units |
| Lead time | 12 to 14 business days after proof |
| Prototype | On request; timing confirmed in your quote |
| Sizes we run | 2 x 1.5 x 0.6 in (standard) custom sleeve length for a longer match |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
Do you fill the match boxes with matches?
Filled matches are a regulated hazardous good for air and most international freight. That is why we do not fill matches: the boxes ship empty, printed sleeve and tray, so they travel like any other paperboard order and your match supplier fills them.
Does the match type change the box?
Safety matches only ignite against a striking surface, which is what most venues and events ask for. Strike-anywhere matches ignite on any rough surface, so ask your match supplier and carrier about the rules that apply before you choose them. Your match supplier sets which type goes in; we size the tray and lay out the sleeve to suit it.
Can the box fit a longer matchstick?
Send the stick length your match supplier uses and we draw the tray and sleeve to fit it. A longer stick just means a longer sleeve on the dieline.
What about the striking strip?
The striking surface is applied by the match filler, not printed with your sleeve. Tell us where it goes and we keep that area of the sleeve clear of artwork on the dieline.
Can I order sleeves only?
Yes. Every order is sleeves and trays only, so you can also order sleeves alone to fit trays you already have. The minimum is the same 500 units.
What quantities do restaurants and venues typically order?
For a restaurant or bar we usually suggest 500 to 2,000 units for a first order, then reordering based on turnover. For a wedding, size the order to guest count plus about 15 percent.
How is a match box different from flip top boxes?
A match box is a slide box: a printed 18pt SBS sleeve over a kraft tray that slides out, supplied empty for your match supplier to fill, from 500 units in 12 to 14 business days after proof. Flip top boxes are a one-piece carton with a lid on a scored hinge that flips open and snaps shut, for small loose items that get opened again and again, from 500 units in 10 to 12 business days. For matches, use the match box. For a small product opened over and over, the flip top is quicker to use.
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Ready to price your match 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.