Nail polish boxes
18pt SBS500 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA nail polish box is a short folding carton built around the squat, brush-capped bottle shape polish and gel color actually ship in, not a generic small carton borrowed from a different product. We produce them on 18pt SBS from 500 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. A standard 15 ml bottle fits a 1.25 by 1.25 by 2.75 inch carton; most gel polish and a 0.5 oz bottle need closer to 1.5 by 1.5 by 3.25.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a nail polish box when you're shipping or shelving an actual polish or gel color bottle and want the carton sized to the bottle's real footprint, brush cap included, rather than dropping a round bottle into a box built for something else and packing it with tissue to stop the rattle. A snug carton also reads better on a shelf, since the box height matches the product instead of leaving a gap of dead air above the cap.
Choose a press-on nail box instead if you're packaging a press-on nail set with a backer card and glue tabs. That's a completely different flat structure, not a bottle carton. Choose a cream jar box if your polish line also includes a cuticle balm or a jar-format product, since that carton is built around a wider, shorter jar shape rather than a tall narrow bottle.
Specifications
| Board | 18pt SBS, 20pt for a bottle over 1 oz or glass over average wall thickness |
|---|---|
| Offset CMYK, one color, Pantone match, metallic ink | |
| Finish | Matte aqueous, soft-touch, foil, spot UV |
| Closure | Straight tuck end, or a slide-tray for a shelf-facing display box |
| Insert | None standard, a thin die-cut collar available to hold the bottle centered if there's slack around the neck |
| Window | Optional die-cut or clear window over the cap so the color reads through before opening |
| Minimum | 500 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, glued, in bundles of 50 |
| Sizes we run | 1.25 x 1.25 x 2.75 in, 15 ml bottle 1.5 x 1.5 x 3.25 in, 0.5 oz gel polish 1.75 x 1.75 x 3.75 in, 1 oz bottle any size from 1 x 1 x 2.25 to 2.5 x 2.5 x 5 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
What's the real difference between this and a press-on nail box?
Shape and contents. A press-on nail box is flat, built to hold a nail set, a backer card, glue tabs, and a mini file laid out inside. A nail polish box is a small upright carton shaped around a bottle and its brush cap. They're both nail-category packaging but nothing about the structure carries over between them.
Does the box need a window to show the color?
No, but it's a common add. A die-cut window over the cap or a small clear patch let a shopper see the actual polish color before they open the box, which matters more at retail than for a subscription box a customer already ordered by shade name.
Does the bottle need to be held in place inside the box?
For a snug carton sized close to the bottle's real footprint, no. If you're running one carton size across a couple of bottle shapes and there's slack, we add a thin die-cut collar to keep the bottle from shifting or rattling in transit.
Can I run one box design across a whole color line and just change a printed patch?
Yes, you can print one carton structure and vary only a small color swatch or sticker per shade rather than commissioning full separate artwork for every color in the line. Ask us about that setup if you're launching more than a few shades at once.
What board weight do I actually need?
18pt SBS handles a standard 15 ml glass bottle fine. If you're running a heavier 1 oz bottle or thicker glass, we bump to 20pt so the carton doesn't feel flimsy in hand once the bottle's inside.
What is the minimum order for nail polish boxes?
500 units, and reorders carry the same minimum. Lead time is 10 to 12 business days after you approve the free digital proof.
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Ready to price your nail polish 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.