Lip balm carton
16pt SBS200 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA lip balm carton is a small folding carton on 16pt SBS sized for a standard 0.15 ounce tube or a 0.5 ounce tin, with a tuck at each end and a friction lock so the tube cannot slide out. We produce them from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. Common sizes run 0.75 by 0.75 by 2.75 to 2.25 by 2.25 by 1 inches.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a lip balm carton when a bare tube looks cheap on a shelf or in a subscription box, or when you need somewhere to put the ingredient list that does not fit on a 0.15 ounce label. A carton also stops a tube rolling off a display and gives you a hanging tab for peg sale. It suits lip balm, lip oil sticks, solid perfume tins and any small cosmetic under about 1 ounce.
Choose a cosmetic carton if the item is larger than about 1 inch square or heavier than 1 ounce, because 16pt board and the small tuck flaps are not enough at that size. Choose a printed tissue paper wrap or a belly band instead if the tube already has a full label and you only need a brand touch.
Specifications
| Board | 16pt SBS, 18pt for tins over 1 ounce |
|---|---|
| Offset CMYK, one color, Pantone match | |
| Finish | Matte or gloss aqueous, soft-touch lamination, foil, spot UV |
| Closure | Straight tuck end with friction lock, or hanging tab top |
| Insert | None needed for tubes, optional collar for tins |
| Tube fit | Sized to 0.15 oz round tubes, oval tubes and 0.5 oz tins |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, glued, in bundles of 100 |
| Sizes we run | 0.75 x 0.75 x 2.75 in 0.85 x 0.85 x 3 in 1 x 1 x 3.25 in 2.25 x 2.25 x 1 in any size from 0.6 x 0.6 x 2 to 3 x 3 x 4 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
What size carton fits a standard lip balm tube?
A standard 0.15 ounce round tube is about 0.65 inches across and 2.6 inches tall with the cap on, so it fits a 0.75 by 0.75 by 2.75 inch carton with a little clearance. Oval tubes need about 1 by 0.6 by 2.75. A 0.5 ounce tin is roughly 2 inches across and 0.75 tall, so it fits 2.25 by 2.25 by 1.
Why 16pt board and not 18pt?
On a carton this small, 18pt is stiff enough to fight the fold and the tuck flaps become hard to seat. 16pt folds crisp, closes clean and is still plenty strong for an item that weighs under an ounce. We move to 18pt only for tins over 1 ounce or for a carton that will hang from a tab in retail.
Can I hang it on a peg?
Yes. We extend the top of the back panel into a tab with a euro slot or a round hole, doubled over for strength. The tab folds into the front so the carton still ships flat. A lip balm with a hanging tab is one of the most common peg hook items in a pharmacy, and the tab gives you room for the brand above the product.
Where does the ingredient list go on something this small?
On the back panel, in type around 0.06 in cap height, which is legible and passes most retailer checks. On a 0.75 inch wide carton you get roughly 12 short lines. Net weight goes on the front near the base. If your ingredient list is long, we can run a fold-out panel inside the carton instead. Ask us before you finalize artwork.
Does it ship flat?
Yes, glued on the side seam and shipped flat in bundles of 100. You square it with a thumb, tuck the bottom, drop the tube in and tuck the top. A run of 500 takes about an hour at a bench. For larger runs we can supply the cartons in the orientation your filling machine wants.
How is the lip balm carton different from custom lip balm tubes?
The carton is the box around a tube you already have: 16pt SBS sized to a 0.15 oz round or oval tube or a 0.5 oz tin, with a friction-lock tuck or a hanging tab, from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. Custom lip balm tubes are the container itself, a plastic-free spiral-wound paperboard push-up barrel that you fill with poured balm, from 500 units in 12 to 14 business days. If you are keeping a plastic tube and want retail presence, the carton. If you are replacing the plastic tube, the paper tube.
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Ready to price your lip balm carton?
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.