Macaron box
18pt SBS with tray200 minimum · 10 to 14 business daysA macaron box is a folding paperboard box with a die-cut tray inside that holds each shell in its own cavity, in a single or double row. We produce them on 18pt food-contact SBS from 200 units, in 10 to 14 business days after proof, for 6, 12, 18 or 24 macarons. The 6-count sleeve box and the 12-count lidded box are the usual sizes.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a macaron box when the product is fragile, expensive per piece and bought as a gift. A macaron shell cracks if it slides, so the tray does most of the work, and the box itself is where the brand lives: a soft-touch lid, a foil logo, a window on the row of colors. Patisseries use the 6-count for impulse buys and the 12 and 24 for occasions. The same box also suits truffles, bonbons and petits fours of about 2 inches.
Choose a chocolate rigid box when the gift is meant to be kept and the budget allows a wrapped board box, since a folding carton will always feel lighter. Choose a cookie box for anything sturdier than a macaron, where a tray is an extra piece the product does not need.
Specifications
| Board | 18pt SBS, virgin fiber, food-contact grade, tray unprinted; documentation supplied with the quote |
|---|---|
| Full color offset outside, foil or blind deboss on the lid | |
| Finish | Soft-touch lamination, matte aqueous or gloss lamination outside |
| Closure | Sleeve and tray, or a lock-corner base with a tuck lid |
| Insert | Die-cut 18pt SBS tray with 2 inch cavities, single or double row |
| Window | Optional clear PET window in the lid or sleeve |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 14 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, trays bundled separately |
| Sizes we run | 8 x 2.25 x 2 in, holds 6 in a row 8 x 4.5 x 2 in, holds 12 10 x 6.5 x 2 in, holds 18 12 x 8.5 x 2 in, holds 24 any size from 4 x 2.25 x 2 to 14 x 10 x 2.5 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
What size are the tray cavities?
2 inches across and about 1 inch deep for a standard French macaron, which is 1.75 to 2 inches in diameter. The cavity grips the lower shell and leaves the top free, so the feet do not rub. We spec 1.5 inch cavities for minis and 2.5 for larger pieces. Send one and we measure it.
Can the macarons be seen through a window?
Yes. A clear PET window on the lid or on the front of a sleeve shows the row of colors, which is what sells a macaron box. Keep half an inch of board around the window. On a sleeve style the window can run almost the full length so all six pieces show.
Is soft-touch lamination safe on a food box?
The lamination sits on the outside of the box only, and the tray that holds the macarons is plain, unprinted, food-contact grade SBS. Nothing coated touches the food. That is the standard way patisserie boxes are built, and it is why we keep all finishes on the outer surfaces.
Will the macarons survive shipping?
In the tray, yes, for a day or two by carrier if the box goes inside a mailer with a little padding. Macarons should be chilled, so they usually ship with a cold pack in an insulated outer. The tray stops them sliding, but it does not stop a box being crushed, so the outer carton matters.
Sleeve or lidded box?
A sleeve and tray slides open and shows the row through a window, which suits the 6-count. A lock-corner base with a tuck lid is stiffer and better for 12 or more. Both use the same tray and board. The sleeve takes a foil logo a little better because the panel is flat and unbroken.
How is the macaron box different from the chocolate rigid box?
The macaron box is a folding carton: 18pt food-contact SBS, a sleeve and tray or a lock-corner base, and a die-cut tray with 2 inch cavities in one or two rows, shipped flat, from 200 units in 10 to 14 business days after proof. The chocolate rigid box is wrapped 1000 gsm rigid board with a food-contact tray cut to your mold, delivered assembled and kept, from 200 units in 12 to 14 business days. Everyday counter sales suit the macaron box; gifting and holiday sets can justify the rigid box.
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Ready to price your macaron 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.