Die cut paperboard insert
18 to 24pt SBS200 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA die-cut paperboard insert is a flat or folded piece of 18 to 24pt SBS cut with holes, slots or a raised platform so a product sits still inside a box. We produce them to fit any of our boxes or one you already have, from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. Most are cut for 6 by 4 or 8 by 6 inch boxes.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a paperboard insert when a product needs to stop moving and look placed rather than dropped in. A serum bottle, a candle jar, a set of three lip balms, a watch on a pillow. It is the cheapest insert that also prints, so the top face can carry a color, a pattern or a line of text. It suits cartons and rigid boxes alike, and it is what turns a plain mailer into a set.
Choose a corrugated insert when the product is heavy or the box ships on its own, because paperboard holds position but not much impact. Choose a foam insert for glass, electronics or anything with a hard edge, since foam absorbs a drop and paperboard only cushions a rattle.
Specifications
| Board | 18, 20 or 24pt SBS, white or kraft face |
|---|---|
| Plain, one color, or full color offset on the top face | |
| Finish | Uncoated, matte aqueous or soft-touch to match the box |
| Closure | None, sits loose or locks into the box base with tabs |
| Insert | Flat platform, folded riser, or two-layer for bottles |
| Cavities | One to twelve per insert, cut to your product outline |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, in bundles of 50, or folded and placed in the box on request |
| Sizes we run | cut to fit a 6 x 4 x 2 in box cut to fit a 8 x 6 x 3 in box cut to fit a 10 x 8 x 4 in box cut to fit a 12 x 9 x 4 in box any size from 3 x 3 to 18 x 14 in footprint |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
How do you get the cavity to fit my product?
Send the product, or its dimensions to the nearest sixteenth of an inch and a photo beside a coin. We spec the cavity about 0.04 to 0.08 in larger than the product so it drops in without force and does not rattle. For a round jar we spec a circle; for a bottle with a shoulder we spec the widest point and add a collar.
Which caliper should I use?
18pt is the default for cartons and small rigid boxes under 8 inches. 20pt gives a stiffer platform for a riser that lifts the product off the base. 24pt is for boxes over 10 inches wide or anything that must feel solid when pressed. A two-layer 18pt build often beats a single 24pt for holding a bottle upright.
Can the insert be printed?
Yes, on the top face. One color or full color offset, with the same coating as the box so the two match. A colored insert against a white box, or the reverse, is the cheapest way to make an unboxing look planned. Printing the underside is possible but rarely worth it.
Does it come folded or flat?
Flat by default, in bundles of 50, with the folds scored so the riser goes up in a second at your bench. If you would rather not do that, we can have them folded and dropped into the box before it ships, which adds a little to the assembly step and nothing to the lead time.
Will it work in a box I did not buy from you?
Yes. Send us the inside dimensions of the box, or one of the boxes, and we spec the insert to it. Inside dimensions matter, not outside. If your box is E-flute the walls will be about 0.06 in thick and we allow for that. Ask for a sample fit before the full run.
How is a die-cut paperboard insert different from a corrugated insert?
Board and weight. The paperboard insert is 18 to 24pt SBS, white or kraft, cut with cavities, slots or a raised platform, and it can be printed full color on the top face, for cartons and mailers holding light products. The corrugated insert is E-flute, or B-flute for heavy items, as a cradle, divider set, pad or folded frame, rated up to about 8 pounds in E-flute and 15 in B-flute. Both start at 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. Presentation suits paperboard; weight suits corrugated.
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Ready to price your die cut paperboard insert?
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.