18pt SBS paperboard
18pt SBS (solid bleached sulfate) is white virgin-fiber paperboard 0.018 inch thick, close to 300 gsm, with a clay-coated face that prints sharp and takes lamination, foil and spot UV cleanly. It is the default board for folding cartons that hold products under about 12 ounces, on cartons up to about 5 inches on the longest side. Past that weight or size, move to 24pt.
18pt SBS at a glance
| Caliper | 0.018 in (18 points) |
|---|---|
| Weight | Close to 300 gsm |
| Fiber | Bleached virgin pulp, white through the sheet, so cut edges and creases stay clean |
| Surface | Clay-coated print face, uncoated back as standard; coated two sides on request |
| Offset CMYK with Pantone match, or digital CMYK for shorter runs | |
| Finishes | Matte or gloss aqueous, soft-touch or gloss lamination, spot UV, foil, deboss |
| Food contact | Food-contact grades available; documentation supplied with the quote |
| Load | Products up to about 12 ounces, cartons up to about 5 inches on the longest side |
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose 18pt for shelf cartons around small, light products: a 30 ml dropper, a 50 ml jar, a lip tint, a bar of soap, a tin of tea, a bottle of capsules. It folds cleanly, glues well, and its smooth face is the best surface on the site for soft-touch film and a small foil mark.
Skip it when the filled product passes about 12 ounces, which takes in most glass over 100 ml, when any panel runs past 5 inches, or when the box has to hold its shape empty. Those jobs want 24pt SBS. If the carton ships on its own through a parcel network, it is the wrong box entirely; use an E-flute mailer.
Read nextProducts made with 18pt SBS
These are the products whose pages list 18pt SBS as a material that suits them. Across these products, minimums run from 200 to 1,000 units, with lead times of 8 to 14 business days after proof approval. Each product page states its own.
Also offered in 18pt SBS: soap box, supplement carton, tea carton, pharmacy style carton, cupcake box with insert, macaron box, cookie box, match box, gift card box, candy box, wedding favor box, pillow box, gable box, cereal box, packaging sleeve, cigarette-style box.
Questions about 18pt SBS
What does 18pt mean on paperboard?
The point number is thickness in thousandths of an inch, so 18pt SBS is 0.018 inch thick. It is a caliper measurement, not a weight; 18pt SBS weighs close to 300 gsm.
Is 18pt SBS strong enough for a glass bottle?
For small glass, yes, with a paperboard cradle inside: a 30 ml dropper or a 50 ml jar sits well in an 18pt carton. Once the filled product passes about 12 ounces, which takes in most glass over 100 ml, choose 24pt SBS or an auto lock bottom carton.
Can 18pt SBS be printed on the inside?
Yes. Standard SBS is coated on the print face only, so inside print looks slightly softer. If the inside is part of the design, ask for a coated-two-sides board, which prints the same on both faces.
Is 18pt SBS recyclable?
Plain SBS with an aqueous coating is recyclable as mixed paper. Once a plastic film lamination goes on, the answer depends on the local facility, so we do not print a recycling claim on a laminated carton without checking.
Hold it before you choose
The Swatch Book is a free set of board, wrap and finish samples, so you can feel 18pt SBS next to the alternatives before you decide. Name the materials you are weighing in the request. When you are ready, send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day, with a complimentary digital proof on every order.