Shoulder box
1500 gsm board200 minimum · 12 to 14 business daysA shoulder box is a three-part rigid box: a base, a lid, and a recessed inner neck the lid sits down onto, leaving a visible band of color when closed. We produce them on 1500 gsm board from 200 units, in 12 to 14 business days after proof. Most run 6 by 6 by 3 or 8 by 8 by 4 inches.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a shoulder box when you want the heaviest, most deliberate feel a rigid box can give without any hardware. The lid slides down onto the neck with a cushion of air, and that slow drop is the whole experience. It suits spirits, fragrance, watches, luxury candles and tech where the box will be kept. The contrast neck gives you a second color with no extra print, and the 1500 gsm walls make it the sturdiest box we design.
Choose a two-piece lid and base box instead when you want the same shape with less board and a faster build, because the neck is a third part to make and glue. Choose a magnetic closure box when the box will be opened one-handed or shown flat, since a shoulder lid needs two hands to lift straight off.
Specifications
| Board | 1500 gsm grayboard base and lid, 1200 gsm neck |
|---|---|
| Offset CMYK on the wrap, foil, blind or registered deboss | |
| Finish | Matte art paper, linen, soft-touch, contrast wrap on the neck |
| Closure | Friction fit of lid on neck, no magnet needed |
| Inserts | Die-cut paperboard, foam, velvet-flocked, molded pulp |
| Shoulder reveal | 0.25 to 0.5 inch band of neck showing when closed, your choice |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 12 to 14 business days after proof |
| Ships | Assembled, lids on, in cartons of 20 to 30 |
| Sizes we run | 4 x 4 x 2 in 6 x 6 x 3 in 8 x 8 x 4 in 10 x 8 x 4 in any size from 3 x 3 x 1.5 to 14 x 12 x 6 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
What is the neck for, and does it add strength?
The neck is a shorter inner box glued inside the base that rises above the base wall. The lid drops over it, so the lid is guided straight down and cannot slide sideways. It adds a second wall along the top third of the box, which is why a shoulder box feels stiffer than a plain two-piece box of the same board.
How much of the neck should show?
Between a quarter and a half inch is the usual range. A quarter inch reads as a thin pinstripe of color; a half inch makes the neck a real design element. Go beyond three quarters of an inch and the lid starts to look short. We mark the reveal on the dieline so you can see it before you approve.
Does the lid ever get stuck or fall off?
Neither, if the clearance is right. We allow about 0.04 in of play between neck and lid, which gives the slow drop with a cushion of air and a lift that needs a small tug. A white prototype, available on request, is where this gets confirmed with your real product inside; timing is confirmed in your quote.
Can I use a different color on the neck?
Yes, and we usually suggest it. The neck is wrapped separately, so it can be a contrast paper, a foil paper or a linen while the lid and base stay matte. There is no extra print pass involved, only a second wrap stock, and it adds nothing to the lead time.
Why 1500 gsm rather than 1200?
Because a shoulder box is usually chosen for weight and stiffness, and 1500 gsm board is about 0.1 in thick against 0.08 in for 1200 gsm. On a 6 inch box the difference is obvious in the hand. For boxes under 4 inches we can drop to 1200 gsm without losing the feel.
How is the shoulder box different from the two piece lid and base box?
The shoulder box has three parts: a base, a lid, and an inner neck the lid sits down onto, leaving a band of the neck showing when closed. It runs 1500 gsm on the base and lid and 1200 on the neck, and the lid lifts off slowly on the friction fit. The two piece lid and base box is a lift-off lid straight over a base, on 1200 or 1500 gsm. Both start at 200 units in 12 to 14 business days after proof. The shoulder box costs more for the extra part, so use it where the contrast band and the slow lift matter.
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Ready to price your shoulder 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.