Custom lip balm tubes
Spiral-wound paperboard push-up500 minimum · 12 to 14 business daysA lip balm tube is a small spiral-wound paperboard push-up barrel sized for a solid balm or cosmetic stick, with a paperboard base you turn to raise the product. We produce them from 500 units, plastic-free, in about 12 to 14 business days after proof.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a paper push-up tube when your product is a solid, poured balm (lip balm, solid perfume, deodorant sticks, cuticle balm) and you want a plastic-free package that still turns and dispenses like a conventional stick.
Choose a folding carton with an inner jar instead if your product is a salve or cream that needs to be scooped, not pushed up, since a push-up tube only works with a fill that sets firm enough to hold its shape as it rises.
Specifications
| Barrel | Spiral-wound paperboard, plastic-free |
|---|---|
| Push-up base | Turned paperboard disc, threadless friction mechanism |
| Direct flexo on the barrel, or a printed paper label wrap | |
| Diameter | 0.75 or 1 inch, sized to standard balm mold inserts |
| Height | 2.5 to 3.25 inches, filled or unfilled |
| Fill compatibility | Solid, poured balm only, not for liquid or semi-liquid product |
| Minimum | 500 units |
| Lead time | 12 to 14 business days after proof |
| Prototype | On request; timing confirmed in your quote |
| Sizes we run | 0.75 in diameter x 2.5 in 1 in diameter x 3.25 in sized to your fill volume, from 0.15 to 0.3 fl oz |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
Can this tube hold a liquid or gel formula?
No. The push-up mechanism only works with a fill that sets firm: a poured balm that solidifies in the mold. A liquid or gel will leak around the base disc, so those formulas need a jar or a squeeze tube instead.
Is it really plastic-free?
The barrel, base and any label are paper. The one common exception is a thin wax or bio-laminate coating some brands add on the inside barrel wall for extra moisture resistance. We can design it without that coating if a fully plastic-free claim matters for your labeling.
How do you print branding on such a small barrel?
For most runs the barrel is flexo printed directly on the paperboard before it is wound into the tube, which keeps the surface smooth with no label edge. For short runs or multi-SKU batches, a wrapped paper label is more economical since it doesn't need dedicated print tooling per design.
Why is the minimum higher than your other tube products?
The small diameter and the push-up base mechanism use different tooling than a standard mailing or candle tube, and that tooling cost is amortized across a 500-unit minimum rather than 200. It's the trade-off for the smaller, cosmetic-grade format.
Will the paper base hold up to daily use?
Yes, for the product's normal shelf life. The paperboard base is sized to the barrel with a friction fit that holds through ordinary twisting and pushing; it's not rated for indefinite reuse the way a molded plastic mechanism is, but it matches the lifespan of the balm itself.
Can you match a specific stick diameter I'm already using?
In most cases, yes. Send us your current mold or fill specification and we'll match the inside diameter so your existing filling equipment and fill weights carry over without requalification.
How are custom lip balm tubes different from a push up paper tube?
The lip balm tube is the small, fixed format: a 0.75 or 1 inch spiral-wound barrel, 2.5 to 3.25 inches tall, sized to standard balm molds, with a turned paperboard push-up base, from 500 units in 12 to 14 business days after proof. The push up paper tube covers larger solids, deodorant, lotion bars, solid perfume and sunscreen sticks, with a wax-coated push disc and a grease-resistant liner, from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days. Both are for poured products that set firm, not liquids.
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Ready to price your custom lip balm tubes?
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.