A rigid gift box is the two-piece structure most buyers picture when they say premium packaging: a separate lid and base, wrapped in printed paper over a thick greyboard core, with no collapse and no creases on the outside. It costs more than a folding carton because it is not folded from a single sheet — the board is cut, V-grooved, folded into a tray, and then hand-wrapped. That wrapping step is what sets the price, and it is also what gives the box its weight in the hand.
Greyboard weight decides how the box feels
The single biggest variable in a rigid box quotation is the thickness of the greyboard inside. Buyers usually notice this as heft — the difference between a box that feels like a shoe box and one that feels like a jewellery case. GDF keeps five weight bands in regular production, and moving up one band changes both the unit price and the shipping weight, so it is worth deciding deliberately rather than defaulting to the thickest option.
Going heavier is not free beyond material cost. Thicker board means a larger outer size for the same internal space, which raises dimensional weight and therefore freight. It also needs a deeper V-groove and slightly more hand-work at the corners, where the wrap paper has to turn cleanly without showing the board edge.
| Greyboard | Feel in the hand | Typical application | Cost level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 350g | Light, slightly flexible | Flat sleeve boxes, light gift wrap | Lowest |
| 800–1000g | Firm, holds shape well | Cosmetic sets, small electronics | Low |
| 1200g | Solid, the common default | Most gift boxes, apparel, tea | Medium |
| 1500g | Heavy, noticeable drop weight | Wine, premium skincare, watches | Above medium |
| 1800g | Very heavy, does not flex at all | Luxury sets, jewellery, keepsake boxes | Highest |
Wrap paper does the looking, board does the holding
The outer wrap is a separate decision from the board. Coated art paper gives the cleanest print and the widest colour range, and it is the standard choice when artwork includes photographs or gradients. Special textured paper adds a tactile grain that reads as expensive before anyone reads the logo, though it absorbs ink differently and softens fine detail. Soft-touch lamination sits between the two: a matte, slightly rubbery film that survives handling well and fingerprints less than bare matte stock.
On a rigid box the finish usually carries the branding, because the structure is already doing the work of feeling premium. A single hot foil logo on dark wrap often outperforms a full-colour print at a lower cost, and embossing the same mark without foil is the quietly expensive option — it is felt rather than seen.
Standard specifications
The ranges below reflect what GDF runs regularly. Sizes outside them are possible but usually need a tooling review first, since the V-groove depth and the wrap allowance both scale with the box.
| Item | Standard range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Greyboard weight | 350g – 1800g | 1200g suits most gift applications |
| Wrap paper | Coated art / textured / soft-touch | FSC-certified stock available on request |
| Common finishes | Hot foil, emboss, deboss, spot UV | Priced separately, see finishing guide |
| Insert options | EVA, foam, paperboard, moulded pulp | Quoted against the actual product |
| MOQ | 500 pcs | Fixed tooling is the reason, not a gate |
| White dummy sample | Available before tooling | Confirms size and fit, not colour |
| Bulk lead time | 7–12 working days | Longer when finishes are stacked |
Four things to confirm before ordering
First, the internal clearance — a rigid box quoted on external dimensions will not fit a product measured to its widest point, and the insert eats into that space. Second, send the actual product or its exact drawing; inserting a photo of a similar item is the most common cause of a failed fit. Third, decide the board weight against the shipping method, because air freight bills on volume and a heavier board usually means a larger carton. Fourth, ask whether the finish layers are marked on the artwork, since foil and emboss need their own spot colour files and cannot be derived from the print file afterwards.
Other structures: Magnetic Closure Box | Drawer Box | Book Style Box | Flat-Pack Folding Box
Other structures: Magnetic Closure Box | Drawer Box | Book Style Box
GDF — send product dimensions and target quantity, and we will quote two board weights side by side.
Phone/WeChat: +86 15813892599 (Mr. Deng)
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