Hover to zoomCustom Folding Carton Inserts for Beauty, Gift and Retail Sets
From $0.30 a box Exact price in your emailed quote
A folding carton insert is a printed paperboard tray that keeps every product in its own spot inside your box. We cut it to your inside size and print it to match your packaging.
Quick answer
What are folding carton inserts?
Folding carton inserts are thin paperboard trays, die cut and creased flat, then folded up with slots or wells for your products. They sit inside rigid boxes, drawer boxes, cartons and light mailers. The smooth surface prints cleanly, so the inside of the box looks finished the moment it opens.
Key facts
- Sharp print on smooth board
- Kraft or white paperboard
- Slots and wells for each item
- Flat, creased, ready to fold
- From $0.30 a box
- Free design proof
Folding Carton Inserts specifications
18 rows| Style | Die cut and creased paperboard tray with slots, wells or a raised deck |
|---|---|
| Board | Kraft paperboard or white paperboard |
| Depth | Shallow trays for light products; stacked layers for taller items |
| Cut-outs | Slim slots, round wells, square wells and finger notches |
| Plain, one color, two color or full color CMYK, inside and outside | |
| Finishes | Pick from embossing, foil stamping, spot UV, matte or gloss lamination, or leave the kraft uncoated |
| Pairs with | Drawer boxes, tuck end cartons, lidded boxes and light mailers |
| Arrives | Flat, with creases pressed and ready to fold by hand |
| Board options | E, B or C flute single wall; BC flute double wall; kraft or white paperboard |
| Printing | Unprinted, one color, two color or full color CMYK, outside and inside |
|---|---|
| Sizes | Built to your inside length × width × height in inches (mm also fine) |
| Artwork files | Vector PDF, AI, EPS or SVG work best; sharp PNG or JPG also accepted |
| Design help | Our designers set up the layout for free |
| Proof | Free design proof to approve before printing starts |
| Production | 4–6 business days once you approve the proof |
| Shipping | Free and tracked to any US address, 2–3 business days in transit |
| Misprints | Send photos within 10 days for a reprint or a refund |
| Price | From $0.30 a box; exact price in your emailed quote |
Common insert layouts
| Layout | Good for |
|---|---|
| Three slim slots side by side | Dropper serums, lip balms or mascara |
| One round well and one square well | A bottle with a small cream jar |
| Four upright slots | Fragrance minis or skincare samples |
| Raised deck with two wells | A hero bottle and a refill carton |
| One centered well | A single bottle in a gift carton |
| Row of six small round wells | Candle tins, lip kits or sample vials |
What are folding carton inserts?
A folding carton insert starts as one flat piece of paperboard. We die cut the holes and crease the fold lines. You fold it into a tray and drop it in the box.
Products slide into the openings and stay upright. Side walls tuck under the top panel and lock with tabs, so most designs need no glue.
Browse the wider packing supplies and inserts range if you also need dividers or sheets.
How are they different from corrugated inserts?
The board decides everything. A paperboard insert is one smooth layer with no flutes. It is thinner and lighter, and it holds fine print and small cut-outs well.
Corrugated has a fluted middle that absorbs more shock. For glass jars or full-size bottles, look at die cut corrugated inserts before you decide.
| Point | Folding carton insert | Corrugated insert |
|---|---|---|
| Board | Smooth paperboard | Fluted board |
| Print detail | Very crisp | Good, a little softer |
| Cushioning | Light | Stronger |
| Typical product | Light retail items | Heavier or fragile items |
| Typical outer box | Retail cartons, drawer boxes | Mailers and shipping boxes |
Which products suit a card insert?
Card works for light, tidy products sold on a shelf or given as a gift. Beauty brands use it often because the open box becomes a small display.
Try this quick check. If the whole set sits easily on one open hand, paperboard will probably hold it.
- Dropper serums and small glass bottles
- Lipsticks, balms and mascara tubes
- Fragrance minis and discovery sets
- Tea sachets and small tins for gift sets
- Pens, brushes and craft supplies
- Wedding favors and birthday gift sets
How do I size a folding carton insert?
Start with the inside of the outer box. The insert should fit with only a hair of room, or it will slide around.
Then measure each product at its widest point and note its height. Decide how far each item should sink. A bottle seated halfway looks neat and lifts out easily.
Our guide to measuring a box shows where to hold the ruler. Send us your sizes and our designers will draw the tray for you free.
Should I choose kraft or white paperboard?
White paperboard is the cleanest base for color. Pastels, gradients and small type stay sharp, so most cosmetic sets use it.
Kraft has a natural brown look. It suits handmade soap, tea, candles and plant-based ranges, and it works well with one or two ink colors.
You can also print a solid brand color over white board, edge to edge. Both boards crease cleanly and keep their shape.
Can the insert be printed and finished?
Yes. We print plain, one color, two color or full color CMYK on both sides of the board. That lets the tray match the box inside and out.
For a finish, you can add embossing, foil stamping, spot UV, or a matte or gloss laminate. A foil logo on the top panel, just above the products, gives a set a premium feel.
Add short notes beside each well, such as step numbers or product names. To position your logo, open the Design Your Box page.
How do I fold a carton insert?
Each insert ships flat with the creases already pressed. After you fold the first one, the rest go quickly.
- Place the piece on a clean table with the printed side down.
- Fold the side walls upward along the creases.
- Turn the end flaps inward and push each tab into its slot.
- Flip the tray and check that the top panel lies flat.
- Set it in the box, then load the products one at a time.
What mistakes should I avoid with card inserts?
The biggest one is asking paperboard to carry too much. A thin tray under a heavy bottle can sag. Keep card for light goods, or ask us about a corrugated base.
Wells that are too snug are the second problem. Leave a little clearance and add a finger notch for items that sit deep. Also check the lid height, since the tallest product should clear it.
Last, keep artwork away from cut-outs. A small shift in cutting can leave a white edge. Hold text and logos a little back from every hole, and our designers will flag tight spots on the proof.
Which boxes pair well, and why add an insert?
Drawer boxes, lidded boxes and tuck end cartons are the usual partners. For a shelf-ready carton, see our custom tuck end boxes. We can size the box and tray together so both appear on one proof.
An empty box with loose products looks unfinished. A printed tray turns the same items into a set, and the customer sees the whole range at a glance.
Inserts also speed up packing. Staff place each item in its well and close the lid. A missing piece shows up at once as an empty slot.
How do I order folding carton inserts?
Our price is from $0.30 a box, and the exact figure is sent in the quote by email within one business day. Send the inside size of your box, a list of products with their sizes, and your artwork if you have it.
You can request a quote online, email info@ordercardboardboxes.com, or message us on WhatsApp. You can also call (503) 461-4788, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm Eastern.
A free design proof comes before printing. Production takes 4–6 business days after you approve it. Shipping to any US address is free and tracked, and it takes 2–3 business days in transit.
Report misprints, damage or defects with photos within 10 days. We reprint or refund.
Folding Carton Inserts: questions
12 answersWhat is a folding carton insert made from?
It is one piece of kraft or white paperboard, die cut and creased so it folds into a tray.
Can a card insert hold glass bottles?
It suits small, light glass such as droppers and samples. Heavy jars and large bottles sit better in corrugated board.
Can you print on both sides of the insert?
Yes. We print the top and the underside, so the tray can match the box inside and out.
Can I add a foil logo to the insert?
Yes. The top panel can take embossing, spot UV or foil stamping.
Does the insert need glue?
Most designs fold and lock with tabs. Trays with complex shapes may be glued at our plant before they go out.
Which boxes can I use these inserts in?
Drawer boxes, tuck end cartons, lidded boxes and light mailers are the most common matches.
Can each well have a different shape?
Yes. One tray can hold a bottle, a jar and a slim tube, each in its own cut-out.
Do you make the outer box as well?
Yes. Sizing the box and tray together gives the best fit, and you review both on one proof.
How deep can a folding carton insert be?
Most are shallow trays. For deeper wells, a corrugated insert or a stacked second layer works better.
Is design help included?
Yes. Our designers lay out the tray and artwork for free and send a proof before anything is printed.
Can I print text next to each product?
Yes. Step numbers, product names or short use notes can sit beside every well.
How long does production and shipping take?
Production takes 4–6 business days after proof approval. Free tracked shipping adds 2–3 business days.
Still have a question? Phone (503) 461-4788, send our team a WhatsApp message or write to info@ordercardboardboxes.com.
Design Your Box
Pick a box photo, drop your logo onto it, choose the print and send it over. Our designers return a free proof ready for printing.
1Choose a box
2Place your logo
Add your logo to preview it on this box
Selected: Folding Carton Inserts
Tell us about your boxes
Share the inside size, the board you want and how it should be printed. Our team emails a quote and a free design proof within one business day.
- Free design proof before any box is printed
- Made in 4–6 business days after you approve the proof
- Free tracked shipping to any US address
Rather talk it through? Phone (503) 461-4788 or chat with us on WhatsApp.