No matter the gender, age, or item, every gift needs packaging that’s worth it. This guide does the work for you; dive into the world of unlimited opportunities.

Be the master of gift-giving by understanding the fundamentals of gift packaging. From material selection, structural styles, shapes, lids, and closures to customization options, including printing, coating, add-ons, and inserts—this guide will help you understand it all.

Understanding these elements makes it easier to choose packaging that suits the product, supports display requirements, and aligns with how the gift will be stored, transported, or presented.

And if you are still unsure, feel free to contact our representatives and share your product details, and we will suggest the best packaging options—at TheCosmeticBoxesUK ☺️

Material Selection For Gift Boxes And Bags:

Table of Contents

First things first, let’s explore the different material options for excellent packaging solutions. Choosing the right material matters, as it affects the storage, shipping, printing, and finishing, especially controlling the feel in the hands and in the eyes 😍

The most popular materials for personalised gift boxes and bags include:

Art card/paper stock
Kraft stock
Cardboard stock
Corrugated stock
Rigid stock
Others: wood, plastic, glass, fabric, etc.

Keep reading for a detailed overview…

Artcard/Paper Stock For Lightweight Yet Artistic Packaging

If the aesthetics matter more than the product protection, choose art card/paper stock boxes and bags. They are lightweight but provide a fine surface for high-quality print results. Pack your lightweight, small, cute gift items that do not require protection in these boxes and bags, adorned with your eye-catching branding elements.

Kraft Stock To Keep The Green Vision Intact

If you are looking for a clean, understated feel, Kraft stock is your best bet. With its brown tone and minimalistic finishing, Kraft stock seems to be the perfect fit for the co-consios brands. Besides, the printing on kraft tends to be subtle, which suits the designs that demand contrast instead of bright color results.

Cardboard Stock For High Quality Graphics

If you want high-quality prints and protection, allow me to introduce cardboard stock. These boxes are lightweight yet strong and durable. Cardboard boxes are the perfect canvases for high-quality print results. Hence, they are the best pick for retail purposes, where presentation and visual consistency matter.

Corrugated Stock For Extra Protection

If you need the packaging to be pretty, lightweight, yet efficient in protection, corrugated boxes must be the thing you are looking for. They are the stars of shipping boxes. Made up of an inner corrugated layer that protects with an efficient cushiony effect, sandwiched between plain fine paper sheets providing the perfect surface texture for high-quality prints, corrugated boxes have got your back during shipping or for long-term storage purposes.

Rigid Stock For Premium Appeal

For a luxury gift-packaging experience, choose rigid boxes. These are made from thick, dense chipboard. Rigid boxes are not foldable and appear solid, usually delivered assembled. They not only protect the item inside, but also maintain the structural integrity over time. For your Jewellery Gift Boxes, rigid boxes are the best pick.

Other Materials To Explore

Other than the above-mentioned materials, you can also explore wood boxes, fabric bags, plastic (bio-plastic) packaging, and glass packaging options. They are durable, customizable, and worth the shot.

Bring Variety Through Shapes, Sizes, and Styles

Now that we have passed the sea of material options, let us move towards the structural designs that you can offer.

Sleeve and Tray Boxes: These boxes have a separate inner tray carrying the product and a protective sleeve surrounding the tray. You can easily slide the tray and take the product out whenever you want.
Drawer Boxes: Just like sleeve and tray boxes, the drawer box has an inner tray and a sleeve, only that the tray can slide but not be taken out; pretty much like a drawer. These boxes can also have special locks to make the box more secure
Rectangle Gift Boxes: Popular for bracelets, wristwatches, and anklets, you can have rectangular gift boxes for a variety of items.
Round Gift Boxes: Then, we have this unique shape to attract the majority. The round shape is smooth and eye-catching, best for triggering impulse buying.
Tube Packaging: Talking about round gift boxes, the tubes come into the subject as well. These cylindrical tubes are popular for candle and stationery storage.
Heart-Shaped Boxes: Celebrate love with gift-giving and unique gift packaging styles. What else could be better than a heart-shaped gift box that not just secures your love, but presents it amplified?
Pyramid Boxes: This is another unique option to catch the attention and stand out. Pyramid boxes appear in two styles: a triangular (pyramid-shaped) box and a pile of stackable boxes that, when stacked properly over each other, give off a pyramid-like shape.
Hexagonal Boxes: These are the unique six-corner boxes, made to impress.
Themed boxes: If you want to have a themed packaging experience, you must deliver this to the manufacturer. For themed packaging, different shapes and colors are used. For example, if you are looking for Custom Halloween Gift Boxes, the packaging must be shaped as a ghost or pumpkin, using white, yellow, and brown color pallets. Besides, if you are looking for Christmas Gift Boxes, the color palette that will be used is white, green, and red.

Get inspired and unleash the creative child inside you, pure and unique, and get your Custom Printed gift Boxes just as you want.

Lids And Closures That Complete The Box Look

To make your box whole, lids and closure options are very important. Explore the options below, get inspired, and create your best Gift Boxes with logo.

Lid options

Here are some lid options in the table below. Go through it and make sure you do not miss a thing. This will help you in dealing with the manufacturers worldwide—know what you need.

Lid Option	Description / Uses
Lift-Off Lid	A separate top that lifts away from the base; common for general gifting, keepsake packaging, and easy unboxing.
Telescopic Lid	A deeper lid that covers more of the base; used when a tighter fit and cleaner outer look are needed.
Partial Cover Lid	A shallower lid that covers only part of the base height helps show more of the base design and works for lightweight items.
Hinged Lid	The lid is attached to the base on one side and is useful for repeated opening, product sets, and gifting kits.
Tube Cap Lid	A cap-style lid for cylindrical boxes; used for candles, bottles, rolled items, and delicate long products.
Book-Style Magnetic Lid	A rigid flap that closes like a book cover; used for luxury kits, corporate gifting, and sturdy presentation boxes.
Window Lid	Lid includes a cut-out window (with or without film), used when the product should be visible without opening.

Closure Options

Furthermore, there are some closure options that you will like, and you must explore.

Tuck-In Flap Closure: You can simply have flaps that tuck inside to provide a fine closure.
Auto-Bottom Closure: This closure assembles on its own, without needing to follow any steps.
Sealed End Closure: Boxes with one or both ends sealed.
Self-Locking Closure: It is a special type of locking mechanism—the ears tuck into die-cut panels to secure the box—more like the cake box.
Magnetic Closure: Mostly used with rigid stock.
Ribbon Tie Closure: It is a fancy closure used for a high-end feel.
Velcro Closure: This is common with bags.
Button and String Closure: They are also common with bags, as well as envelopes.
1-2-3 Bottom Closure: Here, you need to follow three strategic steps to close the box.
Elastic Band Closure: Secure the box using an elastic band.
Fold-Over Tab Lock: You can add a locking tab to securely lock the box.

This and much more—your box, your design.

Customization Options For Point Of Sale Display

Category	Options	Usage / Benefits
Printing Styles	Full-Color CMYK • Pantone Spot Color • Inside Printing • Outside Printing • All-Over Patterns • Minimal Logo Printing	Builds brand recognition, keeps artwork consistent across box sizes, and helps products look organised on shelves or in sets.
Finishing Options	Matte Lamination • Gloss Lamination • Soft-Touch Lamination • Anti-Scratch Lamination • Aqueous Coating • Anti-Fingerprint Coating	Protects printed surfaces from rubbing and handling marks, improves the feel in hand, and supports a cleaner presentation for retail or gifting.
Brand Enhancers	Foil Stamping • Embossing • Debossing • Raised UV / 3D UV • Metallic Ink Accents • Pattern Detailing	Adds highlight details for logos and key design elements, improves perceived value, and makes packaging more noticeable without changing box structure.
Functional Add-Ons	Window Cut-Out • Window Film Patch • Ribbon Pull • Ribbon Tie • Magnetic Patch • Die-Cut Handle	Improves usability and product visibility, supports secure closing, and makes boxes easier to carry or open while keeping a neat finish.
Protection Inserts	Cardboard Inserts • Foam Inserts • Molded Pulp Inserts • Divider Inserts • Product-Fit Cavities	Keeps items stable inside the box, reduces movement during handling, and helps present multi-item kits in a clean, separated layout.

How Does Customisation Matter?

Your product packaging is the first thing that gets noticed. It is the first skin and first impression—make this last longer. Customise your boxes in the best ways possible. Add your personal touches to make the gift-giving intimate—show your customers that they matter!

Customisation plays an important role in brand recognition and product display. If the packaging is not top-notch, the product will be ignored. But if the packaging is worth the shot, your potential customers won’t have second thoughts. Hence, an increase in sales and trust.

Besides, customisation helps you not just in beautifying the appearance but also in adding our branding elements on the cover, adding to the brand visibility. People who trust the brand would pick the box instantly, and those who are yet unaware of the existence of your brand would get a chance of introduction.

With customisation, you will be able to save more. As customisation is a cheaper way of brand advertising—make your box, your mini, your mobile billboard, and cut out the extra advertising tactics.

Go Wholesale for Smart Purchases!

If you are a big brand that can afford to buy in bulk, do so! Because when you buy in bulk, you make sure that you have more than enough in case of rush/emergency or surprise orders.

Moreover, buying gift boxes wholesale means you will get more in one shipment instead of small quantities in different shipments—reducing shipping costs and carbon footprint.

Moreover, many companies give huge discounts on bulk orders, so it is a win-win from every angle

Where To Find A Reliable Packaging Partner?

Hanging swords of deadlines? No worries—CALL US!!!

At TheCosmeticBoxesUK, you will be provided with all under one roof—from material selection to customisation options, we nail it!

Don’t just trust our words; reach out to our representatives and get images of our old products or physical samples for a quality check. Besides, we can also provide you with custom samples, made just like you want.

Our hot-selling products include:

All You Need To Know About Gift Boxes To Express & Impress Better