One carton, many shades
A single shared carton with a shade label or sticker applied at packing lets one design cover every shade in a line.
Factory-direct packaging
Custom makeup box manufacturer
Folding cartons and rigid boxes from 500 pieces for palettes, lipsticks, lashes and makeup kits. Production runs in our partner factory in Guangdong, China.
Short answer
PackClarity makes makeup boxes in a partner paper packaging factory in Guangdong, China: small folding cartons for lipsticks, mascara and compacts, and rigid, magnetic and drawer boxes or paper tubes for palettes, sets and PR kits. Every structure starts at 500 pieces per design; samples take about 7 days and bulk production about 20 days after approval.
We make the outer box and insert, not the lipstick tube, palette or mascara component.Box styles
Makeup box styles and their minimums
Makeup lines mix many small cartons with a few rigid boxes for sets and PR.
| Box style | What it is | Best for | MOQ per design |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small folding carton | Single-layer printed paperboard in small formats; ships flat. | Lipsticks, mascara, eyeliner, foundation and compacts | 500 pcs |
| Rigid lift-off box | Wrapped greyboard box with a separate lid. | Palettes and premium single products sold as gifts | 500 pcs |
| Magnetic closure box | Rigid box with a hinged lid held shut by hidden magnets. | PR and influencer kits, holiday collections | 500 pcs |
| Drawer box | Rigid tray that slides out of a wrapped sleeve. | Brush sets, lash boxes and mini collections | 500 pcs |
| Paper tube | Round rigid paper tube with a matching lid. | Lip sets and cylindrical gift packs | 500 pcs |
Shade lines
Planning boxes for a line with many shades
Shades multiply designs, and designs multiply minimums, so decide the approach before artwork starts.
Print only where it pays
Give hero shades or best sellers their own printed carton and keep the long tail on the shared design.
Keep shade names readable
Small cartons leave little space, so fix the position and size of the shade name and barcode before artwork is locked.
Small formats
What changes on small cartons
Lipstick and mascara cartons are small enough that details which are easy on larger boxes become constraints.
Text and barcode space
Required text and the barcode compete for very little space; confirm the barcode stays scannable at the size you plan.
Fine finishing
Fine foil lines and tiny embossed logos can close up at small sizes, so check them on the sample.
Snug fit
A small carton that is slightly too loose lets the product rattle; size it to the finished component with its cap.
PR kits
PR, influencer and holiday kits
Kit boxes are opened on camera, so the reveal matters as much as protection.
Magnetic or drawer reveal
Magnetic lids and drawer boxes give a clean opening moment and a box people keep.
Insert for every piece
Cut the insert to every product in the kit so nothing shifts in the mailer.
Plan the run size
PR kits are often small runs; at 500 pieces per design, plan whether one kit design can serve several campaigns.
Finishes
Finishing options for makeup boxes
Every finish adds a production step, so confirm it on the physical sample rather than on a flat proof.
Foil stamping
Metallic logos and borders in gold, silver or colored foil.
Embossing and debossing
Raised or pressed logos and patterns that add texture without extra ink.
Soft-touch or matte lamination
A velvety or low-sheen surface that also protects the print.
Spot UV
Gloss applied to selected areas to contrast with a matte surface.
Timeline
From quote to delivery
Plan the launch date backwards from these stages.
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Quote and dieline | After you send product size and quantity | Box style, insert and finish are matched to the product and a dieline is prepared. |
| Sample | About 7 days | A physical sample is made so structure, insert fit and finish can be checked with the real product. |
| Bulk production | About 20 days after sample approval | Printing, forming, finishing, insert assembly and inspection. |
| Door to door | About 30-40 days from order | Includes sampling, production and shipping; the exact time depends on destination and shipping method. |
Quote request
What to send for an accurate quote
A makeup box can be quoted accurately once these details are known; artwork can follow later.
- Component sizes with caps, or finished samples for fitting.
- Number of shades or designs, and the quantity for each.
- Structure per product: small folding carton, rigid box, magnetic box, drawer box or paper tube.
- Finishes you want, such as foil, embossing or soft-touch.
- Destination country and target delivery date.
FAQ
Makeup box questions
Answers to the questions makeup brands ask before ordering.
What is the minimum order for custom makeup boxes?
All structures start at 500 pieces per design: small folding cartons, rigid, magnetic and drawer boxes and paper tubes.
Do you make the lipstick tubes, palettes or mascara components?
No. PackClarity supplies the outer boxes, tubes and inserts that hold them. Send the finished component, or its drawing, so the box and insert are sized to it.
How do I handle a line with many shades?
Minimums apply per design, so one printed carton per shade multiplies the minimum. Many brands use one shared carton for all shades and add a shade label when packing; otherwise ask in your quote request whether shade versions can be combined.
Can you make eyelash boxes?
Yes, as small rigid, magnetic or drawer boxes. The lash tray itself usually comes from your lash supplier, so send it with your request and the box is sized around it.
How long do makeup box samples take?
About 7 days after the dieline and artwork are confirmed. Bulk production takes about 20 days after sample approval, and door-to-door delivery is typically 30-40 days from order.
Why are prices not listed?
The price depends on the box size, structure, insert, finish and quantity, so each project is quoted once those are known.
Procurement guides
Buying guide for this category
Read this before you request a quote for this category.
How to Measure for a Custom Cosmetic Box: Jars, Bottles and Tubes
A cosmetic carton is sized from the finished container, with the cap or pump on and the label applied. Measuring the right dimensions, deciding the clearance and the insert, and sending a photo with a ruler lets a supplier draw the dieline correctly the first time.
How to Plan Folding Cartons for a Multi-Shade Product Line
A shade range multiplies the number of printed designs, and the minimum order usually applies to each design rather than to the whole order. Planning how many designs the range needs, and how the shade is shown, decides whether a small launch fits the minimum or not.
Top 10 Cosmetic Box Manufacturers & Suppliers
Cosmetic box suppliers split into China box factories that start around 1,000 pieces, US printers and online services that start at 50 to 100 boxes, and platforms that route orders to partner factories. Which group fits depends on how many boxes per design you need and how fast you need them.
Retail Packaging Checklist for New Product Launches
Retail packaging has to satisfy the retailer's routing guide and shelf requirements before it satisfies the brand's aesthetic preferences, and missing a routing guide requirement can mean a rejected shipment after production is paid for.
Custom Packaging Reorder Guide
Keep color, print and material consistent across repeat packaging runs by locking references and approval records at the first order, not re-approving from scratch each time.
How to Choose Custom Cosmetic Packaging for a New Beauty Brand
The packaging structure decision comes before the MOQ or first-order decision: a bottle, jar, tube, palette and vial each force a different box, insert and label layout, and getting the structure wrong is what causes a redesign later, not a quantity or cost problem.
Custom Makeup Packaging
Custom makeup boxes for lipsticks, mascara, palettes, lash products and PR kits. Choose small cartons for shade ranges or rigid and magnetic boxes for sets, with a plan for how many designs the line really needs.