Paper Box Materials Explained
The material decides how your box feels in the customer's hands, how it ships, and what it costs. Here are the boards we run every day — what each one is, and what it's good for.
The Five Material Families
Greyboard (Rigid Box Board)
Best for: rigid gift, jewelry & watch boxes — the box that doesn't fold and feels substantial.
Printability: the board itself isn't printed; a wrapped layer of coated art or specialty paper carries all print and finishes.
Details
The thick, dense board inside every luxury rigid box — 350–1800gsm (1–3mm+ caliper). It doesn't fold; it's wrapped with printed or specialty paper to make magnetic closure boxes, book-style boxes and drawer boxes. Heavier board = stiffer box = more perceived value. A 1200gsm wrap is our most common spec for gift boxes; 1500gsm+ for watch, jewelry and wine packaging.
Coated Art Paper (C1S)
Best for: the printed wrap on rigid boxes and premium folding cartons.
Printability: the best in the lineup — smooth, bright surface for photographic images and fine foil detail.
Details
Coated paper with a smooth, bright printing surface — the standard wrap for rigid boxes and the body of premium folding cartons. Prints photographic images and fine foil detail beautifully.
Folding Boxboard
Best for: tuck-end cartons, auto-lock boxes and sleeves — cosmetics, supplements, retail products.
Printability: crisp creases, excellent offset result, holds spot UV and foil cleanly.
Details
White board made to fold. It creases cleanly and runs fast on our gluing lines, which makes it the material of tuck-end cartons, auto-lock boxes and sleeves — cosmetics, supplements, and retail products.
Kraft Paper
Best for: bakery boxes, takeaway, apparel and artisan goods — the eco story that reads at a glance.
Printability: one-color and twine for a natural look, or solid ink coverage when you need brand color.
Details
Natural brown or white, virgin or recycled. Kraft is the eco story: it's strong for its weight, recyclable, and reads "sustainable" at a glance. Pairs with one-color printing and twine for a natural look, or prints solid ink coverage when you need brand color.
Corrugated Board
Best for: mailers, shippers and dividers — the shipping champion.
Printability: E-flute prints retail-grade via offset-laminated liner; flexo with water-based inks for volume.
Details
Fluted paper sandwiched between liners — the shipping champion. E-flute is thin and prints well for printed mailers; thicker flutes add stacking strength for export cartons. Corrugated is also recyclable and can be printed inside and out for an unboxing moment.
Match the Board to Your Product
Send your product, weight class and budget — we'll come back with the right spec and factory pricing.
Get a Spec Recommendation →Board & Paper Grades We Run
The weights below are the grades we run for custom orders. Any grade can be combined — for example a 1,200gsm greyboard core with a 157gsm art-paper wrap.
| Grade | Weights | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| C2S art paper (coated both sides) | 128 / 157 / 190 / 210gsm | Printed wraps, inner sleeves, bags |
| C1S art paper (coated one side) | 160 / 210 / 250 / 300gsm | Folding cartons, box wraps |
| Grey cardboard | 600–1000 / 1200 / 1400 / 1800gsm | Rigid box body |
| Specialty paper | 120 / 157 / 182 / 250gsm | Textured wraps, premium finishes |
| CCNB (grey-back board) | 250 / 300 / 350 / 500gsm | Economical folding cartons |
| Corrugated | B, A, C and F flute (plus E for printed mailers) | Mailers, shippers, cartons |
Quick Comparison
| Material | Typical Use | Feel | Eco Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greyboard 350–1800gsm | Rigid gift, jewelry & watch boxes | Heavy, stiff, premium | FSC on request |
| Art paper 157–350gsm | Box wraps, premium cartons | Smooth, bright | FSC on request |
| Folding boxboard 250–400gsm | Tuck-end & auto-lock cartons | Crisp folds, light | Widely recyclable |
| Kraft paper | Bakery, takeaway, apparel, eco gifts | Natural texture, sturdy | Recycled options |
| Corrugated (E-flute+) | Mailers, shippers, dividers | Cushioned, rigid | Curbside recyclable |
Need FSC or Food-Grade Certification?
Tell us what your market requires — certified boards and food-safe coatings are standard options here, not extras.
Check Availability for My Project →Eco & Food-Safe Options
All boards can be supplied with FSC Chain-of-Custody documentation. We print with soy-based vegetable inks, and plastic-free aqueous dispersion coatings keep boxes curbside-recyclable. For direct food contact (bakery, takeaway) we use food-grade board and coatings — tell us the application and we'll match the spec. See the FAQ for certification details.
Not sure which material fits your product and budget? Tell us what you're packaging — we'll suggest two or three specs with sample photos and pricing. You can also browse by structure in Paper Box Styles.
Material Samples Before You Commit
We'll match the right board to your product and send a printed sample in 3–5 days.
Ask for a Material Recommendation →