Custom Sleeve Boxes

What is a sleeve box?

A sleeve box has two parts: an inner tray that holds the product and an outer sleeve, open at both ends, that slides over it. The tray pulls out like a matchbox drawer. A sleeve can also be used alone, wrapped around a plain box, jar or food container to add branding without printing the whole package.

When to choose a sleeve box

• You want a premium slide-out opening for gifts or special editions.
• You sell soap, chocolate, tea, socks or other flat items.
• You want to brand stock containers, such as food trays or plain boxes, with a printed wrap.
• You run seasonal designs and want to change only the sleeve.

For a fully rigid presentation, consider a rigid drawer box, which uses the same slide-out idea with thicker board.

Materials and finishes

Sleeves and trays are usually made from SBS paperboard for bright print or kraft for a natural look. For heavier contents, the tray can be made from E-flute corrugated or rigid chipboard. Common finishes include:

• Matte, gloss or soft-touch lamination on the sleeve
• Foil stamping, embossing or spot UV
• Window cutouts that show the product or tray
• Thumb notches or ribbon pulls on the tray

Design tips

• Print the tray in a contrasting color so the reveal feels intentional.
• Keep the sleeve design focused; it is the only part seen on the shelf.
• Allow a little clearance so the tray slides smoothly without falling out.
• Use a thumb notch on the sleeve to make opening easy.

How ordering works

Share your product or container size, quantity, materials and finishes, and we reply with pricing. Our team sets your artwork on the dieline and sends a digital proof before print. Our production partner then makes the sleeves and trays to your exact size and ships them anywhere in the USA or Canada.