How to Order Custom Boxes from China: Steps, MOQ, Costs and Lead Times
To order custom boxes from China, you send a factory your box style, size, quantity and artwork, approve a sample, pay a deposit, and the boxes are made and shipped. From first inquiry to boxes leaving the factory, a typical order takes about four weeks: roughly 7 days for a sample and about 15 days for bulk production, plus time for artwork and approvals. Sea freight comes on top of that.
We are a box factory in Wenzhou, so we see this process from the supplier’s side every day. This guide walks through each step, the terms you will be asked to agree to, and the warning signs to look for. Our own terms appear as examples, but the steps apply to any factory you work with.
Before You Contact a Factory: What to Prepare
A factory can only quote accurately when it knows five things: the box style, the inside size, the quantity, the print and the finishes. Sending all five in the first message usually gets you a usable quote the same day. Leaving them out means a week of back-and-forth questions.
| What to send | Why it matters | If you are not sure |
|---|---|---|
| Box style | Rigid, magnetic, drawer and folding boxes are priced very differently | Send a photo of a box you like |
| Inside size (L × W × H) | The product must fit, and the factory adds board thickness for the outside size | Send the product size and weight |
| Quantity | Unit price falls as quantity rises | Ask for two or three quantity breaks |
| Number of colors and coverage affect cost | A rough design or reference is enough to quote | |
| Finishes and inserts | Foil, embossing, spot UV, magnets and inserts each add cost | List what you want and the factory will advise |
The Six Steps of a Custom Box Order
Most custom box orders follow the same six steps, from inquiry to shipping. The wording varies between factories, but the order of events rarely does. Here is how it works with us, with the time each step usually takes.
1. Inquiry
You describe what you are packing and the box you have in mind. A photo of a similar box saves a lot of explanation. If you have no idea where to start, describe the product and the budget, and ask the factory to suggest a style.
2. Quotation
The factory prices the box by board, printing, finishes and quantity. We send quotes within 6 hours of receiving the size and quantity. A quote that arrives in minutes with no questions asked is often a placeholder price that will change later.
3. Order and deposit
You confirm the order and pay a deposit. Our terms are 30% deposit and 70% balance before shipping, which is a common arrangement among packaging factories in China.
4. Dieline and artwork
The factory makes a dieline, the flat template of your box with cut and fold lines. We make it free of charge for your size. Your designer places the artwork on it and sends back print-ready files. We accept AI, PDF (with text converted to outlines) and CDR. If you have no designer, we can design it for a fee.
5. Sample and production
A sample is made first, usually in about 7 days for a digital proof. After you approve it, bulk production takes us about 15 days, or about 18 days before the Mid-Autumn and Chinese New Year peaks. Approval of the sample is the point of no return, so check it carefully.
6. Packing and shipping
Finished boxes are packed in corrugated cartons and handed to the shipper. We pack in cartons we make ourselves and ship EXW or CIF. The balance payment is due before the goods leave.
Put your inside dimensions, not outside, in the first message, and say so clearly. Mixing the two up is the most common reason a first sample does not fit the product.
MOQ: What It Is and Why Factories Have One
The MOQ (minimum order quantity) is the smallest order a factory will accept for a custom box. Our MOQ is 1,000 pcs for rigid gift boxes and folding cartons, and 3,000 pcs for shoe boxes. Below these numbers the setup costs dominate the price.
Every custom box run has fixed costs before the first box is made: printing plates, color matching, a cutting die, machine setup and wrap paper waste. Those costs are about the same for 1,000 boxes as for 10,000. That is why the unit price drops sharply as quantity rises, and why very small runs are better served by digital printing or stock boxes.
What Drives the Price of a Custom Box
The price of a custom box is set mainly by five things: box style, size, board, print and finishes, then spread over the quantity. Style is the biggest single factor. A rigid box costs more than a folding carton of the same size because it uses thick greyboard, a separate printed wrap and more hand work.
| Cost driver | How it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Box style | Rigid and magnetic boxes cost more than folding cartons. Drawers and inserts add more |
| Size | More board and paper per box. Larger boxes also ship at higher freight cost |
| Board | Thicker greyboard (we use 1.5–4 mm, most often 2 mm) costs more |
| Full coverage and special colors cost more than simple one-color prints | |
| Finishes | Lamination, foil stamping, embossing and spot UV each add a step |
| Quantity | Fixed setup costs are spread over more units |
We do not publish price lists, because the same box can vary widely in price with size and finishes. Any factory that quotes without asking about those details is guessing.
Ask the factory which single finish adds the most to your quote. Dropping one all-over foil or switching it to a logo-only foil often saves more than haggling over the unit price.
Samples: Digital Proof or Pre-Production Sample?
A digital proof is a sample printed on a digital press, made by hand to the final structure and size. It shows fit, structure and layout quickly and cheaply. Its colors can differ slightly from the offset-printed bulk order, because the two print methods are different.
A pre-production sample is made on the production line with the real materials, so it is closer to the final result but takes longer and costs more. For most orders, a digital proof plus a color standard is enough. We charge a sample fee that is refunded when you place the bulk order, and we match bulk colors with a color meter.
Payment Terms and How to Protect Yourself
The usual terms are a 30% deposit with the order and the 70% balance before shipping. The balance is your main protection, so do not release it until you are satisfied with the goods.
- Approve a physical sample before bulk production starts.
- Ask for photos or a video of the finished boxes before paying the balance.
- For large orders, consider a third-party pre-shipment inspection.
- Pay to the company account named on the contract, never to a personal account.
You are welcome to visit our factory, or to send your own QC agent or a third-party inspection company before shipment. We can also send photos and videos of your finished boxes before you pay the balance.
Shipping: EXW vs CIF Explained
EXW and CIF are two Incoterms rules that decide who arranges and pays for freight. Under EXW (Ex Works), you collect the goods at the factory and your forwarder handles everything from there. Under CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight), the factory pays freight and insurance to your destination port, and you handle import and delivery from the port.
| EXW | CIF | |
|---|---|---|
| Who books freight | Your forwarder | The factory |
| Price quoted | Boxes only, at the factory | Boxes plus freight and insurance to your port |
| Best for | Buyers with a forwarder in China | First-time importers without a forwarder |
| What you still pay | Everything after the factory gate | Destination port charges, duties and local delivery |
We quote both. Sea freight from Wenzhou usually leaves through Ningbo or Shanghai, the main container ports in our region; Wenzhou port itself has fewer direct routes. If you buy EXW, your forwarder collects the goods at our factory.
When you compare quotes, make sure they use the same Incoterm. An EXW quote and a CIF quote for the same boxes can look very different, even when the boxes cost the same.
Red Flags When Choosing a Supplier
The biggest risks in buying custom boxes from China are a supplier who is not the real manufacturer, a sample that does not match the bulk order, and missed deadlines. Most of these show up early if you know what to look for.
- The supplier will not show the factory on a video call or let you visit.
- The supplier refuses to make a sample before taking a deposit.
- The quote arrives without any questions about size, board or finishes.
- The supplier cannot send fresh photos or a short video of boxes like yours on request.
- The company name on the contract differs from the one on the bank account.
Certificates help too. Our quality, environmental and health and safety systems are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, and copies are available on request. If you plan to visit, we pick up at Wenzhou Longwan International Airport or Wenzhou South Railway Station. See our factory and quality pages for more.
FAQ
How do I order a custom box?
Send a factory the box style, inside size, quantity and artwork. The factory quotes, makes a dieline and a sample, and starts bulk production after you approve the sample and pay a deposit. With us, sampling takes about 7 days and bulk production about 15 days.
How much does a custom box cost?
It depends on style, size, board, print, finishes and quantity. A folding carton costs much less than a rigid box of the same size, and the unit price drops as quantity rises. Ask for quotes at two or three quantities to see the curve.
What is the cheapest way to ship from China to the USA?
For full orders of boxes, sea freight is the cheapest per unit. Air freight or express is faster but costs far more, so it suits samples and urgent small batches. Shipping flat boxes, such as folding cartons or collapsible rigid boxes, lowers sea freight further.
What is the best site to order from China?
B2B marketplaces make it easy to compare many suppliers, but many listings are trading companies. Going direct to a factory usually means better prices and clearer communication, provided you check that it really is the manufacturer.
Planning your first custom box order? Send the box style, size and quantity, and we will reply with a quote within 6 hours. See how our custom orders work, or request a quote.
