Choosing the right box can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re balancing price, durability, print quality, and sustainability. Most brands fall into certain groups based on what they care about most — cost, print clarity, premium quality, or high-end unboxing presentation. At CustomBoxes.io we give you the option to select which of these is most important to you, all while trying to give a bit of each to everyone.

Below is a clear breakdown of each box type, who it’s best for, and when you should upgrade as your business grows.

Box Type	Board Strength	Print Quality	Eco-Friendly	Cost	Best For
Standard	32 C-Flute	Good	★★★★★	$	80% of brands, budget-conscious, sustainable
Special Order (SO)	32 ECT	Better	★★★★☆	$$	Upgraded logo sharpness, cleaner print edges
200# Kraft	200# Test	Great	★★★★☆	$$$	Premium, stronger shipping protection
White	200# Test (White)	Excellent	★★☆☆☆	$$$$	Luxury brands needing flawless detaila

1) Standard Boxes – The Sweet Spot for 80% of Brands

Best for cost-conscious small businesses, eCommerce brands, subscription boxes, starter brands

These are our most popular custom boxes with logo for shipping — the most affordable, fastest to produce, and most eco-friendly option we have.

Why Standard Boxes Are the Best Starting Point For Logo Shipping Boxes

Made with 32 C-Flute, strong enough for shipments up to 30 lbs
Highest recycled content and our most sustainable choice
70 percent cheaper than traditional custom box suppliers
Ideal for simple logo boxes using clean black ink
Mostly non-Uline boxes (buy here to ensure NOT Uline boxes)
Stronger than most Amazon boxes despite being eco-friendly

Who Should Choose Standard Boxes For Branded Shipping Boxes

New brands that want professional logo shipping boxes without high costs
Anyone upgrading from blank boxes to custom shipping boxes
Brands prioritizing sustainability and speed
Businesses needing the best price-to-quality ratio

Our recommendation – 80 percent of companies should start here. You get excellent strength, surprisingly good print quality, and massive savings.

2) Special Order (SO) Boxes – A Step Up for Better Print Sharpness

Best for brands who want slightly better print clarity without going premium

SO boxes are also 32 ECT, but the key difference is the sheet composition. With less recycled content, the surface is smoother, meaning your artwork usually prints sharper and cleaner.

Benefits of Special Order (SO) Shipping Boxes

Same strength as Standard (32 ECT / C-Flute)
Smoother board gives noticeably crisper black-ink printing
Cost-effective structure with upgraded print clarity
More custom sizes to help optimize shipping costs a bit more
Best mid-level option for custom boxes with logo

Who Should Choose SO Shipping Boxes With Logo

Brands with detailed logos or thin line art
Companies wanting “better than Standard” without premium pricing
Companies that use larger box sizes (10x10x10 and up)
Growing brands preparing for a future upgrade to 200#

Our recommendation – If you want a slightly nicer print, and don't mind paying a bit more upfront for the higher cost of the boxes

3) 200# Kraft Boxes – The Best Blend of Print Quality + Box Strength

Best for premium brands wanting guaranteed strength, consistency, and higher-quality printing, but nearly 50% savings over white boxes.

This is your recommended upgrade and the best overall box quality for the average brand serious about protecting products and elevating their unboxing experience.

Why Heavy Duty 200# Kraft Is Worth the Upgrade For Some Brands

Stronger board than 32 ECT
Better edge strength, cleaner folds, and more rigid walls
Excellent print consistency and clarity
More durable during shipping, stacking, and handling
Kraft board looks premium and hides scratches better than white

Who Should Choose 200# Kraft For Their Custom Shipping Boxes

Brands shipping heavier items or premium goods
Subscription box companies wanting top-tier experience
Companies wanting fewer damaged shipments
Businesses scaling fast and needing consistent packaging

Our recommendation – If your budget allows, this is the ideal upgrade. You get strength, quality, and professional print detail at the best value.

4) White Boxes – Highest-End Print Quality and Luxury Appearance

Best for luxury brands, cosmetics, medical, food, and companies needing clean visuals

White boxes use a bleached white board with the cleanest, smoothest print surface available.

Advantages of Custom White Shipping Boxes

Top-tier print sharpness and contrast
Ideal for artwork with fine details or full-color designs
Creates a high-end appearance for unboxing
Perfect for minimalist black-on-white branding

Drawbacks

More expensive (nearly 2x that of Kraft boxes), but still cheaper than competitors
Not eco-friendly due to lower recycled content
Shows scuffs more easily upon delivery

Who Should Choose White Boxes For Custom Packaging

Luxury beauty and skincare brands
Medical and food companies needing a sterile look
High-end eCommerce stores
Corporate gifting and premium retail
Brands doing over $10M in sales (note: only a handful of companies should be doing color print on white boxes)

Our recommendation: Choose white when print quality and presentation matter more than cost or sustainability. This is the “luxury tier.”

Feature	Standard	32 ECT SO	200# Kraft	White
Best for Simple Logo Boxes	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Best Print Sharpness	Good	Better	Great	Excellent
Strength for Heavy Items	Moderate	Moderate	High	High
Eco-Friendly	Highest	Medium	Medium-High	Low
Best Price	Lowest	Low-Mid	Mid	High
Premium Feel	Basic	Better	Premium	Luxury

Quick Comparison – Which Box Is Right for You?

Most budget-friendly – Standard
Most eco-friendly – Standard
Best mid-tier print quality – SO
Best overall mix of strength and print quality – 200# Kraft
Best for luxury unboxing – White
Best for simple logo boxes – Standard or SO

Priority	Best Option
Lowest Cost	Standard
Fastest Production	Standard
Best Print Quality for Budget	32 ECT Special Order
Best Strength + Print Combo	200# Kraft
Best Luxury Presentation	White
Best Pick-2 Balance for 80% of brands	Standard

Why CustomBoxes.io Is the Top Choice for Most Brands For Custom Shipping Boxes

When it comes to choosing a custom packaging partner, most businesses want the same three things: great value, strong quality, and fast turnaround times. The problem is that most packaging companies force you to sacrifice one or two of those priorities. They’re either too expensive, too slow, or only focus on premium print quality.

CustomBoxes.io is the only provider that delivers the best overall mix of all three.
You get unbeatable pricing, consistently strong print and board quality, and a fast, automated ordering process, all without the headaches, slow timelines, and markups of traditional box suppliers.

That balanced performance is exactly why thousands of small businesses choose us over competitors.

Below is a simple star-rating comparison showing how we stack up on the factors that matter most.

Factor	CustomBoxes.io	Competitors
Value (Cost Savings)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐☆☆☆☆
Eco-Friendliness	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐☆☆☆
Speed (Fulfillment Time)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐☆☆☆
Ease of Ordering	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐☆☆☆
Quality (Print + Board) - Standard	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Quality (Print + Board) - White	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Choose Two: Cost / Quality / Speed and What It Means for Your Packaging

Every packaging decision comes down to the same universal tradeoff: Cost, Quality, Speed — you can only pick two. No box type can perfectly deliver all three, so the best choice depends on what your brand values most. Most of our competitors only give you quality as main goal, we want to give you options if value is a main factor for you...plus giving you options for higher quality that rivals our competitors. Here’s how each CustomBoxes.io option fits into the Pick-2 model:

Standard Boxes — Pick Cost + Speed
These deliver the lowest cost and fastest turnaround. You get strong, eco-friendly boxes at the best price, but with slightly lower print sharpness compared to premium materials. Ideal for 80 percent of brands starting out.
SO Boxes — Pick Cost + Quality
SO gives you better print clarity without jumping into premium pricing. It’s the perfect middle ground for brands that want nicer logo detail but still need affordability.
200# Kraft Boxes — Pick With Quality + Rush Order For Speed
This is the best blend of strength and fast production. You get noticeably better construction, print consistency, and durability without sacrificing turnaround time. Most growing brands upgrade here. Can add in rush delivery for less than the price of white boxes of same size.
White Boxes — Pick Quality As Main Purpose
White offers the sharpest, highest-quality printing for luxury unboxing experiences. It wins on aesthetics and print detail but trades off cost and sustainability.

Understanding this Pick-2 framework makes choosing the right box simple: just decide which two attributes matter most for your brand right now, and the right box option becomes obvious.

Box Type	Cost	Quality	Speed	Pick-2 Summary
Standard	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	Cost + Speed
SO	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	★★★★☆	Cost + Quality
200# Kraft	★★★☆☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	Quality + Speed (w/Rush)
White	★★☆☆☆	★★★★★	★★★☆☆	Quality + Presentation

Conclusion – The Simple Recommendation

Start with Standard if you’re just beginning or price-sensitive
Upgrade to 200# Kraft as soon as your brand grows and consistency matters
Choose White only when you need the best print quality available

This progression gives you the best mix of affordability, quality, and long-term brand performance.

FAQs

What is the strongest box option you offer?

200# Kraft boxes are the strongest in day-to-day use and offer outstanding durability.

What box prints the sharpest logo?

White boxes offer the cleanest, sharpest print surface.

Are Standard boxes really strong enough?

Yes, Standard 32 C-Flute boxes safely ship up to 30 lbs and perform better than most Amazon boxes.

Are Kraft boxes eco-friendly?

Yes, Kraft boxes use recycled content and avoid bleaching.

What should premium brands choose?

Either 200# Kraft or White depending on whether sustainability or print perfection matters more.

Which Box Quality Is Right for Your Brand? A Simple Guide to Print Quality, Board Strength, and When to Upgrade