A slip in box usually has an outer sleeve, case, or shell and an inner tray or box that slides into place. The inner piece can carry the product while the outer piece carries the main artwork. Define the movement, stopping point, removal grip, and repeat-opening expectation before choosing folding board or rigid construction. The product catalog gives useful physical comparisons later on this page.
How does a slip in box open?
The inner tray travels through the sleeve until a defined stop sets the closed or open position. A folding sleeve with an inner carton suits a compact retail presentation. A rigid drawer or slide box uses an outer case and a tray that moves along it. A tray with a custom insert suits a fitted technical item. A tin with a printed outer sleeve puts the brand message on a separate piece.
| Structure | Common role | Check in a sample |
|---|---|---|
| Folding sleeve and inner carton | Compact retail presentation | Friction and front-panel position |
| Rigid drawer or slide box | Layered opening with a moving tray | Travel, stop, and pull area |
| Tray with custom insert and sleeve | Fitted product presentation | Retention and removal path |
| Tin with printed outer sleeve | Metal container presentation | Which piece carries the message |
Is a slip in box different from a drawer box?
The terms overlap, but a drawer or slide box normally names the inner tray and outer case relationship. A sleeve can be a simpler wrap around an inner carton. A two-piece rigid box uses a separate lid and base instead of continuous tray movement. A magnetic flap changes the motion again. State the opening action in the brief, because movement changes the tolerances, artwork placement, and assembly.
Which catalog formats help compare the idea?
The catalog gives four useful comparisons. Shoe box packaging raises questions about footprint, opening, and removal. Custom foam box inserts help define retention inside the tray. Embossed tin boxes show a metal container with an outer presentation layer. Custom DNA test kit boxes show how a specific kit can be organized around an insert plan.
Which board fits the sleeve and tray?
Folding sleeves commonly use SBS, C1S, or C2S paperboard in the 12 to 24 pt range. A point, written pt, is one-thousandth of an inch in board-caliper notation. Kraft board in the 18 to 24 pt range gives a different paper surface. A more substantial case or drawer commonly uses rigid chipboard in the 1.5 to 3 mm range, wrapped in 100 to 157 gsm art paper.
The tray may use folding board, rigid board, or a separate insert. Board thickness takes space away from the sliding clearance, so measure the assembled sleeve, tray, product, and insert together. A foam insert can hold local high points closely, but it should be specified separately from the board structure.
What clearance should the inner tray have?
A common planning tolerance is about 1/16 in, or 1.5 mm, but the filled structure sets the final fit. State dimensions as length x width x depth, and label inside and outside measurements. Check the entry edge, stop position, side clearance, removal grip, and tray alignment with the product and insert in place.
Do not size only to the product body. A lid, hardware, folded edge, accessory, or insert can create a local high point. If the sleeve has a printed front panel, confirm that the tray stops where the main mark is meant to appear.
Which finishes work on a sliding package?
Offset CMYK suits detailed paperboard or wrapped art paper graphics, while digital printing can suit short runs. CMYK means cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, the four inks used for process color. Matte or gloss lamination changes reflection. Soft-touch changes hand feel. Spot UV is a selected clear coating. Foil stamping adds a reflective accent, while embossing and debossing change surface relief.
Mark folds, wrap seams, tray edges, drawer stops, and glue areas before assigning finish zones. A finish on an entry edge has more contact than a finish on a fixed panel. Put the main message where the tray will not cover it during storage.
How does the packed size affect shipping?
Carrier dimensional weight is commonly discussed as L x W x H / 139, using the outside packed configuration. Check whether the slip in box ships assembled, nested, or inside a larger shipper. Inspect the outer case for scuffing, the tray for movement, and the insert for product retention after packing and unpacking. A secondary carton may be needed when the product has projecting parts or fragile surfaces.
What belongs in a slip in box brief?
The brief should name each moving and fixed part.
- Outer sleeve, inner tray, drawer, case, lid, and direction of movement.
- Product measurements with inserts, accessories, hardware, and local high points included.
- Stopping point, removal grip, closure force, and repeat-opening expectation.
- Artwork panels, folds, seams, drawer edges, glue zones, and finish treatments.
- Packed configuration, delivery destination, and secondary shipper details.
What happens after the quote request?
Custom Packaging Lane quotes slip in boxes from a 100-unit minimum. Pricing is from $0.49 per unit at volume, quoted to spec. Production is typically 8 to 10 business days after proof approval, plus delivery. Free US shipping, free design support, and a free dieline are available. The $19.99 sample kit is credited to the first order. Use custom packaging design to map the sleeve, tray, and artwork, then send the filled dimensions with the quote request.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stops the inner tray in a slip in box?
The inner tray stops when the sleeve, case, or drawer structure has a defined end position. A stop can be set by the tray shape, a folded panel, an internal shoulder, or the relationship between the moving pieces. Check the closed position, exposed artwork, removal grip, and product retention with the insert installed rather than judging the sleeve alone.
Can folding paperboard work for a slip in box sleeve?
Folding paperboard can work for a slip in box sleeve when the inner carton or tray supplies the needed support. SBS, C1S, or C2S paperboard commonly falls in the 12 to 24 pt range. Kraft board commonly falls in the 18 to 24 pt range. The sleeve clearance has to account for board thickness, folds, wrap, and the product inside.
What does a 1/16 inch tolerance mean for the tray?
A 1/16 inch tolerance is about 1.5 mm and is a common planning reference for a slip in box. It is not a substitute for checking the filled structure. Measure the product, insert, tray, and sleeve together, then check the entry edge, stop, side clearance, removal grip, and alignment. Local high points can change the final fit.
Should a slip in box ship assembled or nested?
A slip in box can ship assembled, nested, or inside a larger shipper, and each packed configuration changes the outside dimensions and handling. Check the tray for movement, the sleeve for scuffing, and the insert for product retention after packing and unpacking. If the product has projecting parts or fragile surfaces, assess the secondary carton with the full packed set.
Which finish is safest near a sliding edge?
A sliding edge has more contact than a fixed panel, so keep delicate finish effects away from the entry edge when the structure permits. Matte or gloss lamination changes reflection, soft-touch changes hand feel, spot UV adds selected coating, and foil, embossing, or debossing add surface effects. Mark moving edges, seams, folds, and stops in the artwork before production.
