Everything You Need To Know About Cheap Gift Boxes With Lids

Cheap gift boxes with lids are a cost-effective packaging solution that can enhance the value of products and elevate your brand.

Whether your customers want to make a special occasion more memorable or want to package their gifts in something with an eye-catching visual appeal, gift boxes are the way to go.

However, how can you make them more extravagant while adding more functionality?

The answer…Custom lids.

Cheap gift boxes with lids offer enhanced aesthetics while maintaining the integrity of products by securing them with a lid.

However, that is not all the lid does. It also offers free real estate. Thus, it offers a foundation for various custom prints and embellishments that can help glorify the packaging even more.

Cheap gift boxes with lids large or small don’t matter as long as you design them with love, care, and attention.

This post will tell you everything you need to know about cheap gift boxes with lids. By the end, you will know about the following factors:

• Choosing a packaging material for gift boxes
• Deciding on a printing technique for the box and the lid
• Selecting a closing mechanism for the lids
• Incorporating embellishments, add-ons, and finishing coats
• How to remain within budget

So without further ado, let’s head right in.

Choosing A Packaging Material For Gift Boxes

Packaging materials that are commonly used for gift boxes with lids include:

• Corrugated fiberboard (medium density fiberboard and solid-fibre board)
• Cardboard (pulp, crepe, and chipboard)
• Paperboard (box board and mock board)

Corrugated And Cardboard

Customers and businesses often go for corrugated fiberboard and cardboard as they are widely available and relatively inexpensive.

These options offer incredible protection against environmental bumps and are durable enough to withstand shipping and retail handling.

Thus, customers don’t have to worry about their gifts being damaged if they send them overseas.

You can also print on these materials. However, the print quality is not as exceptional as some of the other options on this list.

Paperboard

The paperboard packaging material offers the best printing capabilities.

It is also easier to customise than corrugated fiberboard. That is because the paperboard material is by nature much thicker than corrugated fiberboard; thus, it takes much more effort to crease or fold the material.

That means its workability is low. That can lead to some limitations when considering custom shapes and sizes. However, experienced manufacturers can work around that.

This material, also known as rigid packaging material, offers an extremely beautiful exterior surface, which is smooth and shiny.

That makes it very suitable for custom gift boxes, especially for corporate gifts. You can even print on the material with your company logo, graphics, or illustrations to create a more professional look.

Customers are entitled to ask cheap gift boxes with lids UK manufacturers whether their paperboard gift boxes are recyclable or biodegradable. That is because paperboard, just like any other strong and rigid material, has a low recycling rate.

That said, the paperboard material is much heavier than the corrugated and cardboard packaging material. That means it can be expensive to manufacture and ship.

We can summarise the above by saying that:

• The corrugated fiberboard material offers the best value for money.
• However, if you are looking for more creative freedom or a beautiful exterior surface, go for a paperboard.

Choosing A Printing Technique For The Box And The Lid

Now that you have some idea about deciding the packaging material for your cheap gift boxes with lids let’s move to decorating the gift boxes and the lids using custom prints.

Custom printed artwork can make your gift boxes and lids look luxurious, classy, or even funny.

It can also make the boxes pop out from the other products on display in your store or at a trade exhibition.

In terms of printing methods, you have two options: 

• Digital Printing 
• Offset Printing

Let’s see the salient features of both.

Digital Printing

This method works on the principle of putting a thin layer of liquid ink onto the box or lid. Ink is sprayed on the material using an inkjet printer. 

This printing technique is straightforward and does not require complex tools. All you need is a computer to carry the digitalised image and a printer powerful enough to read the digital copy. 

It can be used easily and offers fast turnaround times. Since the image is present digitally, you can easily change the custom print design. 

Digital printing is ideal if you want to remain cost-effective when ordering a small volume of custom prints. 

Offset Printing

Offset printing is sometimes called lithography.

In this process, the image is transferred by using a metal plate to a rubber blanket and then rolling it onto the box or lid.

This method offers high-quality graphics and excellent print resolution. It also delivers sharp images that pop out from the background.

The major downside is that it requires more time and effort to print custom images. It also requires a high-intensity light source during the transfer stage, which adds to the cost of manufacturing the gift boxes and lids.

It is ideal for high-volume orders and when you need photo-realistic prints or graphics on your gift boxes and lids.

To summarise the above, choosing the printing method depends on:

• Your budget
• How much time do you have to get the job done
• The quantity of your order
• And, whether it is a one-time purchase or ongoing

Selecting A Closing Mechanism For The Lids

When making cheap gift boxes with lids, large or small, the lids should be easy to open and close.

That is important for two reasons:

1. Your customers will be less frustrated with a gift box if they can access its contents without much hassle.
2. There is a high chance of them not using your gift boxes again when the lids are difficult to open and close.

Now let’s look at some closing mechanisms you can use to attach lids to your gift boxes.

Three-Sided Adhesive Tape

In most cases, you might be opting for a three-sided adhesive tape system in which a strip of the adhesive material is attached to the box lid and the side of the box.

That method saves time as there is no need for any extra effort to fold, cut, or attach a flap on the lid.

However, one downside of the tape system is that it cannot be recycled easily. When recycling boxes or craft items, you have to pull out the tape before recycling the box or lid.

It is also not ideal for high-end gift boxes as it detracts from their appearance.

Hidden Magnet Closure

This mechanism uses a strip of magnet to attach one end of the lid to another.

The other end has a metallic flap that peeks out on one side and is attached to the main box with a magnet.

The catch here is that you need two strips of magnets: one for the lid and another for attaching it to the base part.

Some boxes use soft fabric strips instead of magnets, which reduces the chances of scratching items placed inside or causing injury during disposal.

Locking Lid

This system has a locking mechanism that holds the lid in place securely.

It is ideal for delicate and costly items to prevent them from falling out during transit or when the box is moved.

That said, you need to invest in bulk lids as each one cannot be used more than once. You also have to make sure the gift box structure is strong enough to support the locking system.

Let’s recap what we learned in this section. When selecting a closing mechanism for lids, you have a few options, these are:

• Three-sided adhesive tape – for low-cost custom boxes and with small volume orders
• Hidden magnets – for soft products like chocolates, jewellery, and plush toys
• Magnetic locks – for high-end gift boxes with delicate porcelain sets and antique pieces.

Incorporating Embellishments, Add-Ons, And Finishing Coats

So you have the packaging material, custom printed artwork, and a closing mechanism. Let’s add special features that help you make unique gift boxes, unlike anything your customers have seen before. 

Let’s start with embellishments. Embellishments are features that improve the appearance of your gift boxes. The following are some options that can help your boxes truly make an everlasting impression:

• Mylar
• Ribbons And Bows
• Stickers or stamps
• Cut-outs or scalloped edges
• Numbers and letters
• Bells and whistles

For instance, you can opt for a polka-dotted ribbon to enhance the overall appearance of your gift box. A pink ribbon with the words “happy birthday” is sure to grab attention. A simple scalloped edge will also do an amazing job.

The finishing coats that you can apply to the exterior or interior of your gift boxes are:

• Matte Coating
• Gloss Coating
• Varnish Coating
• Soft-Touch, and more.

These options help drastically change the appearance of a plain gift box.

The good thing is that you can use different finishes to make your boxes for various themes and occasions, such as weddings, baby showers, birthday parties, and events.

Finally, let’s look at add-ons – benefits that give your customers more reasons to be loyal to your business! The following are some add-ons that can help you increase customer engagement and satisfaction:

• Emboss/ Deboss
• Spot UV
• Window Patching
• Hot Foiling

It’s more likely that customers will be entranced by gift boxes with special embellishments and coats. They will surely feel appreciated and valued by your business when you add a personalised touch to their gift.

And now, finally…

How To Remain Within Budget

All of the above customisations sound amazing, but you have to be careful about not breaking your bank. 

The following tips will help you make cheap gift boxes with lids that retain their visual prowess. 

1. Do Not Add Unnecessary Features

When you don’t have a strict budget, adding embellishments is easy without thinking too much about it. However, when there is a limited amount of cash available, it’s best to omit any not crucial features for the box. That way, your gift boxes will look elegant and stylish even when they don’t come with unneeded features.

2. Choose The Right Colour Models

The colour models you choose decide what your gift boxes will look like. For instance, PMS printing is a great fit for cheap gift boxes with lids as it can deliver excellent colour matching. It is very cost-effective compared to other full-colour printing and spot foiling methods.

3. Purchase In Bulk

When buying in bulk, you can get discounts. By choosing the right quantity of boxes, you can save or earn more money without compromising quality. 

Conclusion

So there you have it. Everything you need to know about cheap gift boxes with lids! You will be able to make your customers feel appreciated and valued by using different materials, embellishments and other features, and simply by choosing the right quantities.

If you’re looking for the best cheap gift boxes with lids UK manufacturer, look no further than Packaging Bee. We specialise in both retail and wholesale packaging. We can help you boost sales with our attractive gift boxes with lids.

CONTACT US TODAY!