Custom Tuck Top Boxes with a Hinged Lid and Front Tuck

What are tuck top boxes?

They are cartons where the lid hinges from the top edge of the back wall and folds over the whole opening. A tuck flap on the lid's front edge slides inside the front wall to close it.

Unlike a tuck end carton, which opens at the narrow end, a tuck top opens at its widest face. You see everything inside at once, and you lift items out instead of tipping them.

It sits beside the other closures in our range of tuck box styles. The flatter, book-style version opens along the long edge.

What do the photos show?

The red box stands with its lid open, showing a white inside and a short line printed along the tuck flap. That printed tuck edge is a small touch customers notice.

The yellow boxes carry a black geometric band round the walls. One is open to show a black insert with rows of round holes, holding small items upright. The others are closed and stacked, with a thumb hole on one lid.

These are sample designs; your box carries your own artwork.

Who uses tuck top boxes?

Brands that sell several small items together, or one item that should be lifted out rather than slid. A wax melt studio is a classic example, and the wax melt boxes with a tuck lid mostly use this closure.

• Coffee pod and tea sachet sets
• Wax melt and snap bar makers
• Jewellery makers boxing earrings and rings
• Chocolate and sweet makers
• Card game designers with thick decks

How does a tuck top lid close?

The lid is a single panel hinged at the back. Its front edge carries a tuck flap, and its sides carry short dust flaps on some designs.

To close it, fold the side dust flaps in, lower the lid and push the tuck down inside the front wall. Slit locks at the shoulders of the tuck help hold it.

The base can be tucked, crash locked or locked in the 1-2-3 pattern, depending on the product. We suggest one when we see your size.

Tuck top or tuck end: which suits my product?

Ask how the product comes out of the box. If it slides out of the end, a tuck end works. If it is lifted from above, a tuck top is easier.

Can a tuck top box hold an insert?

Yes, and it is one of the main reasons to choose one. A card insert with rows of cut-outs holds small items upright and apart, like the black insert in our yellow box.

The insert drops in from the top and rests on the base. We size the holes to your items and the carton to the insert.

Thicker inserts or several layers are possible. The proof shows the insert dieline beside the carton so you can check the spacing.

If your items vary a little in size, as handmade pieces often do, tell us the largest one. We size the holes so every piece drops in without forcing.

What size tuck top box fits a set of pods?

Lay the items out in the pattern you want, for example four rows of four. Measure the length and width of the group and the height of one item. Then add about 3 mm each way and 5 mm on the height.

If an insert holds them, add its wall thickness and any gap between items. Sending a few items lets us size both pieces exactly.

Our step-by-step measuring guide for tuck boxes has worked examples.

Board, print and finishes

Our usual board for a tuck top is 350gsm white SBS. Ask if you would like kraft or something different.

The lid is the main print area, but the inside of the lid, the tuck edge and the insert can all carry print too. A dark insert against a bright outside, as in our yellow boxes, looks deliberate.

Lamination in matt, gloss or soft touch is optional, as are spot UV, foil and embossing on the lid.

How do tuck top boxes pack and travel?

Your boxes come as glued flat blanks. Fold up the walls, set the base, then drop in any insert before the items. Close the side dust flaps first and the lid last.

Because the lid covers the whole top, a full box can be stacked on a shelf with the design facing up. That makes a neat row on a counter or in a gift shop window.

For posting, put the box inside a mailer with a little padding. The lid tuck holds well on a shelf. A parcel, though, gets dropped and turned over, so let the outer box take that.

Which mistakes should I avoid with tuck tops?

These come up most often on first orders.

• Sizing the insert holes to the top of the item instead of the base
• Making the lid tuck too short to grip the front wall
• Placing the logo across the lid hinge
• Ordering a deep box when a shallow one would stop items moving
• Forgetting a thumb notch on a lid that fits tightly

How do I order tuck top boxes?

Each order gets its own written price. Cartons start from £0.25 per unit; the insert and the run length shape the rest. Ask us anything along the way. When you are ready, send your tuck top box details and go through these steps.

1. Send the product size, or how many items sit in the box and in what pattern.
2. Say whether you want an insert, inside print or a thumb notch.
3. Share your logo or full artwork; our designers set it out free.
4. Approve the proof of the box and any insert.
5. Making the run takes 4–6 business days, and the free tracked UK delivery adds 2–3.