Dieline guide
What to send us
Two things decide a packaging quote: the product, and the surface. Send what you have — the dimensions and a rough idea are enough to start — and the dieline comes back with the price.
The product
What we need to know
- Dimensions of the product (L × W × H), and how much headspace you want around it.
- Weight of the packed product — it decides the board.
- Quantity for the first run.
- How it travels — retail shelf, e-commerce parcel, or a gift that is handed over in person.
- What goes in the box: a bottle, a jar, a folded item, a set of several pieces.
A photograph of the product next to a ruler is often faster than a written specification.
The artwork
If you already have print-ready files
- Vector artwork as PDF or AI, with fonts outlined and images at final size.
- Bleed of 3 mm beyond the cut line, and keep text clear of the fold lines.
- Spot colours named as separate swatches — send the reference you want us to match.
- The dieline on its own layer, marked as cut and fold lines.
- Barcode (EAN or UPC) block, legal text and any market labelling panels you need left clear.
No artwork yet? We quote from the dimensions and draw the dieline first — artwork can follow once the structure is agreed.
The drawing itself
Reading a dieline
A dieline is the flat drawing of the box before it is folded: every panel, flap and crease on one sheet. Whoever prints the box works from this drawing, so it is the first thing we agree on.
Cut line
Where the board is cut. Everything outside it is waste, and nothing printed outside it will survive.
Fold / crease line
Where the board is scored so it folds cleanly. Artwork that crosses a crease will crack — keep type and fine lines clear of it.
Print area
The panels themselves. Panels are numbered on the drawing so we can refer to the same face when discussing artwork.
What happens next
From your email to a sample
-
You send the dimensions
Quantity and finishing too, if you already know them.
-
We draw the dieline and price the job
Back within three working days, with the drawing attached so you can see what is being quoted.
-
We adjust the structure
Until the fit is right. This part is free, and it is where most problems are avoided.
-
Sample, then production
White sample free, out in 7 days. A printed production sample is in 10 days, about US$100 per structure, refunded against orders over 10,000 units. Courier is on your account. Special materials and finishes can take longer.
Common questions
Before you write
- Do you charge for the dieline?
- No — structural design and the dieline are drawn at no charge.
- What is the minimum order?
- 500 units per design and per size.
- How long does a sample take?
- White sample free, out in 7 days; longer for special materials or finishes. A printed production sample is about US$100 per structure, in 10 days, refunded against orders over 10,000 units. The courier is on your account.
- How fast is a quote?
- Within three working days of receiving the dimensions, quantity and finishing.
- Can you work from our existing dieline?
- Yes — send it and we will work from it, or adjust it where it does not suit the board or your packing line.
Ready when you are
Send a dimension and we will draw the box
A sketch, a photograph, a competitor's box you like, or a proper specification — all of them are a starting point.