By Material
Kraft Pillow Boxes
Kraft pillow boxes are the version most brands land on when they want packaging that reads as handmade without being flimsy. The board is unbleached, so the brown comes from the fiber itself rather than from a printed coating, and it stays brown on the inside face as well as the outside — which matters, because a pillow box shows its inside edge every time it is opened.
We supply kraft in natural brown and in a bleached white kraft that keeps the same fiber texture but lifts color reproduction. Both take a single-color logo cleanly. Heavy ink coverage is where kraft gets unpredictable: the sheet drinks ink, and a solid navy panel will dry noticeably duller than it looks on screen. Tell us what the artwork does and we will say honestly whether kraft is the right stock for it.
- Natural brown or bleached white kraft board
- Custom sizes cut to your product, no fixed catalog
- One- and two-color logo printing, or full CMYK
- Optional die-cut window, hang hole, twine and swing tag
- Uncoated as standard; matte lamination available where handling demands it
Get a quote for kraft pillow boxes
Tell us the product, the size and roughly how many. We reply with a written quote and a specification.
Specification at a glance
| Board | Natural brown kraft, bleached white kraft |
|---|---|
| Common weights | 12pt to 18pt (approx. 250–400 gsm) |
| Printing | Spot color, two-color, full CMYK, opaque white base |
| Finishing | Uncoated, matte lamination, blind deboss, foil, spot gloss |
| Windows | Die-cut with clear PET film, or open die-cut |
| Minimum order | Quoted per specification — tell us your quantity |
What happens next
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We read the brief
And come back with questions rather than assumptions if something is missing.
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You get a written quote
With the specification stated — board, printing, finishing and any tooling.
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We draw the dieline
Cut to your product, with the usable print area and crease zones marked.
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Sample, then produce
A physical sample in the final board before a full run, where it is worth it.
Why the board behaves the way it does
Kraft is a mechanically strong sheet. The pulping process leaves the long fibers intact, which is exactly why it creases and folds well at the curved end tuck without the surface cracking along the score. On a pillow box that curve is the whole structure — it is the only thing holding the pack closed — so fiber length is not a cosmetic detail.
The trade-off is surface. Uncoated kraft has an open, slightly rough face that absorbs ink rather than holding it on top. Line art, single-color logos, typographic labels and illustrated botanical marks all sit beautifully on it. Photographic images do not.
- Creases cleanly at the end curve without cracking
- Absorbs ink — expect a softer, warmer color than the proof
- Brown on both faces, so the opened box still looks intentional
- Takes debossing well; foil needs a heavier board to sit flat
Stock weights we quote against
Weight is chosen from what goes inside, not from a price list. These are the ranges we normally start from before we see your product.
| Board | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 12pt / ~250 gsm | Sachets, seed packets, flat jewelry cards | Light and cheap to ship; will bow if the contents are heavy |
| 14pt / ~300 gsm | Soap bars, lip balms, small candles | The default for most retail kraft work |
| 16pt / ~350 gsm | Bracelets, watch straps, filled gift packs | Holds its curve under shelf handling |
| 18pt / ~400 gsm | Larger apparel and gift sets | Stiff enough that the end tuck needs a wider radius |
| E-flute kraft | Fragile or heavier contents | Covered separately under corrugated pillow boxes |
Printing on an uncoated brown sheet
Single-color printing is where kraft earns its reputation. A dark brown, black or deep green logo on natural board gives you a mark that looks printed rather than stuck on, and it is the cheapest way to get a branded pack because there is one plate rather than four.
If you need white in the artwork, say so early. White does not exist in standard CMYK — on brown board it has to be laid down as an opaque spot white, which is an extra unit on press and changes the price. The same applies to any pale tint: a soft pink over brown board will come out beige unless it sits on a white base.
Where the brief genuinely needs photographic color, bleached white kraft keeps the fiber look while giving the ink something to sit on. It is the honest middle ground between kraft character and color fidelity, and it is worth comparing against a coated white paperboard pillow box before you commit.
Add-ons that suit the stock
Some finishes flatter kraft and some fight it. These are the ones we recommend on brown board:
- Jute or cotton twine wrapped at the waist, with or without a printed tag
- Kraft swing tags die-cut from the same board so the set matches
- Blind debossing — no ink at all, just the impression in the fiber
- Matte lamination when the pack will be handled repeatedly in store
- A die-cut window backed with clear film, for product visibility
- Antique gold foil, which reads warmer on brown than silver does
Kraft Pillow Boxes: common questions
Answers to what customers most often ask before ordering this specification.
Will my logo print in a strong color on brown kraft?
Darker colors hold well — black, deep green, navy, burgundy and brown all reproduce close to the proof. Anything pale, bright or pastel will shift toward the board color because there is no white base under it. If you need a pale color to stay true, we lay an opaque white first and print your color on top, which adds a printing unit to the job.
Is kraft strong enough for a heavier product?
Up to a point. A 16pt or 18pt kraft board carries a candle, a bracelet or a filled gift pack without bowing. Beyond that, or where the contents are fragile in transit, we move to an E-flute construction rather than pushing solid board past what it can do.
Can you print the inside of a kraft pillow box?
Yes. Because the end tuck curves open, the inside face is visible at the moment of opening, and a printed inside is one of the cheaper ways to make a small pack feel considered. It is a separate pass on press, so it does affect the quote.
What is the difference between kraft and cardboard pillow boxes?
In trade terms "kraft" describes the unbleached pulp and its brown color, while "cardboard" is used loosely for coated paperboard with a white printing face. The practical difference is the surface: kraft absorbs ink and shows fiber, coated board holds ink on top and reproduces photography. Our page on coated cardboard pillow boxes covers the alternative.
Do you supply kraft boxes unprinted?
Yes, plain kraft pillow boxes in a custom size are a normal order. Many brands take plain boxes and apply their own printed sticker or stamp, which is a sensible route at low volumes.
Can I get a sample before ordering?
We can produce a physical sample in the exact board and size so you can check the fit and the tuck tension with your own product in it. Request one alongside your quote and we will confirm the cost and turnaround for your specification.
How small can a kraft pillow box be made?
Very small — seed packet and sachet sizes are routine. The practical limit is the end curve: below roughly two inches across, the tuck stops holding reliably and we would suggest a different closure. Send your product dimensions and we will tell you what works.
Does kraft come in anything other than brown?
Bleached white kraft keeps the fiber texture with a white face. Dyed kraft in colors such as black or deep red exists but is stocked less consistently, so lead time matters more; ask when you request pricing.
Does kraft board vary in shade between batches?
Slightly, yes. Unbleached pulp is not color-corrected, so a run made six months apart can be a shade warmer or cooler. It is rarely noticeable in isolation and is visible if you place two batches side by side, so we record the mill and grade for repeat orders.
Can kraft boxes be stacked in a display without marking?
Uncoated kraft scuffs against itself under weight, and the marks show as lighter patches on the brown. For an open display where boxes rub, a matte lamination or a water-based varnish is worth the addition.
How does kraft behave in humid storage?
It takes up moisture faster than a coated board because there is no film slowing the exchange. Keep the flat stock in its shrink wrap until you need it, off the floor and away from an exterior wall, and the problem does not arise.
Will a kraft box show the tuck crease as a pale line?
A crease on brown kraft goes slightly lighter where the fiber is compressed, which most brands read as part of the material rather than a fault. It is far less visible than the white line a printed brown on white board produces.
Related
Others that suit the same brief
Chosen because they solve a nearby problem — a different material, a different scale, or the same product with one structural change.
Cardboard Pillow Boxes
Coated paperboard with a white printing face — the stock for full-color artwork.
View options
Eco Friendly Pillow Boxes
A paper-only specification: recycled-content board, no laminate, no plastic window.
View options
Corrugated Pillow Boxes
Fluted board for weight, protection and packs that travel without an outer carton.
View options
Soap Pillow Boxes
Cut to the bar, with apertures that let the scent through.
View options
Pillow Boxes with Window
A die-cut aperture that shows the product without losing the printed panel.
View optionsNext step
Ready to specify kraft pillow boxes?
Send the product, the quantity and the date you need it on a shelf. We come back with a written quote, a specification and an honest view of anything in the brief that will not work.