Sealing Your Box
Posted on 4/2/2024
Tips for Sealing Your Custom Printed Box
Sealing your custom-printed box ensures the contents are protected during transit and maintains the overall integrity
of the packaging. While there are several methods to close or seal a custom-printed box, the best choice often
depends on factors such as the type of box, the nature of the contents, and the desired level of security.
Here are the most common ways our customers seal their custom-printed boxes.
Tape
UV-cured custom printing has a love/hate relationship with tape as a sealing medium. For a standard packing
tape, we’d suggest you avoid printing on the area around where you plan to adhere the tape. While all tapes
are not created equal, no one wants to see their tape peel up. But taping is quick and easy – the part we
love. So, if you can modify your design to accommodate a small, unprinted section, this will be your best bet.
Packaging Tape: Standard packaging tape comes in various materials, such as plastic or paper, and may be reinforced
for added strength.
Gummed Tape: This tape has adhesive on one side and requires water to activate the glue. It provides a strong seal
and is tamper-evident.
Custom Printed Tape: When you have a custom printed box, you might not need the tape as well, but some customers find
that a custom tape can enhance the design on the box, continuing a brand theme. Using tape with your company logo or
message serves as a seal and promotes brand visibility.
Glue or Adhesive
Liquid glue or adhesive can be used to secure flaps and seams. This method is often combined with other sealing
methods for added strength. For boxes like our shippers, which typically contain heavier contents, a ribbon of hot
glue will seal the box in a way that you can feel confident in.
Shrink Wrap Film
This plastic film is wrapped around the box and then heat-shrunk to conform to the shape of the box tightly,
providing both security and protection. If you want to maintain the integrity of the box design, this can protect
the box. Your box will arrive just as beautiful as it left your space and not look like it rolled around in the back
of a big brown truck.
Seals
For boxes like our e-commerce shipper box, a small seal might be all you need since the flaps tuck in and provide the
safety and structure to withstand the rigors of shipping. But if you want to be sure the boxes don’t fall
victim to curious eyes, a seal can solve your problem.
Tamper-Evident Seals: These seals are designed to show evidence of tampering. They can be adhesive labels, tapes, or
specialized seals that are broken upon attempted access.
Will My Boxes Seal Through Mechanics Alone?
E-commerce mailers are sturdy and wrap around the front. Unless they are being shipped, they need no further sealing.
And with a lovely unveiling style, hand-distributed and gifted materials would benefit from this structure type. A
more economical version of the e-comm box, the Econo mailer doesn’t have the side flaps, so if you’re
handing out your box or it will be distributed in a non-mailed manner, this box saves you both sealing and a little
money on the structure.
The tuck style of our product boxes will be sufficient for products that will sit on a retail shelf. This method lets
the customer open the box to inspect the contents.
Combining different methods may also enhance the overall effectiveness of the seal.
For example, some clients will use dependable hot glue to pre-assemble shipper box bottoms/bases, then use the
faster, less labor-intensive tape to seal the top of the box.
E-comm boxes benefit from a flap tuck plus wafer seal or tape.
A product box and an econo box both tuck in, but due to a slight gap between the flap and the box structure, they
would benefit from some tape if they were going to travel at all.
When choosing a sealing method, consider the specific requirements of your packaging, the shipping conditions, and any security measures needed for the contents.