Many brands ask why cardboard boxes are so expensive in 2025. The answer is simple to understand. Innovation is necessary to present the product innovatively, as it is the customer’s demand. However, to maintain your brand’s worth among customers and stand out among competitors, increase the demand for customized boxes.
Cardboard boxes are a unique way to wrap and present products innovatively into desired shapes and designs. And with the rising demand in particular sectors, cardboard material is becoming expensive.
Research says cardboard paper is 80% more costly than it was in the last few years. But why? Before getting to know the reasons, let’s first explore what the cardboard boxes are and why they are in demand.
What are cardboard boxes, and why are they so in demand?
Cardboard paper comes from wood pulp’s cellulose, making it eco-friendly, biodegradable, and highly durable. It is well-known and widely used for product shipping purposes. However, it is thicker, more sustainable, and more durable than the rigid stock, making it more costly than ever.
In addition, cardboard paper comes in different forms and varieties. Natural brown cardboard is high quality and is increasingly in demand for wrapping heavier product packaging, as it is highly durable and keeps the products safe during shipping.
Custom Cardboard boxes come in various styles depending on the particular needs, and all vary in thickness. Why are cardboard boxes so expensive in 2025? This is because of the versatile use of cardboard packaging in various eCommerce sectors. Here are some of the basic types.
- Folding Cartons
- Shipping Boxes
- Corrugated Boxes
- Rigid Boxes
Are Cardboard Boxes So Expensive? What are the Reasons?
Many brands need help in getting customized boxes for their particular products. However, it is the basic need of businesses to retain the product’s safety and present it innovatively. However, the increasing cost of cardboard makes it difficult for the brands to wrap items in premium boxes.
But why? Why are cardboard boxes so expensive? There are several reasons behind such a rising cost crisis. Here, we will discuss why the packaging cost is so high. Let’s explore:
Increasing the Demand for Innovations
In this modern age, every business struggles to stand out. That is possible when customers are satisfied with the productivity and presentation of the products. Customization plays a vital role in creating modern and innovative packaging, which leads to the high cost of getting the desired boxes.
In addition, many brands are entering the competition over time, increasing the demand for innovations to capture the maximum audience and increase sales. For that, you need to print eye-catching colors, apply special effects, and print branding elements.
Increasing Cost of Materials Options
Don’t dive into customization to create boxes that speak volumes. First, make sure you know what type of products you produce and their packaging requirements. Materials selection is the first and foremost step in customizing premium solutions for your products.
First, analyze developments like size, shapes, designs, and other physical aspects. The selected materials must meet your specifications. Don’t use extraordinary materials for low-quality products. You must maintain a balance to maintain your financial level.
The extra work and premium-quality materials will make cardboard boxes so expensive in 2025, as they must stand out or maintain their worth.
Extra Use of Premium Options Leads to High Cost
Many brands use special finishes, coatings, and add-ons to bring innovation without analyzing whether their products deserve such boxes. However, the packaging cost often exceeds the product’s original price, leading to a total loss.
First, measure your product’s value, demand, and customer trust in it, then evolve your packaging accordingly. Be specific and limit yourself to using premium wrapping options.
Considering the Environmental Regulations
Considering the environmental regulations is mandatory, as it is the customers’ demand. So, to keep the environment pollution-free, choosing eco-friendly and biodegradable materials is necessary. However, natural brown cardboard paper is highly eco-friendly, cost-effective, and toxic-free, making the product’s packaging demanding and expensive.
How to Minimize the Cost of the Cardboard Boxes in 2025?
Want custom cardboard packaging boxes for packaging and shipping purposes? But you may think the cost of such packages is too high. Is that so? If yes, don’t worry. Here at Ideal Custom Boxes, we provide endless options for custom solutions at cheap rates since we know how to minimize costs. Let’s explore some of the significant methods to save the cost of getting customized packaging.
Be Specific with Your Needs
When it comes to custom packaging solutions, you must be limited to your needs. Don’t be afraid to print or customize the boxes. However, wasting materials and doing extra work will not benefit your business, and the extra work will increase the cost.
Measure the products from different aspects, like size, shape, and style, and cut the paper accordingly. Then, place your items in the box tightly. This way, you can save a lot of paper and printing materials.
Materials Must Not Exceed the Product Cost
Choose the materials for customizing cardboard boxes, measuring the products from different aspects such as fragility, quality, luxury, and purpose. You can choose high-quality cardboard for luxury items and apply unique finishing options. But remember that your packaging cost must be at most of your budget. Choose the quality of paper that must retain safety and be sustainable, and the printing option must be limited.
Use Unique and Simple Options
Custom box packaging is meant to be unique and innovative boxes that must represent your brand and tell the unseen story. So, the design of the package must be simple and unique. Excellent and straightforward things always win customers.
Don’t use high-contrast colors. Use simple combinations of colors according to the products and brand logo. And if your packaging boxes look unique and attractive, don’t use special finishing effects. However, such options are premium, provide a glossy look, and are costly.
Don’t do Extra Printing Work
It is necessary to have detail-oriented boxes to make it easier for customers to know what’s inside and whether it suits their needs. But make sure you are specific with your details and only print the necessary information about your items. If your products are simple and you are using the boxes as shipping cartons, avoid using raised ink or embossing, which costs a lot.
