← Back to Blog

By the horizbox packaging team · 27 Oct 2026 · 5 min read · First orders

Custom Packaging MOQ Guide: Starting at 100 Pieces

Illustration for this guide.

“Custom” often sounds like “10,000 minimum.” In practice, the minimum depends on the structure, not on the idea of custom itself. At horizbox, the starting points are straightforward — and a sample can come before any of them.

The MOQs, by box type

• Mailer boxes and corrugated shippers: 100 pieces.
• Folding cartons and rigid boxes: 200 pieces.
• Samples: from 1 piece — blank structural samples are free, printed colour proofs take 3–5 working days and you only cover the courier.

Why the difference? Rigid boxes and folding cartons involve more handwork, wrapping and setup per unit, so a slightly higher minimum keeps the run efficient. Mailer and corrugated structures are faster to cut, print and glue at small quantities.

How to plan a first order

Start with the sample, not the full run. Check structure, closure, insert fit and colour on a real box. A sample that fails is a cheap lesson; a full run that fails is not.

Order for the next 2–3 months, not the next year. A first run at or just above MOQ lets you test unboxing feedback, returns and shelf behaviour before you lock in a design. Reorders are where volume savings appear — larger quantities generally cost less per unit, which is why our configurator shows quantity in steps up to 50,000.

Keep artwork print-ready from day one. PDF or AI files at 300 dpi in CMYK, placed on the free dieline, avoid a second setup charge in spirit and a delay in practice. If you do not have a dieline, our designers build one free within 24 hours.

What affects lead time at small quantities?

Production typically runs 12–25 days depending on style and finishing, before freight. Small runs are not automatically slower — the main variables are finish complexity (foil, embossing, soft-touch), proof approval time and whether a custom dieline or insert tool is needed. Sea freight to Los Angeles or Long Beach adds roughly 15–20 days; air freight is 5–7 days.

When to go larger

Go larger when the design is proven, the product is stable, and storage is not a problem. Until then, a 100- or 200-piece first run, plus a sample, is the lowest-risk way to go custom without looking generic.

Product and factory photos from horizbox.