Short answer
Plan on about 5–7 days for samples, 15–25 days for mass production, then 3–7 days for express or 25–40 days for ocean freight. Adding artwork and approvals, most custom box orders take 6–10 weeks door to door by sea.
The timeline, step by step
- Quotation and dieline — 1–2 days after a complete brief.
- Artwork on dieline — depends on your designer; typically 2–5 days.
- Sampling — 5–7 days, including foil and emboss dies.
- Sample shipping and approval — 3–5 days by express.
- Mass production — 15–25 days depending on quantity and hand work.
- Quality inspection and packing — 1–2 days.
- Freight — express 3–7 days, air 5–10 days, ocean 25–40 days plus customs.
How MOQ is set
A minimum order quantity covers the fixed cost of setting up a job: cutting dies, printing plates, foil dies, machine make-ready and paper purchased in full sheets. Small runs carry the same set-up as large ones, so the cost per unit rises sharply below a certain quantity.
We accept low MOQs on most structures. To keep a small order affordable:
- Choose stock papers and standard board thicknesses.
- Limit finishes to one or two.
- Use a single box size across several products with a different insert.
Seasonal planning
For Q4 gifting and advent calendars, aim to approve samples by early August. Factories across the industry are busiest from August to November, and ocean freight capacity tightens at the same time.
How to shorten the timeline
- Send a complete brief the first time (see our RFQ guide).
- Approve a digital proof and a white sample in parallel.
- Split shipments: part by air for launch, the rest by sea.
