There are several common paper types for custom paper boxes, as listed below:
1. White Kraft Paper
White kraft paper features high bursting strength, excellent toughness, high rigidity, and consistent thickness and color.
With restrictions on plastic bags in supermarkets and the global push for eco-friendly packaging (especially in Europe and the US), white kraft paper has strong market potential.
Made from 100% virgin wood pulp, it is eco-friendly, non-toxic, and recyclable. It offers great toughness and usually requires no lamination.
It is widely used for eco-friendly apparel boxes, shopping bags, and high-end paper boxes.
Common thickness: 120gsm–200gsm. It has a matte finish with no glossy surface.
2. Brown Kraft Paper
Brown kraft paper has extremely high tensile strength and durability.
Typically brownish-yellow, it excels in tear resistance, bursting strength, and dynamic performance.
It is widely used for shopping bags, envelopes, and lightweight packaging.
Common thickness: 120gsm–300gsm.
It is most suitable for single-color or two-color printing (not complex full-color designs).
Compared with white cardboard, white kraft paper, and coated paper, brown kraft paper is the most economical option.
3. White Cardboard
White cardboard is stiff, thick, and features high stiffness, bursting strength, and smoothness.
Common thickness: 200gsm–350gsm, with 300gsm being the most popular.
Boxes printed on white cardboard have vibrant, full-color results and premium texture, making it the top choice for custom paper boxes.
4. Black Cardboard
Black cardboard has a smooth, solid “through-black” structure, with high stiffness, good folding resistance, and high bursting strength.
Common thickness: 120gsm–350gsm.
Since it is fully black throughout, it does not support full-color printing, but it creates elegant, high-style boxes and bags.
5. White Back Lined Board
White back lined board has a smooth white front side and a gray back side.
Common thickness: 250gsm–350gsm.
6. Coated Art Paper
Coated art paper has an extra-smooth surface, high whiteness, and excellent glossiness, which enhances the vividness and 3D effect of printed graphics.
Common thickness: 128gsm–300gsm.
It delivers printing quality comparable to white cardboard, with bright, saturated colors for custom paper boxes.
