21 Box Packaging Ideas for A+ Product Presentation

Looking for new and interesting box packaging ideas? Have a look through the list below to see if any suggestions spark your creativity. With so many products on the market and similar brands all competing for attention, thinking of something different and innovative may seem challenging.

Loyal customers may not be as affected by your packaging, but how do you attract new customers? Word of mouth only goes so far, so something that stands out on the shelves is going to be your most impactful method.

There are many ways to stand out. People are all unique, and there will be a group of customers out there who are drawn to your design ideas, no matter what they are. Therefore, it doesn’t always matter what the idea is exactly or how much time you pore over choosing the “right” or “correct” idea. The key is to pick an idea and really, fully commit to it.

Structural Box Packaging Ideas

Heighten the interest of standard box types with custom boxes that incorporate thoughtful details in their structure and materials.

1. Let the Product Shine With a Clear Window

If your product needs a little structural protection and you want to show it off, consider using a standard box with a clear window cut-out. This provides the structure and a place to print all the necessary information, while also providing a peek at the contents. This way, customers can really visualize what they're getting and the quality of it.

2. Use Less Packaging

Does your product have to be fully encompassed inside a box, or could it have a cardboard sleeve or similar wrapped around it? Not only does this show off the product and let it speak for itself, but some folks appreciate the simplicity as well as the resources saved. Bonus, it saves on packaging expenses for you and gives customers less to throw away!

3. Package It Like A Gift Hamper

If you think your product is gift-worthy, why not give the customer the experience of opening a gift? We're familiar with basket hampers, but corrugated shippers are also the perfect way to present assorted contents while protecting the products inside. For example, there could be assorted herbal tea sachets, natural soaps wrapped up, and a jar of luxury face cream, all packed aesthetically in shredded paper.

4. Create an Unboxing Experience

It's very trendy on social media at the moment for creators to film themselves unboxing packages. The delight that comes from these experiences tends to be the little extras. Whether it's a little card slipped in thanking the customer for their purchase, a small free gift such as some stickers, or packaging inside packaging to keep the experience going. 

Going through multiple layers to get to the product inside or finding unexpected little extras improves the customer’s enjoyment.

5. Add Custom Inserts and Cutouts

Extra details show thoughtfulness and care, like when there’s extra cardboard inside the box that perfectly fits the different parts of the product. These design features can be added as part of a custom packaging order, especially in mailer boxes where the product needs to be secure. Custom designs like this are a great way of protecting glass and other fragile products, too.

6. Make an Environmental Statement

The environmental impact of products, manufacturing, and packaging is more and more at the forefront of consumers' minds. Eco-friendly packaging is more important than ever, both for the impact on the environment and for winning and keeping conscious consumers. Individuals who care about sustainability tend to live these values with their wallets, especially with the rise of ecommerce and the extra environmental impact it brings.

Could your packaging be made out of recycled materials and be recyclable itself? Could the packaging be made to last and be reused for a different purpose after the contents are gone? Whether you personally think this is important or not, many customers are refusing to buy products from unsustainable companies when there are more sustainable choices out there. Why miss out on those sales?

Creative Box Design Ideas

Creative packaging designs that still maintain relevance invite curiosity and increase motivation to buy. Try these ideas for something out of the ordinary.

7. Use All Available Space

We primarily think about the outside of the box as the place to put all the design elements. What about the inside of the box, though? With a slide box, the insert has both an exterior and an interior, as well as the interior of the sleeve. Just as it's fun to come across a shirt that has a funky pattern inside the cuffs or collar, the same is true with packaging. Think about utilizing your internal surfaces.

8. Tell Your Brand’s Story

Include the story of your brand, why the company was started, the hopes and dreams of the founders, or simply explain how the brand evolved. This is a way of connecting with customers and making them feel part of the product or brand. 

The back of a box is a standard spot for this, though the inside of the lid can be even more moving, giving the customer a little discovery when they open their package. Flip-top boxes are perfect for this use case.

9. Use Color Psychology

Use of color to represent the ideals and goals of the consumer is a powerful and simple tool. What's the feeling you want to invoke in your customers? Does your product represent a simple and healthy lifestyle, strength and muscle growth goals, or patriotism? Use warm, earthy colors for health, black and primary colours for strength, and red, white, and blue to invoke a sense of a true American product. 

10. Feature a Single Color

Box designs tend to be multicolored, so a monochromatic look would be striking and stand out on store shelves. If you can match a theme, even better. A sea salt scrub could come in a box with various shades of blue in the design. This would both invoke an image of the salty ocean and also draw attention to the box on the shelf.

11. Appeal to the Inner Child

Fun is a great way to be creative and opens up a number of possible ideas. Many adults are leaning into the joyous elements of life and reclaiming what is stereotypically seen as being for children. Don't be afraid to have a bit of fun and get silly with it.

12. Have a Mascot

We all know Snap, Crackle, and Pop from our Rice Krispies boxes. Why not have your own mascot on your packaging? Perhaps a scrappy-looking dog on your pet products, telling you why it loves the product and wants to share it with your pet.

13. Think Outside the Box

Does your product have to come in a square or rectangular package? Consider creating packaging in an unusual shape, such as something relevant to the product. Could your electrolyte powder come in packaging shaped as sweat beads, or dog dental sticks come in a stick-shaped box?

14. Use Patterns

Patterns are a great way to add interest to your product packaging, while keeping the design as busy or simple as you want. Neutral pattern choices include stripes, spots, checks, or something geometric. Florals, doodles, and other intricate patterns or pictures are busier and give very different feels. The choice of pattern adds interest while creating an idea of simplicity, stylishness, or creativity.

15. Less Is More

There's no pressure to fill up every part of the box with extra design. Sometimes, keeping it simple is what's needed. Sleek and minimalist is stylish, with only the necessities on the box. People live busy lives and have busy brains. A simple design brings the idea of calm, peace, and luxury. These design choices could be paired with an item that inspires self-care and self-indulgence, like a specialty soap or beautiful perfume.

16. Texture, Texture, Texture

Bringing the design off the cardboard and into people's hands provides a memorable first impression. Premium print embellishments like raised fonts and smooth, glossy writing both feel nice to touch and are enjoyable to look at. They’re not only attractive, but also give an impression of the quality of the product inside, and the care and effort that went into it.

17. Bold and Bright

Bold colors are confident, and bright colors bring energy and life to your packaging. Both color categories are a good choice for cannabis and CBD products, especially those that are used to energize or spark creativity. Create the vibe of what your customers are purchasing your product for. Bright and bold colors help your customers feel connected to their purchase and to your brand.

18. Add Layers to the Product Packaging

Why have your design only printed on the box when you could have it stuck on your box? The use of different materials is creative and will delight customers with your inspiration. 

Selling tea leaves? Stick synthetic leaves on your cardboard box. Got choc chip cookies? Adhere plastic or foam choc chips to the outside of the box, or use them to spell out the cookie name. Marketing pet products? Cover the boxes with faux fur for an unmissable finish!

19. Stick to Your Roots

What's your brand identity? What are the key values? Customers pick up on these through aesthetics. Think about how you could showcase what your brand is all about through design choices, color palette, and typography. 

Different design elements communicate different messages. It's important for businesses to keep in mind what they want to communicate, where they've come from, and where they're going. If you create a feeling of your brand identity through your box packaging, you're well on your way to connecting with customers.

20. Be Weird, Literal, and Humorous

If there's a joke to make, make it. Someone out there will have a chuckle and buy your product because of it. In the same vein, if you package things in a literal way, like cat food coming in packaging that's shaped as a food bowl, that will capture attention. Just make sure to keep it appropriate to your product and target market.

21. Be Luxurious

Luxury is something everyone wants to feel at one time or another, even if the product itself is cost-effective. Rigid boxes and slider boxes emit a sense of quality, while extras such as ribbons, metallic details, and custom inserts communicate extravagance and style. 

For that extra layer of indulgence, consider placing your products inside a satin or organza bag and then inside the box. This additional layer of packaging makes the customer's experience fancier and more special.

Boxing It Up

The presentation of your box packaging is so important. It often makes or breaks a sale. If brands find a way to connect with customers through packaging design, they are more likely to make a new convert, and for them to tell their friends about the products too.

With a variety of different box types, finishes, and design options, there is no end to creativity. Share the spirit of your brand and capture the minds of shoppers with your own unique angle.