50+ units · Sample 5–7 business days · Production 10–15 business days after sample approval
Custom Magnetic Boxes
Magnetic-closure rigid boxes that ship flat, snap together in seconds, and turn unboxing into a moment worth filming.
Quick answer
Custom magnetic boxes are rigid paperboard boxes with hidden neodymium magnets that hold the lid closed with a soft snap. Built from 1.2–2mm greyboard wrapped in art or specialty paper, they ship flat and assemble in seconds — combining the premium feel of a set-up box with the warehouse efficiency of a mailer. They are used by cosmetics, jewelry, electronics, and gifting brands where the unboxing moment is part of the product experience. MOQ starts at 50 units. Lead time is 10–15 business days after sample approval. Sample fees are credited against your first production order. DDP shipping to 50+ countries including USA, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia — no surprise customs fees.
MOQ
50 units
Sample
5–7 business days
Lead time
10–15 business days
Category
Boxes
Format
Magnetic Boxes
Why order direct from XC Paperbox
Foshan factory
18,000 m² since 2018
FSC A000511
Certified paper sourcing
ISO 9001:2015
Quality management
1M+ boxes / year
Volume capacity
DDP to 50+ countries
No surprise customs
24-hour quote
Reply within 1 business day
Overview
What it is, and when to use it.
Magnetic closure boxes (also called magnetic gift boxes or collapsible rigid boxes) sit between set-up rigid boxes and corrugated mailers in the premium packaging spectrum. Each box is built from 1.2–2mm greyboard — with recycled-content and FSC-certified options — wrapped in art paper, specialty stock, or textured paper, then fitted with N35 neodymium magnets embedded flush under the wrap. The lid closes with a soft, satisfying snap that signals quality before the customer even sees the product inside. What makes magnetic boxes different from standard rigid boxes is the shipping model. A traditional set-up rigid box is built pre-assembled and ships full of air — expensive to freight and inefficient to store. A magnetic box ships flat in a protective sleeve and pops into shape in under three seconds, cutting warehouse footprint and shipping volume significantly versus pre-assembled rigid. That makes the format especially popular with ecommerce brands, subscription services, and 3PL fulfillment centers that need premium presentation without paying to ship air. We manufacture magnetic boxes in low MOQ runs starting at 50 units per SKU, with white samples in 5–7 business days and printed samples in 7–10 days. Every project runs on a dedicated production line in our FSC-certified facility in Foshan, China, with hand QC at the packing stage. Common applications include luxury cosmetics launches, jewelry and watch presentation, premium electronics, corporate gifting, PR kits, and seasonal limited editions — any context where the box is part of the brand story and the unboxing moment is filmed, photographed, or shared.
Best for
- Luxury cosmetics
- Jewelry & watches
- Premium electronics
- Corporate gifting
- Subscription & PR kits
- High-end retail
Buyer's decision framework
When to choose custom magnetic boxes — and when not to.
Magnetic boxes are the right call when you want the feel of a luxury set-up box but need the warehouse and shipping efficiency of flat-pack. They are the wrong call when you need the absolute lowest unit cost, retail-shelf-ready gluing, or a box that survives rough courier handling without an outer mailer. Walk through these four questions before you commit.
- 1
Do you need premium unboxing — or just safe shipping?
If the unboxing moment is part of your brand (cosmetics launch, jewelry presentation, PR kit, influencer gift) — magnetic boxes deliver the snap, weight, and lid-lift moment that customers photograph. If the box only needs to survive the post and be recycled, choose a corrugated mailer at roughly one-third the unit cost.
- 2
How important is warehouse and shipping efficiency?
Magnetic boxes ship flat and assemble in under three seconds, cutting both storage footprint and shipping volume significantly versus pre-assembled rigid boxes. For brands running 3PL fulfillment or holding months of inventory, that compounds fast. If you store fewer than 200 boxes and fulfillment is manual, the difference is negligible — a pre-assembled rigid box may be simpler.
- 3
What is your target unit cost?
Magnetic boxes typically sit between rigid set-up boxes and corrugated mailers. At 1,000 units expect to pay more than a mailer, less than a hand-built rigid. If your retail price is under $25 and packaging is invisible in your margin stack, a folding carton or mailer will serve better. If the box is part of the gift, magnetic is the sweet spot.
- 4
Will the box be opened and closed repeatedly?
Magnetic closures are rated for 5,000+ open/close cycles, making them ideal for keepsake boxes, refill systems, and premium storage that customers reuse. If the box is opened once and discarded, the magnetic mechanism is wasted spend — choose a rigid lift-off lid or a folding carton instead.
This page
Magnetic box
Luxury ecommerce, gifts, PR kits, refills
- Cost
- $$$
- Lead
- 10–15 days
- MOQ
- 50 units
Alternative
Rigid set-up
Counter, gifting, fragrance, jewelry
- Cost
- $$$$
- Lead
- 10–15 days
- MOQ
- 50 units
Alternative
Corrugated mailer
DTC ecommerce, subscription, apparel
- Cost
- $$
- Lead
- 10–15 days
- MOQ
- 50 units
Applications
Common use cases
- Luxury cosmetics launches
- Jewelry and watch presentation
- Premium electronics unboxing
- Corporate gifting and hampers
- PR and influencer kits
- Subscription box premium tiers
- Seasonal limited editions
- Wedding and event favors
Materials
Board & paper options
- ●1200–1800 gsm greyboardThe structural core. Heavier grades (1500–1800) suit large hampers and electronics; lighter grades (1200–1500) keep small jewelry boxes from feeling bulky. Recycled-content and FSC-certified options available.
- ●Art paper wrap (128–300 gsm)The baseline wrap for printed magnetic boxes. Takes CMYK, Pantone, foil, and lamination cleanly. 157 gsm is the sweet spot for most projects.
- ●Specialty paper (Curious, Fedrigoni, Gmund)For brands where the paper itself is the statement — tactile, colored, or metallic stocks that need no printing. Best for luxury and gifting.
- ●Textured stocks (linen, leather, kraft)Adds a tactile surface that photographs well. Leather-look stocks are popular for watch and fragrance; linen for cosmetics; kraft for eco positioning.
- ●FSC-certified wrap papersRequired if your brand makes a sustainability claim on-pack. We supply FSC-certified wraps and chain-of-custody documentation.
- ●Recycled kraft wrapFor eco-conscious brands. Natural brown or bleached finish, pairs with soy inks. Best when the box is part of a refill or reuse system.
Printing & finishes
How it gets dressed
Printing
- Offset CMYKRecommended for 500+ units and full-color photographic artwork. Lowest per-unit cost at volume.
- Pantone spot colorsRecommended for brand-critical color matches (logo reds, brand blues). Essential when CMYK cannot reproduce a corporate color.
- Digital printRecommended for 50–200 unit runs. No plate setup, fast turnaround, ideal for market tests and small launches.
- Metallic inksRecommended for shimmer effects without foil-stamp cost. Subtler than foil, good for backgrounds and patterns.
- White ink on dark wrapsRecommended for matte black, navy, or deep-colored wraps where CMYK alone cannot print light text or logos.
- Litho laminationRecommended for full-wrap coverage — the printed sheet wraps the entire box exterior including edges. Standard for magnetic boxes.
Finishes
- Soft-touch lamination (velvet feel)
- Matte or gloss lamination
- Foil stamping (gold, silver, rose gold, holographic)
- Embossing & debossing
- Spot UV on matte grounds
- Satin ribbon pulls
- Flush-mount N35 neodymium magnetic closure
- Double-magnet closure for large boxes
Sizes
Standard sizes — and fully custom
| Label | W | D | H | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (jewelry) | 130 | 100 | 45 | mm |
| Medium (cosmetics) | 220 | 160 | 70 | mm |
| Large (electronics) | 300 | 220 | 90 | mm |
| XL (hampers) | 380 | 280 | 120 | mm |
| Custom | — | — | — | mm |
Ordering & pricing
MOQ, lead time, and what drives the unit cost.
Every box is custom — there is no flat price list. Here is what you need to plan around, and what we will confirm in your tailored quote within 24 hours.
MOQ & sampling
Our standard MOQ for custom magnetic boxes is 50 units per SKU — one of the lowest in the industry for a rigid-format box. At 50 units we run digital printing, which avoids plate costs and lets you test a market without committing to volume. From 500 units upward, offset printing becomes more economical. From 5,000 units, dedicated tooling and bulk material pulls bring the unit cost down further. Sample fees are credited against your first production order.
Lead time
Sampling: white sample in 5–7 business days, printed and finished sample in 7–10 days. Production: 10–15 business days after sample approval, depending on quantity and finish complexity. Shipping: 10–25 days DDP to 50+ countries, depending on destination and whether air or sea freight is chosen. Total door-to-door timeline: 3–5 weeks for most orders. Rush production is available on request — we can compress to 8 business days for an expedite fee.
How to read pricing
Final pricing is confirmed in your tailored quote within 24 hours. We do not publish a flat price list because every magnetic box is custom — but we will always show the unit cost at 50, 100, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 units so you can see the volume curve before committing.
What affects the unit cost
Seven factors that move the quote.
Order quantity
Unit cost drops sharply from 50 to 1,000 units as setup and tooling costs amortize. Beyond 1,000, savings continue but flatten.
Box size
Larger boxes use more greyboard and wrap paper, and lower the number of units per press sheet. A 380×280×120mm hamper costs roughly 2.5× a 130×100×45mm jewelry box.
Materials
Standard 1200 gsm greyboard with 157 gsm art paper is the baseline. Specialty wraps (Fedrigoni, Curious, Gmund) and textured stocks add 20–60% to material cost.
Printing method
Digital print is economical at 50–200 units. Offset CMYK and Pantone spot become cheaper per unit from 500 units. Foil and metallic inks add a fixed setup cost per color.
Finishes
Soft-touch lamination, foil stamping, embossing, and spot UV each add a pass. A box with all four can cost measurably more than a plain laminated equivalent.
Magnets & hardware
Standard N35 flush magnets are included. Double-magnet closures for large boxes, ribbon pulls, and magnetic clasps add per-unit hardware cost.
Shipping
Flat-pack shipping cuts volume significantly versus pre-assembled rigid. Sea freight is economical from 1,000 units; air freight is viable for samples and urgent launches.
Related case studies
See how brands have used custom magnetic boxes.
Real project
How a DTC fragrance brand switched from rigid set-up to magnetic.
- Client
- Direct-to-consumer fragrance brand (UK)
- Challenge
- A DTC fragrance brand needed launch packaging that photographed like a department-store gift set but shipped flat from a UK 3PL warehouse. Their previous rigid set-up boxes arrived pre-assembled, costing a fortune to freight and eating warehouse space.
- Format chosen
- Collapsible magnetic box, matte black art paper wrap, soft-touch lamination, rose-gold foil wordmark, single N35 magnet. Shipped flat in protective sleeves — significantly more units per pallet than their previous pre-assembled rigid box.
- Result
- Freight cost from our Foshan facility to their UK 3PL dropped meaningfully per unit, and warehouse footprint for stock was reduced substantially. The brand sold through their first run faster than projected and reordered within weeks, adding new SKUs on the same magnetic template.
50 units.
Our standard MOQ for fully custom magnetic boxes is 50 units per SKU. At 50 units we use digital printing, which avoids plate setup costs. From 500 units, offset printing becomes more economical per unit.
N35 neodymium, rated for 5,000+ open/close cycles.
We use N35 neodymium magnets rated for 5,000+ open/close cycles. For boxes above 2kg or larger than 300mm, we recommend a double-magnet closure. Magnetic strength can be tuned — some brands prefer a lighter snap for easy opening, others prefer a firm hold for luxury perception.
Flat — assemble in under 3 seconds.
Collapsible magnetic boxes ship flat in protective sleeves and pop into shape in under 3 seconds with no glue or tape. This cuts shipping volume significantly versus pre-assembled rigid boxes. If you prefer pre-assembled delivery for retail counter use, we can ship them ready-filled.
Magnetic ships flat; rigid ships assembled.
A rigid set-up box is hand-built and arrives pre-assembled — the most premium format but expensive to ship and store. A magnetic box uses similar greyboard and wrap but is engineered with crease lines and embedded magnets so it folds flat for shipping and snaps together at the fulfillment center. Both feel premium in the hand; magnetic wins on logistics, rigid wins on absolute weight and a "built-like-a-tank" feel.
White sample 5–7 days, production 10–15 days.
After design sign-off, a white sample (uncut, unprinted) is produced in 5–7 business days. A printed and finished sample follows in 7–10 days. Production runs 10–15 business days after sample approval, depending on quantity and finish complexity. Total door-to-door: 3–5 weeks for most orders.
Yes — both.
The greyboard core is recyclable in standard paper streams. Magnets are small enough to pass through most recycling facilities, though we recommend removing them for cleanest recycling. Many customers reuse magnetic boxes as keepsake storage — the 5,000+ cycle closure makes them well-suited for refill systems and premium storage.
Yes — we supply FSC-certified wraps and chain-of-custody documentation.
We hold FSC certification (license A000511) and can supply magnetic boxes with FSC-certified greyboard and wrap papers. If your brand makes a sustainability claim on-pack or in marketing, request FSC-certified materials at quoting stage and we will include the chain-of-custody documentation in your shipment. Recycled-content and kraft wrap options are also available for eco positioning.
Yes — interior printing is a standard option.
Interior printing is common for magnetic boxes because the lid opens fully and the inside is visible during unboxing. We can print full-color artwork, brand storytelling, instructions, or a message inside the lid using offset CMYK, Pantone, or digital print. Soft-touch lamination on the interior is also available for a premium feel. Interior printing adds one pass and is quoted separately.
Request a quote
Tell us about your project.
Send a few details and we'll come back within 24 hours with a tailored quote, lead time estimate, and material recommendations.
- · Free dieline and 3D mockup
- · Sample fees credited against first order
- · DDP shipping to 50+ countries
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Read before you order
Guides that pair with custom magnetic boxes.
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The Complete Guide to Luxury Packaging
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Premium Packaging Design Principles
How to create packaging that feels expensive without overspending on materials.
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