Free design support and free U.S. shipping. No minimum order.
Free design support and free U.S. shipping. No minimum order.
Free design support on every order
No minimum order, free 3D mockups and free U.S. shipping.
Share your size, material and quantity. A packaging specialist replies with pricing, a free dieline and a digital proof.
Custom bakery boxes are paperboard boxes printed with your logo. They carry cakes, cookies and pastries home in perfect shape. Packaging Hubs makes cake, cupcake, cookie, donut, pie and bagel boxes, with clear windows and fitted inserts. They fold flat for storage and set up in seconds behind the counter. Every order includes zero MOQ, free design services and free shipping to all U.S. states.
Each bakery item needs a different height, base and insert. This table gives proven starting sizes, which we adjust to your products.
| Item | Starting size (L × W × H, inches) | Board | Typical extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single cookie or brownie | 4 × 4 × 1.5 | 18 pt SBS or kraft | Window, sticker seal |
| Half-dozen cookies | 8 × 6 × 2 | 18 pt SBS or kraft | Window, glassine liner |
| 4 cupcakes | 8 × 8 × 4 | 20 pt SBS | 4-cavity insert |
| 12 cupcakes | 14 × 10 × 4 | 24 pt SBS or E-flute | 12-cavity insert |
| Dozen donuts | 14 × 10 × 3.5 | 20 pt SBS | Window, grease barrier |
| 9-inch pie | 10 × 10 × 2.5 | 20 pt SBS | Window, vent holes |
| 8-inch layer cake | 10 × 10 × 5 | 24 pt SBS | Cake board, window |
| Tall or tiered cake | 12 × 12 × 8 | E-flute | Cake board, handle |
Measure the item with its cake board or liner, then add about 1/2 inch on each side. Tall frostings and toppings need at least 1 inch of headroom.
A cake box must be tall enough for frosting and strong enough to carry the weight. Above all, it should not touch the decoration.
Lock-corner cake boxes set up without glue and hold a square shape. For layer cakes, use 24 pt board or E-flute corrugated, plus a cake board underneath. A window on the lid lets customers check the cake without opening it.
For smaller celebrations, our custom small cake boxes fit 4- to 6-inch cakes, bento cakes and slices.
Cookies need a snug box that stops them from sliding and breaking. A shallow box with a glassine liner keeps them fresh and absorbs grease.
Single-cookie boxes are ideal for gift add-ons, events and wholesale cafés. Larger tuck or lock-corner boxes hold half-dozen and dozen packs. Brownies and bars, meanwhile, often go in a sleeve-and-tray box with dividers. Explore our single cookie boxes for individually wrapped treats.
Donut and bagel boxes carry a dozen items in a flat, wide box with a hinged lid. The lid usually has a window so the assortment sells itself.
Glazed donuts are sticky, so a grease-resistant coating on the inside keeps the box from spotting. Bagel boxes need more height, especially when filled with cream cheese tubs. See our custom donut boxes for half-dozen and dozen sizes.
A pie box needs a flat base, a low height and vents for steam. Without vents, a warm crust turns soft before it gets home.
Most pies fit a 10 × 10 × 2.5 inch box. Deep-dish and meringue pies need 3 to 4 inches of height. Our custom pie boxes include window and vent options for fruit, cream and savory pies.
Most bakery boxes are made from SBS paperboard, a clean white board that prints well. Kraft and corrugated suit different looks and weights.
SBS, or solid bleached sulfate, comes in 14 to 24 pt thickness. A point is one-thousandth of an inch, so 24 pt is 0.024 inch. Its bright surface makes colors and logos sharp. Kraft paperboard is unbleached and brown, which gives an artisan feel. E-flute corrugated adds strength for heavy cakes and catering trays.
Choose 18 to 20 pt for cookies, donuts and pies. Move to 24 pt or E-flute for cakes and multi-tier orders.
A window lets customers see the product, which works like a display case they carry home. It is the single most popular upgrade on bakery boxes.
Windows are die-cut into the lid and backed with clear film. PET film is clear and rigid. Common shapes are rectangles, circles and ovals, but a window can follow your logo outline too.
Inserts keep each item in its place, so decorated cupcakes and macarons arrive intact. They are made from the same paperboard as the box.
Cupcake inserts come with 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 or 24 cavities. Divider grids separate cookies, truffles and macarons. Glassine or wax liners absorb butter and protect the board. For cinnamon rolls and sticky buns, a grease-resistant tray keeps glaze from soaking in.
Custom bakery boxes print by offset or digital press. Offset suits larger runs, while digital suits small runs and seasonal designs.
CMYK covers full-color artwork and food photos. PMS spot colors match your exact brand shade on every reorder. If your files are in RGB, we convert them to CMYK and show the result on your proof. Finishes like matte or gloss lamination, spot UV and gold foil add a boutique look.
Print your shop name, website and social handle on the lid. A small “best enjoyed by” area or reheating tip on the side also helps customers.
Butter and glaze stain plain board, so most bakery boxes need some grease protection. The inside should also stay unprinted where food touches it.
A grease-resistant coating or liner keeps oils from bleeding through. Closed boxes with a snug lid slow drying. For bread, a breathable bag works better than a sealed box. Our custom bread bags keep crusts crisp. Ask us for material documents if your health inspector or wholesale buyer needs them.
Five factors set most of the price. Here they are, from highest impact down.
| Factor | Impact | How to save |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Highest | Standardize on two or three box sizes |
| Box size and board | High | Use 18 to 20 pt SBS for light items |
| Window | Moderate | Use a simple rectangle instead of a custom shape |
| Inserts | Moderate | Use inserts only for decorated or delicate items |
| Print and finishes | Moderate | One foil logo often beats full-coverage print |
Ordering takes five steps, and you approve everything before production.
First, send your items, sizes and quantities through the quote form. Next, our designers prepare a free dieline and lay out your artwork. Then you review a digital proof or 3D mock-up. After approval, production runs on a timeline confirmed with your quote. Finally, your boxes ship flat with tracking.
We work with bakeries, cafés, cake studios and home bakers nationwide. That includes shops in California, Texas, Florida and New York. Wherever you are, free shipping to all U.S. states is included.
Your box is the last thing customers see before the first bite. It should feel as good as what’s inside. Tell us what you bake, your sizes and how many boxes you go through each month. We’ll recommend the right board, window and insert. Our designers then build your dieline and artwork at no cost. You approve a proof before anything prints, so there are no surprises. With no minimum order, you can try a seasonal design without overstocking. Plus, every order includes free shipping to all U.S. states. Send us your details today, and our team will come back with a quote and clear next steps.
Still unsure? Email sales@packaginghubs.com and a packaging specialist will help.
