Overview & Specifications
What Is a Seal End Box?
A seal end box is a paperboard folding carton with a glued side seam whose end flaps close with an adhesive strip instead of a tuck. The strip is applied in production and covered by a peel-off liner. At packing, the carton is squared up, one end is sealed, the product goes in, and the other end is sealed. Once sealed, the ends do not re-tuck; the carton is opened by breaking the seal or along a tear strip.
How the Peel-and-Seal Ends Close
The format works through three steps in the packing sequence.
01
End Flaps
Each end has overlapping major and minor flaps instead of a tuck tongue.
02
Adhesive Strip
The major flap carries an adhesive strip applied in production, protected by a peel-off cover until packing.
03
Peel and Press
The minor flaps fold in, the cover is peeled away and the major flap is pressed down to seal. The customer later opens the carton by breaking the sealed end, or along a tear strip where one is specified.
Anatomy of a Seal End Box
01
Main Panels
Front, back and side print surfaces.
02
Major End Flaps
Carry the pre-applied adhesive strip.
03
Minor End Flaps
Fold in first beneath the majors.
04
Adhesive Strip and Cover
Applied in production, peeled at packing.
05
Side Seam
Glued in production.
The strip position is marked on the dieline, and the finish where the strip meets the opposite flap is chosen so the seal bonds reliably.
Sealed Ends vs Tucked Ends
| Feature | Seal End | Tuck Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Closing method | Peel the strip cover, press to seal | Tuck tongue inserted |
| Re-openable | No; seal is broken | Yes |
| End appearance | Clean, no tongue | Visible tuck tongue |
| Glue or tools at packing | None | None |
Application guide
When Is a Seal End Box the Right Choice?
A seal end box suits products that should remain closed until purchase or use, packed by hand without glue equipment: dry foods and contained food products, personal care and household goods, secondary cartons for pharmaceutical products, and retail goods packed in volume.
01
Controlled
Controlled Final Closure
The adhesive strip gives a definite closing step, so the filled carton is designed to remain closed until the sealed end is opened.02
Simple
Simple Peel-and-Seal Packing
The strip is already on the box, so packers peel and press instead of applying glue, with no sealing equipment to set up.03
Clean
Clean End Panels
With no tuck tongue, both ends finish flat and can carry printing edge to edge.04
Alternative
When Another Format May Fit Better
If the carton should open and close repeatedly, choose a Reverse Tuck Box or Straight Tuck End Box. For a locked base with a re-openable top, see the Auto Lock Box or Snap Lock Box.
Seal End Box Specifications
Custom seal end boxes are specified around end-flap geometry, adhesive strip position, carton dimensions, board grade and caliper, print coverage and finishes, with the strip and every flap defined on a custom dieline.
| Specification | Available Configuration |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Folding carton with peel-and-seal end flaps |
| Category | Tuck Boxes |
| Dimensions | Custom inside L × W × D, built around the product |
| Core Construction | Glued side seam, major and minor end flaps with pre-applied adhesive strip and peel-off cover per approved dieline |
| Closure | Peel-and-seal ends; tear strip optional for opening |
| Board | White SBS, kraft or recycled paperboard; corrugated board; metallic, holographic, pearlescent or textured cardstock |
| Board Caliper | Paperboard from about 14 pt to 28 pt, or E-, F- or B-flute corrugated; matched to the product |
| Inserts | Paperboard, foam/EVA, molded pulp or thermoformed PET/PVC partitions or supports |
| Add-ons | Tear strip, die-cut window (with or without film), hang tab |
| Print Coverage | Exterior only, exterior + interior, or full inside and outside |
| Print Methods | Offset, digital, UV or screen printing; CMYK and Pantone spot colors |
| Coatings and Finishes | Matte, gloss or soft-touch lamination, aqueous or grease-resistant coating, foil stamping, emboss/deboss, Spot UV and raised 3D UV, matched to the seal area |
| Starting Price | From $0.85 / unit; final price depends on size, board, print, finishes and quantity |
| Minimum Order | 500 units |
| Standard Production | 7 days from approved proof |
| Rush Production | Available on request |
| Shipping | Ships flat, USA and worldwide |
How Seal End Compares to Other Tuck Box Structures
| Attribute | Seal End | Reverse Tuck | Straight Tuck End | Auto Lock | Snap Lock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top | Peel-and-seal | Tuck | Tuck | Tuck | Tuck |
| Bottom | Peel-and-seal | Tuck | Tuck | Pre-glued auto | Hand-locked |
| Re-openable | No | Both ends | Both ends | Top | Top |
| Closing at packing | Peel and press | Tuck in | Tuck in | Tuck top | Tuck top |
| Best fit | Closed-until-opened, no glue equipment | Everyday re-openable cartons | Front-led retail | Fewer bottom setup steps | Hand-locked base, no pre-glue |
What Size Seal End Box Do You Need?
Quote by inside length × width × depth, where length and width form the end opening and depth is the distance between the sealed ends. The adhesive strip sits on the major flap, so very narrow ends are checked on the dieline to leave enough strip for a full seal.
How Product Size Becomes Carton Size
The figures below are planning references, not fixed manufacturing rules; final allowances depend on product shape, insert and board.
| Step | Typical Allowance |
|---|---|
| Product to inside length and width | Add about 1–2 mm (1/16 in) |
| Product to inside depth | Add about 2–3 mm so the flaps close flat over the product |
| With an insert or partition | Size to the insert's outer dimensions |
| Inside to outside | Each dimension grows by about two board thicknesses |
Paperboard Caliper Reference
| Board | Typical Thickness | Typically Suited To |
|---|---|---|
| About 14–16 pt | About 0.36–0.41 mm | Light dry goods and sachet multipacks |
| About 18–20 pt | About 0.46–0.51 mm | Most personal care, household and food cartons |
| About 22–24 pt | About 0.56–0.61 mm | Larger filled cartons |
| About 26–28 pt | About 0.66–0.71 mm | Fuller or larger retail cartons |
| E- or F-flute corrugated | About 0.8–1.6 mm | Added stiffness at larger sizes |
| B-flute corrugated | About 3 mm | Large multi-unit cartons |
Important: All values here are references. Board, finish and flap size affect how well the ends hold, so the seal is confirmed on a sample rather than assumed.
If you are unsure, share the product dimensions and weight with the quote request, and the carton is sized around them.
Packing by Hand or on a Line?
The standard closure is peel-and-seal, made for hand packing without glue equipment. For an automated packing line, share the machine and its carton size range with the quote so the end closure is matched to it.
