Pillow boxes - perfect as gift packaging

Their unusual pillow-like shape makes them popular for use as gift boxes. A printed pillow box offers a very distinctive presentation of your product. They are ideal for small promotional gifts, clothing, sweets, or give-aways.

Structure of the pillow box

Unlike other types of folding boxes, pillow boxes do not close by folding in a flap. Instead, they close by the tension created by its convex shape and its plug-in flaps: a simple but effective design. Thanks to this structure, the pillow box offers good stability and safe protection to what's contained inside.

The easy filling, closing, and opening of the cushion box is guaranteed by the foldable access on both sides. Other important advantages resulting from the simple design are their low cost of manufacture and space-saving, flat storage. When folded flat, they are easy to transport and stow away.

Material selection for pillow boxes

Pillow boxes can be made from almost any material otherwise used for printed matter, provided it has good stability and strength. Most pillow boxes are made of solid chromocarton. This material is easy to process and due to its stability is readily folded. Once filled and closed, it provides the contents with excellent protection against damage and contamination. There are also other materials that can be used, such as transparent PP film, uncoated paper, kraft board, carton with metallic effect, or corrugated board or carton with a textured surface.

Finishes for pillow boxes

The finish for your pillow box depends on its purpose. If the pillow box primarily performs a protective function, a high-end finish may not be necessary. However, if it is being used as gift or jewellery packaging or for advertising purposes, there is hardly any type of finishing that can't be used.
Many pillow boxes have small viewing windows that are punched out, then lined with transparent film from within. These windows allow consumers to peek inside the box. Pillow boxes can also be perforated or fitted with a built-in hang tag.

Like other folding boxes, pillow boxes can have glossy or matte coatings and/or cold or hot foil stamping with gold, silver, or chrome looks. The finishes are only applied to the outside. There are no limits to the packaging design of pillow boxes. Pillow boxes used as gift packaging are frequently decorated with ribbons, bows, or other decorations.

Applications for pillow boxes

There is hardly any industry which doesn't use pillow boxes to package products. Consumers will find cushion boxes on supermarket shelves as well as at the electronics store or DIY centre. They are practical, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to fill, and attractive to the eye of the beholder. As food packaging, the pillow box is only suitable as secondary packaging, since the carton has no barrier that can effectively prevent the migration of adhesive or printing ink into the food product. In most cases, the primary packaging for foodstuffs inside a pillow box would be a food-safe film.

Pillow boxes have two particularly popular applications: to package jewellery and gifts and to present promotional items.

In the case of jewellery and gift packaging, pillow boxes can be highly attractive through the choice of materials, eye-catching print motifs, the many finishing options, and the ease with which they can be assembled in a retail setting.

Pillow boxes are also ideal for advertising, filled with advertising materials such as ballpoint pens, lighters, T-shirts, etc., or as packaging for give-aways at events and trade fairs, such as USB sticks. They can also be used as attractive packaging and safe storage for products that would otherwise be difficult to package or are in some shape other than rectangular.