Cardboard 123 Bottom Boxes
Cardboard 123 bottom boxes use the same interlocking base as a snap lock, simply named for its three folding movements, on coated board that prints full color accurately. The base mechanism doesn't affect print quality whatsoever. An auto bottom is slightly more rigid, since its base is glued; for most loads the difference is negligible, for heavy contents it matters.
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Read them on Trustpilot →(opens in a new tab)Four stages, twelve days
Quote confirmed
A specialist checks your spec against the board and comes back with a firm price inside 4 business hours.
Proof approved
You get a flat dieline and a 3D render. Nothing goes to press until you approve it in writing.
On press
Print, die-cut, glue, and fold. You get a press-side photo the day your job runs.
QC and delivery
Every pallet is sampled against the digital proof or physical sample you approved, then shipped with tracking to your dock or 3PL.
If a box doesn't match the digital proof or physical sample you approved, we reprint the run at no charge.
Read the reprint terms →Know exactly what you're ordering.
Same Lock, Trade Name Taken From Three Folds
Most people searching for a 123 bottom already have a spec in front of them, whether from a previous supplier, a retailer's packaging guide or a co-packer's line sheet. What they usually want is that same base under a better-printed carton.
This product is exactly that: the locking bottom on coated white board, built for retail cartons where the front panel has to carry the brand properly. Cosmetics, confectionery, small homewares and gift sets are the usual contents. If you're comparing quotes, line the base description up against ours, then look at the board. The mechanism is what the name refers to; the stock and the print it allows are where suppliers actually differ.
Coated Board Specs Behind a 123 Base
| Spec | 123 bottom on coated board |
|---|---|
| Stock | SBS (solid bleached sulfate) |
| Caliper | 14–24pt |
| Base | Locks in three folding movements |
| Print surface | Coated white on all four walls and the lid |
| Tolerance | ±0.5–1mm |
| Sizing | Matched to your product's internal dimensions |
The board is coated SBS carton stock. A point is a thousandth of an inch, so 18pt board is 0.018" thick. Lighter cosmetics and confectionery sit comfortably at 14–18pt. Jars, bottles and boxed sets want the stiffer end, which also keeps the corners square on a shelf. If you're matching an existing spec sheet, send it over and we'll work to its dimensions.
Choosing Coated Stock Because the Color Has to Match
Coated board earns its place on a 123 bottom when color is part of what's being sold. A foundation brand, a lipstick range or a nail-polish line sells partly on shade, and the carton is the first swatch the customer sees. For beauty cartons that must match a shade card, uncoated stock would dull and warm every color, so the box would tell a different story from the product inside it.
The locked base matters as well, because beauty cartons often hold glass that a tucked bottom can drop. Where coated board is more than you need: a product that sells on a plain, natural look, or a box that's filled and discarded within the hour. In those cases kraft looks right and costs a little less.
Full-Color Panels Above a Folded Base
With the locking mechanism tucked underneath, every outward face is free for artwork. Coated board takes full CMYK cleanly, with spot colors added where a brand hue has to match exactly. On top of the print, there's soft-touch lamination for a matte, velvety hand, gloss lamination for scuff resistance on busy shelves, and foil or spot UV on a logo.
Two things to plan for. Soft-touch shifts printed color slightly, so approve color with the laminate in mind rather than bare ink. And keep solid ink and foil away from the base folds, where repeated flexing cracks them. The bottom panel itself is a fair home for barcodes and ingredient lists; nobody needs it to be pretty.
Retail Cartons Heavy Enough to Need a Locked Bottom
123 bottom cartons suit retail product that's heavier than a tuck end can be trusted with and that sells from a shelf where the print does the work. Skincare in glass jars, boxed fragrance minis and nail sets are typical contents.
Confectioners use them for sweets packed by weight in printed boxes: fudge, brittle and truffle assortments resting on a single floor. Small homewares fit the format too, such as mugs, candles and diffuser sets. Promotional gift sets round it out, especially where several items stack inside one carton and the base has to stay closed while the next layer goes in. Every case needs a carton that looks finished on four sides and a bottom that won't drop open when lifted.
Checking Every Base Lock Before Dispatch
A 100-carton minimum lets you test a new shade range or a gift set without warehousing thousands of boxes. Production runs 8–12 business days from proof approval, and rush is offered at an extra cost that we state before you order.
Every order passes a three-stage check, and on this style that includes the base lock, so a misaligned crease is found on our side rather than by your packing team. On orders above 10,000 cartons, free samples are available before the bulk run, which is useful when a retailer wants to see the finished box first. Dies, plates and setup sit inside the quote, and shipping is included in the price.
One connected process, start to finish.
Structural Design
Dieline drafted to your exact fit and freight tolerances.
Proof & Sample
Sign off on a digital proof, or request a physical sample.
Tooling
Dies and plates are cut for your job and archived on file.
Production
Print, die-cut, and assembly run under in-line quality checks.
Ship & Reorder
Freight goes out, and the cycle resets for your next run.
Steady process. Powerful results.
Like everything we build, our process is engineered to hold up — no shortcuts, no surprises. Five dependable stages that run the same way every single time, so reorders are just as fast as the first order.
- One dedicated teamFrom first sketch to final freight, the same people carry your order start to finish.
- Dies archived on fileReorders skip tooling and re-setup entirely — we already have your exact spec.
- Checked against your sign-offEvery run is inspected against the digital proof or physical sample you approved.
Set up your file once, correctly
Nine in ten delayed jobs are delayed by artwork, not production. Match these four rules and your proof lands the next morning.
- Bleed1/8 in (3 mm) past every cut line
- Safe ZoneKeep text 1/4 in clear of every crease
- ColourCMYK or named Pantone. No RGB.
- Resolution300 dpi at final size, fonts outlined
No print-ready file?
Send a logo and a rough idea. Our studio builds the production file free with any order over 500 units — you keep the source file either way.
Ask the StudioBackground art must run all the way to the outer bleed edge. Anything inside the white dashed line survives fold tolerance.
What brands say about this box
They live there rather than here, where we can't edit them, delete them, or pick which ones you get to see. That is exactly what makes them worth reading.
Read all reviews on Trustpilot(opens in a new tab)Answers before you have to ask.
Why is it called a 123 bottom?
Because the base locks in three folding movements. It's the same mechanism as a snap lock, just named for the sequence rather than the action. The terms get used interchangeably in the trade.
Can 123 bottom boxes be printed in full color?
Yes, and coated board is what delivers it accurately. The base mechanism doesn't affect printing at all, so you get the same print quality as any folding carton in that stock.
Is 123 bottom the same strength as auto bottom?
Close, though an auto bottom is generally more rigid because the base is glued rather than interlocked. For most loads the difference doesn't matter; for heavy contents it does.
How soon can 123 bottom boxes be made?
About 8–12 business days once the proof is approved. The base mechanism doesn't affect the timeline. Rush production is available at a quoted premium.
Can 123 bottom boxes be reordered quickly?
Yes. With your dimensions and artwork on file, reorders need no new proof unless something changes, and most run in about 8–12 business days with rush available.