Signs & Large Format Print
Parcel layers: box, tape, void fill, insert
Customers discover a parcel layer by layer, and each one can be put to use:
- Outer box – the first thing the courier, the neighbour and the customer see. It can be fully printed, have a one-colour logo or be plain brown.
- Tape – it seals the box and is visible on it. Logo tape turns an ordinary box into a parcel from someone.
- Inside of the box – a print on the inside of the lid is the place for a slogan, a thank-you or instructions.
- Void fill and wrapping – wrapping paper (tissue, printed paper) sealed with a sticker.
- Insert – a thank-you card, a discount code, a new-arrivals flyer, instructions, a sample.
You do not have to do all the layers at once. Two done well beat all five done badly. Most small shops start with tape and a card, then add a sticker and paper.
Cheap items with a big effect: sticker, tape, paper
[Printed packing tape](/produkty/tasmy-pakowe-z-nadrukiem) – as a guide: 48 mm × 60 m tape printed in 3 Pantone colours, 36 rolls, costs approx. €290 net, i.e. approx. €8 per roll. A typical parcel uses about 0.5–0.7 m of tape, so one roll seals about 90–120 parcels – around €0.07–0.10 per parcel. You can price other quantities and widths in the twojatasma.pl calculator. More in our guide printed packing tape.
Logo stickers – seal paper, act as a tamper seal on the box, mark the product. Die-cut stickers are priced by m² of vinyl (monomeric vinyl approx. €6–12 net/m²) and the length of the cut line (approx. €1.20 net per metre). A 5 cm round sticker has about 16 cm of cut, so for a small run roughly €0.20–0.25 per piece. For several thousand pieces roll labels are cheaper – compare in our guide labels on rolls or sheets.
Printed wrapping paper – wraps the product inside the box. It is the element most associated with a nice unboxing. The price depends on size, paper and quantity – we quote from a short description.
Card, flyer and discount code in the parcel
The insert is the only part of the parcel that can bring another order. The customer holds it at the moment they are happiest with the purchase.
What works:
- a thank-you card in business card or A6 size – in the 90 × 50 mm business card size, 1,000 pcs cost approx. €25 net, i.e. approx. €0.03 each,
- a discount code for the next purchase with an expiry date – ideally a separate code for parcels, so you can count how many orders it brought,
- a QR code to reviews, a video guide or a loyalty programme,
- a leaflet with the range or a new-arrivals catalogue – a 4-page A5 leaflet, 1,000 pcs approx. €90 net (approx. €0.09 per parcel).
A typical mistake: dropping a general flyer into the parcel, the same one handed out on the street. A parcel insert can speak to a customer who has already bought: thank you, here is how to look after the product, -10% for you next time. A handwritten signature on the card also makes an impression at small scale. On measuring the effect of codes, see our guide measuring offline advertising effectiveness.
- 01Brief
Description, sizes, site photos and deadline — a few sentences are enough.
- 02Design and quote
Our designers prepare artwork or a visualisation and you get a price.
- 03Approval
You approve the design; for brand colours we provide a proof.
- 04Production
35+ machines in our own plant in Poland: 3.2 m UV print, CNC, laser, 3D, sewing.
- 05Installation or delivery
Own crews and vehicles across Europe, partner network, couriers worldwide.
Printing inside the box
A print on the inside of the box is a good way to surprise: plain brown board outside (discretion, lower cost), colour, a slogan and a thank-you inside. It works for shops selling cosmetics, clothing and gifts.
But bear in mind that two-sided printing raises the cost of the box and only makes sense with repeat runs in one size. At smaller scale a similar effect comes from a sticker on the inside of the lid or printed paper wrapped around the product.
Printed e-commerce boxes are quoted from a brief: internal dimensions, board type, print coverage (outside, inside, both), quantity. From what quantity it pays off is covered in our guide custom printed boxes in small quantities.
Cost per parcel at different quantities
| Element | Basis of calculation | Cost per parcel |
|---|---|---|
| Logo tape | 36 rolls approx. €290, approx. 100 parcels per roll | approx. €0.07–0.10 |
| Thank-you card (business card size) | 1,000 pcs approx. €25 | approx. €0.03 |
| A5 leaflet, 4 pages | 1,000 pcs approx. €90 | approx. €0.09 |
| Die-cut sticker, 5 cm round | vinyl + cut line, small run | approx. €0.20–0.25 |
| Printed wrapping paper | depending on size and quantity | quoted from a brief |
| Printed box | depending on size, board, quantity | quoted from a brief |
So a tape + card package costs less than €0.15 per parcel. It is a good start for a shop sending a few dozen parcels a week. At several hundred parcels a month it is worth pricing a printed box and paper – volumes rise and the unit price falls. All amounts are indicative; we confirm the exact price after your enquiry.
Sustainability and parcel size vs shipping cost
Customers increasingly notice excess packaging. A big box with one small product and a kilo of void fill spoils the impression more than a missing logo.
A few practical rules:
- match the box to the product – a smaller parcel means less void fill and often a lower courier size band; 2–3 box sizes are usually enough for the whole range,
- paper instead of bubble wrap where the product allows,
- mono-material board is easier to recycle than laminated board or board with plastic elements,
- information for the customer – a short note on the card or inside the box on how to sort the packaging is a small cost and a well-received gesture.
Packaging rules (labelling, producer and seller obligations) differ between countries and are currently changing across the EU – check them for the markets you ship to. More on materials for online shops on the online shop page.