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Reverse Tuck End
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Reverse Tuck End

A reverse tuck end (RTE) box has top and bottom flaps that tuck in opposite directions: the top flap folds front-to-back and the bottom folds back-to-front. This opposing tuck pattern uses material more efficiently than straight tuck designs and allows the box to lie completely flat for shipping and storage. RTEs are the most common folding carton style in retail packaging because they balance low cost, clean appearance, and easy hand assembly. The front panel has no flap interruption above the bottom edge, giving designers a continuous surface for branding. Closures use friction fit or slit-lock tabs, with slit-locks adding tamper resistance for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Material range is 250-400gsm in SBS, kraft, or coated recycled board. RTEs assemble at roughly 10-15 per minute by hand. Cubit produces custom reverse tuck end boxes from 100 units with full-color printing.

Popular Style
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4 Materials Available
10 Finishes Available

Best For:

Cosmetics & BeautySupplements & VitaminsPharmaceutical OTCFood & BeveragePersonal CareRetail Electronics
Free Shipping
8-12 Day Production
MOQ 100 Units

Technical Specifications

assembly
Manual fold or auto-fold compatible
max size
12 x 10 x 14 inches
min size
1.5 x 1 x 3 inches
closure type
Reverse tuck end (opposite-side flaps)
ideal weight range
Up to 10 lbs
material compatibility
SBS Paperboard, White Cardboard, Kraft Paper, Chipboard

Available Materials

Choose the right substrate for your Reverse Tuck End packaging based on product weight, sustainability goals, and print requirements.

SBS Paperboard

Recyclable

White Cardboard

Recyclable

Kraft Paper

Eco Recyclable

Chipboard

Eco Recyclable

Available Finishes

Enhance your Reverse Tuck End with premium finishes that add tactile appeal and visual impact.

Gloss Lamination

Gloss lamination applies a clear, reflective polypropylene film over the entire printed surface. The film intensifies CMYK color values, making photographs and gradients look sharper and more saturated. Retail toy packaging, snack food boxes, and consumer electronics cartons use gloss lam because the shiny surface catches store lighting and draws attention at a distance. The trade-off is that gloss shows fingerprints and scratches more than matte. Film thickness runs 12-25 microns. The protective layer resists moisture, scuffing, and ink rubbing during transit. Gloss lamination runs through thermal or wet laminating equipment after printing and before die-cutting.

+10% price

Matte Lamination

Matte lamination bonds a thin non-reflective polypropylene film to the printed surface of the carton. The film eliminates glare, slightly mutes color saturation, and gives the box a smooth, flat appearance that reads as understated and premium. Matte lam hides minor printing imperfections and fingerprints better than gloss, which is why cosmetics and luxury food brands default to it. The lamination layer also protects against scuffing, moisture, and ink transfer during shipping and shelf handling. Film thickness runs 12-25 microns. Matte lamination pairs well with spot UV, where a glossy accent on a matte background creates high-contrast visual interest on logos and typography.

+10% price

Spot UV

Spot UV applies a clear ultraviolet-cured coating to specific areas of the box rather than the entire surface. The result is a glossy, raised accent on logos, typography, or decorative patterns that contrasts against the surrounding matte or uncoated surface. The UV coating cures instantly under ultraviolet light during production, which creates a hard, durable finish that resists scratching. Raised spot UV adds a thicker coating layer (10-20 microns above the surface) that you can feel with your fingertip. This finish requires a separate printing plate aligned precisely to the artwork, so setup costs are higher than full-surface coatings.

+12% price

Embossing

Embossing uses a matched set of metal dies to push the carton material upward, creating a raised three-dimensional pattern or logo on the surface. The male die presses from behind while the female die shapes the front face. The depth of the emboss depends on material thickness and fiber direction, typically ranging from 0.5mm to 2mm of lift. Deeper embossing works better on thicker board (400gsm+) because the fibers have more room to stretch without cracking. Embossing works without ink or foil for a subtle tone-on-tone texture, or combined with foil stamping for a raised metallic effect. Heat is applied during the process (120-160°C) to help the paperboard fibers hold their new shape permanently.

+15% price

Debossing

Debossing is the reverse of embossing: it presses a design into the carton surface to create a recessed, sunken impression. The male die pushes down from the front while the female die supports from behind. The result is a clean indentation that catches shadows and creates visual depth without adding any material to the surface. Debossing works well for brand logos, decorative borders, and subtle patterns where the tactile quality matters more than visibility from a distance. Like embossing, depth ranges from 0.5mm to 2mm depending on board thickness. Debossing pairs well with matte and soft-touch laminations where the recessed areas create a contrast texture against the smooth surrounding surface.

+15% price

Die Cutting

Die cutting uses a custom-shaped steel blade mounted on a wooden board to cut paperboard into specific shapes during production. Every box shape starts as a flat sheet that passes through a die-cutting press where the steel rule die stamps out the carton blank, score lines, and perforation cuts in a single press cycle. The die is custom-made for each box design, which involves a one-time tooling cost. Die-cut accuracy runs within 0.5mm tolerance on modern flatbed and rotary die cutters. Beyond standard box shapes, die cutting creates custom windows, thumb-cut openings, hang-tab holes, and decorative shapes. Complex dies with many cut lines cost more due to the additional steel rule bending.

+10% price

Foil Stamping

Foil stamping transfers a thin layer of metallic or pigmented foil onto the carton surface using a heated die pressed against the material. The die melts an adhesive layer on the foil, bonding it permanently to the paperboard. Standard colors include gold, silver, copper, and holographic, though custom Pantone-matched foils are available for brand-specific colors. Foil stamping catches light at angles that CMYK printing cannot replicate, which is why luxury brands use it for logos, borders, and key typography. Each foil color requires a separate die and press pass, so multi-color foil increases production cost. Temperature runs 120-175 degrees Celsius depending on material.

+20% price

Soft Touch Lamination

Soft touch lamination applies a specialty matte film that creates a velvety, suede-like texture when you run your fingers over the surface. The tactile effect makes people pick up the box and hold it longer, which is why premium cosmetics, luxury spirits, and high-end electronics brands pay the 30-50% cost premium over standard matte lam. The finish resists fingerprints better than either gloss or standard matte. Soft touch film typically runs 18-30 microns and bonds through thermal lamination. The velvety surface pairs particularly well with foil stamping and raised spot UV, where the metallic or glossy accents pop against the matte tactile background.

+15% price

Full UV Coating

Full UV coating applies an ultraviolet-cured clear coat across the entire printed surface of the carton. The coating cures in milliseconds under UV lamps, creating a hard, glossy protective layer that resists scuffing, fingerprints, and moisture. Full UV produces a higher sheen than gloss lamination and does not require a separate film layer, which makes it faster to apply on high-speed production lines. The coating thickness runs 3-8 microns. Full UV is the standard protective finish for retail cartons that need to survive aggressive handling in store environments. It works on SBS paperboard, white cardboard, and coated recycled board.

+8% price

Window Patching

Window patching bonds a clear plastic film (usually PET, 200-250 microns thick) over a die-cut window opening in the carton. The film is heat-sealed or adhesive-bonded to the inside surface of the box during production, creating a transparent window that lets customers see the product inside without opening the package. Bakeries use window patches on cake boxes, cosmetics brands use them for shade-matching, and toy companies use them for product visibility on retail shelves. Food-grade PET film is FDA-compliant for indirect food contact. Anti-fog PET variants prevent condensation from obscuring the view in refrigerated display environments. Window shapes can be rectangular, circular, or any custom die-cut shape.

+12% price

Expert Packaging Guide

Reverse Tuck End packaging from Cubit is fully customizable with 4 material options including SBS Paperboard, White Cardboard, Kraft Paper and 1 more and 10 finish options. Every order includes free design assistance from our packaging engineers, who will help you select the optimal material weight, finish combination, and structural configuration for your specific product.

Our clients use Reverse Tuck End packaging across industries including Cosmetics & Beauty, Supplements & Vitamins, Pharmaceutical OTC, Food & Beverage, and 2 more applications. With a minimum order quantity of just 100 units and standard production turnaround of 8-12 business days, Cubit makes custom Reverse Tuck End packaging accessible to businesses of every size—from startup brands to enterprise operations processing thousands of units daily.

All Reverse Tuck End packaging is produced using food-safe inks and coatings, and every order undergoes a three-stage quality inspection before shipping. Free ground shipping is included on all orders within the continental United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Reverse Tuck End box?

A reverse tuck end (RTE) box has top and bottom flaps that tuck in opposite directions: the top flap folds front-to-back and the bottom folds back-to-front. This opposing tuck pattern uses material more efficiently than straight tuck designs and allows the box to lie completely flat for shipping and storage. RTEs are the most common folding carton style in retail packaging because they balance low cost, clean appearance, and easy hand assembly. The front panel has no flap interruption above the bottom edge, giving designers a continuous surface for branding. Closures use friction fit or slit-lock tabs, with slit-locks adding tamper resistance for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Material range is 250-400gsm in SBS, kraft, or coated recycled board. RTEs assemble at roughly 10-15 per minute by hand. Cubit produces custom reverse tuck end boxes from 100 units with full-color printing.

What materials are available for Reverse Tuck End packaging?

Reverse Tuck End packaging is available in SBS Paperboard, White Cardboard, Kraft Paper, Chipboard. Each material offers different properties for strength, sustainability, and print quality.

What is the minimum order quantity for custom Reverse Tuck End boxes?

Custom Reverse Tuck End boxes start at 100 units with full-color printing, custom sizing, and your choice of materials and finishes. Volume discounts apply for orders of 500+ units.

How long does it take to produce custom Reverse Tuck End packaging?

Standard production for custom Reverse Tuck End boxes is 8-12 business days after artwork approval. Rush production is available in 5-7 business days for an additional fee. Free shipping on all orders within the continental US.

What products are best suited for Reverse Tuck End packaging?

Reverse Tuck End packaging is ideal for Cosmetics & Beauty, Supplements & Vitamins, Pharmaceutical OTC, Food & Beverage, Personal Care, Retail Electronics. The structural design and material options make it versatile enough for products ranging from lightweight cosmetics to heavier food items.

Other Box Styles

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Ready to Order Reverse Tuck End?

Get a custom quote with your specifications. Our packaging engineers respond within 15 minutes during working hours with material recommendations, pricing, and structural guidance.