Reverse Tuck End Folding Carton | Low-Cost RTE Retail Cartons, MOQ 100
- Material: 300-400gsm SBS / FBB / CCNB / kraft board, or E-flute laminate
- Structure: Reverse tuck end, flaps hinged from opposite panels, most board-efficient
- MOQ: 100 pcs
- Lead time: 8-12 working days | Free dieline
Reverse tuck end (RTE) folding cartons - the lowest cost glued carton per unit for supplements, household, hardware and toys. 300-400gsm SBS, FBB, CCNB or kraft. MOQ 100 pcs, free dieline.
Our Advantages
No Die and Plate Charges For Digital Samples
High quality printing
Quick Turn Around
Starting from 100pcs
Custom size and style
Competitive Price
Free Design Support
To door delivery
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COMPANY SERVICES
| Bigger Discounts Offer for large orders | Bigger Discounts Offer for large orders Prices are negotiable based on your purchase volume and Fixated prices can be offered based on frequency of the order. |
| After-service | Sample cost is refundable if it's not good quality as we promised!We will refund you the defected goods values as contract listed,if the defective goods are beyond as we contracted.Our goal is to have no bad feedback and keep doing business in the future! |
| Risk Free, Quality Assurance | We've Sate of the art production facility and all printed jobs are run through our strict quality assurance department, so there are no quality complaints. |
| Printed Method | We use Off-set printing to achieve excellent printing results. However, Digital and screen printing is also available depending on box requirements. |
| About Us | Guangzhou Ecopaperbox established in 2011 is undoubtedly an accredited manufacturer of custom boxes which are exactly according to the needs and desires of the clients. Our top priority is meeting the needs and requirements of our customers. Custom Packaging and printing are provided to the customers with excellent quality on the regular basis so that maximum benefit can be achieved in the minimum amount of time. All boxes that made of paperboard, we can produce. You are welcome to make inquiry via info@ecopaperbox.com and contact us at +8619927709433. |
What Is a Reverse Tuck End (RTE) Carton?
A reverse tuck end carton is the workhorse of retail packaging. The top flap hinges off the back panel and the bottom flap hinges off the front panel, so the two flaps tuck in opposite directions. That single change lets the dieline nest tightly on the press sheet, and it is the reason an RTE is the cheapest glued carton per unit at almost any volume.
The cost saving is real but modest: 3-6% less board than a straight tuck end of the same dimensions, plus faster hand-erecting because the operator does not have to think about flap orientation. The visible compromise is a tuck slit on the front panel. On heavily printed artwork nobody notices it; on a minimal white skincare carton it is the first thing a designer objects to.
For high-volume SKUs where the packaging is a cost line rather than a brand statement - supplements, household goods, hardware, promotional items - the RTE is almost always the correct answer.
Which Industries Use This Box, and How It Is Specified
RTE is specified across more categories than any other carton style. The board changes far more than the structure does.
| Industry / use case | How we normally spec it |
|---|---|
| Supplements and vitamins | Tablet and gummy bottles. 300-350gsm FBB, matte varnish, tamper lock, plus a printed panel for supplement facts and batch coding. |
| Household and cleaning | Refill pouches and cartridges. 300gsm CCNB with heavy flexo coverage; recycled board is the norm because margin per unit is thin. |
| Hardware and DIY | 400gsm board or E-flute laminate with a euro-slot hang hole, sized so the pack survives peg display without tearing at the hole. |
| Toys and stationery | 300-350gsm SBS with a large PET window so the product is visible, and reinforced dust flaps to resist handling in store. |
| Food and snacks | 300gsm board with a grease-resistant inner coating, or a separate liner bag when the product is in direct contact. |
| Promotional and sample kits | Short-run digital print on 300gsm, often 100-500 pcs, where plate cost would otherwise kill the project. |
If the front face of your carton must stay perfectly clean, move to the straight tuck end carton instead - it costs slightly more board but hides the tuck slit at the back.
Material Specification
Same board family as every other folding carton. The stock choice is where the money is, not the structure.
| Component / stock | Specification |
|---|---|
| SBS / C1S folding boxboard | 300-400gsm virgin bleached board, one side coated. The default for retail cartons that need clean CMYK and a bright white face. |
| FBB (GC1 folding boxboard) | 230-400gsm multi-ply with a bulky middle layer. Same print quality as SBS but stiffer at equal weight, so it is often the cheaper way to hit a target rigidity. |
| CCNB / recycled duplex board | 300-450gsm coated white face over a grey recycled back. 80-100% recycled fibre and the lowest-carbon option when the inside of the carton is not seen. |
| Kraft board | 300-400gsm unbleached brown board for a visible natural look. Prints best with 1-2 spot colours rather than full CMYK. |
| E-flute microflute | 1.5mm laminated litho board used when the carton has to carry weight or survive e-commerce transit on its own. |
| Coatings and inks | Water-based aqueous varnish, matte or gloss BOPP film, soy-based inks. Aqueous keeps the carton kerbside-recyclable; film lamination does not. |
Sustainability notes
- Folding cartons are the most widely recycled retail pack in the world - a plain aqueous-varnished carton goes straight into the kerbside paper stream.
- CCNB and recycled duplex board carry 80-100% recycled fibre and cost less than virgin SBS, so the greener stock is often the cheaper stock.
- We default to water-based aqueous varnish instead of BOPP film lamination. Film adds a plastic layer that has to be separated at the mill.
- Soy-based and vegetable inks as standard, no solvent-based inks.
- Cartons ship flat, so a pallet holds several times more units than an assembled rigid box - a real reduction in freight emissions per unit.
Structure and Size Options
All of these are drawn on the free dieline before production.
| Option | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Tuck lock | Friction lock for repeat opening, slit lock for a firm retail close, tamper-evident lock for supplements and OTC products. |
| Hang hole | Euro-slot, delta or round, reinforced with a doubled panel if the filled pack is over 300g. |
| Window patching | PET, PLA or cellulose film. Position at least 6mm from any crease. |
| Board switch to save cost | Moving from virgin SBS to CCNB typically saves 12-20% on material with no visible difference when print coverage is above about 70%. |
| Inner fitment | Paperboard divider, corrugated pad or moulded pulp tray. |
| Serialisation | Variable data printing for batch, expiry, QR or unique codes on digital runs. |
One practical note: because the bottom flap hinges off the front panel, an RTE bottom can pop open if the pack is heavy and dropped. Above roughly 800g we recommend an auto bottom carton instead.
Printing and Finishing
- Offset CMYK - photographic artwork, gradients and product imagery.
- Pantone spot colour - exact brand colour matching, up to 6 colours plus varnish.
- Digital printing - the reason we can hold MOQ at 100; no plate cost on short runs.
- Hot foil stamping - gold, silver, rose gold, holographic. The most requested logo finish.
- Emboss / deboss - raised or recessed logo, with or without foil.
- Spot UV - gloss varnish over a matte laminate to pick out a logo or pattern.
- Finishes - matte, gloss, soft-touch, anti-scratch lamination or aqueous varnish.
Ordering: MOQ, Dieline and Lead Time
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | 100 pcs per size and per design |
| Dieline | Free. We send a print-ready structural dieline to your designer before you commit to anything. |
| Pre-production sample | Plain structural sample in 3-5 days, printed sample in 5-7 days. Sample cost is credited against the bulk order. |
| Production lead time | 8-12 working days after artwork and sample sign-off |
| Artwork format | AI or PDF, CMYK, 300dpi, 3mm bleed, fonts outlined, placed on our dieline |
| Shipping | Ships flat-packed, which keeps freight volume and duty low. |
The RTE is the structure where switching board grade makes the biggest difference to your quote. Send us your target unit price and we will tell you which stock gets you there.
Related Packaging
Same family - other folding carton structures
Straight Tuck End Carton | Auto Bottom Carton | Pillow Carton | Counter Display Carton
Built on this structure for a specific industry
Vitamin Display Cartons | Medicine Cartons | Nail Polish Cartons | Sheet Mask Cartons
Surface Choice
Our Guangzhou custom packaging factory runs four-color offset printing, automatic lamination, die-cutting and rigid box assembly on one floor. In-house production keeps lead times short and print color consistent from the first sample to full volume. Buyers are welcome to request a video tour or a factory audit before placing an order.
Packing Method For Corrugated Packaging:
Generally no need to put the PE bags inside of the cartons. Since the boxes are glued a layer of cardboard, generally production time is not long enough to dry the paper box. If you tie the PE bags, the steamed water pearl will be produced inside of the bags.
Product Details
- Custom sizes & shape – made to your exact dimensions, flute and box style.
- Eco-friendly board – recyclable corrugated / kraft material with low-migration inks on request.
- Secure closure – self-locking or magnetic options keep contents safe in transit.
- Full-surface printing – CMYK, Pantone, foil, emboss and spot UV available.
- Low MOQ & fast turnaround – start from 100–500 pcs with 7–15 day lead time.
Customer Reviews
The Reverse Tuck End Folding Carton Box arrived exactly as proofed. Print quality is sharp and the structure is sturdy - our customers loved the unboxing.
Fast turnaround and helpful dieline support. The Reverse Tuck End Folding Carton Box fits our product perfectly and the price was fair at our MOQ.
Clean printing on eco-friendly board and smooth communication. We will reorder the Reverse Tuck End Folding Carton Box for our next campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is a reverse tuck end carton cheaper than a straight tuck end?
Because the flaps hinge from opposite panels, the dieline nests more tightly on the press sheet and uses 3-6% less board for the same finished size. On a long run that material saving is the whole difference in unit price. The cost is a visible tuck slit on the front panel.
Will a reverse tuck end box pop open if it is dropped?
It can, if the pack is heavy. The bottom flap hinges from the front panel and relies on friction, so above roughly 800g we recommend an auto bottom or 1-2-3 bottom carton instead, which lock mechanically rather than by friction.
Can I switch from SBS to recycled board to reduce cost?
Usually yes. Moving from virgin SBS to CCNB coated duplex saves roughly 12-20% on material. The grey back becomes visible inside the carton, and very light artwork on the white face can show a slightly warmer tone, but above about 70% ink coverage there is no practical difference.
What is the minimum order quantity for reverse tuck end cartons?
100 pcs per size and per design, printed digitally. Above about 2,000 pcs offset becomes cheaper per unit because the plate cost spreads out - we will quote both and show you the crossover point.
Do you supply a dieline before printing?
Yes, free of charge. You get a print-ready structural dieline with bleed, crease and safe-area marked, so your designer lays the artwork out correctly the first time. There is no dieline charge and no artwork setup fee.
Can a reverse tuck carton be made tamper-evident?
Yes. Options are a perforated tear strip across the tuck, a glued security tuck that has to be torn to open, or a tamper-evident seal label. Supplement and OTC customers usually take the perforated tuck because it needs no extra component.
