Custom Hotel Amenity Boxes

The small cartons in an amenity range

Most amenity boxes are small tuck-end or sleeve cartons, folded from one printed sheet and glued at one seam.

A single kit, such as a toothbrush and paste or a razor and cream, usually fits a slim tuck-end carton that opens at one end. A soap bar often sits in a wrap or a small sleeve. A set of bottles may sit in a shallow box with a lid or a tray-and-sleeve.

Because they are made in the millions across a hotel group, amenity boxes are designed to be quick to fill. Flat-packed cartons that pop open and tuck shut save time for whoever packs them.

• Slim tuck-end for single kits
• Wraps and sleeves for soap
• Tray and lid for bottle sets

Board for a damp bathroom

A bathroom is warm and wet, so board that looks fine in a stockroom can soften and mark on a vanity unit.

SBS paperboard is the usual base: it is smooth, folds cleanly and holds fine print, which matters on small cartons. Recycled kraft or uncoated board give a natural, quieter look that suits eco-minded and boutique properties.

Plain board can take on moisture and wrinkle in a steamy room. A varnish or aqueous coating helps the carton resist splashes and handling. It will not make board waterproof, so cartons should not sit in standing water.

Sizing a family of kits

A hotel range is many small cartons, and designing them as one family keeps tooling and stock simple.

List every item the range needs: dental, shaving, vanity, sewing, shower cap, soap, and any bottles. Where items are close in size, one carton size can often hold several of them, with only the print changing.

Fewer sizes means fewer cutting tools, simpler storage and fewer things to reorder. Send us the sizes of the actual contents, including the plastic wrap or sachet they come in, and we fix the carton sizes from those.

• List every item in the range
• Share sizes where items are close
• Measure contents in their wrap

Amenity box or pouch?

A carton looks finished on a shelf and is easy to brand. A paper or film pouch costs less and takes less space.

A printed carton stands up on a shelf or tray, carries the hotel's design clearly and feels more considered. It suits mid-range and luxury properties, where the bathroom is part of how the stay is judged.

Paper or film sachets and pouches are cheaper and flatter, and are common in budget properties. Some hotels are also moving from small bottles to refill dispensers, which changes what needs a box at all.

Printing small cartons

On a small panel, a clear logo and the item name do more than detailed artwork.

Guests need to tell the dental kit from the shaving kit at a glance, so the item name should be large and clear. A shared look with a change of colour or icon per item is a common way to keep a range tidy and easy to read.

Very fine type, thin lines and tight foil detail are hard to hold at this size. Keep the hotel mark simple. We leave room for any contents or product information the items must carry and lay it out on the proof.

Separate cartons or one welcome kit box?

Separate cartons are the right pick for a range where each item is stocked and replaced on its own. One kit box is the right pick for refill programmes and tight budgets, where only a few items still need a box.

A carton does not contain a spill. Bottles that might leak need a sealed cap or a bag inside, and the box only adds presentation on top of that.

Where a property uses wall dispensers or refills, or where the budget is tight, a carton for every item adds cost and waste for little return. A single printed welcome kit box for the few items that remain, or no box at all, may suit better.