Made to your size- 100 boxes
- Custom sizes & styles
- Free dieline support
- Quality print options
- Proof before production
- 8–12 business day production
Ice cream boxes are cartons and tubs made to live in a freezer and survive the trip home. The board is coated on one or both sides so that frost and condensation do not soak in and soften it. They range from small single-serve cups to family bricks and lidded pint tubs, and the print has to stay crisp under a layer of frost in a supermarket chest.
Built for the freezer
Custom Ice Cream Boxes
✓Clear proofing before productionSee our process
Get a free quote
Tell us what you are packing and we’ll reply with practical options.
Product features
Built around the jobHolds shape when frozen
Tight lids or sealed ends
Print readable through frost
Pint and litre tub sizing
Freezer-grade seal label
Water-based barrier coating
Full-colour flavour lids
Specifications made for your product.
Technical snapshotEvery final specification is confirmed against product weight, packing method, print coverage, route, and order volume.
View artwork preparation guide- SKU
- bm-1058
- Dimensions
- Custom-made around the product and packing workflow
- Materials
- Poly-coated paperboard, Clay-coated freezer board, Plastic-free barrier-coated board
- Printing
- CMYK, Pantone, white ink, or unprinted
- Finishes
- Matte, gloss, soft-touch, foil, embossing, spot UV
- Quantities
- Starting at 100 on selected configurations
- Proofing
- Dieline and digital proof
Print that reads through frost.
Artwork and materialsIce cream boxes are seen through freezer glass or under frost, so we set a bold flavour name on the lid and front with high contrast. Our packaging guides cover sizing, materials, print, and cost in more depth.
Lid, front and seal label
We print the lid and front in full colour with a photo or illustration in place of a window, keep allergen and storage text off folds and seams, and can add a seal label.
Explore print and finishesCoated and barrier board
Poly-coated and clay-coated freezer board let frost wipe away and keep the print crisp, and a water-based barrier coating gives a plastic-free option. Glossy finishes help the flavour panel stay bright.
Explore material decisionsChoose your box
Tell us the format, whether brick, tub or cup, the size, and the flavours in your range.
Request a quote
We recommend a format, freezer board and coating for your ice cream.
Finalize the order
Approve the format, board, coating, any seal label, flavour versions and your delivery details.
Build the dieline
We draw the tub or carton to your pint, litre or cup size, with a tight-fitting lid.
Approve the proof
Check flavour names, contrast, and where the allergen and storage text sits on the digital proof.
Roll on production
Your ice cream boxes are printed, coated, cut and checked, then packed for delivery.
Best for
Artisan ice cream makersGelato and sorbet shopsFrozen desserts in retail freezersTakeaway scoops and pintsWhat changes the price.
Cost factorsEvery project is quoted individually. These are the choices that move the price on almost every order.
- Barrier coating
- Coating one side costs less than both; plastic-free barrier coatings usually cost more than poly.
- Format
- Round tubs with separate lids need more parts and tooling than a straight folding brick carton.
- Size
- Larger family packs use more coated board per unit.
- Print coverage
- Full-bleed colour across every panel adds ink and setup over a one-colour design.
Buyer guidance
Choosing this format
Why freezer board is different
Uncoated board takes on water from frost and condensation, then softens and loses its shape.
Every time a carton leaves the freezer, warm air condenses on the cold surface. Plain board drinks that moisture in and, once refrozen, can warp or stick to its neighbours. A poly or barrier coating keeps the water on the surface, where it wipes off.
The inside face matters as much as the outside. Ice cream is wet and fatty, so the food-contact side is normally coated too, or the carton is lined.
- Coated outside against condensation
- Coated or lined inside against the product
- Board stays stiff after thawing
Bricks, tubs and cups
The format follows how the ice cream is filled and how it is scooped at home.
Brick cartons are filled and sealed flat at the ends, and stack efficiently in a freezer. Round tubs with push-on lids are easier to scoop from and re-close, which is why pints and premium lines often use them. Single ice cream cups suit parlours and events.
Send us the volume you fill and we size the brick or tub around it, with a little headspace under the lid.
Designing for a frosty chest freezer
Shoppers often see the box through a glass lid or under a dusting of frost, so bold, simple panels work best.
Fine type and pale colours disappear under frost. A strong flavour name on the lid and the front, with high contrast, stays readable. Glossy coatings also help frost wipe away cleanly.
We keep allergen and storage text clear of folds and seams, where the coating can crack slightly in the cold, and you see where it sits on the digital proof.
Related packaging formats
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Folding Cartons
Lightweight printed cartons with crisp color, structure, and shelf appeal.
Explore box style
Cupcake Boxes
Cartons with a holed insert that keeps each cupcake upright and its frosting clear of the lid.
Explore box styleQuestions about ice cream boxes.
Box style FAQsWe’ll confirm the exact details that apply to your structure and volume.
Read all frequently asked questionsDo ice cream boxes stand up to the freezer?+
Yes. We make ice cream boxes from coated board that keeps moisture out, so the box stays firm through freezing, frost and the trip from freezer to table. The board is packaging, not insulation, so for longer journeys home we recommend an insulated bag around it. We can also print a short storage line on the lid.
Are ice cream boxes recyclable?+
Yes, when we use a water-based barrier coating instead of a plastic layer, which keeps the board easier to recycle with paper. A poly-coated carton holds up very well in the freezer, but its plastic layer has to be separated from the fibre before recycling. Tell us which matters more for your range and we recommend the coating to suit.
Can you size an ice cream tub for a pint or a litre?+
Yes. We size tubs by fill volume plus a little headspace under the lid. A UK pint is about 568 ml and a US pint about 473 ml, so tell us which one your label means. Air content varies by recipe, so we recommend a fill test with your own ice cream before we fix the size. We also leave space for the information your product has to carry.
How do you show the ice cream on the box?+
We print it. A window frosts over in the freezer and its seam can let in air, so we recommend a photo or illustration of the ice cream on the lid instead, which stays clear under frost. We print in full colour on coated board, so the flavour reads clearly from the freezer shelf.
Can ice cream tubs have a tamper seal?+
Yes. Push-on lids can be lifted and replaced without a trace, so we can add a seal label across the lid that shows the tub has not been opened. We use an adhesive made for freezing, damp conditions, so the label stays on in the chest freezer. If a stockist asks for a particular seal, tell us and we build it into the design.
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