- Folding cartons, perforated pouch dispensers, multi-can carriers and corrugated meal shippers sized for dog, cat and small-animal diets.
- CubitPack produces folding and corrugated pet food boxes from 1,000 units (mailer boxes from 250) in 10 to 14 business days.
- Free design help, zero die or plate charges, guaranteed Pantone color matching and free delivery to all 50 US states.
- Food-contact and grease-resistant barrier materials are available on request; approve a digital proof and 3D mockup before paying.
Custom Pet Food Boxes
Custom pet food boxes printed with your brand logo, guaranteed analysis panels and feeding charts for dog kibble, freeze-dried raw meals, wet food cans and cat food pouches. Orders start at 1,000 boxes in 10 to 14 business days (rush in 4 to 5), with free design help, no die or plate charges and free shipping to all 50 states. Food-safe materials are available on request.
What are custom pet food boxes?
Custom pet food boxes are paperboard folding cartons, auto-lock bottom carriers and corrugated shipping boxes built to your exact inside dimensions and printed with your pet brand's logo, ingredient deck and feeding guidelines. Whether you sell freeze-dried raw dog toppers, single-serve cat food pouches, multi-can variety packs or refrigerated fresh meal subscriptions, the right carton keeps heavy kibble and metal cans protected from warehouse to pantry shelf. Most pet brands choose heavy white paperboard or natural kraft board with an auto-lock bottom for retail shelf cartons, or E-flute and B-flute corrugated board for direct-to-consumer meal kits. At CubitPack, custom pet food boxes start at 1,000 boxes (250 for mailer styles) and take 10 to 14 business days to produce, with 4 to 5 day rush. Design help, dielines and shipping across all 50 states are free, and food-contact barrier liners are available on request.
Pet food boxes facts
- Minimum
- 1,000 boxes (250 for mailers)
- Turnaround
- 10–14 business days
- Rush
- 4–5 business days, quoted
- Materials
- White card, kraft board, E/B-flute corrugated, recycled
- Food & grease barrier
- Food-contact & grease-resistant options on request
- Printing
- CMYK, Pantone, inside print, lot/date code knockouts
- Finishes
- Matte, gloss, soft-touch, spot UV, foil, emboss
- Add-ons
- Tear perforations, windows, handles, can dividers
- Shipping
- Free to all 50 US states
Which custom pet food box style fits my product?
| Box style | Best pet food format | Base strength | Dispensing / opening | Ships flat? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto lock bottom box | 1 lb to 5 lb bagged kibble or freeze-dried raw diets | Pre-glued crash-lock base | Top tuck flap or tear strip | Yes |
| Dispenser box | 6 to 24 single-serve wet cat or dog gravy pouches | Auto lock or 1-2-3 snap base | Perforated lower front chute | Yes |
| Seal end carton | Dry pellets, bird seed mixes, baked biscuit cartons | Full overlapping glued flaps | Tamper-evident zip tear tab | Yes |
| Gable / handle carrier | 4-pack, 6-pack or 8-pack wet pet food cans | Auto lock bottom + divider | Built-in top carry handle | Yes |
| Counter display (PDQ) | Single-serve meal toppers and trial packets at checkout | Reinforced corrugated tray | Tear-away hood converts to header | Yes |
| Corrugated mailer / shipper | DTC fresh or frozen pet meal subscriptions & 12-can cases | E-flute, B-flute or double wall | Front tuck mailer or tape-seal RSC | Yes |
Not sure which style fits?
Request a Quote →What size custom pet food box do I need?
Every pet food box is cut to your exact inside dimensions (length × width × height in inches). Measure your inner barrier bag, pouch stack or can grid before choosing a size, and allow ⅛ inch of clearance on each wall. Whether you are comparing printed dog food boxes, cat food pouch dispenser boxes, freeze dried pet food cartons, custom pet meal subscription boxes or wet pet food can multipack boxes, we size the template to your exact container.
| Inside size (in) | Typically fits | Popular style |
|---|---|---|
| 5 × 2.5 × 7 in | 8 oz to 12 oz freeze-dried raw dog or cat food topper bag | Auto lock bottom with window |
| 6.5 × 3.5 × 9 in | 1.5 lb to 2.5 lb dry kibble or dehydrated meal inner pouch | Auto lock bottom or seal end |
| 8 × 4 × 6 in | 12-count 3 oz single-serve cat food or broth gravy pouches | Perforated front dispenser box |
| 8 × 5.5 × 3.5 in | 6-pack of 5.5 oz wet cat or small-dog food cans (3 × 2 grid) | E-flute carrier or window carton |
| 10.5 × 7.25 × 4.25 in | 12-pack of 13 oz wet dog food cans with corrugated partition | Corrugated shipper or die-cut tray |
| 12 × 10 × 8 in | Weekly DTC fresh or frozen pet meal packs with insulated liner | Corrugated mailer or shipping box |
Suggested inside size: 5 × 2.5 × 7 in
A starting point. Your account manager confirms the size with you before the proof.
Quote this size →Know your product's size? Work out the inside box size with our free box size calculator.
Have your inside dimensions ready? Request pricing across up to 3 quantities.
Request a Quote →How do I choose pet food boxes?
- Weigh the filled package firstLight freeze-dried nuggets (under 1 lb) work in standard folding paperboard; 2 lb+ kibble bags and multi-can packs need an auto-lock base or E-flute corrugated board.
- Check whether food touches the boardIf dry food or jerky sits directly against the carton without an inner poly bag, request food-contact and grease-resistant barrier board on your quote.
- Match the opening to daily feeding habitsPet owners open the same box twice a day for weeks: add a reclosable tuck tab, a perforated pouch dispenser chute or a tear-strip top.
- Plan your AAFCO nutrition & feeding panelsReserve clear side and back panels for the guaranteed analysis table, ingredient list, calorie statement, daily feeding chart by pet weight and UPC barcode.
- Add an ink-free lot and expiry stamp boxLeave an unvarnished white rectangle on the bottom or side flap so your date coder or inkjet printer can stamp batch numbers and best-by dates cleanly.
- Approve your dieline and 3D mockupSend your artwork or use our free design help; you check every panel, perforation and barcode zone on a 3D mockup before paying.
What are pet food boxes made of?
Which finishes can pet food boxes have?
Which add-ons can I get?
Pet food boxes specifications
| Spec | Options |
|---|---|
| Box styles | Auto lock bottom, perforated pouch dispenser, seal end, gable carrier, PDQ display, corrugated mailer/shipper |
| Board options | SBS/C1S white paperboard, natural brown kraft, E-flute and B-flute corrugated, recycled board |
| Board caliper | Folding carton pt range and corrugated flute ECT/burst weight |
| Food & grease barrier | Food-safe materials and grease-resistant liners available on request via certified partner facility |
| Printing | Full-color CMYK, Pantone (PMS) color matching, inside printing, white ink on kraft |
| Finishes & coatings | Matte, gloss and soft-touch lamination, spot UV, hot foil stamping, embossing/debossing |
| Perforations & windows | Tear-away pouch dispenser chutes, zip-tear strips, clear window patching |
| Minimum order | 1,000 boxes for folding cartons and corrugated shippers; 250 for mailer boxes; ±5% delivery tolerance |
| Proofs & samples | Free digital proof and 3D mockup before payment; optional paid printed sample credited to order |
| Turnaround | 10–14 business days standard; 4–5 business days rush quoted on request |
| Shipping | Free shipping to all 50 US states; split shipments to co-packers and 3PL warehouses available |
Ready to quote your pet food boxes? Compare up to 3 quantities with a free 3D mockup.
Request a Quote →What do pet brands pack in custom pet food boxes?
Pet food packaging has to handle dense weights, animal-fat oils and twice-daily pantry handling while keeping multi-flavor SKUs easy to spot on crowded pet-store aisles. These are the five setups we build most often for dog, cat and small-pet brands.
Pet food boxes design ideas
Example designs with made-up brands. Your packaging is made to your design.
What are the most common custom pet food box mistakes?
Pet food cartons carry heavier loads and stricter nutrition tables than general retail boxes. Check these five mistakes before approving your dieline. When specifying branded pet food boxes, wholesale pet food boxes, bulk custom pet food boxes, personalized pet food boxes and custom size pet food boxes, avoid these common production mistakes
- Using a standard reverse-tuck bottom for 2 lb+ kibble or cans. Heavy contents push friction tuck flaps open; use an auto-lock bottom or seal-end base.
- Packing high-fat freeze-dried raw diets directly in unlined board. Animal fats wick into bare paperboard and leave grease stains unless an inner bag or barrier liner is used.
- Varnishing or laminating over the lot and expiration code zone. Leave an ink-free, unlaminated white rectangle on the bottom flap so co-packer inkjet codes do not smear.
- Sizing a pouch dispenser chute too tall. If the perforated opening is taller than one pouch laid flat, the whole stack of wet gravy pouches tumbles out at once.
- Crowding the Guaranteed Analysis and feeding chart into tiny unreadable type. Use at least 6 pt to 7 pt high-contrast text on a clean flat side panel.
Chat with a designer now
Share your logo, a sketch or an AI image. We'll rebuild every element cleanly onto your box dieline and send a 3D mockup, free.
Made your design with AI?
Generated a concept in Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude or Midjourney? Send us your AI image: we rebuild every element onto your box dieline and show you a 3D mockup before you pay, free.Custom vs stock pet food boxes: which is better?
| Stock (plain) | Custom from CubitPack | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit & base strength | Generic sizes; thin tuck bottoms pop open under heavy kibble or cans | Sized to your exact pouch/can count with crash-lock or E-flute bases |
| Nutrition & feeding panels | Requires hand-applied front and back labels that peel | Full-wrap print for AAFCO guaranteed analysis, ingredients and feeding chart |
| Minimum order | By the bundle, unprinted | 1,000 boxes (250 for mailer boxes) |
| Food & grease barrier | Standard unlined board that stains from animal fats | Food-safe and grease-resistant barrier materials available on request |
| Design & proofing | None | Free design help, custom dieline, digital proof and 3D mockup before payment |
Get custom pet food boxes sized to your product, with a free 3D mockup before you pay.
Request a Quote →Are pet food boxes safe and sustainable?
Food-safe and grease-resistant options on request
When dry pet food touches the carton directly or high-fat freeze-dried oils risk staining the board, we produce your boxes in a certified partner facility with food-contact and grease-resistant liners on request. Lab test reports and certificates are shared on request.Kraft and recycled board options
Choose unbleached kraft board or recycled paperboard for secondary cartons that hold sealed inner barrier pouches or metal cans.FSC paper and ISO 9001 production available
FSC-certified paperboard, soy-based inks and ISO 9001 quality-managed production are available on request for your pet brand.How do I order custom pet food boxes?
Tell us what you need
Size, quantities or AI conceptCompare volume pricing
Dedicated account managerApprove your proof
Digital proof + 3D mockupMade and shipped
Free to all 50 statesWhat drives the price of custom pet food boxes?
The price depends on four things, and every custom quote is free.
Board grade & flute
E-flute corrugated carriers for heavy wet cans use more fiber than folding paperboard cartons for light freeze-dried pouchesBox dimensions & base style
Taller cartons and pre-glued auto-lock bases use more board area and folding-gluer setup than straight tuck boxesOrder quantity & multi-SKU runs
Unit cost drops significantly at 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000 units, and same-size protein flavors can run togetherBarriers, windows & perforations
Grease-resistant inner coatings, clear window patching and internal can partitions add to the base cartonIf you sell Beef, Chicken, Salmon and Lamb formulas in the same net weight, keep the box dieline identical across all four SKUs and change only the Pantone color bar and nutrition text. Ordering all flavors on one shared dieline lets you combine volume for a lower unit cost with zero die charges. Your first order is 10% off, and we beat written US competitor quotes for the same specs. Buyers ordering auto lock bottom pet food boxes can compare up to three quantities in one quote.
10% off your first order.
Request a Quote →What do I need to send for a quote?
- The product and how many you need
- The inside size, or what goes in it
- A style, or ask us to suggest one
- Your logo or artwork (an AI image is fine)
- Pantone codes, if you have them
- Delivery ZIP code and the date you need it
Can I see a sample first?
Sample kit
Board and finish swatches, sample boxes, labels and bags. Credited to your first order.Digital proof + 3D mockup
See it before you payPrinted sample
Of your own designHow does shipping work?
- Free shipping to all 50 states
- Worldwide with DDP prices: duties and taxes included
- Blind and split shipping
- Damaged in transit? We reprint the damaged units free
Why brands choose CubitPack
Dedicated specialist
One account manager from quote to deliveryPantone guaranteed
Clearly off? We reprintReprint or refund
If we get it wrong, you chooseBBB accredited
A US business you can checkPet food boxes questions
What is the minimum order quantity for custom pet food boxes?
Custom folding carton and corrugated shipping pet food boxes start at 1,000 boxes. If you are launching a direct-to-consumer pet meal subscription kit or trial sampler in a corrugated mailer box, minimums start at 250 boxes. Small trial runs are also possible case by case.
Are your pet food boxes safe for direct contact with dry kibble or biscuits?
Food-safe and grease-resistant materials are available on request. Tell your account manager whether your kibble, baked biscuits or freeze-dried nuggets sit inside a sealed inner barrier bag or touch the paperboard directly, and we will produce the run in a certified partner facility with the right liner.
Which box bottom is strong enough for 2 lb to 5 lb of pet food or cans?
Never use a standard friction tuck bottom for heavy pet food. For 1 lb to 3 lb cartons, choose a pre-glued auto-lock bottom (crash-lock) or a full seal-end base. For 4 lb+ kibble boxes and 6-pack or 12-pack wet food cans, step up to E-flute corrugated board.
Can you add a perforated tear opening to dispense single-serve cat food pouches?
Yes. We die-cut a clean zipper perforation across the lower front panel and side gussets so pet owners can pull a tab to fold down a dispensing chute, keeping 12 or 24 wet gravy pouches organized in the pantry.
How do I prevent salmon oil or animal fat from staining my pet food carton?
High-fat pet foods (especially freeze-dried raw diets, salmon skin toppers and baked liver treats) can leave dark grease spots on uncoated paperboard if packed without a liner. Use an inner poly or metallized pouch, or request a grease-resistant interior barrier coating on the carton.
Can I print multiple flavors (like Beef, Chicken and Salmon) in one order?
Yes. In our quote form, select 2 designs or 3+ designs and list how many boxes you need per flavor. Sharing the same box dimensions across all protein formulas keeps setup simple and lowers your per-box price.
Where should the guaranteed analysis, ingredient list and feeding chart go?
Under standard US pet food labeling conventions (FDA CVM and AAFCO model rules), the front principal display panel shows the brand, product name, species (dog or cat) and net weight, while the side and back panels carry the Guaranteed Analysis table, ingredient deck, calorie content, daily feeding chart and distributor address.
Can you leave an unvarnished spot for stamping lot numbers and best-by dates?
Yes. Gloss, matte and soft-touch laminations can repel thermal transfer ribbons and inkjet date-coder ink. Our prepress team leaves a clean unlaminated, unvarnished white knockout rectangle on the bottom or side flap so your co-packer can stamp lot codes and expiration dates.
How long does production take and can you ship directly to our co-packer?
Standard turnaround is 10 to 14 business days after proof approval and payment, with 4 to 5 business day rush available. Shipping is free to all 50 states, and we offer blind and split shipping directly to your contract co-packer or 3PL warehouse.
Will I see a digital proof and 3D mockup of my pet food box before paying?
Yes. You receive a flat dieline proof checking all nutrition panel text and barcode clearance, plus an interactive 3D mockup before you pay. You can also order a paid physical sample to test on your co-packer's filling line, with the sample fee credited to your order.
Still have a question? Ask a packaging specialist.
Request a Quote →Pet food boxes terms, explained
- Auto lock bottom
- A pre-glued folding carton base that snaps into a locked load-bearing floor as soon as the box is popped open
- Dispenser perforation
- A die-cut tear line on the lower front panel that opens into a tray for pulling out single-serve pet food pouches
- E-flute corrugated
- A thin, rigid 1/16 inch fluted board that combines smooth retail print quality with high crush strength for cans and heavy bags
- Date-code knockout
- An unprinted, unvarnished rectangle on the carton flap where co-packers inkjet-print the lot number and best-by date
- Guaranteed analysis panel
- The required nutrition table on pet food packaging listing minimum crude protein and fat and maximum crude fiber and moisture
- Grease barrier liner
- An interior board coating or film layer requested when high-fat pet food touches the carton without an inner pouch
More for your pet packaging
Learn more
Get your pet food boxes price
One dedicated account manager prepares pricing across up to 3 quantities.
- Free design & AI-to-print studio + 3D mockup
- No die or plate charges · 4–5 day rush available
- Free shipping to all 50 states
- 10% off your first order
- Reprint or refund if we get it wrong
Every CubitPack fact on this page (1,000-box minimum for folding cartons and corrugated shippers, 250 for mailers, 10 to 14 business day turnaround, 4 to 5 day rush, free design help, no die or plate charges, free US shipping and food-safe materials on request) comes from our published product specifications and was checked by a packaging specialist. Spot something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it. Tell us if something looks wrong.
Sources
What changed
- October 22, 2026: First published.
- October 22, 2026: Updated specifications, terminology, and verified source links.