Product Packaging Design: What to Prepare and Cost
Learn how to choose between a label and a printed box, what to send your designer, and how to avoid print mistakes that lead to reprints.
Key takeaways
- Choose the packaging type first: a label on ready-made packaging is cheaper and faster, while a printed box gives a stronger presence but needs a printer dieline and usually a larger quantity.
- Ask the printer for the box dieline in your product size before ordering the design, because the designer builds on it rather than guessing dimensions.
- Prepare the full text, your logo, brand colors, and barcode placement for the designer, and ask for a CMYK print file with bleed, then print one sample before the full run.
- On Hylance, product label design starts at around SAR 40 (about $11), and box design on a printer dieline starts at around SAR 120 (about $32) at the time of writing this guide.
If you want to order packaging design without paying for an expensive reprint, prepare three things before you hire a designer: the type of packaging you want to print, the printer’s template in your product dimensions if it is a box, and the full text along with your logo and colors. Once these are ready, the design process becomes faster and more accurate. On Hylance, product label design starts at around SAR 40 (about $11), and a box design on a printer dieline starts at around SAR 120 (about $32) at the time of writing this guide.
This guide is for product owners selling through an online store, shop, or exhibition: perfume, coffee, sweets, cosmetics, or a handmade product. Here, packaging means what the customer sees first: a label on the container, a printed box, or a bag or paper wrap.
Choose the packaging type before you order the design
The packaging type determines what the designer creates and what you need from the printer, so decide that first. These are the most common options for small businesses:
| Type | Best for | What you need before design |
|---|---|---|
| Label on ready-made packaging | Getting started, small quantities, jars, bottles, and bags | The actual container and the dimensions of the area where the label will go |
| Paper sleeve around the package | Adding more presence to ready-made packaging without a full box | The package circumference and height, and a printer template if available |
| Printed box | Products meant for gifting, shelf display, or extra protection | The box dieline from the printer in your product dimensions |
| Printed mailer bag or shipping box | Online stores that want a distinctive unboxing experience | The bag or box size and the available print area |
Start with the printer’s template, not the design
One of the most expensive mistakes product owners make is designing the box first and only then going to the printer, only to find that the design dimensions do not match the printer’s template. The dieline is a flat layout showing the box panels and the cut, fold, and glue lines, and the designer places the artwork on top of it. So:
- Choose the printer first, and give them your product dimensions, box type, and approximate quantity.
- Ask for the template in PDF or AI format, and ask what bleed they require.
- Ask about the paper or cardboard type and the available finishes such as matte, glossy, embossed, or gold, because they affect both the design and the cost.
- Send the template to the designer exactly as it is, and do not adjust its dimensions yourself.
What should you send the designer?
The designer arranges what you send and makes it attractive and clear, but they do not know your product the way you do. In your order message, send:
- Your logo in a high-quality format, your brand colors, and your font if you have one.
- The full reviewed text: product name, ingredients or specifications, directions for use, size or weight, country of origin, and any details required by the relevant authorities in your country for your product type.
- The barcode placement and size if you already have a barcode number, or leave space for the designer to define.
- A product photo if you want it on the packaging, plus two or three packaging examples you like and one example you do not want to imitate.
- Where the product will be shown: on a store shelf, in online store photos, or in a gift box, because this affects the name size and the arrangement of the elements.
Print files to request with the design
A file that looks great on screen may print with dull colors or end up with edges cut off. Ask the designer clearly for:
- A print-ready PDF in CMYK color mode, which is the print color system, not RGB used for screens.
- Bleed around the design in the amount requested by the printer, so a white edge does not appear after trimming.
- Text converted to outlines or the fonts included, so the typeface does not change at the print shop.
- The editable source file, so you can change details or add a new flavor later without redesigning everything.
- A mockup image of the box or the labeled package, so you can use it in your store before the printed packaging arrives.
Common mistakes that lead to reprinting
- Designing before getting the printer’s dieline, then discovering the dimensions are different.
- Using unchecked product text, then finding an error in the ingredients or weight after the full quantity has been printed.
- Making the text too small or using a text color too close to the background, so it becomes hard to read.
- Printing the full quantity without first making one sample you can hold in your hand and test on the product.
- Forgetting to leave space for the barcode, or placing it on a fold or trim edge.
How much does packaging design cost on Hylance?
There are two parts to the cost: the design, which you pay for once, and the printing, which the print shop prices based on quantity, paper, and finishing. On Hylance, label design for a container or box starts at around SAR 40 (about $11), and design for one product box on the printer’s dieline with a 3D mockup starts at around SAR 120 (about $32). If you do not yet have a logo and colors, a mini visual identity starts at around SAR 150 (about $40) at the time of writing this guide. The exact price is shown on each service page.
Services for designing your product packaging
Product Label Design for Bottle or Box
- Graphics & Design
- New service
Product Box Design on Printer Dieline with 3D Mockup
- Graphics & Design
- Recently added
- New service
Logo, Colors, and Fonts Mini Brand Identity
- Graphics & Design
- New service
And when you order the design on Hylance, your payment stays on hold until you confirm delivery, so review the print file and the mockup before confirming, and print one sample before ordering the full quantity.
Frequently asked questions
What is a box dieline and where do I get one?
A box dieline is a flat layout that shows the box panels and the cut, fold, and glue lines with exact dimensions. You will usually get it from the printer that will produce the box after you give them your product dimensions and box type. Then you send it to the designer to place the design on top of it.
Is a label on ready-made packaging better than a printed box?
A label on ready-made packaging is cheaper and faster, and it suits launches and small quantities. A printed box gives your product a stronger presence on the shelf and in photos, but it usually needs a printer dieline and a larger print quantity. Start with what fits your budget and expected sales volume.
Who writes the information printed on the packaging?
You prepare the full text yourself: the product name, ingredients or specifications, directions for use, size or weight, country of origin, and any other details required by the relevant authorities in your country for your product type. The designer arranges the text and makes it clear, but does not write it for you or review it for compliance, so check it with the relevant authority before printing.
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