How Order Quantity Changes Your Per-Box Price — And How to Get the Best Deal

One of the most common questions we hear from customers is:

“Why does the price per box go down when I order more pieces?”

It’s a great question — and understanding the answer can actually help you save a lot of money on custom packaging.

In this blog, we’ll explain simply (no complicated math!) how order quantity affects your price — and how to choose the best quantity for your business.

📦 The Simple Truth: Packaging Has Fixed Costs

Every custom box order includes two types of costs:

1️⃣ Fixed Costs (don’t change much with quantity)

These include things like:

• Design prep and proofing
• Dieline setup
• Printing plate or machine setup
• Cutting and finishing setup
• Quality checks and production planning

These steps happen whether you order 100 boxes or 10,000 boxes.

2️⃣ Variable Costs (change with quantity)

These include:

• Paper / board material
• Ink and coating
• Labor for each box
• Packing and handling

As quantity increases, these are spread evenly — which is why your per-box price drops.

📉 Example: How Prices Change With Quantity

Imagine the same box ordered in different quantities:

The design and setup costs are paid once — so when you order more boxes, those costs are divided across a larger batch.

More boxes = lower cost per box.

That’s how large brands save so much on packaging.

🚀 Why Ordering Slightly More Often Makes Sense

You don’t always need to order huge quantities — but sometimes ordering just a bit more can give you a much better deal.

For example:

• Ordering 400 instead of 300 may save 20–25% per box
• Ordering 1,000 instead of 700 may reduce shipping + production costs per unit
• Ordering one bulk run can be cheaper than two smaller separate runs

We help customers compare scenarios before finalizing — so you can see which option makes financial sense.

🏭 Why Big Orders Are Cheaper to Produce

When we produce larger quantities at Pro Custom Box, our machines run more efficiently:

✔ Less wastage
✔ Fewer changeovers
✔ Faster setup amortization
✔ Better material utilization

That efficiency turns into lower pricing for you.

🛒 But What If You Don’t Want Huge Stock Sitting Around?

This is a real concern — especially for:

• Startups
• Seasonal products
• Brands testing new designs

Good news:

👉 At Pro Custom Box, we also offer low-MOQ solutions
👉 and repeat ordering with saved dielines

That means:

• You can test smaller quantities
• Your future orders are cheaper because setup is already complete
• You avoid packaging waste and storage headaches

💡 How to Choose the “Smart” Order Quantity

Here’s a simple rule we suggest:

Order enough boxes to cover 2–4 months of sales.

This usually gives the best balance:

✔ Lower per-box price
✔ Manageable storage
✔ No frequent reordering panic
✔ Consistent branding

Need help calculating it? Our team can estimate based on your expected monthly sales.

🌱 Extra Bonus: Larger Runs Are Often More Eco-Friendly

Bulk production usually:

• Reduces machine changeovers
• Uses less material wastage overall
• Requires fewer transport trips

So you save money and reduce environmental impact at the same time.

🎯 Final Takeaway

Ordering more doesn’t just mean “more boxes” —
it often means:

✔ Cheaper cost per box
✔ Better production efficiency
✔ Stronger long-term savings

But the “right” quantity depends on:

• Your budget
• Storage space
• Sales volume
• Product lifecycle

And that’s exactly where Pro Custom Box guides you.

📞 Ready to See How Quantity Affects Your Price?

Let our team prepare a comparison quote so you can decide confidently.

👉 Request a custom quote at www.procustombox.com
👉 Tell us your product, size, and expected quantity
👉 We’ll show you the price difference across multiple quantity options

Pro Custom Box — Customized for your brand. Priced for value. Shipped free.