Are Custom Shipping Boxes Worth It? A Full Guide
Last Updated on August 14, 2025 by Kira Andrus
Part of what makes the holiday season so fun is watching the joy of your loved ones as they unwrap the gift you got them. Even though the holidays have come and gone, people still find joy in getting and receiving a well-presented package. In fact, people love watching others open packages so much that it’s become a trend. The viral trend of unboxing products began in the mid-2000s, but the trend has really picked up steam within the last few years. Consumers love a beautifully presented product. Whether they are unboxing your product on their socials or enjoying the experience privately, your customers will take note of your custom packaging game. And, thanks to social media, you can also have your custom packaging work for you twice when you have your followers “pack an order” with you on your page. The question now is – are custom shipping boxes worth it for your business?
Advantages of Custom Shipping Boxes
The number one advantage of utilizing custom shipping boxes is brand recognition. The benefit for your brand comes in two parts. First, consistent branding helps differentiate your product from your competitors’ products. High-quality, customized packaging demonstrates your professionalism and attention to detail. A recognizable custom shipping box brings awareness to your brand and keeps it in the forefront of consumer’s minds. Second, building brand recognition through custom shipping boxes creates excitement for your customers as they receive and unbox the product. Using unique packaging adds value to your product and makes your product feel high-end. Presentation matters, and a positive unboxing experience encourages your customer to share their joy with others, boosting your word of mouth marketing. Remember, it’s not just the outside of the package that matters. The packaging within your shipping box should also make a statement to your customers. ClearBags has a variety of clear, decorative, iridescent, and paper boxes to keep your product secure during transit and grab attention when the outer box is opened.
Another advantage to using custom shipping boxes is the enhanced protection for your product. Custom shipping boxes are tailored to your needs with sizes that are designed for your products. In fact, custom shipping boxes are a great fit for unique items. With less wasted space, your item is more secure and shipping costs can be reduced. ClearBags Airsafe Art Boxes are a great example of how shipping boxes can be customized for your needs. Designed specially to protect fragile artwork during transit, the ClearBags Airsafe Art Boxes fit prints tightly inside the protective barriers within the box. They are surprisingly lightweight for their sturdy build, and additional box spacers can be ordered to customize the interior of the box for your particular needs. The outside of the shipping box can be branded with your own label and design. And, while these were created for shipping artwork, ClearBags clients have found that these boxes add an extra layer of protection for shipping everything from cookies to hats.
Disadvantages of Custom Shipping Boxes
The disadvantages of using custom shipping boxes are simple. Not every product your business offers is the same, and a custom shipping box may not be necessary for all of your products. Ordering the correct amount of shipping boxes, especially to ensure that you don’t have too few or too many, can put a financial and logistical strain on your business when you are just starting out. Another drawback is that custom packaging can sometimes require higher upfront costs in set up fees, especially if you are doing custom design work on the packaging. However, there are solutions to minimize these disadvantages if your business is focused on building your brand and offering a great customer experience. If cost is a concern, consider starting with ClearBags pre-printed labels or stickers. You could even start with a customized label before moving up to designing customized shipping boxes.
Ultimately, custom shipping boxes are a worthwhile investment for most businesses. ClearBags makes ordering your custom shipping supplies easy, no matter what size or what your company needs. While it’s almost impossible to find smaller quantities of packaging supplies other places, ClearBags has a variety of options your business can afford in the quantity you need. So, if you are looking for unique and flexible packaging to meet your needs and grab attention, check out ClearBags. Look for ClearBags Custom Packaging, and see what we can do for you.
