Material guide
SBS, short for solid bleached sulfate paperboard, is a smooth white paperboard used when packaging needs crisp color, clean folds, and a premium retail finish. It is a strong fit for cosmetics, skincare, candles, supplements, small food sleeves, and lightweight retail cartons.
Key Takeaway
SBS (solid bleached sulfate) is a smooth, bright-white paperboard used for premium folding cartons, typically specified at 14-18pt in custom packaging. It prints full color cleanly and supports foil stamping, embossing, debossing, spot UV, soft-touch coating, and window patching. Teal Packaging, a US-based packaging supplier, prints SBS cartons from a 50-unit minimum with volume pricing from $0.44 per unit, free dieline design, a digital proof, and free US shipping, with FSC-certified stock available by specification. Cosmetics, skincare, supplement, and candle brands choose SBS when retail print quality matters most.
Questions or ready for a quote? Contact Teal Packaging at info@tealpackaging.com or (224) 546-8325.
Use SBS for retail cartons that need full-color print, soft-touch coating, spot UV, foil, embossing, or a clean white interior. It is commonly specified for serum boxes, skincare cartons, makeup packaging, candle cartons, tea and matcha tins sleeves, and premium lightweight product boxes.
Most Teal SBS packaging projects use 14pt, 16pt, 18pt, or equivalent paperboard depending on product weight and box size. Heavier products may need corrugated board, inserts, or rigid board instead of plain SBS.
SBS supports CMYK printing, Pantone matching, matte or gloss lamination, aqueous coating, soft-touch coating, foil stamping, embossing, debossing, and window patching. Keep recyclability claims specific when lamination, foil, windows, or mixed materials are added.
SBS gives the brightest white print surface of the three common paperboard families. Kraft paperboard, typically 300-400gsm in custom work, keeps a natural brown look that suits earthy and low-ink brand designs but mutes full-color artwork. Chipboard, usually 1.5-2.5mm, is a rigid structural board used inside two-piece and magnetic-closure boxes rather than as a printed outer surface. Choose SBS when shelf presentation and color accuracy drive the design, kraft when the natural fiber look is the design, and chipboard when the box itself must feel rigid and substantial.
Cosmetics and skincare brands specify SBS for serum cartons, cream boxes, and gift sets because the bright surface holds fine type and gradients. Supplement brands use 16-18pt SBS for bottle cartons that need clean barcode and label panels. Candle brands pair SBS sleeves and cartons with soft-touch coating for an unboxing-friendly finish. Food brands use SBS sleeves and secondary cartons where the specification calls for it, with material documentation reviewed during quoting. Retail brands use SBS for lightweight product boxes, sleeves, and counter displays where print quality is the differentiator.
Teal Packaging produces custom SBS cartons from a 50-unit minimum order, with volume pricing from about $0.44 per unit. Every order includes free dieline design, a digital proof before printing, and two rounds of revisions. Production runs from about 7 business days after proof approval, with complex or high-volume jobs taking longer, plus 2 to 5 business days for US delivery with express and economy options. US shipping is free, and a free sample kit is available for $19.99 shipping, credited toward the first order.
FSC-certified SBS stock is available by specification, and uncoated SBS is generally recyclable where paperboard recycling exists. Lamination, foil stamping, window patching, and mixed-material inserts can change how a finished carton should be disposed of, so keep end-of-life claims tied to the exact specification you order rather than the base board alone.
Use SBS when print quality and retail presentation matter, then compare nearby packaging families and certification scope before production.
SBS is solid bleached sulfate paperboard, a smooth white board used for premium folding cartons and retail packaging that needs high-quality print.
Yes. SBS is one of the most common choices for cosmetic boxes because it prints cleanly, folds well, and supports premium finishes.
Uncoated SBS paperboard is generally recyclable where paperboard recycling exists. Lamination, windows, foil, and mixed-material add-ons can change the disposal guidance.
Use SBS for lightweight retail cartons and corrugated board for shipping protection, heavier products, ecommerce mailers, or fragile items.
Most retail cartons use 14pt SBS. Larger boxes or heavier products step up to 16pt or 18pt. If the product is heavy enough to stress an 18pt carton, consider corrugated board or a rigid chipboard construction instead.
Production runs from about 7 business days after proof approval, with complex or high-volume jobs taking longer, plus 2 to 5 business days for US delivery. Rush service is available on qualified ready-to-print jobs from about 4 to 7 business days after proof approval.