The packaging workbench

Packaging tools and guides

Plan packaging dimensions, materials, artwork, shipping and project costs with practical calculators, worked examples and planning guides from Teal Packaging.

240 resources

Workflow and investment

Artwork review effort model

Model artwork review labor, elapsed calendar days, annual hours and entered-rate cost from rounds, reviewers, hours and projects. Compare removing one round.

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Buying and supplier planning

Artwork review record

Record an artwork review decision against an file revision and proof identifier, with reviewer, date, restrictions, checklist and blank authorization line.

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Decisions and troubleshooting

Assembled versus flat shipping cube

Compare assembled rigid box envelope with measured folded carton cube, scale both by order quantity, and see the per-unit geometric ratio for shipping planning.

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Buying and supplier planning

Backward packaging schedule

Backward packaging schedule planner subtracting contingency, transit, production, proof and design days from a target date to show start date and stage ranges.

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Decisions and troubleshooting

Barcode color screening

Screen barcode bar and background colors and flag transparent or metallic stock before printed verification. Named colors cannot establish a symbol grade.

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Buying and supplier planning

Blister packaging cost model

Model a blister packaging quote by combining one-time tooling with per-unit backer, blister and sealing charges, then spreading cost across accepted units.

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Buying and supplier planning

Box blank cost worksheet

Estimate a custom box blank's modeled unit and order cost from converter blank dimensions, board price, print, setup, quantity and material waste allowance.

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Shipping and logistics

Box compression estimate

Estimates short-term box compression strength and a derated planning load from box footprint, edge crush, board caliper, derating factor and loaded case weight.

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Shipping and logistics

Candle temperature margin planner

Plan candle wax temperature margin from supplier melt onset and expected package exposure, with a weekend exposure flag based on your calendar transit inputs.

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Shipping and logistics

Case size planner

Case size planner computes internal and estimated external RSC box dimensions for a rectangular product packed in a grid with clearance and board thickness.

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Buying and supplier planning

Co-packer evidence scorecard

Score co-packer evidence across five criteria, apply your own importance weights, and get a 0 to 100 weighted score plus the largest remaining evidence gap.

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Buying and supplier planning

Co-packing cost per accepted unit

Estimate copacker cost per accepted unit from input quantity, per-unit processing fee, setup, handling, storage months and rejected output percentage.

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Shipping and logistics

Cold-chain heat load worksheet

Estimate box heat load, theoretical dry ice mass, water-ice-equivalent mass and gel pack count from dimensions, R-value, temperatures, transit and pack weight.

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Buying and supplier planning

Comparable packaging RFQ

Build a comparable packaging RFQ draft with validated quantity breaks, shared specification fields, artwork status, destination and an itemization clause.

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Decisions and troubleshooting

Container decoration decision worksheet

Map container surface, coverage, production pattern and priority to a decoration method to investigate, with a reason and comparison notes for supplier review.

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Shipping and logistics

Corrugated material weight estimate

Estimate RSC corrugated board weight per box and per order from box dimensions, glue-joint allowance, combined board grammage and quantity for freight planning.

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Shipping and logistics

Dimensional and billable weight

Estimate shipping volume, dimensional weight and whole-pound billable weight from outer dimensions, actual weight, your divisor, threshold and rounding choice.

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Shipping and logistics

Distribution test discussion guide

Shortlist an ISTA protocol family from distribution channel and packaged-product weight, with a 150 lb parcel screen and notes for laboratory confirmation.

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Dimensions and specifications

Dry-product oxygen capacity worksheet

Estimate residual air and initial oxygen in a sealed dry-product container, then apply a user-entered capacity allowance after suitability is confirmed.

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Shipping and logistics

ECT and burst grade reference

Look up four single-wall rows in the FBA-hosted 2025 Walmart corrugated specification, including weight and dimension limits. This is not a strength conversion.

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Shipping and logistics

Export carton mark worksheet

Assemble a carton shipping mark from entered identifiers, dimensions, origin and weights, with case sequence and packaging tare for a draft you can review.

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Marketplace and responsibility

FBA prep review checklist

Build an FBA prep review checklist from seven yes/no product characteristics, flagging rule families to verify in Seller Central for your product and route.

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Shipping and logistics

Freight density screening

Screen handling-unit density from dimensions and total weight. Get volume, density and a density-scale screening class, not a confirmed NMFC classification.

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Shipping and logistics

Glass jar pack layout

Estimate a compact jar grid, outer shipping envelope and actual weight, then compare actual and dimensional weight for a whole-pound billable estimate.

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Dimensions and specifications

Gusseted pouch capacity estimate

Estimate gusseted pouch usable capacity in mL and fill weight in grams from pouch dimensions, seal allowance, measured capacity factor and bulk density.

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Buying and supplier planning

Inbound packaging requirements

Combine receiver-entered inbound packaging rules into a draft covering loaded pallet height, gross case weight, identification, unitization and receiving.

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Buying and supplier planning

Packaging cost and margin ratios

Calculate packaging as a share of net price and of product plus packaging, plus contribution before omitted costs from three user-entered per-unit amounts.

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Buying and supplier planning

Packaging design brief

Translate product, format, audience, objective, required assets, constraints, success criteria and deliverables into an organized packaging design handoff.

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Marketplace and responsibility

Packaging EPR responsibility checklist

Screen packaging EPR responsibility by state, role, sales scope and exemption evidence, with an evidence checklist and official program URL for further review.

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Decisions and troubleshooting

Packaging failure investigation

Route a packaging symptom to plausible causes and a next evidence step. Define a single-lot or multi-lot investigation without assuming a confirmed diagnosis.

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Decisions and troubleshooting

Packaging finish comparison

Map a requested visual or tactile finish to a sample family and set a test priority from handling and artwork coverage, with a material recovery review step.

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Workflow and investment

Packaging labor automation model

Model labor hours saved, net benefit and simple payback for packaging automation using your own volume, time, wage, uptime, investment and maintenance inputs.

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Decisions and troubleshooting

Packaging print process shortlist

Shortlist packaging print process families from format, run, artwork versions, variable-data need and priority, with total units to support comparable quotes.

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Dimensions and specifications

Packaging specification worksheet

Build a packaging specification worksheet from project, format, dimensions, material, print, quantity, critical requirements, acceptance evidence and revision.

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Workflow and investment

Packaging workflow self-assessment

Score four packaging workflow lanes on records, ownership and exception measurement, then identify the lowest-scoring lane and a practical next review step.

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Shipping and logistics

Pallet layer and stack calculator

Compute cases per layer, complete layers, total cases and payload for a uniform rectangular pallet pattern, capped by your stacking height and weight limits.

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Dimensions and specifications

Pouch capacity requirement

Estimate pouch height from product mass, measured bulk density, extra volume, face width, gusset depth, capacity factor and seal zone for sample planning.

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Buying and supplier planning

Print quantity tolerance planner

Plan whole-unit print delivery bounds from overrun and underrun percentages, with a conservative order estimate based on the retained fraction before rounding.

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Dimensions and specifications

Round-container label sizing

Size round-container labels from diameter, panel height, layout, seam and clearance. Get label width, height and labels per container for proof planning.

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Buying and supplier planning

Shrink sleeve film cost

Estimate flat-film width, cut height, film area and modeled cost per shrink sleeve from container dimensions, shrink, seam allowance and your quoted costs.

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Dimensions and specifications

Shrink sleeve geometry

Calculate shrink sleeve layflat, cut height, film width, required transverse shrink and margin from container diameters, coverage, clearance and film shrink.

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Dimensions and specifications

Soap band dimensions

Calculate soap band label length and height from cured bar dimensions, wrap direction, glue overlap and face coverage. Use the result to prepare a fit sample.

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Marketplace and responsibility

Trade-item identifier planning

Count consumer variants, sellable multipacks, case configurations and other trade items to plan records before reviewing identifier assignment with GS1.

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cannabis

Cannabis Packaging Cost: The Honest Mechanics

Explore cannabis packaging cost drivers, including materials, closures, printing, order volume, and testing budgets, plus questions to ask before ordering.

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supplements

Capsule and Blister Unit-Dose Packaging Basics

Plan capsule and blister unit-dose packaging for supplements with format comparisons, cavity math, labeling space, child-resistance review and channel checks.

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troubleshooting

Carton Folding and Gluing Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshoot folding carton cracks and glue failures. Record board, grain, tooling, adhesive and compression, then plan controlled trials with your suppliers.

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rigid

Choosing Bottle Materials and Neck Finishes

Compare HDPE, PET and glass bottle options, understand neck finish codes, and plan bottle, closure and dispensing checks before ordering production packaging.

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food

Coffee Bags, Valves, and Freshness Planning

Plan coffee bags with barrier data, valve checks, fill trials, food contact documents, and market-specific compostable claim reviews before approving packaging.

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partners

Controls for AI-Assisted Packaging Referrals

Evaluate AI-assisted packaging referrals with practical disclosure policies, conflict tiers, claim review gates and audit records. An educational guide by Teal.

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quality

Dot Gain and Tone Value Increase in Print

Learn how dot gain and tone value increase are measured, how to read TVI curves, and how to agree print targets and compensation with your packaging converter.

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channels

FBA Box Size and Weight Limits, Explained

Learn how to verify Amazon FBA carton limits, measure length plus girth, calculate dimensional weight, and match corrugated board strength to packed weight.

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design

FEFCO Codes for Corrugated Box Briefs

Learn how FEFCO codes identify corrugated box designs, distinguish families and variants, clarify internal dimensions, and support a detailed packaging RFQ.

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FOOD & BEVERAGE

Food and Beverage Packaging Planning Guide

Plan food and beverage packaging with food-contact documentation, recycled plastic checks, label panel mapping, and an artwork review workflow for your team.

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supplements

Gummy Supplement Packaging: Pouches and Jars

Compare gummy supplement pouches and jars, including barrier needs, fill trials, label space, food contact documentation, and validation before scaling up.

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automation

How AI Reads and Generates Packaging Dielines

Explore AI-assisted packaging dieline generation and detection, hypothetical carton sizing, barcode checks, and converter review before production begins.

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SIZING & SPECS

How to Determine Packaging Sizes and Specs

Learn to measure products, plan clearances, size double boxes, estimate dimensional weight and specify board grades for a clearer packaging brief to converters.

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partners

How to Evaluate a Packaging Referral Program

Evaluate a packaging referral program with clear goals, reward math, disclosure review, attribution rules, fraud checks, a fixed pilot and exit criteria.

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troubleshooting

How to Find and Fix a Leaking Pouch

Find possible pouch leak causes, inspect seals and film, and plan package-specific tests to evaluate fixes with your converter, test lab and quality team.

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sourcing

How to Read a Packaging Quote, Line by Line

Learn how to read a packaging quote: compare specifications, allocate one-time fees, check arithmetic, clarify exclusions, and review conditions before buying.

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design

Induction Sealing vs Contact Heat Sealing

Compare induction sealing for capped bottles and contact heat sealing for pouches, with material compatibility, supplier trial planning and inspection tips.

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labels

Label Materials: Paper, BOPP, PE and PET

Compare paper, BOPP, PE and PET label options, with container-fit questions, adhesive checks, a hypothetical area estimate and an practical ordering checklist.

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decisions

Matte vs Gloss Lamination: How to Choose

Compare matte and gloss lamination for appearance, glare, handling and adhesion, with a decision table, hypothetical cost example and sample review checklist.

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automation

One Record: Stop Packaging Data Drift

Reduce packaging data drift with a canonical record, field ownership, controlled imports, revision tracking and checks across downstream systems and files.

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partners

Packaging API discovery checklist for brands

Evaluate third-party packaging APIs with a checklist for catalog data, sandbox orders, webhooks, artwork, barcode verification, security and exit terms.

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AUTOMATION & WORKFLOW

Packaging Automation and Workflow Planning Guide

Plan packaging automation with workflow audits, equipment trials, barcode checks, channel prep reviews, and staged rollout criteria for your packaging line.

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DECISIONS & COMPARISONS

Packaging Decisions: A Practical Review Framework

Compare packaging options, estimate dimensional weight and costs, route regulatory and channel questions, and document validation with a practical framework.

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CHANNELS & MARKETPLACES

Packaging for Channels and Marketplaces

Plan packaging for DTC, marketplace, and retail channels with a decision table, a hypothetical dimensional weight example, prep checks, and clear scope limits.

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pricing

Packaging MOQs: Why Minimums Exist

Learn why packaging MOQs exist, how fixed costs and material minimums affect unit price, and how to compare cash, storage and risk before ordering packaging.

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quality

Packaging Preflight Checklist Converters Use

A practical packaging preflight checklist for file formats, barcodes, color, images, dielines, proofs and handoff, with a worked image resolution example.

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logistics

Parcel vs LTL vs FTL: Choosing a Shipping Mode

Compare parcel, LTL and FTL shipping by carton size, weight, handling and cost drivers, with a hypothetical worked example, mode screening table and checklist.

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design

Pouch Gussets: Side vs Bottom Explained

Learn how side and bottom pouch gussets affect shape and artwork, with a hypothetical geometry example, converter dieline guidance, and a proofing checklist.

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decisions

Pouch vs Rigid Packaging: An Honest Trade-Off

Compare pouches and rigid containers on protection, shelf presence, filling line fit, food contact documentation, material use and hypothetical shipping cube.

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partners

Recurring Revenue for Packaging Consultants

Explore recurring revenue models for packaging consultants, with scoped retainers, hypothetical pricing arithmetic, capacity checks, and supplier disclosures.

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design

SBS vs CRB vs CUK Paperboard: How to Choose

Compare SBS, CRB and CUK paperboard for folding cartons with converter questions, print proofing checks, a hypothetical area estimate and a practical brief.

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logistics

Shipping Candles in Summer Without Melting

Plan summer candle shipping with supplier guidance, cushioning, insulation trials, dimensional weight calculations and monitored shipments before scaling.

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SOURCING & QUOTING

Sourcing Packaging Quotes Without Hidden Gaps

Compare packaging quotes using written specs, itemized fees, freight checks, worked cost examples, and an RFQ checklist. Learn Teal's fee and sample policies.

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sizing

Stand-Up Pouch Sizes: An Honest Sizing Chart

Learn what stand-up pouch dimensions mean, estimate product volume from bulk density and compare filled samples before choosing a size and planning label space.

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pricing

What Drives Stand-Up Pouch Cost

Learn what drives stand-up pouch cost: film area, barrier structure, closures, print, quantity, and compliance review, plus how to compare supplier quotes.

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partners

What to Check in a Packaging Quote API

Evaluate a packaging quote API for fee transparency, quantity breaks, artwork, barcode requirements and referral disclosures, with a hypothetical comparison.

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quality

Why AI Packaging Art Is Not Print-Ready Yet

Check AI packaging art for resolution, text, color, bleed and finishing layers, then confirm production file specifications and proofs with your converter.

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troubleshooting

Why Boxes Crush in Shipping and How to Stop It

Learn why boxes crush, how to assess board strength, cushioning and stacking, and when carrier packing guidance and package testing can help prevent damage.

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sourcing

Why Packaging Quotes Vary So Much, Honestly

Compare packaging quotes by scope, materials, print, barcode checks, documentation, freight, MOQ, and fees, with a worked hypothetical cost comparison example.

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