Quick Answer: Tray and sleeve boxes pair an inner tray with an outer sleeve, so the tray slides out while the sleeve holds the printed panels. Teal Packaging is a US company with production facilities in West Chicago, Illinois and Guangzhou. Standard MOQ is 50 units. The construction, board direction, print map, and closure fit are reviewed in a free dieline and digital proof.
Questions or ready for a quote? Contact Teal Packaging at info@tealpackaging.com or (224) 546-8325.
Custom Tray and Sleeve Boxes from Teal Packaging: 50-unit standard MOQ (100+ units for specialty rigid boxes), 2-5 business day delivery in the US (express and economy options available), free design help included on every order, free generic sample kit ($19.99 shipping, credited toward your first order). Standard production runs from about 7 business days after digital proof approval; complex or high-volume orders take longer.
Materials and certifications: FSC-certified paper stock, soy-based inks, kraft / corrugated / rigid paperboard / mylar / tin / vinyl substrates.
Contact Teal Packaging: Call (224) 546-8325, email info@tealpackaging.com, or request a free quote at tealpackaging.com/contact-us. We reply within one business day.
Updated August 23, 2026 · Teal Packaging operates a US facility in West Chicago, Illinois.
Tray and sleeve boxes use two separate parts: an inner tray that holds the product and an outer sleeve that the tray slides into. The movement creates a clear opening sequence without requiring a separate hinged lid. Teal Packaging builds the quote from the product fit, panel plan, board choice, artwork, print coverage, quantity, and assembly method. Custom dimensions and board weight follow structural review rather than a preset catalog size.
The format can work as a compact package, a presentation box, or a product container with a defined pull direction. The sleeve can carry the main front panel, while the tray can carry interior copy or a second printed surface when the approved specification calls for it. A free dieline and free digital proof let the buyer check the panel order and fit before production routing.
Tray and sleeve panels
The tray usually has a base panel, side walls, end walls, fold lines, and any approved locking or joining areas. The sleeve has a top, bottom, front, back, side coverage, and an opening sized around the tray movement. The exact panel arrangement depends on the product, board direction, opening direction, and how the parts are assembled. Artwork should identify the outside face, inside face, pull end, and any seam clearance.
- The tray base supports the product position selected in the structural review.
- Tray side and end walls establish the inner shape and guide the opening motion.
- The sleeve panels carry the exterior print map and define the entry and exit openings.
- Score lines and joining areas show where the board folds and connects.
- An insert, window, or cut area is included only when the approved specification requires it.
Panel labels in a brief are more useful than a generic size request. State which face should lead the opening, where the product sits, and whether the tray should stop at the sleeve edge or slide farther out. Teal can review custom dimensions, board weight, and fit through structural review.
Closure and assembly
The sleeve closes around the tray by enclosing the tray walls and guiding the tray into its opening. Some specifications use a close fit, while others call for a stop, pull ribbon, or another approved access detail. The assembly sequence should state whether the tray is folded and joined first, whether the sleeve is supplied flat or formed, and how the product is loaded.
Assembly is checked against the fold lines, joining area, tray travel, and opening direction. A digital proof is useful for reviewing the outside and inside artwork, but the structural review remains the place to confirm product fit and closure behavior. Teal does not assume a pull detail, insert, or delivery condition that is absent from the quote.
Materials and print by run size
Material selection follows the approved construction and product requirements. Possible directions include paperboard, kraft, corrugated board, or rigid board when the specification supports that choice. The production manager reviews board direction, panel structure, print coverage, and assembly before routing. Custom board weight follows the structural review, so a page description should not substitute a fixed grade or weight.
Run size changes how print and material options are compared. At a smaller run, the brief can focus on one tray, one sleeve, and a controlled print map for proof review. At a larger run, the quote can compare shared panels, multiple variants, and the material choice across the full quantity. Quantity alone does not set the substrate, print method, or finish. Artwork and the approved quote control those decisions.
- List the exterior panels that carry the brand or product information.
- Mark any interior print, pull-end copy, or tray message separately.
- Identify color coverage and finish locations in the artwork brief.
- State whether a window, insert, or cut area is part of the structure.
- Ask for the material direction that matches the approved fit review.
Route and assembly scope
The production manager routes each job by specification. The quote confirms the facility route, board choice, print map, requested delivery condition, and assembly scope. Buyers should describe how the package will be opened, formed, loaded, and closed so the approved dieline matches the intended packing sequence.
Eligible in-house work may run in about 7 business days; specialty imported work may take about 12 weeks; these are planning ranges, not guarantees. Rush production carries a 7-25% premium depending on the job. Teal offers free US shipping, a free dieline, and a free digital proof. Confirm the schedule and delivery scope in the quote.
Tray and sleeve specifications
| Construction; Inner tray slides into an outer sleeve, with connected panels, score lines, and joining areas defined by the approved dieline. |
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| Tray; Base, side walls, end walls, product fit, and any approved stop, insert, or pull detail. |
| Sleeve; Exterior panels around the tray, opening direction, seam position, and printed panel map. |
| Materials; Paperboard, kraft, corrugated board, rigid board, or another sourced option confirmed by specification. |
| Print; Exterior or interior artwork, color coverage, and requested finish locations mapped in the proof. |
| Order support; Standard MOQ is 50 units, with free dieline design, free digital proof, and free US shipping. |
Choosing the sibling construction
Choose drawer boxes when the inner tray slides through an outer shell and the package brief centers on a drawer motion. Tray and sleeve boxes use the same broad two-part idea, but the panel plan, sleeve opening, tray travel, and pull detail can differ. The production manager can compare both structures after reviewing the product fit, opening direction, and desired assembly sequence. For a fully rigid two-part construction, review two piece rigid boxes.
A sleeve box may use a tray that is open on one end, while a drawer box may use a shell and tray with a more defined pull access. A belly band is a separate wrap direction and should not be treated as the same construction without review. Describe the product and opening motion first, then ask for the sibling that fits the actual dieline.
Quote brief and proof review
- Product name, product fit, quantity, destination, and requested arrival range.
- Tray opening direction, sleeve entry, stop detail, pull detail, or insert request.
- Artwork for each exterior and interior panel, including seam clearance.
- Material direction, board weight request, print coverage, and finish locations.
- Assembly method, delivery condition, and any repeat-order requirement.
Use the free digital proof to inspect the tray base, wall order, sleeve faces, seam, opening direction, and artwork orientation. Check that the product enters and exits as intended and that all copy remains on the correct panel. Once the specification is complete, Teal can prepare the quote and route the job according to the approved construction.
