Custom Ice Cream Boxes
Board in a freezer behaves differently. Adhesives that hold at room temperature let go, coatings become brittle, and condensation on the way out of the freezer softens the fiber. Ice cream packaging is the one category where cold is the specification.
Get a price for Ice Cream Boxes
Send the size and quantity — we reply the same working day with a price, a dieline and a date. Artwork optional at this stage.
- 2styles in this range, each with its own page and price
- 100unit minimum on every style, printed or plain
- 4markets quoted in the delivery currency
- ±1mmcutting tolerance on folding board, checked on a sample
2 styles in this range
Styles we make in this range
Every one below is written up, priced and dielined. Tap a style to see how it is built.
Side by side
Which ice cream boxes style fits
| Style | Board | Build | Minimum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Cream Cups | Food-grade lining inside, moisture-resistant coating outside | Single or double wall; double wall for hot toppings | 100 cups | Open → |
| Twin Scoop Ice Cream Cone Sleeves | Grease- and moisture-resistant 250–300 gsm; PFAS-free; coated white or kraft | Wide cone sleeve, drip-catch skirt, napkin pocket, waffle jacket; pre-glued | 100 sleeves | Open → |
Adhesive is the component that fails first
Standard carton glue is not rated for freezer temperatures. A glued seam that is sound in a warehouse can release in a display freezer, and the failure shows up as a tub that opens along its side seam in a customer's bag.
The same applies to any label. A pressure-sensitive label applied to a cold surface never reaches full bond — labels have to be applied at room temperature or specified in a freezer-grade adhesive.
Tell us the pack is going into a freezer. It changes the glue and the coating, and neither is visible in a photograph of the finished box.
Condensation happens on the way out, not on the way in
A frozen pack moved into a warm room immediately collects water on its surface. Uncoated board absorbs it, loses a large share of its strength, and the print lifts at the edges.
A moisture-resistant coating on the outer face handles it. This is why plain kraft, which suits so many other food categories, is a poor default here.
Formats across the counter and the freezer aisle
| Printed tub | Retail pints and liters; needs a freezer-grade seam and lid fit |
|---|---|
| Paper cup | Scoop shop service; single or double wall, taken away by hand |
| Cone sleeve | A wrap around a cone; catches drips and takes the branding |
| Takeaway carton | Multi-scoop or family orders; usually insulated by the outer bag |
| Lolly and bar wraps | Flow-wrap or sleeve; sealed against freezer burn |
Cone sleeves do a job people underestimate
A cone sleeve is also the least wasteful pack we make: a small strip of board that does its entire job in ten minutes and is genuinely necessary while it does it.
- They give somewhere dry to hold, which is the whole reason they exist.
- They catch the first drips before they reach a hand.
- They are the only branded surface on a scoop-shop cone.
- They cost less per unit than almost anything else in food service.
Lids, fit and the air above the ice cream
Ice cream expands slightly as it freezes and contracts as it thaws, so a lid that is tight when packed warm can become difficult when frozen. A lid that fits loosely lets air in, and air in a tub is what causes freezer burn on the surface.
Fit is quoted against the temperature the pack is closed at. That is an unusual specification and it is why lid and tub should be ordered together rather than separately.
Print in a freezer cabinet
Freezer cabinets are lit from above through a glass door that is usually slightly fogged. Matte finishes disappear in that light and gloss reflects the cabinet lighting straight back at the shopper.
High contrast and strong flat color survive it; subtle tonal work does not. It is the same lighting problem as a supermarket shelf, only worse — the finish reasoning is set out in our specialty finish notes.
Across the range
What every ice cream boxes job runs on
Boards
- Natural kraft
- White SBS
- E and B flute
- Wrapped grayboard
- Food-grade board
- Recycled content
Chosen from what goes in the box and how far it travels. Our notes on recyclable and compostable stocks say which claims each board can carry.
Finishes
- Matte
- Gloss
- Soft-touch
- Foil
- Emboss
- Spot UV
- Kraft
- Textured
Each one is a decision about light on a shelf — the specialty finishes range shows them on real boxes.
Artwork
- Vector PDF or AI, fonts outlined
- 3 mm bleed, 4 mm safe area
- CMYK; a spot color where a match must hold
- Proof on the dieline before press
Files not set up that way are fine — see the guide to preparing print files.
Interactive · five steps · no sign-up
Build your Ice Cream Boxes in 3D
Pick a shape, type a size, choose a board and a finish. The preview on the left redraws as you go, and the spec lands with us exactly as you set it.
Frequently asked questions
Got a question about ice cream boxes? The answers below cover what we get asked most. If yours is not here, send it with a brief, message us on WhatsApp, or call +1 503-461-4788 — we reply the same working day.
Why did my tub seam open in the freezer?
Standard carton adhesive is not freezer rated. It has to be specified, and it is not visible in a finished sample.
Can I use plain kraft?
Not well. Condensation on the way out of the freezer soaks uncoated board and lifts the print.
Should I order lids separately?
No. Fit depends on the temperature the pack is closed at, so tub and lid should be quoted together.
Are cone sleeves worth printing?
They are the only branded surface on a cone, and among the cheapest items we make. Yes.
What is the minimum order?
100 units, tubs, cups or sleeves.
Why does matte print disappear in a freezer cabinet?
Cabinet lighting comes through a fogged glass door from above. High contrast and flat color survive it; subtle tonal work does not.
Why did my tub seam open in the freezer?
Standard carton adhesive is not freezer rated. It has to be specified, and it is not visible in a finished sample.
Can I use plain kraft?
Not well. Condensation on the way out of the freezer soaks uncoated board and lifts the print.
Should I order lids separately?
No. Fit depends on the temperature the pack is closed at, so tub and lid should be quoted together.
Are cone sleeves worth printing?
They are the only branded surface on a cone, and among the cheapest items we make. Yes.
Keep browsing
