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How to Order Custom Packing Tape: A Step-by-Step Checklist

06/01/2026

Ordering custom tape for the first time involves fewer decisions than most people expect, but getting them in the right order saves a round of back-and-forth. Here’s the process from raw artwork to a delivered case, laid out as a checklist you can work through in one sitting.

Most first-time orders go from inquiry to delivered product in about two weeks once artwork is approved — the steps below are what fills that window.

1. Prep your artwork file

Vector files (AI, EPS, or high-resolution PDF) print cleanest, since flexo printing reproduces sharp lines and solid fills better than it reproduces gradients or fine detail. If you only have a logo as a PNG or JPG, send it anyway — our design team can usually vectorize a clean logo at no extra charge, though very detailed or photographic artwork may need simplification first. Include your Pantone (PMS) color reference if you have one; it removes guesswork from the print match.

2. Decide roll width and quantity

48mm is the standard width and fits any standard tape gun and most cartons in one pass. Quantity starts at our MOQ of 12 rolls — enough for a small operation to get started, or a single retail launch. If you’re not sure how many rolls you’ll need, work backward from your monthly shipment volume: most cartons use 15–20 feet of tape per seal, and a 100-meter roll covers roughly 16–20 boxes.

3. Choose your color and backing

Pick a backing — clear, tan/kraft, white, or a custom Pantone base — and a print color count. Clear with black print is the most common, most economical combination and works on any box color. If you’re not sure yet, it’s fine to note “not sure yet” on your quote request; we’ll walk through the options based on your box and brand.

4. Review and approve your mockup

Once your artwork and specs are in, we turn around a digital mockup in 24–48 hours showing your logo printed to scale on the tape roll and repeated down a sample carton seam. This is the point to check spacing, color accuracy, and legibility at actual size — logos that look fine at full screen size sometimes need simplification to stay legible on a 2-inch strip. Revisions at this stage are free and typically turn around within a day.

5. Production and delivery

Once the mockup is approved, production begins. Standard lead time is about two weeks from approval to delivery, covering plate setup, the print run, and shipping. Larger orders or multiple SKUs (say, a different print for two brands or two box sizes) may run slightly longer — we’ll give you a firm date at approval, not an estimate.

Starting Your Order

The checklist above covers every decision you’ll actually be asked to make. Most of it can be answered in a single quote request: your logo file, your preferred roll width (48mm unless you know otherwise), your quantity, and your color preference. Everything else — Pantone matching, layout, mockup revisions — happens after that first message, with our team guiding the specifics.

Ready to start? Get a custom quote and we’ll have a mockup back to you in 24–48 hours. Read more about how we work, or browse more guides.

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