Guide / Box & packaging styles / Chapter 2.14
Window boxes.
A clear window lets customers see what they're buying before they open the box. Here's when a window box helps sell your product, how they're made and what to think about before you choose one.
The short answer
A window box is a box with a cut-out panel covered by clear film, so the product shows through without opening the box. Window boxes are popular for baked goods, chocolates, cookies, cupcakes, candles and gifts, where the product itself is the best advertisement. Our window boxes are mostly made from 285gsm paperboard with a clear plastic window, in styles such as cookie boxes, cupcake boxes with removable inserts, macaron boxes and chocolate boxes with clear lids.
How a window box is made
The box is cut from paperboard or board with an opening in one panel, usually the lid or the front. A clear film is glued over the opening on the inside, so the box still holds its shape and keeps the product covered. Most window boxes are supplied flat and fold together, often with a self-closing lid.
Some styles use a fully clear lid instead of a window, such as a paperboard base with a clear plastic lid. Others are fully clear plastic boxes, which show the whole product.
When a window helps
- Food that sells on looks, like decorated cookies, cupcakes, macarons and chocolates.
- Retail shelves, where customers want to see colour, size or quality before buying.
- Gifts and hampers, where the window creates a moment before the box is even opened.
- Markets and counters, where you want products on display but protected from handling.
A window is less useful for products that look plain, products that need protection from light, or anything being posted, where the window is a weak point.
Window box styles at a glance
| Style | Best for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Paperboard box with window lid | Cookies, cupcakes, sweets | The product sits neatly under the window |
| Box with insert and window | Cupcakes, macarons, chocolates | Insert holds each piece in place |
| Paperboard base with clear lid | Chocolates and small gift sets | The lid fits snugly over the base |
| Fully clear plastic box | Small treats and favours | Product looks good from every side |
What it means for you
The same question, answered for where your business is today.
Choose your stage at the top of the page to open the advice for you.
Start-up · under 100 units
Stock window boxes in white or kraft brown, finished with a sticker or ribbon, are ideal for markets and small orders.
Arrange your product the way you want it seen, then check it sits right under the window before buying in quantity.
Growing · 100 to 2,499 units
If window boxes are on your counter or in stores every day, a printed box can make your brand recognisable from across the room. Paperboard is offset printed from 250 units.
Try this: keep the window, add your logo above it, and keep the rest of the design simple so the product stays the hero.
Enterprise · 2,500 units and more
Specify the board, window size and position, and any insert. Check how window boxes stack in outer cartons for delivery to stores.
Ask stores how their shelves display your product so the window faces the right way.
Common mistakes
- 1Posting window boxes unprotected. The window is the weakest part of the box. Put window boxes in a carton or mailer for shipping.
- 2Products that slide away from the window. Use an insert or tissue so the product stays where customers can see it.
- 3A window over the wrong spot. If the best part of your product is on the side, a top window won't show it.
- 4Forgetting recycling. Window boxes combine paperboard and plastic film. Check local recycling guidance and let customers know how to dispose of them.
Window box questions
What is a window box?
What are your window boxes made from?
Are window boxes good for food?
Can I post a window box?
Can window boxes be printed?
From our customers
The Cake NookOne-piece cookie boxes with a clear window, in gloss white and kraft brown, to show off their treats.
Read their story →Keep reading
Shop window boxes
Want customers to see your product?
Tell us what you're selling and how it's displayed. Our Melbourne team will recommend the right window box, usually within 1 business day.