Page Text: What size tubes do you sell?
We can produce tubes in any size, depending on the quantity you need.
All of our ready-made tube sizes are available in stock for quick delivery. You can order them blank in any quantity directly on our website. At 1000+ pcs we can produce any ready-made tube size with full color printing.
If the size you want is not stocked or if you need us to engineer a perfect product fit, we can custom-make any tube dimensions. Because of setup time and costs, there is a 1000 piece minimum order quantity for custom-made tubes.
Are there different tube styles you can create?
1-piece tubes with metal or plastic closures.
2-piece telescoping tubes where the cap fits on top of the base when the tube is closed. We can do straight or rolled edges on the top and bottom.
3-piece telescoping tubes where the cap fits on top of the “lip” for a flush-fit look. These tubes can also have a rolled or straight top and bottom edge.
Are your tubes eco-friendly?
The short answer is YES, but really, it depends on your definition of "eco-friendly". We would rather offer transparency over greenwashing.
All of our ready-made tubes are engineered to be reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable. They are made out of 100% virgin pulp paper and contain no plastic whatsoever.
For custom-made tubes, we will always steer you towards the most eco-conscious option while keeping functionality in mind. If you're using tubes as secondary packaging and want to reduce your environmental impact, we suggest uncoated kraft or white paper with soy ink printing and varnish. If you need primary packaging that will have direct contact with food or packaging that will be used and stored in a moisture-prone environment, it's almost impossible to completely eliminate plastic from outer lamination or the inner liner that ensures shelf life and oil-resistance. With that said, we are always exploring different natural materials, like soy inks, biodegradable lamination, and greaseproof paper inner lining for solid cosmetics products, like lip balms and deodorants.
Regarding compostability...while we have not done actual compostability testing, we have engaged with several accredited laboratories and spoken to material scientists. In a nutshell, compostability testing is an 8-month / $20K endeavor that, according to everyone we spoke with, may not prove fruitful. Tubes have a pretty thick spiral wrapped core which may or may not break down to the extent necessary within the required period of time. Given that the tubes are plastic-free and use minimal additives, they will eventually break down (thus being labeled biodegradable), we just don't know if they'll meet the criteria for an official compostability claim unless we spend the time and money for the test. Regardless of this, we will work with you to ensure your tube packaging has the smallest ecological footprint. We're also happy to work with you on the testing, if you choose to do it yourself.
For more details about sustainability, see our blog .
Are your tubes food grade/food safe?
Our ready-made blank tubes are safe for dry goods that don't require shelf-life sustainability. Many of our customers use them for tea and other dry food products, though we always recommend putting the product in a sealed bag and using the tubes as secondary outer packaging.
We can produce completely custom tubes with aluminum foil and PE lining which create a food-safe, oil-resistant inner barrier. Those tubes are generally sealed after filling to make them air-tight. Sealing can be done using metal discs, which requires specialized equipment, or shrink wrapping. Minimum order quantity is 2500 pcs. Alternatively, you can package your product in a sealed bag before putting them into the tubes for additional food-safety and to retain longer shelf life.
Do you make push-up tubes for cosmetics/lip balm/deodorant/etc.?
Yes, we offer ready-made push-up tubes with a free-moving bottom disc featuring oil-resistant wax paper lining for cosmetic and skincare products. Additionally, we can create custom push-up tubes built to your specifications. Minimum order quantity for custom push-up tubes is 2500 pcs.
We recommend you test your product with a few samples before committing to a larger quantity. Push-up tubes may not work with all products.
Size + Fit
What size tubes do you sell?
We can produce tubes in any size, depending on the quantity you need.
All of our ready-made tube sizes are available in stock for quick delivery. You can order them blank in any quantity directly on our website. At 1000+ pcs we can produce any ready-made tube size with full color printing.
If the size you want is not stocked or if you need us to engineer a perfect product fit, we can custom-make any tube dimensions. Because of setup time and costs, there is a 2500 piece minimum order quantity for custom-made tubes.
How do I know which tube size fits my product?
Product sizes vary. That’s why we always keep a variety of tube sizes in stock. You can send us your product(s) and we will engineer the perfect custom tube as long as your minimum order quantity is 2500 pcs, or recommend one of our ready-made sizes for smaller orders. Below are some loose guidelines for the most popular product categories we work with.
Coffee Beans
– 4″ H x 3″ D (4 oz)
– 4″ H x 3.5″ D (4 oz)
– 4.5″ H x 3″ D (4 oz)
– 4.5″ H x 3.25″ D (4 oz)
– 5″ H x 3″ D (4 oz)
– 6.5″ H x 3.25″ D (8 oz)
– 8.5″ H x 3.75″ D (12 oz)
– 10″ H x 3.5″ D (12 oz)
T-Shirts
– 6.5″ H x 3.25″ D
– 8.5″ H x 3.75″ D
– 10″ H x 3.5″ D
Boston Round Bottles
– 3.66″ H x 1.18″ D (15ml)
– 4.13″ H x 1.38″ D (30ml)
– 4.72″ H x 1.69″ D (60ml)
– 5.51″ H x 2.15″ D (120ml)
Our product has an unusual shape. Can I still use paper tubes for packaging?
Probably yes. Part of what sets the Paper Tube Co. apart from the competition is that we provide industrial design and engineering to not only package your product, but to show it off with tube construction that may include inner tabs, blocked space, special inserts and more.
Are there size constraints for custom tubes?
We get all kinds of requests, from custom paper straws to carpet cores. While the answer is YES most of the time, there are things we’re not known for. We don’t generally produce diameters smaller than 10mm. We also don’t specialize in really thick cores for industrial applications. Our typical wall thicknesses range from 0.75mm to 2.5mm. Tubes that are longer than 15” or wider than 6” get really expensive to ship so expect some premium pricing if you need those. Let us know what you need and we shall assist.
Tube Types + Materials
Are there different tube styles you can create?
1-piece tubes with metal or plastic closures.
2-piece telescoping tubes where the cap fits on top of the base when the tube is closed. We can do straight or rolled edges on the top and bottom
3-piece telescoping tubes where the cap fits on top of the “lip” for a flush-fit look. These tubes can also have a rolled or straight top and bottom edge.
Are your tubes eco-friendly?
The short answer is YES, but really, it depends on your definition of "eco-friendly". We would rather offer transparency over greenwashing.
All of our ready-made tubes are engineered to be reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable. They are made out of 100% virgin pulp paper and contain no plastic whatsoever.
For custom-made tubes, we will always steer you towards the most eco-conscious option while keeping functionality in mind. If you're using tubes as secondary packaging and want to reduce your environmental impact, we suggest uncoated kraft or white paper with soy ink printing and varnish. If you need primary packaging that will have direct contact with food or packaging that will be used and stored in a moisture-prone environment, it's almost impossible to completely eliminate plastic from outer lamination or the inner liner that ensures shelf life and oil-resistance. With that said, we are always exploring different natural materials, like soy inks, biodegradable lamination, and greaseproof paper inner lining for solid cosmetics products, like lip balms and deodorants.
Regrading compostability...while we have not done actual compostability testing, we have engaged with several accredited laboratories and spoken to material scientists. In a nutshell, compostability testing is an 8-month / $20K endeavor that, according to everyone we spoke with, may not prove fruitful. Tubes have a pretty thick spiral wrapped core which may or may not break down to the extent necessary within the required period of time. Given that the tubes are plastic-free and use minimal additives, they will eventually break down (thus being labeled biodegradable), we just don't know if they'll meet the criteria for an official compostability claim unless we spend the time and money for the test. Regardless of this, we will work with you to ensure your tube packaging has the smallest ecological footprint. We're also happy to work with you on the testing, if you choose to do it yourself.
For more details about sustainability, see our blog .
Can I get tubes made with material other than paper?
Yes. We have a wide variety of materials besides coated and uncoated papers. We can make custom tubes using cloth, leather-like, metallic, textured, and specialty papers and laminates. We’ll advise which materials work best with the type of customization you desire.
Are your tubes food grade/food safe?
Our ready-made blank tubes are safe for dry goods that don't require shelf-life sustainability. Many of our customers use them for tea and other dry food products, though we always recommend putting the product in a sealed bag and using the tubes as secondary outer packaging.
We can produce completely custom tubes with aluminum foil and PE lining which create a food-safe, oil-resistant inner barrier. Those tubes are generally sealed after filling to make them air-tight. Sealing can be done using metal discs, which requires specialized equipment, or shrink wrapping. Minimum order quantity is 2500 pcs. Alternatively, you can package your product in a sealed bag before putting them into the tubes for additional food-safety and to retain longer shelf life.
Can you make airtight tubes?
We can produce airtight composite paper cans with peelable membrane closures and inner foil lining. Your packaging and fulfillment partner would need to have proper equipment to seal the tubes after filling them with your product.
Do you have child-resistant tube packaging?
Yes. We recently rolled out our patented EcoVault™ child-resistant paper tube packaging solution. Independent lab tested and CPSC compliant, EcoVault™️ features the same endless customization options as our regular paper tubes. For more information go to EcoVault.co
Why do some tubes ship individually bagged and others don't?
Sustainability is very important to us. However, our number one priority is to provide you with packaging that will stand out on the shelf and help you sell more product. To make that happen, your tubes have to be high-quality and beautiful. That's why some of our ready-made and custom tubes are packed and shipped in individual poly bags.
We've asked our customers and conducted our own extensive research and found that some materials and customization options are more fragile and are susceptible to scuffing and shipping damage during handling and transport. When it comes to our ready-made tubes, we've made a decision to individually bag all white and black tubes. Kraft tubes ship unbagged as the kraft paper surface naturally hides small marks and imperfections. For our custom tubes, we generally bag orders that use uncoated white paper and contain large foil stamped areas.
The bags we use are food safe, certified compostable and biodegradable.
Ordering + Shipping
Where are the tubes made?
All customer support, design, R&D, and engineering are done in the US at our headquarters just outside of Chicago.
Our dedicated manufacturing facilities, with skilled and highly-trained employees on the ground, are located in China to keep your prices and minimum order quantities low. We take full ownership of the production process, quality standards, supply chain, and logistics. We hold ourselves and the people we work with to a very high standard and are likely rejecting goods that other suppliers ship to you as passable. We've been told that our quality expectations are higher than Japanese. Google it. Seriously.
What is your turnaround time?
Pre-made blank stock tubes ship out the next business day. Screen printing on stock tubes takes an additional 2-3 weeks.
For custom orders, initial pre-production prototypes take about 2 weeks to produce. Once approved, mass production lead time is approximately 4-8 weeks, depending on quantity, customization, and order complexity. Shipping times depend on location and shipping method chosen.
What are your minimum order quantities?
There is no minimum order quantity for our ready-made stock tubes . Your can purchase 1 or one thousand directly on our website.
Custom tubes that are built from scratch based on your specifications have a minimum order requirement of 1000 or more, depending on the features you need. Talk to one of our packaging consultants and we'll guide you towards the best option.
The size/color I need is sold out. When will it be restocked?
We are regularly restocking sold-out SKUs. Chances are it's already on the way to our warehouse. With that said, given the nature of global logistics it's hard to say exactly when it will arrive. Could be weeks or could be months.
If you need something urgently, we probably have another color in the same size in stock. We might also have the color you want but a slightly different size, likely within a quarter inch in height or diameter.
Otherwise, you can always add yourself to the wish list and we'll email you as soon as that product is back in stock.
And one final option, if you need more than 1000 tubes, consider a custom order.
What is the process to order custom tubes?
Let us know the exact tube dimensions, quantity, and the type of customization you need and we will send you a price quote. We will also send you a design template so you can lay out your artwork. When the final artwork is submitted and the order is placed, we will first make pre-production prototypes for your approval. This process takes about 2 weeks. Once approved, mass production lead time is approximately 4-8 weeks, depending on quantity, customization, and order complexity. Shipping times depend on location and shipping method chosen.
How will my custom order be shipped?
Most custom orders are shipped via Freight services (ocean and air freight). Freight shipping is a completely different process than Small Parcel shipping, which is the standard shipping method used for shipping domestic and international packages. For example, we use UPS Small Parcel services to ship individual stock ready-made orders from our Chicago warehouse to customers in the US and Canada. We also use UPS Small Parcel to ship out samples and prototypes from our office. This type of shipping is usually handled by UPS, FedEx, and USPS. The benefits are: quick delivery, easily trackable, and uses dedicated company fleet (air or ground). The downside of Small Parcel is that it's very expensive on a per kg basis. It is typically not used for anything over 150 kg.
Freight shipping, on the other hand, is much less expensive than Small Parcel for large or bulky shipments. The downsides of freight shipping are: variable delivery times and no detailed tracking. Companies like UPS and FedEx also provide freight shipping services, but most of the time they use contractors and partners to transport the goods. For example, a custom order, if shipped by air freight, will get picked up by UPS, get transported to the airport, and will wait for available cargo space on a commercial flight like Cathay Pacific or American Airlines. It will probably go through several stops and possibly multiple flights to make it to the States. Upon arrival at a local airport it will get loaded on a truck contracted by UPS to a third party company like Ruan, who will then deliver it to the destination. Same happens with ocean freight: UPS will arrange a container that will get loaded at our factory and bring it to the port where it will go on a cargo ship operated by someone like Maersk or Hanjin. It will then arrive at the port of entry (usually Long Beach, CA, if shipped to the US) after 3-4 weeks of sailing and will be loaded onto a freight train. The train will deliver the container to a local hub, at which point it will go on a truck for local transport. This kind of inefficiency on the freight side opens up opportunities for other freight companies to compete on cost, or speed of delivery, or other factors. Aside from UPS, we work with several other freight forwarders, all of whom are very competent and cost efficient. They are sometimes able to do things UPS and FedEx cannot as they have relationships with a variety of other companies with better delivery availability.
We will use the best possible option at the time of shipping, depending on shipment size, destination, cost, and many other attributes. For more information about shipping see our Shipping 101 blog post .
What is your return policy?
You can return unused, non-printed, and undamaged ready-made tubes purchased through our website, within 30 days of delivery. To initiate a return please email the@papertube.co with your order number and what you want to return and we'll provide an RMA number. Ship the tubes back to the address below and write the RMA number on the outside of each carton. Email us the tracking number(s).
MAI
c/o Paper Tube Co (RMA #)
2550 Northwest Pkwy,
Elgin, IL 60124
Tel. 847-802-9868
Once received, we will issue a credit back on the original payment method for the product cost only, minus a 10% restocking fee. Shipping charges are non-refundable.
For custom orders, since all tubes are made to your specifications, we don’t allow returns. However, if you’re unhappy with your order and feel like we didn’t do a great job, please contact us and we’ll do our best to rectify the situation.
Do you ship outside of the US?
Outside of a few high-fraud-risk countries, we ship globally. Add whatever you need to the shopping cart and go through the checkout process. If we can ship to your destination, shipping options and costs will be displayed and you can complete your order online. Any VAT, customs and import duties are not included and are collected upon delivery, unless pre-paid during the checkout.
Can I get a sample?
You most certainly can. If you’re not sure that your product will fit, you can purchase one or several of our ready-made tubes directly on the website. When you place a larger order, we can credit the cost of the samples, excluding shipping, towards that purchase.
When we’re making custom tubes , we provide prototypes free of charge after the orders has been placed and artwork has been submitted. These prototypes are used for proofing before we proceed with mass production.
Do you offer product insertion and storage/fulfillment services?
We handle everything from design and engineering through manufacturing and shipping. We can design your artwork, engineer custom inserts, manufacture the tubes, warehouse for as long as you need, and drop ship to your fulfillment partner. Think of us as your outsourced in-house packaging department.
Unfortunately, the only thing we don't offer is product insertion. That's on you.
Can I split my order into multiple SKUs or artwork variations?
We can split your total order quantity into various artwork versions. In fact, this is something we do on a regular basis for all types of products – teas, candles, bath bombs, skincare and others. Minimum quantity per SKU for custom tubes is 1000 pcs, unless you require advanced customization and extra options...at which point the minimum per SKU is 2500 pcs.
Artwork + Customization
Can you customize ready-made stock tubes?
Yes, we can screen print ready-made tubes using any Pantone color. Please allow 2-3 week production time for any orders that require custom printing.
What color tubes do you offer?
We can make any color you need. Our pre-made stock tubes come in a variety of colors, including black, kraft, white, grey, and some textured finishes. See the Shop section of our website for the entire selection. Additionally, we can produce any Pantone or process color for special orders.
Are there customization options beyond printing?
Definitely! We can do foil stamping, spot UV, embossing and debossing. We can also use a variety of substrates for added effects, as well as die-cuts, windows, inserts, handles and ribbons...but only for custom-made tubes.
Do you do digital or offset printing?
For custom orders, the initial pre-production prototypes are digitally printed in CMYK. Mass production is done using offset equipment. This gives our customers print results that are very high quality and allows us to print on a variety of materials using process and spot colors.
Pricing
What are the payment terms?
Stock blank tubes can be ordered directly from the website, are paid in full and shipped immediately. Custom tubes require 50% deposit with balance paid before shipping. Payment terms are available pending credit application approval.
Can you pre-sell tubes that are out of stock?
No, sorry! We have to make sure the product is in our warehouse before we take your money. We cannot hold inventory without payment either. We would be happy to steer you towards a custom order if you need something we don’t have immediately available.
If I order a second run or additional products, can I get a discount on my subsequent orders?
We are very proud of our work and of our relationships with our customers. Pricing is based on tube size, order quantity, and the type of customization. With that said, we work with all reasonable budgets and offer discounts on a case-by-case basis for repeat volume purchases.
Do you offer wholesale pricing?
While we sell direct to end users, we work with many resellers, packaging companies, and promotional products distributors who see value in our products and services. Our prices are based on volume purchases and reseller discounts are provided on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you have any questions.
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