If I were your packaging, I’d straighten my shoulders on the shelf, wink at your customers, and whisper, “Relax, I got this.” Custom packaging isn’t just a coat—it’s a tiny stage where your brand performs. Below are the five most common, still-relevant tips to design smarter cannabis packaging in 2022 (and honestly, they still slap today).

1) Start with the right format

Before you paint me pretty, choose my body wisely. Flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, concentrates—we each behave different in transit and on display. For a fast overview of forms and compliance directions, peek at category pages like cannabis packaging and, for safety-first lines, child-resistant packaging. Secondary structures matter too: rigid paperboard boxes, sleeves, and tubes protect jars and pouches from scuffing, give you room for labeling, and look premium without trying too hard. If you deal pre-rolls, a dedicated layout like pre-roll boxes keeps cones neat and presentable; if you ship vape carts or pods, consider lockable sliders in paper tube packaging for tactile opening that also feels safe. Concentrates? A rigid drawer + insert from concentrate packaging boxes holds the jar snug so it doesn’t jiggle like a maraca.

Practical notes I’ve learned the crunchy way:

Match product fragility to board strength and insert density.
Keep dielines friendly for machine or hand pack—no origami maze unless it really earns it.
Make room for variable data labels so ops won’t cover brand art later.

2) Size with intent

Nothing breaks hearts like a gorgeous box that fits… not. Confirm diameter, height, and shoulder for jars and vials (capacity alone lies sometimes). If you’re goting a new supplier, request a physical or 3D proof and test with real product—including seals and child-locks—before the big run. Customers unlike to open a giant emptish box with a tiny jar floating around; the ratio looks off and trust drops.

Checklist:

Measure the actual filled container—lids on, seals placed.
Add realistic tolerances; machinery breathes.
Test a full pack-out (10–20 units) to see stacking and friction.

3) Print quality = brand quality

Your art deserves crisp lines and correct color. Provide high-definition images and vector logos; ask for color-managed proofs so you’re not surprised by a dull green that should sing. If you need inspiration or a menu of structures that print beautifully, skim our products gallery—you’ll see which surfaces love foil, emboss, or soft-touch. A few human tips:

Tiny type is risky for compliance; bump font size a bit for legibility.
Use finishes sparingly—foil or spot UV can guide the eye, not blind it.
Think how the pack photographs (e-comm is basically your second shelf).

4) Plan lead times like a grown-up brand

Custom packs move through steps—structural design, proofing, tooling, printing, finishing, QC, shipping. Build a small buffer for each. Launch calendars smile when packaging isn’t the last-minute fire. If you already know what you want, reach out via Contact us and align timelines early; it saves your team from 2 a.m. panic coffee.

Operational habits that help:

Lock SKUs and regulatory text before art final.
Approve a pre-production sample under real lighting.
Keep a reorder trigger so you don’t cliff-dive inventory.

5) Design for the people who buy you

Even great flower feels invisible in the wrong suit. Build me for your core shopper: color stories, typography vibes, opening rituals. If you sell family-friendly wellness, lean warm and calm; if you’re high-octane rec, punchier contrast can be right. Also, make life easy for budtenders—clear strain and potency panels, readable batch info, and an opening action that’s intuitive (no 7-step puzzles, please).

Two more things we shouldn’t skip:

Safety is not optional: integrate CR locks where required. For inspiration on kinder-to-hands locks and foam holds, see user-friendly CR paper boxes.
Sustainability matters: choose responsibly sourced boards and coatings; right-size to cut waste. If you’re refining a full line, our homepage and the category hubs above are good starting paths.

Quick chooser guide

Multi-cone sets or singles? Start with pre-roll boxes.
Oil carts or pods? Explore lockable sliders in paper tubes.
Sticky, precious concentrates? Go rigid + insert at concentrate boxes.
Broad assortment vision? Browse products then ping Contact us for dielines.

Final whisper from your future box

Dress me with purpose, size me right, print me clean, plan my journey, and I’ll pay you back in aisle presence and customer trust. Small design decisions add up; your packaging should look like your brand sounds—confident, helpful, and a little bit fun. It just make sense.