Short answer: A sleeve is a printed or decorated band of paperboard that slides over your box. It’s a flexible way to add branding, product information or a seasonal look without changing the box underneath. Brimar makes sleeves from SBS or kraft paperboard, decorates them with printing, foil stamping, embossing or debossing, and ships them glued or with a peel-off adhesive strip.

Why add a sleeve to your packaging?

Sleeves do several jobs at once:

• Differentiate your products. Use one box style across a product line and change the sleeve for each flavor, scent, size or version.
• Project your brand. A sleeve gives you a large, eye-level surface for your logo and graphics.
• Protect your products. A sleeve helps hold a lid in place and adds an extra layer over the box.
• Add flexibility. You can update a sleeve for a promotion, a holiday or new product information while keeping the same box.

What materials can a sleeve be made from?

Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS)

SBS is the most common retail-grade printable paperboard. It’s the go-to choice when you need vibrant, colorful graphics.

Kraft paperboard

If you want a natural, environmentally friendly look, we can make your sleeves from kraft paperboard. For more on that topic, see our Eco-Friendly page.

Colored and textured paperboard

Many colors of paperboard are available in matte and gloss finishes, with or without textures. A variety of coatings can also be added so the sleeve has exactly the feel you want.

How can a sleeve be decorated?

• Printing. We can print up to seven colors plus an aqueous coating on your sleeves.
• Foil stamping. Foil is a great way to add graphics to a colored sleeve material. It can be shiny metallic or a matte pigment.
• Embossing and debossing. Raising or pressing in your logo or a pattern adds a tactile, premium touch.

You can combine these, for example a printed sleeve with a foil-stamped logo. See Printing and Graphics for more on our decorating options.

Glued or adhesive strip?

Brimar can ship your sleeves two ways:

• Glued: the sleeve arrives formed into a band, ready to slide over your box.
• Peel-off adhesive strip: the sleeve arrives with an adhesive strip so it can be wrapped around the box and sealed.

Which one is better depends on how your product is packed and whether the sleeve needs to wrap tightly around the box. Tell us how your packing line works and we’ll help you choose.

Sleeves on set-up boxes and folding boxes

A sleeve pairs well with a plain or simply wrapped rigid set-up box: the box gives you strength and a premium feel, and the sleeve carries the product-specific graphics. A sleeve can also be one of the options for the neck of a neck box.

Tips for planning a sleeve

• Size it to the box, not just the product. The sleeve has to fit over the finished box, so send us the box dimensions or let us size the box and sleeve together.
• Leave room for required information. If your sleeve carries product details, plan where they will go before artwork is final.
• Ask for a proof. We can show you a proof before production. Physical samples are sometimes free and there’s sometimes a fee, depending on the project.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use one box with several different sleeves?

Yes. That’s one of the biggest reasons people use sleeves. One box style can serve a whole product line, with a different sleeve for each item.

Can a sleeve be eco-friendly?

Kraft paperboard gives sleeves a natural, environmentally friendly look. Ask us about material options for your project.

Get a quote on custom sleeves

Learn more on our Sleeves page, call us at 800-696-3080, or send your files and request a quote. We’re happy to help you design a sleeve that fits your box and your brand.