Brands that print the inside too
Subscription services, beauty brands and clothing labels order double sided mailers more than anyone. Their customers open boxes on camera, so the inside is part of the product.
Gift companies use the inside for a message that would feel too personal on the outside. Small makers use it to tell the story behind the product in a few lines.
If your box goes straight into the recycling after opening, single sided print may be enough. Double sided printing earns its place when the opening moment matters.
Monthly boxes are the clearest case. Our custom subscription box options often pair a steady outer design with a changing inside.
How printing on both faces works
The flat sheet goes through the press twice, once for each face. Both prints are lined up to the same dieline before the sheet is cut and folded.
That alignment matters at the folds. A color band inside the lid should meet the matching band on the inside wall when the box closes.
We set both faces from one master dieline, so the panels match. Your proof shows the outside and the inside side by side.
Fine details that cross a fold line need extra care on both faces. We keep small text and thin lines a safe distance from every crease.
Outside and inside pairings that work
Most double sided mailers follow one of a few patterns. Each sets a different tone for the opening.
Pick the pairing first, then design each side. It is much easier than trying to make two finished designs fit together later.
Contrast is what makes the inside feel like a reveal. If both faces use the same tone, the opening loses most of its effect.
| Outside | Inside | Effect on opening |
|---|---|---|
| Plain kraft with small logo | Full color pattern | Quiet parcel, loud reveal |
| Full brand color | Solid contrast color | Clean, bold and simple |
| Logo on white | Thank you note under the lid | Personal and warm |
| Pattern all over | Same pattern, lighter tone | Consistent and polished |
| Solid black | Bright accent color | Dramatic flash of color |
Ideas for the inside surfaces
The inside lid is the first surface seen and the most valuable. The walls and base come next, then the dust flaps.
Keep inside messages short. People take in a few words at a glance before reaching for the product.
Avoid putting key information on the dust flaps. Customers often fold them out of the way without looking.
- A one-line thank you under the lid
- Care or setup instructions on the base
- A repeat pattern across the walls
- Social handle and a short sharing prompt
- A reorder note on the tuck flap
A discreet outside with a branded inside
Some brands want the parcel to look anonymous on a doorstep or in an office mailroom. A plain outside with a small return logo does that.
All the brand work then moves inside. The customer still gets the full experience, but only once the box is in their hands.
If you want the outside fully blank, our plain mailer boxes without outer print cover that look. Double sided printing lets you keep a small mark outside while the inside does the talking.
A discreet outside also suits gifts sent to the recipient directly. The surprise stays hidden until the box is opened.
Preparing two sets of artwork
You will send two artwork files built on the same dieline. One is the outside, and the other is the inside, mirrored as it will appear once folded.
We handle the mirroring and check alignment if you are unsure. Our mailer box artwork setup guide explains bleed and panel layout.
Name the files clearly, such as outside and inside. It sounds obvious, but swapped files are a common cause of proof delays.
- Request the dieline for your box size and style.
- Design the outside on the first copy of the dieline.
- Design the inside on a second copy, marked as inside.
- Line up any bands or patterns that cross a fold.
- Send both files together, with notes on Pantone colors.
Liner color and how it affects the inside
The outer liner is the face you choose, white or kraft. The inner face is usually the board's natural brown side, unless it is printed.
A full color flood covers the natural side completely. Light colors inside may need a slightly heavier ink build to look clean on brown.
With a kraft outside, white ink makes logos and text readable. Our custom kraft mailer boxes show how white ink reads on the brown surface.
On SBS paperboard both faces are bright white. That makes inside colors look cleaner and lets thin type print sharply.
Coatings for each face
The outside takes the scuffs of transit, so lamination usually goes there. Matte, gloss and soft-touch all suit the outer face.
The inside sees less wear and often needs only an aqueous coating. Lamination inside adds a richer look if the inside is your main design.
Spot UV and foil can go on either face. A foil line inside the lid is a small detail that customers notice and photograph.
A bright inside with gloss lamination catches light as the lid opens. Soft-touch inside feels luxurious but adds handling time on long packing runs.
Our guide to mailer printing and finishes has photos of each coating so you can compare surfaces.
Mistakes on double sided jobs
Two-face jobs have a few extra places for things to go wrong. Most come from designing each side without thinking about the other.
An inside message placed on a panel that folds under is the classic example. It ends up hidden under a flap where nobody reads it.
Here are the issues we catch most often on two-face proofs.
We flag panels that will be hidden or upside down when folded. Check the folded mockup on your proof before approving.
- Inside text placed upside down on the lid
- A message hidden under a dust flap
- Dark inside colors that show scuffs from the product
- Outside and inside bands that do not meet at the fold
- Mixing up which file is the inside
Planning the opening as a sequence
With print inside, the opening becomes a sequence. Customers see the outside, lift the tuck, read the lid and then reach the product.
Tissue paper, cards and inserts sit between those moments. Our guide to planning an unboxing walks through how to layer them.
For recurring deliveries, the inside can change each season while the outside stays the same. That keeps a regular box feeling new without reprinting your whole brand look.
Quote and timing for two-sided print
Tell us the size, board, quantity and what goes on each face. Two-face boxes are priced from $0.30 per unit, with size, material, quantity and finish setting the quote.
Your free proof shows both faces and a folded view, with unlimited revisions. To begin, ask for a double sided mailer quote online.
Both faces are printed and the boxes finished within 4–6 business days of approval. They then spend 2–3 business days on the road, with free delivery to the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
Reorders can keep one face and change the other. Just tell us which file stays and which one is new.
