Lipstick is tiny, so people figure the box is the easy part. Then the samples come back and the tube rattles like a pebble in a tin, or the cap catches on the lid every single time somebody slides it out. Either way it feels cheap, and that’s the last thing you want on a product people buy partly for how it looks. So let’s go through lipstick box dimensions properly.
Rough numbers below for the usual lip products, plus a few notes on inserts and kits.
Measure the Tube, Cap On
Every brand’s tube is a little different, even when two of them hold the same 3.5 g of product. Some are slim and round, some are square, some have a heavy metal cap that adds a few millimeters. So grab a finished one, cap on, and measure two things. The widest point across. Bottom to the very top of the cap. Square tube? Measure across the flat sides and across the corners too, the corners are what decide the fit.
Our guide on how to measure a box explains which number is which, if you’d like to check before asking for a quote.
Lipstick Box Dimensions by Product Type
Ballpark inside sizes for one item standing up in a tuck end box. Your tube is the boss here.
| Product | Typical size of the tube | Inside of the box, roughly |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet lipstick | about 19 to 22 mm across, 70 to 80 mm tall | 22 to 25 mm square, 78 to 85 mm tall |
| Slim or mini lipstick | about 15 to 17 mm across, 55 to 65 mm tall | 18 to 20 mm square, 62 to 70 mm tall |
| Liquid lipstick or gloss | about 14 to 18 mm across, 85 to 110 mm tall | 17 to 21 mm square, 92 to 116 mm tall |
| Lip balm stick | about 15 to 16 mm across, 65 to 70 mm tall | 18 mm square, 72 to 75 mm tall |
| Lip kit (gloss plus liner) | liner pencils run long, often 150 mm plus | usually a flat box with an insert, sized to the longest item |
Simple rule of thumb. Add a millimeter or two on each side of the width and about 5 to 8 mm on top of the height. That’s enough for the tube to slide in without scuffing the cap, but not so much that it rattles. Heavy metal caps? Lean toward the tighter end, they knock harder.
Square Boxes, Round Tubes
A round tube in a square box leaves little gaps in the corners, which is fine. Really fine, actually, it’s how most lipstick boxes work. What you want to avoid is a box so wide the tube tips over inside. If your tube is narrow and tall, like a lot of glosses, a snug width matters more than the height.
Want it to feel heavier and fancier? Rigid board with a small insert cut to the tube does that. A lot of brands keep the paperboard tuck box for everyday shades and go rigid only for gift sets or a launch.
Lip Kits and Sets
Kits are where sizing gets fiddly. A liquid lipstick next to a liner pencil next to maybe a mini balm, all different lengths. We’d lay them flat in a card insert with a slot for each, then size the box to the longest piece plus a little room for the insert walls. Three or four lipsticks standing in a row? Same idea, a divider between each so the caps don’t scratch each other.
- Make each slot about a millimeter wider than the tube so it lifts out easily.
- Keep the insert below the cap line so there’s something to grab.
- Shipping kits loose in a mailer? A thicker insert is worth it.
Finishes That Suit a Small Box
On something this small, one nice finish goes a long way. Soft-touch lamination, a hit of foil on the logo, maybe embossing. Pile on all three and it starts to look busy. Leave room on a side panel for the shade name, ingredients and net weight, since lip products need the same label basics as any other cosmetic.
Ready to look at styles? Our custom lipstick boxes page covers tuck and rigid options, and there are matching lip gloss boxes and lip kit boxes if you sell a full range. For balms, see lip balm packaging boxes. Everything else for makeup sits under cosmetic boxes, and our cosmetic box sizes guide covers other products like serums and creams.
Lipstick Box Dimensions FAQs
What size box do I need for a standard lipstick?
Most bullet lipsticks fit in a box around 22 to 25 mm square inside and 78 to 85 mm tall. Measure yours with the cap on first.
Can one box fit both my lipstick and my lip gloss?
Not usually. Glosses tend to be thinner and a lot taller, so one of them would rattle. Two sizes with the same design is the cleaner option.
Do lipstick boxes need an insert?
A single tube in a snug box doesn’t. Kits, sets and rigid gift boxes do, so things don’t knock together.
Can you print the shade name on each box?
Yes. You can print a different shade on each version, or keep one design and leave space for a sticker. We send a digital proof before production.
Need lipstick boxes? Send us your tube size with the cap on, how many shades you have and your quantity on our quote page, and we’ll come back with a size, a free quote and a proof.