Custom Window Rigid Boxes with a Clear Panel in the Lid
Priced per orderQuoted in writing to your size
A two-piece rigid box with an opening cut through the lid and a clear sheet set behind it, so the product is on show while the box stays shut. Our photos show square lid windows above a coloured band, and a taller box with the window on its front wall.
- Construction
- Lift-off lid
- Board
- Wrapped greyboard
- Best for
- Products that sell on sight: scarves, sets, keepsakes
- Delivery
- Free and tracked, UK only
Your window box is quoted in writing to its size, window cut, wrap and finish.
What are window rigid boxes?
Window rigid boxes are lid-and-base rigid boxes with a cut-out in the lid or a wall, backed by a clear sheet. Buyers see the product through the window before they lift the lid. The window size and position are set to your item, in millimetres.
A separate lid lifts straight off the base. A slow lift as air lets the lid go.
Common window box sizes
| Item | Typical inside size |
|---|---|
| Folded silk scarf | about 160 x 160 x 30 mm, window about 80 mm square |
| Pair of socks or a tie, rolled | about 120 x 120 x 40 mm |
| Small figurine or ornament | about 100 x 80 x 140 mm, window on the front wall |
| Soap or bath bar set of three | about 200 x 90 x 35 mm |
Window Rigid Boxes specifications
| Box | Window Rigid Boxes |
|---|---|
| Range | Rigid Box Styles |
| Construction | Two-piece rigid box, lid and base |
| Closure | Lid sits over the base by friction |
| Ships | Made up, lids on, nested where the sizes allow |
| Window | Square, oblong, round or shaped cut-out with a clear sheet glued behind |
| Window margin | At least 15 mm of board left between the opening and any edge |
| Board | Greyboard core, thickness options on request |
| Wrap | Printed or plain paper wrap; textured and linen-look papers on request |
| Printing | Full colour or spot colours on the wrap, inside print on request |
|---|---|
| Finishes | Soft touch, matt or gloss lamination, foil, emboss, deboss or spot UV, as options |
| Inserts | Card, foam or satin inserts made to your product, on request |
| Size | Made to your measurements, worked in millimetres |
| Quantity | Quoted per order |
| Proof | Free design proof before anything is made |
| Production | 4–6 business days after proof approval |
| Delivery | Free tracked UK delivery in 2–3 business days |
| Problems | Misprints or damage reported within 10 days with photos are reprinted or refunded |
How window rigid boxes are put together
A separate lid lifts straight off the base. Each one is built from five parts:
- Lift-off lid
- Printed wrap
- Greyboard walls
- Insert or tissue bed
- Lid depth and fit
What is a window rigid box?
Start with a standard lid and base in wrapped greyboard. Cut an opening through the lid, line it with a clear sheet from the inside, and you have a window box.
The window lets a customer see colour, pattern or shape without opening anything. In a shop that saves handling. In a gift it builds a little anticipation before the lid comes off.
It is still a rigid box first. The board walls, wrapped corners and friction-fit lid match any other lid-and-base box we make, so it feels solid in the hand.
Where can the window go?
Most windows sit in the lid top, like the white boxes in our first photo. Each has a square opening above a band of colour, so the print frames the product rather than competing with it.
A window can also go in a side wall. The blue box in our second photo stands upright with a large front window, which suits items that are taller than they are wide.
Windows in two faces at once are possible, but every opening takes strength from the board. We keep a solid margin around each one.
Who uses window boxes?
The common thread is a product that looks better than any photo printed on the box. If yours sells on looks, a window does the selling.
A window also helps where boxes sit behind a counter or on a high shelf. Staff can find the right colour or size without opening every lid.
- Accessories labels selling scarves, ties and pocket squares in-store
- Soap and bath makers who want the colour of the bar to show
- Gift shops boxing ornaments, figurines and keepsakes
- Sock and hosiery brands lining up boxed pairs on a shelf
- Event planners showing a printed favour or token through the lid
How big should the window be?
Size the window to the part of the product worth seeing, not to the whole box. A window about half the lid width usually looks balanced and keeps the lid stiff.
Leave at least 15 mm of board between the opening and any lid edge. Less than that and the corner of the lid can bend when it is lifted.
If the product moves, the window shows it. An insert that holds it centred matters more here than in a closed box. Our page on rigid boxes with fitted inserts shows the options.
How do you size a window box?
We work in millimetres throughout, so the window lands where you expect it.
- Measure the item's length, width and height in millimetres.
- Add 3 to 5 mm on each side for the inside size of the base.
- Decide which face of the item should show through the window.
- Mark the window on that face, keeping the 15 mm margin to each edge.
- Send the sizes and a rough sketch, and we draw the window on your proof.
Board, wrap and the clear panel
The box itself is greyboard wrapped in printed or plain paper, with textured and linen-look wraps as options. The wrap is folded into the window opening so no raw board edge shows.
The clear sheet is glued to the underside of the lid. From the outside you see a clean wrapped edge round the window and nothing else.
Base walls can be a different colour from the lid, like the orange-edged base in our first photo. That colour shows only when the lid comes off.
Handle filled boxes by the walls rather than the window. A fingerprint on the clear panel is the first thing a shopper sees.
Print and finishes around a window
Artwork has to work around a hole. Keep text and logos clear of the opening, and treat the window as part of the layout.
A printed band beside or below the window, as in our photos, is a simple way to frame it. On the solid areas you can choose foil, embossing, debossing or spot UV, laid over a matt, gloss or soft touch laminate.
We place the artwork for you at no charge, with the window marked on the proof. See our guide to foil, embossing and soft touch for which finish suits which wrap.
Inside print shows through the window too. A coloured lining or a printed card bed behind the product changes the whole look from outside.
Window box or clear lid box?
Both show the product. They differ in how much they show and how the box feels.
| Feature | Window rigid box | Clear lid gift box |
|---|---|---|
| What shows | One framed part of the product | Everything from above |
| Lid | Wrapped board with a cut-out | Fully clear lid |
| Room for branding | Lid top around the window | Mostly on the base walls |
| Feel in the hand | Solid, like a closed rigid box | Lighter, display-led |
If you want the whole contents on view, compare our clear lid gift boxes for display.
Posting window boxes safely
The window is the softest part of the box. Pack it window-down onto a flat layer of card, or fill the shipper so nothing presses on the clear sheet.
A shipper with 10 to 15 mm of filler on every side stops the lid sliding. Avoid tape on the lid wrap, as it marks the paper when removed.
When several boxes share one carton, put a sheet of card between each layer. That way a base never rests on the window below it.
Mistakes we see on window orders
Most of these are easy to spot on the proof. Check the window position against a photo of the real product before you approve it.
- A window so large that the lid flexes when you lift it
- Logo or text placed where the opening will be cut
- No insert, so the product slides out of view
- Showing the back of a product because the window is on the wrong face
- Taping a shipper directly onto the clear sheet
How to order window rigid boxes
Tell us the item size, where the window goes and roughly how big it should be, plus the quantity. A written price comes back for that exact order.
We send a free proof with the window drawn in. Approval starts a 4–6 business day production run. Boxes then reach any UK address in 2–3 business days with free tracked delivery.
You can also call or message our team directly if a sketch is easier than a form.
Not sure where the window should go? Send a photo of the product on a plain table and we suggest a position on the proof.
Window Rigid Boxes: questions
Is the window in a window rigid box open or covered?
Covered. A clear sheet is glued behind the opening, so dust stays out and the product stays put.
Can the window be round or a custom shape?
Yes. Square, oblong and round windows are common, and shaped cut-outs such as a heart or an outline of your logo can be quoted.
How close to the edge can a window be cut?
We keep at least 15 mm of board between the opening and any edge. A thinner margin can bend when the lid is lifted.
Can a window go in the side of the box instead of the lid?
Yes. A window on the front wall suits tall items, like the upright blue box in our photos.
Will the clear panel scratch in transit?
It can if something rubs against it. Pack the box with filler or window-down on flat card so nothing presses on it.
Can I have two windows on one box?
Yes, on larger boxes. Each opening needs its own solid margin, so we check the layout on the proof.
Does the window make the lid weaker?
Slightly, because board is removed. Keeping the window to about half the lid width and using a stiffer board keeps it firm.
Is the inside of a window box printed?
It can be. Inside print is an option, and it shows through the window, so a coloured lining changes the look from outside.
Can a window box have a ribbon pull or tie?
Yes. Ribbon pulls and ties are options. A ribbon around a lift-off lid also holds it closed during delivery.
What goes well behind a window?
Anything with colour or texture: scarves, soaps, socks, ornaments and printed cards. Plain or white items show less through a window.
Do window boxes ship flat?
No. They arrive made up with lids on, ready to fill.
Where can I see other box shapes before choosing a window?
Our explainer on rigid box styles compares lift-off, drawer, magnetic, book and shoulder boxes.
Something else? Call +44 7578 382054, message the box team on WhatsApp or email info@shoprigidboxes.co.uk.
Other boxes to compare
Rigid Box Styles
Clear Lid Gift BoxesGift sets, favours and arranged displaysLift-off lidPriced per order
Lift-Off Lid BoxesClothing, shoes, hampers and presentation piecesLift-off lidPriced per order
Scarf BoxesFolded silk squares, stoles and hijabsLift-off lidPriced per order
Presentation BoxesAwards, certificates, pens and sample setsLift-off lidPriced per orderDesign Your Box
Choose a box from the photos, place your logo on it, pick a wrap colour and send it. We turn it into a free design proof.
1. Choose a box
2. Place your logo
Upload a logo to see it on the box
Selected: Window Rigid Boxes
Send us the full brief
The more we know, the closer the first price. Rough numbers are fine; we ask before we guess.
- A written price per box for your quantity
- A free design proof before anything is made
- Made in 4–6 business days after you approve it
- Free tracked delivery to any UK address
Rather talk? Call +44 7578 382054 or message us on WhatsApp.