Chicago, IL

Custom Inserts in Chicago, IL

Chicago is America's second great city — a commercial powerhouse with a food and restaurant scene that has earned more James Beard Awards than any other city, a fashion and design community with international reach, a technology startup ecosystem centered in the Fulton Market and River North corridors, and a manufacturing heritage that runs deep through the city's commercial DNA. My Custom Boxes serves Chicago's extraordinary and diverse business community with premium custom packaging across every category — from the luxury packaging demanded by Michigan Avenue's luxury retailers to the corrugated shipping solutions needed by Fulton Market's food producers.

MOQ: 100 unitsFree Shipping2-3 Week Turnaround
Custom Inserts in Chicago

Why Chicago Businesses Choose Us

Free shipping throughout Chicago and all Chicagoland communities
Premium food packaging for Chicago's James Beard-recognized restaurant community
Fashion and luxury packaging for Chicago's retail and design industry
Tech startup packaging for Chicago's Fulton Market innovation corridor
100-unit MOQ for Chicago startups and growing businesses

Why Choose Our Custom Inserts

CNC-cut EVA foam inserts in any product profile and density
Thermoformed PET and PVC trays with individual product cavities
Die-cut corrugated dividers for multi-unit packaging
Molded pulp inserts as sustainable plastic-free alternative
Velvet-flocked foam for jewelry and luxury goods presentation
Designed to prevent product movement in all six shipping directions

Custom Packaging Inserts | Foam, Thermoformed & Corrugated Product Inserts

Custom packaging inserts transform the interior of a standard box into a precisely engineered product presentation system — securing items against movement during shipping, presenting products at the optimal viewing angle for unboxing, and communicating brand values through the materials and precision of the insert design itself. Our custom inserts are manufactured from a range of materials calibrated to the product's weight, fragility, and presentation requirements.

Insert Material Options

  • EVA Foam: The most versatile insert material — CNC-cut to any product profile in densities from 1.2 to 6.0 lb/ft³. Used for electronics, jewelry, cosmetics, medical devices, and precision instruments
  • Polyethylene Foam: Standard protective foam for heavier products and shipping applications — excellent shock absorption and compression resistance
  • Corrugated Cardboard Inserts: Die-cut corrugated dividers and partitions for multi-unit packaging — cost-effective and recyclable
  • Thermoformed Plastic Trays: Precision-formed PET or PVC trays with individual product cavities — standard for cosmetics, electronics, and food packaging
  • Molded Pulp: Sustainably produced from recycled paper fiber — used for premium electronics, wine, and fragile product inserts as a plastic-free alternative
  • Velvet-Flocked Foam: EVA foam with velvet flock coating for jewelry and luxury goods presentation

Insert Design Principles

Effective insert design begins with the product's center of gravity and fragility points. The insert must prevent movement in all six directions during shipping while presenting the product face-up at the correct angle for unboxing. For multi-product packaging, the insert must maintain consistent product spacing regardless of manufacturing tolerance variation in individual product dimensions.

Foam Insert Engineering for Product Protection

Foam insert engineering is not guesswork — it is an applied science. The insert material density is selected based on the product's weight (lighter products need lower-density foam that compresses easily to absorb energy; heavier products need higher-density foam that provides firm support). The cavity geometry is designed with 0.5–1.0mm tolerance around the product to prevent movement without making insertion difficult. Drop test simulation determines whether the cavity design successfully absorbs the impact energy from a standard 30-inch drop test — the pass/fail standard for parcel shipping.

Molded Pulp: The Premium Sustainable Insert

Molded pulp inserts — produced from recycled paper fiber formed over precision molds — have emerged as the premium sustainable alternative to thermoformed plastic trays for electronics and fragile product packaging. Apple's iPhone packaging uses molded pulp inserts; premium whiskey brands use molded pulp bottle cradles; premium headphone brands use molded pulp to cradle their products. The material is 100% recyclable, compostable, and manufactured from post-consumer recycled content — a premium sustainability story that brands communicate proudly on their packaging.

Quick Specs

Minimum Order
100 units
Production Time
2-3 weeks
Free Shipping
Yes
Printing
CMYK / Pantone
Location
Chicago, IL

Industries

ElectronicsJewelry & Luxury GoodsCosmeticsMedical DevicesE-commerce

Industries in Chicago

Food & BeverageE-commerceRetailCosmetics & BeautyHealth & Wellness
Get a Free Quote

Affordable sample kits available

Industries We Serve in Chicago

We provide custom inserts to a wide range of industries in Chicago, IL.

Food & Beverage
E-commerce
Retail
Cosmetics & Beauty
Health & Wellness

Popular Box Styles in Chicago

Other packaging styles popular with Chicago businesses.

Custom Inserts in Nearby Cities

We deliver to cities across Illinois.

Custom Inserts in Chicago — FAQs

What foam density should I use for my product?

Low-density foam (1.2–2.0 lb/ft³) provides soft cushioning for lightweight products under 2 lbs. Medium-density foam (2.0–4.0 lb/ft³) is standard for most consumer products from 2–10 lbs. High-density foam (4.0–6.0 lb/ft³) provides firm, stable support for heavier products and precision instruments. We can recommend the optimal density based on your product weight and shipping channel.

What is a thermoformed insert?

A thermoformed insert is a plastic tray formed by heating a flat sheet of PET or PVC film and drawing it over a custom mold to create three-dimensional cavities that match your product's shape. Thermoformed inserts provide precise, rigid product support and are standard in cosmetics, electronics, medical device, and food packaging applications where consistent cavity geometry is critical.

Can you make inserts for multiple products?

Yes. Multi-product inserts use either foam with multiple cavities cut to each product's profile, thermoformed trays with individual product sections, or corrugated divider systems that create separate compartments within the box. Multi-product inserts must be designed to accommodate manufacturing tolerance variation in individual product dimensions while maintaining consistent presentation.

What is molded pulp and why is it considered premium sustainable packaging?

Molded pulp is produced by forming recycled paper fiber slurry over precision aluminum molds and drying it to create three-dimensional shapes. The result is a structurally precise, 100% recycled, recyclable, and compostable insert material that requires no petroleum-based plastics. Premium electronics and spirits brands use molded pulp to communicate sustainable packaging credentials alongside the quality of their product.

Do you serve Chicago's food and restaurant community?

Yes. Chicago's nationally recognized restaurants, specialty food producers, and food entrepreneurs use our custom retail boxes, gift packaging, and branded mailers for retail and direct-to-consumer channels.

What Chicago neighborhoods and metro areas do you deliver to?

We deliver free throughout Chicago and Chicagoland including Wicker Park, Logan Square, Fulton Market, River North, the Loop, Lincoln Park, and all 77 Chicago neighborhoods and surrounding suburbs.

Do you serve Chicago's tech startup community?

Yes. Chicago's Fulton Market and River North tech startups use our custom packaging with our startup-accessible 100-unit minimum.

How long does delivery take to Chicago?

Production is 10–14 business days from proof approval, then 2–3 days ground shipping to Chicago.

Get Custom Inserts in Chicago, IL

Get a free quote with competitive pricing, free shipping, and 2-3 week turnaround.