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Folding Carton Locks & Add-ons
Tabs, partitions, hang tabs, windows - what to use and when.
Customize Your Carton
Custom folding-carton options let you tune how your carton opens, protects, and displays. Small choices—locks, tabs, partitions, and other add-ons—can speed up assembly, keep heavier products from popping open, and earn better placement on shelf or peg.
Use this page to compare choices in seconds—what each option does, when to use it, and the impact on assembly speed, strength, and cost (if any).
In this guide: Tuck Panel Locks · Thumb Notches · Hang Tabs · Inside Partitions · Cell Dividers ·Double-Sided Tape
Tuck Panel Closing Locks
All tuck end or tuck top folding carton boxes come with either a friction lock or a slit lock to keep the closing panels securely closed. Both options have their advantages, depending on how the box will be used. Our standard closing lock for tuck style boxes is a slit-lock – it keeps the box securely closed. And the postal lock can be used on either style for extra security.
If you need a different type of lock, just let us know!
Slit Lock
A slit lock features small cuts on either side of the closing tuck panel, which snap into the dust flaps when closed. You’ll hear a "snap" as the panel locks securely in place.
This design ensures the tuck panel stays closed, even after multiple open-and-close cycles. Unless specified otherwise, this is the standard lock used on our tuck-style folding cartons.
Friction Lock
A slit lock features small cuts on either side of the closing tuck panel, which snap into the dust flaps when closed. You’ll hear a "snap" as the panel locks securely in place.
This design ensures the tuck panel stays closed, even after multiple open-and-close cycles. Unless specified otherwise, this is the standard lock used on our tuck-style folding cartons.
Postal Lock
A slit lock features small cuts on either side of the closing tuck panel, which snap into the dust flaps when closed. You’ll hear a "snap" as the panel locks securely in place.
This design ensures the tuck panel stays closed, even after multiple open-and-close cycles. Unless specified otherwise, this is the standard lock used on our tuck-style folding cartons.
Thumb Tabs
Thumb tabs make it easier to open product boxes. While not standard on our folding cartons, they can be to any custom carton at no added at cost. Just let us know.
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Notched, Half-Moon Thumb Tabs
Tuck top boxes can be challenging to open, especially smaller ones, as it’s hard to fit a finger between the box and the lid. Half-moon thumb tabs make opening these boxes easier, while reducing wear and tear from repeated use. It’s a thoughtful design feature that consumers appreciate, and can be added to any folding carton design.
Hang Tab Packaging
Adding a custom hang tab to your retail product boxes gives you more opportunities to make a sale by putting your product in front of more customers. With hanging retail packaging retailers have more options for product placement in the store including coveted positions by the cash register, or even multiple locations within the store.
Hang Tabs for Increased Retail Visibility.
Hang tabs can be added to any tuck end, auto-lock bottom, snap-lock bottom, or even sleeve boxes. Hang tabs are custom printed extensions of the box's back panel with a hole at the top of the panel, making it easy to hang the product on retail pegs or hooks.
Hang tab packaging provides retailers with more placement options, including high-traffic areas near the cash register where products catch the attention of a captive audience, or in multiple in-store locations - all designed to boost impulse buys.
Let us know if you need a hang tag added!
Inside Box Partitions
Custom printed boxes are easily partitioned to fit your specific packaging needs. There are two ways to partition the inside of a box:
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Glued inside partitions
Added during box manufacturing and glued in place. -
Die cut box inserts (loose, pack-out pieces)
Die-cut at the same time as the box and shipped as separate pieces.
Glued-In Partitions
Partitions are glued in place during manufacturing and become part of the box, so they pop into place when you set it up—no extra pieces to handle.
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What they do: Divide the interior into fixed compartments that keep their shape and hold products tightly.
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Typical layouts: 1–3 partitions (space is limited in most folding cartons). One partition creates two compartments; two partitions create three.
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Why choose them: Faster fulfillment, cleaner presentation, and less product movement.
Die-Cut Box Inserts
Die-cut paperboard inserts are made with the box but ship as separate pieces. During pack-out, you drop in the die cut inserts where needed to hold the product.
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What they do: Create custom cradles/channels that hold products snugly and separate accessories (aka product separators).
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Typical layouts: As needed—flexible shapes that separate components or small interlocking pieces that hold products in place. These die cut inserts are the backbone of interior product packaging.
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Why choose them: Highly flexible. Custom die cut pieces fit the product exactly, keeping components separated and secure in transit.
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Also called: custom box inserts, paperboard inserts, die cut inserts.
Cell Divider Box Partitions
Paperboard cell dividers are pre-assembled, criss-cross grids designed to drop into the POP displays and product trays display tray—no glue or time-consuming assembly required.
Tray/POP Cell Dividers
Pre-assembled, criss-cross paperboard grids that ship flat and square up during pack-out—just drop them into the display POP or tray.
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What they do: Form rectangular cells that keep products separated and organized in counter display boxes.
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Typical layouts: Square or rectangular compartments.
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Why choose them: Pre-assembled grids make cell assembly much, much easier. Just square up and drop in place.
Double-Sided Tape & Tear Strips
Double-sided tape (also called peel-and-stick tape) makes cartons easy to seal. Tear strips (also known as tear tape or zip strips) provide a quick, clean opening. Used together on Fed-Ex style mailers, kit packaging, and test or collection boxes, they save time at fulfillment and give the customer a secure package that’s just as easy to open as it is to close.
Easy Sealing and Opening with Double-Sided Tape & Tear Strips
Applied during converting so both the adhesive strip and tear tape are part of the carton. Just peel and press to seal, then pull the tear strip for clean opening.
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What they do: Provide built-in closure and effortless opening.
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Where they’re used: Mailers, subscription boxes, kit packaging, and lightweight shipper cartons.
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Why choose them: Faster pack-out, lower labor costs, tamper-evident seal, and a better unboxing experience.
Also called: peel-and-stick tape, peel-and-seal strip, tear tape, zip strip.
Finishing Touches That Matter
From locks that keep cartons secure to inserts, hang tabs, and half-moon thumb notches that make them easier to open, or peel-and-seal tape strips to keep it closed, these details can make a big difference. The right extras improve usability, protect your product, and create a smoother experience for the customer.
Whether you need glued-in partitions for speed, die-cut inserts for flexibility, or cell dividers for POP displays, our team can help you match the right solution to your product.
Explore our folding carton styles or request a quote to see how these options can work for you.