Choosing between kraft and white cardboard boxes comes down to the look you want, your budget and how you plan to print your brand. Kraft (the natural brown board) is cheaper, made from more recycled fibre and gives a warm, rustic feel, while white board looks crisp and premium but costs a little more because it is bleached. Neither is "better" outright - the right choice depends on your brand style and, crucially, how your artwork is going to be printed.
At Fast Printed Boxes we print full-colour designs directly onto ready-made stock boxes, so the colour of the box you pick becomes the backdrop for every part of your design. That makes the kraft-versus-white decision one of the most important calls you will make. This guide walks through the differences so you can order with confidence.
Kraft vs white at a glance
Both kraft and white boxes are usually made from the same corrugated construction, with a fluted inner layer sandwiched between two flat liners. If you are unsure how flute grades affect strength and printing, our guide to corrugated flute types explained is worth a read first. The real difference between kraft and white is the outer liner, and it changes four things: appearance, cost, printed results and sustainability.
- Kraft (natural brown): unbleached, budget-friendly, high recycled content, and an earthy, eco-forward look that suits artisan, food and outdoor brands.
- White: bleached to a clean surface, slightly more expensive, and a bright, minimal canvas that suits beauty, tech and premium retail brands.
How the box colour affects your printed design
This is where many people get caught out. We print full-colour CMYK water-based inkjet directly onto the box, and there is no white ink. That means the colour of the board is effectively your "white". On a white box, pale tints, light backgrounds and delicate line-work read exactly as designed. On a kraft box, the same colours print over brown, so they look warmer, more muted and darker, and any part of your design that would have been white simply shows through as brown board.
A few practical rules follow from this:
- If your logo or artwork relies on white areas or a pale background, choose a white box - we cannot print white onto kraft.
- If you love the natural look, design in bold, single-colour or outlined artwork that sits happily on brown, rather than heavy pale fills.
- Remember the print sits inside a defined area on the top of the box, with a clear margin to every edge, fold and seam. Print does not run edge to edge or wrap around the sides, so both kraft and white boxes keep a natural unprinted border.
Designing to the strengths of each board is the single biggest thing you can do to get a result you are happy with. When in doubt, keep artwork clean and let the box colour do some of the work.
Cost and where your money goes
Kraft is generally the more economical choice because the board skips the bleaching stage. If you are watching margins on a growing shop, kraft lets you invest in a good print design while keeping the unit cost sensible. White board carries a small premium for that bleached finish, which many premium and gifting brands happily pay because the clean surface makes colours pop and feels more "retail". For high-volume senders, that difference per box adds up, so it is worth ordering a small quantity of each first to see how your artwork looks on both.
Sustainability: is kraft or white greener?
Both kraft and white corrugated boxes are widely recyclable, and in the UK you can flatten them and put them in your household recycling or take them to a local recycling centre. That said, kraft usually has the edge on green credentials. Because it is unbleached and made largely from recycled fibre, kraft cardboard tends to carry a much higher recycled content than bleached white board, and skipping the bleaching process means less chemical treatment overall.
Whichever you choose, a few habits help your customers recycle correctly: remove any plastic tape before recycling, break boxes down flat, and avoid heavily laminated or waxed finishes. Our water-based inks are designed to keep boxes easy to recycle. For the latest local rules you can point customers to Recycle Now, which lists what each council accepts.
Which box suits which brand?
There is no universal answer, but a few patterns hold true. Kraft works beautifully for coffee roasters, bakeries, plant shops, candle makers and any brand leaning into a handmade or sustainable story. White works well for cosmetics, jewellery, electronics and luxury gifting, where a bright, minimal box feels more considered. If you sell on a marketplace and want your parcels to stand out, our guide on how to boost your Etsy store with branded packaging shows how either board can lift the unboxing moment.
It is also worth matching your box choice to how it will travel. If you are posting small parcels, sizing the box correctly keeps postage costs down, so it is worth checking our advice on Royal Mail parcel sizes before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Is kraft cardboard weaker than white cardboard?
No. Strength comes from the corrugated construction and flute grade, not the colour of the outer liner. A kraft and a white box of the same specification will perform much the same in transit. Choose your flute grade for protection and pick the colour for looks and printing.
Can you print white ink or a white logo on a kraft box?
No. We print full-colour water-based inks directly onto the board and there is no white ink, so anything that would be white shows as the natural brown of the kraft. If your design needs white areas or a pale background, choose a white box instead.
Are kraft and white boxes both recyclable?
Yes. Both are widely recyclable through UK household collections and recycling centres. Flatten the box and remove any plastic tape first. Kraft usually contains more recycled fibre and is unbleached, which gives it a slight environmental edge.
Does printing look different on kraft versus white?
Yes, noticeably. On white board colours appear bright and true to your artwork. On kraft the same colours print over brown, so they look warmer, softer and darker. Bold, simple or outlined designs tend to work best on kraft.
Which is cheaper, kraft or white?
Kraft is generally cheaper because it is not bleached. White board carries a small premium for its clean, bright finish, which many premium brands consider worthwhile for the way it shows off colour.
Ready to choose your box?
Whether you want the natural warmth of kraft or the crisp finish of white, the right box makes your brand memorable the moment it lands on a doorstep. Browse the range and order your custom printed boxes at Fast Printed Boxes, and if you are torn between the two, order a small quantity of each to see exactly how your artwork looks on both before you commit to a bigger run.