1 / 4Custom Crinkle Paper (Color-Matched Crinkle Cut Shred)
Custom crinkle paper in Pantone-matched colors and blends. Recyclable kraft crinkle cut shred, about 4 mm wide, for mailer, gift and rigid boxes. Bagged 10 lb and 40 lb cartons with a 6 to 8 day turnaround.
- Digital proof before production
- Free design support
- CMYK or Pantone colors
- Ships to all 50 states
Crinkle paper is zig zag cut paper shred that springs back to cushion products and fill the empty space in a box. You will also see it sold as crinkle cut shred, crinkle fill or gift box filler, and older packaging guides call it excelsior. Urgent Custom Boxes supplies it color-matched to your brand, so the fill under your product looks like part of the design instead of generic packing material.
Custom crinkle paper is made from recycled kraft paper, cut into interlocking zig zag strands, and dyed to match your brand colors or mixed into a custom color blend. One 10 lb carton loosely fills about 12 medium gift boxes, and the shred is curbside recyclable in most US programs.
We ship crinkle paper by weight in 10 lb and 40 lb cartons, sealed in an inner bag so it arrives clean. Standard orders arrive in 6 to 8 business days, rush orders in 4 to 6 business days, and shipping is free to all 50 states.
Printed box
Carries your brand on the outside and inside.
Custom tissue
Wraps the product and protects its surface.
Crinkle paper bed
1 to 2 in of shred cushions, fills space and frames the product.
Product
Sits nested in the shred, not floating.
Four Ways to Customize Your Shred
Crinkle paper is customized through four choices. Together they make a plain filler read as a deliberate part of your unboxing.
| Choice | Options | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Pantone-matched, or stock kraft, white, black and core colors | Matches your box interior or tissue print |
| Blend | Two or three colors mixed in set ratios | Launch, holiday and brand-palette looks |
| Cut | Crinkle about 4 mm (1/8 in), straight 2 mm, extra fine | Crinkle springs back. Straight fills small gaps |
| Pack format | 10 lb carton, 40 lb carton | 40 lb cartons lower the cost per pound |
Color is the strongest lever. A black shred inside a black rigid box looks premium. Kraft shred with a kraft mailer looks natural and eco-led. A two-color blend in your brand palette makes a subscription box instantly recognizable in an unboxing video. Send your Pantone codes or a physical color sample, and we match the dye to your Pantone colors.
Can You Print a Logo on Crinkle Paper?
Not in a way customers can read. Crinkle strands are about 1/8 in wide and folded into zig zags, so any logo printed on the paper is cut apart and hidden in the folds. The brands that get the most from crinkle paper put their logo on the layers that can carry it, like custom tissue paper and a printed box, and use color-matched shred to tie those layers together.
How Much Crinkle Paper Do I Need?
One 10 lb carton loosely fills about 12 medium boxes (12 x 12 x 5.5 in) to three-quarters full. Large 13 x 13 x 10 in shippers need about twice as much, so plan two 10 lb cartons per 12 large boxes. Add 5 to 10% to your order for waste and repacks.
Crinkle paper is sold by weight, but you use it by volume. The planner below converts one into the other at a loose three-quarter fill.
| Box size | Typical use | Boxes per 10 lb carton |
|---|---|---|
| 11 x 8.5 x 5.5 in | Small mailer, cosmetics set | About 12 |
| 12 x 12 x 5.5 in | Gift box, subscription box | About 12 |
| 13 x 13 x 10 in | Large shipper, hamper | About 6 |
| Your size | Custom box | Calculated on your quote |
Tight packing uses more shred per box, and a product that takes up most of the box uses less. Send your box dimensions and a rough product size with your quote, and we calculate cartons per month for you.
Setting a Fill Standard for Your Packers
Consistent fill keeps every box looking the same and stops packers from overfilling. Weigh the amount of shred that gives the look you want in one box, then turn it into a simple rule such as “two handfuls” or “3 oz per box.” Multiply by your monthly order volume to forecast carton needs, and reorder before you run low during peak season.
Should You Use Crinkle Paper or Tissue Paper?
Use tissue paper to wrap and protect the surface of light items, and crinkle paper to cushion and fill the space around heavier ones. A practical rule: anything lighter than an egg can travel in tissue alone, while anything heavier needs crinkle fill to hold it in place. Most branded boxes use both together.
| Fill | Cushioning | Look | Best for | Recyclable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crinkle cut shred | High, springs back | Decorative bed | Gift boxes, candles, jars, subscription boxes | Yes |
| Straight shred | Medium | Fine, flat | Small gaps, display trays | Yes |
| Shredded tissue | Low | Soft, light | Jewelry, small cosmetics | Yes |
| Crumpled kraft paper | Medium | Plain | Shipping cartons, bulk goods | Yes |
| Bubble wrap | High | Industrial | Fragile, high-value items | Limited |
Crinkle paper sits in the middle of that range. It protects better than tissue and looks far better than crumpled paper or plastic. For bulk shipping fill in sheets or rolls, custom kraft paper is the better fit.
Crinkle Cut vs Straight Shred
Crinkle cut shred is folded into tight zig zags. When you press it into a box, the folds catch on each other and form a springy, interlocking mat that holds products in place and recovers after a knock. Straight shred is cut flat, with no folds. It packs denser and can be shaped into corners and crevices, which suits display trays and very small gaps, but it gives less bounce. For most gift and subscription boxes, crinkle cut is the right choice.
How to Pack a Box with Crinkle Paper
Good results come from technique more than volume. Four steps cover almost every box.
- Fluff the shred. Pull a handful apart so the strands open up. Fluffed shred covers more space and cushions better than a compressed clump.
- Build a base. Lay 1 to 2 in of shred across the bottom of the box. This is the layer that absorbs drops.
- Nest the product. Press the product into the base so it sits in a hollow. Wrap glass, ceramics and anything breakable in tissue first.
- Top up to the lid. Fill around and over the product until the shred meets the closed lid. Finish with a branded card on top.
Filling to the lid line is the step most packers skip. A box that rattles will let products shift and chip in transit.
Is Crinkle Paper Recyclable and Safe for Food Gifts?
Yes. Uncoated paper shred is curbside recyclable in most US programs and commercially compostable where facilities exist. For food gifts, place glassine or tissue between the food and the shred. Crinkle paper is non-toxic, but it is a packing material, not a food-contact paper.
Recycled Content and Sourcing
Our crinkle paper is cut from recycled kraft paper, and FSC-certified paper is available for brands that report on sourcing. Colors use non-toxic dyes. Because the shred is plain paper with no plastic coating, customers can recycle it with their household paper, which makes it a simple swap for brands moving away from foam peanuts and plastic air pillows. Commercial composting accepts it too, though composting facilities are not available in every area.
Food Gift Boxes
Cookies, chocolates, candy and baked goods look great on a bed of crinkle paper, but they should not touch the shred directly. Wrap individual items in tissue, set them in liners, or use a sheet of glassine paper or greaseproof paper as a barrier layer. This keeps food clean and keeps dye away from frosting and wrappers. See our custom bakery boxes and chocolate gift packaging for boxes built for food gifts.
Built for Fulfillment
Crinkle paper is simple to use, but buying it in bulk brings a few practical problems. We plan around them.
No spills in transit
Every carton is sealed in an inner bag, so shred doesn’t trail out when the box is opened or damaged.
Less dust
Very high recycled-content shred produces more dust, which shows on dark products and black boxes. Ask for low-dust stock if you pack dark or glossy items.
Plan for volume
Crinkle paper is light but bulky, so a 10 lb carton takes more shelf space than its weight suggests. 40 lb cartons cut your cost per pound and your reorder frequency.
Exact repeat colors
We keep your color formula on file, so a reorder in six months matches the shred already in your packing station.
Pair Crinkle Paper with Your Box
| Box | Shred style | Color idea |
|---|---|---|
| Mailer boxes | Crinkle cut | Match the printed interior |
| Rigid gift boxes | Crinkle cut | Black or kraft for contrast |
| Gift boxes and hampers | Crinkle cut | Seasonal two-color blend |
| Candle boxes | Crinkle cut, packed dense | Neutral kraft or white |
| Cosmetic boxes | Straight or extra fine | Brand pastel |
| Bakery boxes | Crinkle over a liner | Kraft or white |
Pricing by Weight
Crinkle paper is priced per carton, and the cost per pound falls on larger cartons. Stock kraft is the most economical option, stock white, black and colors cost slightly more, and Pantone matching or custom blends add a small amount per pound over stock colors. Reorders use your saved color formula. If you have a lower written quote for the same color, cut and weight, we price below it.
- Color or Pantone code. Stock color or your brand match.
- Cut style. Crinkle, straight or extra fine.
- Carton size and count. 10 lb or 40 lb cartons.
- Box sizes you fill. We calculate cartons per month for you.
Custom Crinkle Paper FAQs
Is crinkle paper the same as excelsior?
The names overlap. Excelsior originally meant fine wood wool, made from thin curled wood shavings. Today the term is often used for paper shred, but modern crinkle paper is made from paper, not wood.
Will dyed crinkle paper transfer color onto products?
Dyed shred can mark light-colored or damp surfaces, especially in humid conditions. Wrap light or porous products in tissue before nesting them in colored shred, or choose kraft or white shred for those items.
Can I order color swatches before a full carton?
Yes. Ask for swatches on your quote and we send samples of stock colors or your matched color so you can check it against your box and tissue.
Can I mix colors in one order?
Yes. You can order several colors as separate cartons or have them blended in a set ratio inside each carton.
Does crinkle paper need fluffing before use?
It arrives ready to use. A quick pull apart before packing opens the strands and helps each carton cover more boxes.
Do you price match?
Yes. Send a written quote from another supplier for the same color, cut and carton size, and we price below it.
Get Your Custom Crinkle Paper Quoted
Send your size, quantity and logo. Our design team returns a digital proof before production.