Choosing the right custom box for packaging your products, gifts, or promotional items needs to be carefully considered.

There are many folding carton styles to choose from, but there are two in particular that are better suited for packaging items that are heavier in weight: the snap lock bottom box and the auto lock bottom box.

They may sound similar, but these box styles have many differences including their advantages and disadvantages.

Luckily, if you’re trying to decide between these two types of boxes, you’ve come to the right place. We have outlined everything you need to know about what the differences are between a snap lock box and auto lock bottom box as well as when you should choose one over the other.

Snap Lock Box vs Auto Bottom Box

Although these folding carton styles have similar names, the snap lock bottom box and auto lock bottom box have many differences.

They both have interlocking bottom closure tabs making them great for packaging heavyweight products, but the way they are die-cut, assembled, used, their cost, and more are all very different.

For example, the snap lock box doesn’t require glue or tape for assembly while the auto bottom box does require a pre-glued bottom.

The Snap Lock Bottom Box

Custom snap lock bottom boxes—also known as “snap-lock boxes” or “1-2-3 bottom boxes”—are used by many different industries and can package a variety of items including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, electronics, candles, home goods, and more.

This type of box has a front and back, 2 sides, and a top and bottom. The top is typically in a tuck end style but can also be created in a variety of styles.

The bottom of a snap lock bottom box is where it gets its name from. The bottom is created using 4 interlocking closure tabs. The larger u-shaped tab is folded inward, then the two smaller side tabs fold inward over the u-shaped tab and then the final larger tab is folded inward and tucked and pushed into the slit created by the other tabs to lock the bottom in place.

Advantages of Snap Lock Boxes:

• Perfect for heavyweight products as the interlocking tabs can hold more weight
• Easy to assemble in 3 easy steps
• Stores flat when not in use
• Displays well on retail shelving or point of purchase displays
• No glue or tape is required when assembling the box for packaging
• An economical box option as they don’t produce much paper waste
• They are cheaper than auto lock bottom boxes
• Can be customized to fit any needs including adding a hanging tab, window cut out, etc.
• The interlocking closure tabs make them great for mailing products and will keep them securely inside

Disadvantages of Snap Lock Boxes:

• Takes slightly longer to assemble than the auto lock bottom box

The Auto Lock Bottom Box

Auto lock bottom boxes—also known as “auto lock boxes,” “auto bottom boxes,” and “crash bottom boxes”—are used for packaging many different items and are popularly used for packaging food or beverages, personal care items, automotive products and more.

This type of box has a front, back, 2 sides, and a top and bottom. The top is typically in a tuck end style.

Sounds familiar right? Well, the bottom of this box is where it becomes much different than a snap lock box however, they both get their names from their unique, lock-in-place bottoms.

The bottom of auto lock bottom boxes is assembled using overlapping flaps that are created with glue so you can instantly pop the box into shape.

Advantages of Auto Bottom Boxes:

• They can package heavier products
• Stores flat when not in use
• Displays well on retail or point of purchase displays
• Fast and easy assembly (they easily pop in to shape once glue is applied and tabs are interlocked)

Disadvantages of Auto Bottom Boxes:

• Glue is required when assembling the box
• They cost more than a snap lock bottom box because of the extra steps needed to produce them and the added cost of glue

Which Should I Choose?

When choosing between a snap lock bottom box and an auto lock bottom box, you need to consider your budget and packaging goals.

If you’re looking for a strong box style that is designed to promote your brand effectively when customized, and protect your packaged items in a professional way, while also looking to stay within a certain budget, we recommend a custom snap lock bottom box.

The snap lock box is easy to assemble, cheaper than an auto lock box, and can be customized to fit your needs.

If cost isn’t a factor and/or you’re looking for a box that is extremely fast to assemble so you can more quickly package items inside of them, then an auto lock bottom box may be the perfect box style for you!

If cost isn’t a factor and/or you’re looking for a box that is extremely fast to assemble so you can more quickly package items inside of them, then an auto lock bottom box may be the perfect box style for you!

At Conquest Graphics, we offer a variety of box styles to choose from and can help you customize your box to fit any packaging goal you may have. If you’re interested in a snap lock bottom or auto lock bottom box, choose which you’d prefer below and tell us what you’re looking for today!