Gift Box 'Blister Tray' 4 Types of Real Craft Price Differences - PVC/PET/PP/Flockinging Hidden Differences in Quotes of 0.5-8 CNY/piece
💡 💡 At a Glance
Gift Box 'Blister Tray' 4 Types of Real Craft Price Differences: 1) PVC blister tray (cost 0.9 CNY/piece / suitable for low-end gift boxes for stationery and toys); 2) PET blister tray (cost 1.8 CNY/piece / food grade / suitable for cosmetics, food, and health products); 3) PP blister tray (cost 2.1 CNY/piece / heat resistant / suitable for microwave heating / baby products); 4) Flocking blister tray (cost 5.1 CNY/piece / high-end / suitable for high-end cosmetics, jewelry, and alcohol). 4 types of material craft + mold + post-processing differences + selection accounts for 4 industries: food/cosmetics/electronics/alcohol + 3 common failure cases (PVC misuse in food / flocking quotation inversion / PP mold not heat resistant).
Since 2017 until now, Wuxi Lexiang has delivered over 850 gift box orders, with 78% of these gift boxes containing blister inner trays. In the printing factory's quotation sheet, the blister inner tray is listed with a unit price of only 1-3 CNY/piece, but the actual price difference for the 4 types of materials (PVC / PET / PP / flocking) is 0.5-8 CNY/piece. Many printing factory owners think "blister inner tray = 1 blister product", but the processes + molds + post-production for these 4 types of materials vary greatly. Below, we will discuss the real costs of these 4 types of materials.
Why Printing Factory Owners Need to Understand the Process Price Differences of Blister Inner Trays
Many people think that a blister inner tray = a plastic tray, but in reality, the processes + molds + post-production for the 4 types of materials (PVC / PET / PP / flocking) vary greatly:
1. PVC blister inner tray (most common) – lowest cost + fastest mold production, but not heat-resistant + not environmentally friendly + limited in food packaging
2. PET blister inner tray (food grade) – medium cost + food grade, heat-resistant + transparent + preferred for cosmetics / food packaging
3. PP blister inner tray (heat-resistant) – medium cost + heat-resistant, withstands 120℃ + preferred for microwave heating of food
4. Flocking blister inner tray (high-end) – highest cost + premium touch, preferred for high-end gift boxes / jewelry / tobacco and alcohol packaging
Real Case: In June 2024, a printing factory in Jiangsu provided outsourced processing for 5000 high-end gift boxes for a cosmetics brand, and the client chose flocking blister inner trays. The factory quoted 3.5 CNY/piece, but the actual purchase of flocking material was 2.8 CNY/piece + mold allocation 0.5 CNY/piece + flocking processing 1.5 CNY/piece + post-production 0.3 CNY/piece, with an actual cost of 5.1 CNY/piece, resulting in a loss of 8000 CNY for the factory. In the same period, the factory also had an order for PVC inner trays, quoted at 1.2 CNY/piece, with an actual cost of 0.8 CNY/piece, earning a profit of 2000 CNY.
The Real Process Costs of 4 Types of Blister Inner Trays
Printing factory owners must understand the real process costs of the 4 types of blister inner trays to avoid miscalculations in quotations:
First Type: PVC Blister Inner Tray (Most Common + Lowest Cost)
- Material Cost: 0.4-0.8 CNY/piece (for 0.8 mm thickness)
- Mold Cost: 300-800 CNY/mold (blister mold, single mold can produce 5000+ pieces)
- Mold Allocation: For a 5000 piece order, allocation per piece is 0.06-0.16 CNY/piece
- Blister Processing Cost: 0.2-0.3 CNY/piece (including electricity + labor + equipment depreciation)
- Post-Production Cost: 0.1-0.2 CNY/piece (including trimming + inspection + packaging)
- Comprehensive Cost: 0.7-1.5 CNY/piece
- Applicable Industries: Low-end gift boxes / stationery / toy packaging
- Quotation Sheet Common Price: 1-1.5 CNY/piece
- Real Case: In November 2024, a printing factory in Zhejiang received a 3000 piece stationery gift box order, using PVC blister inner trays, quoted at 1.2 CNY/piece, with an actual cost of 0.9 CNY/piece, earning a profit of 900 CNY.
Second Type: PET Blister Inner Tray (Food Grade + Medium Cost)
- Material Cost: 0.8-1.5 CNY/piece (for 0.8 mm thickness, PET is 1-1.5 times more expensive than PVC)
- Mold Cost: 500-1200 CNY/mold (single mold can produce 5000+ pieces)
- Mold Allocation: For a 5000 piece order, allocation per piece is 0.1-0.24 CNY/piece
- Blister Processing Cost: 0.3-0.5 CNY/piece (including electricity + labor + equipment depreciation)
- Post-Production Cost: 0.1-0.3 CNY/piece (including trimming + inspection + packaging)
- Comprehensive Cost: 1.4-2.5 CNY/piece
- Applicable Industries: Cosmetics / food / health products / electronics packaging
- Quotation Sheet Common Price: 1.8-2.5 CNY/piece
- Real Case: In January 2025, a printing factory in Guangdong received a 5000 piece cosmetics gift box order, using PET blister inner trays, quoted at 2.2 CNY/piece, with an actual cost of 1.8 CNY/piece, earning a profit of 2000 CNY.
Third Type: PP Blister Inner Tray (Heat-Resistant + Medium Cost)
- Material Cost: 1.0-1.8 CNY/piece (for 0.8 mm thickness, PP is 20-30% more expensive than PET)
- Mold Cost: 600-1500 CNY/mold (PP molds are more complex than PET)
- Mold Allocation: For a 5000 piece order, allocation per piece is 0.12-0.3 CNY/piece
- Blister Processing Cost: 0.3-0.5 CNY/piece (including electricity + labor + equipment depreciation)
- Post-Production Cost: 0.1-0.3 CNY/piece (including trimming + inspection + packaging)
- Comprehensive Cost: 1.6-2.9 CNY/piece
- Applicable Industries: Food microwave heating / infant products / medical packaging
- Quotation Sheet Common Price: 2-3 CNY/piece
- Real Case: In March 2025, a printing factory in Jiangsu received a 3000 piece food gift box order (requiring microwave heating), using PP blister inner trays, quoted at 2.5 CNY/piece, with an actual cost of 2.1 CNY/piece, earning a profit of 1200 CNY.
Fourth Type: Flocking Blister Inner Tray (High-End + Highest Cost)
- Material Cost: 2.0-4.0 CNY/piece (for 0.8 mm thickness + flocking processing)
- Mold Cost: 800-2000 CNY/mold (flocking molds are 50% more complex than PVC)
- Mold Allocation: For a 5000 piece order, allocation per piece is 0.16-0.4 CNY/piece
- Blister Processing Cost: 0.3-0.5 CNY/piece
- Flocking Processing Cost: 1.0-2.5 CNY/piece (flocking is a separate process)
- Post-Production Cost: 0.2-0.5 CNY/piece (including trimming + inspection + packaging + anti-static treatment)
- Comprehensive Cost: 4.0-10.5 CNY/piece
- Applicable Industries: High-end gift boxes / jewelry / tobacco and alcohol / high-end cosmetics packaging
- Quotation Sheet Common Price: 3-5 CNY/piece
- Real Case: In June 2024, a printing factory in Jiangsu received a 5000 piece high-end cosmetics gift box order, using flocking blister inner trays, quoted at 3.5 CNY/piece, with an actual cost of 5.1 CNY/piece, resulting in a loss of 8000 CNY.
4 Types of Blister Inner Trays: Selection for Food / Cosmetics / Electronics / Tobacco and Alcohol Industries
When choosing the material for blister inner trays, printing factory owners must base their decisions on the real selection criteria for these 4 industries:
Food Industry (35% of the market)
- First Choice: PET Blister Inner Tray (food grade + transparent + aesthetically pleasing)
- Second Choice: PP Blister Inner Tray (heat-resistant + microwaveable)
- Prohibited: PVC Blister Inner Tray (contains plasticizers, restricted for food contact)
- High-End: Flocking Blister Inner Tray (for high-end gift boxes + gifts)
- Quotation Range: 1.8-3 CNY/piece
Cosmetics Industry (25% of the market)
- First Choice: PET Blister Inner Tray (transparent + aesthetically pleasing + food grade)
- Second Choice: PP Blister Inner Tray (heat-resistant)
- High-End: Flocking Blister Inner Tray (for texture + high-end)
- Quotation Range: 1.8-5 CNY/piece
Electronics Industry (20% of the market)
- First Choice: PP Blister Inner Tray (anti-static + heat-resistant)
- Second Choice: PET Blister Inner Tray (transparent + anti-static treatment)
- Quotation Range: 2-3 CNY/piece
Tobacco and Alcohol Industry (15% of the market)
- First Choice: Flocking Blister Inner Tray (high-end + textured)
- Second Choice: PET Blister Inner Tray (transparent + aesthetically pleasing)
- Quotation Range: 3-8 CNY/piece
Cost Comparison of 4 Types of Blister Inner Trays
Assuming the order situation: 5000 piece gift box order, each gift box contains 1 blister inner tray.
Here is the cost comparison for the 4 types of blister inner trays:
1. PVC Blister Inner Tray – cost per piece 0.9 CNY, total cost for 5000 pieces 4500 CNY, quoted price per piece 1.2 CNY, total quoted price 6000 CNY, profit 1500 CNY
2. PET Blister Inner Tray – cost per piece 1.8 CNY, total cost for 5000 pieces 9000 CNY, quoted price per piece 2.2 CNY, total quoted price 11000 CNY, profit 2000 CNY
3. PP Blister Inner Tray – cost per piece 2.1 CNY, total cost for 5000 pieces 10500 CNY, quoted price per piece 2.5 CNY, total quoted price 12500 CNY, profit 2000 CNY
4. Flocking Blister Inner Tray – cost per piece 5.1 CNY, total cost for 5000 pieces 25500 CNY, quoted price per piece 3.5 CNY, total quoted price 17500 CNY, loss 8000 CNY
Real Data: Among the 4 types of materials, PET / PP blister inner trays have stable profits, while flocking blister inner trays have an inverted price-cost relationship (quoted price 3.5 CNY, actual cost 5.1 CNY). It is recommended that printing factory owners must quote based on the real cost (5.5-6 CNY/piece), rather than the client's budget quote (3.5 CNY/piece).
How Printing Factory Owners Choose the 4 Types of Blister Inner Trays
The choice of the 4 types of blister inner trays is not "the more expensive the better", but is determined by the printing factory's client structure + order structure + quotation accuracy:
1. Client structure includes food / health products – choose PET blister inner tray, food grade + transparent + aesthetically pleasing
2. Client structure includes food microwave heating / infant products – choose PP blister inner tray, heat-resistant + microwaveable
3. Client structure includes high-end cosmetics / jewelry / tobacco and alcohol – choose flocking blister inner tray, but the quote must be ≥5.5 CNY/piece
4. Client structure includes stationery / toys / low-end gift boxes – choose PVC blister inner tray, lowest cost + fastest process
Conclusion: The Process Price Difference of Blister Inner Trays is the Real Cost for Printing Factory Owners Beyond the Quotation Sheet
Many printing factory owners think "blister inner tray = 1 line in the quotation sheet", but the processes + costs + applicable industries for the 4 types of materials (PVC / PET / PP / flocking) vary greatly. The hidden difference of 0.5-8 CNY/piece in the quotation sheet, printing factory owners must quote based on the real cost, to avoid loss-making orders. PVC misused for food / flocking price inversion / PP mold not heat-resistant, 3 common pitfalls that printing factory owners must be wary of.
Extended Reading
- Real Price Differences for 4 Types of Gift Box Accessories – Ribbons / Inner Trays / Stickers / Cards: The Quotation Sheet Only Reveals a Corner
- Real Process Price Differences for 3 Types of Gift Box Ribbons – Satin / Chiffon / Rope Knots
- Hidden Process Costs for 3 Types of Drawer Boxes – Real Price Differences of Magnets, Ribbons, and Inner Trays
- Real Costs for 3 Types of "Double-Layer Structure" Gift Boxes – Upper Display + Lower Storage vs. Single-Layer Gift Box Quotation Differences
FAQ
Can PVC blister trays be used for food packaging?
No. PVC contains plasticizers (DEHP/DOP), and food contact is restricted according to GB 4806 series standards. Real case: In August 2024, a printing factory in Jiangsu used PVC blister trays for food gift boxes, and customers complained that the PVC contained plasticizers. The factory was forced to recall 5000 gift boxes, losing 50,000 CNY. Food packaging must use PET/PP blister trays (food grade + transparent + heat resistant). It is recommended that printing factory owners proactively inform clients of compliance risks and suggest switching to PET/PP when clients choose PVC trays for food packaging.
What should be the quotation for flocking blister trays?
The real cost of flocking blister trays is 4-10.5 CNY/piece (based on 0.8 mm thickness + flocking processing + mold allocation). It is recommended that printing factory owners quote 5.5-6 CNY/piece (break-even with slight profit) or ≥6 CNY/piece (profitable). If the client's budget is ≤4 CNY/piece, it is recommended that printing factory owners not accept the order (loss-making order) or negotiate with the client to adjust the tray specifications (such as reducing the flocking area/simplifying the flocking pattern). Real case: In June 2024, a printing factory in Jiangsu received an order for 5000 high-end cosmetic gift boxes, with the client's budget at 3.5 CNY/piece for flocking trays. The factory quoted 3.5 CNY/piece (loss-making order), with the actual cost being 5.1 CNY/piece, resulting in a loss of 8000 CNY.
Can PP blister trays be microwave heated?
Yes. PP blister trays can withstand temperatures of up to 120°C and can be microwave heated. However, ordinary PP blister trays may deform at high temperatures. It is recommended to use special PP materials (heat-resistant PP) for food microwave heating. Real case: In June 2025, a printing factory in Guangdong used ordinary PP blister trays for microwave heated food. The client reported tray deformation after heating, and the factory was forced to recall 2000 gift boxes, losing 30,000 CNY. It is recommended that printing factory owners proactively inform clients of the temperature resistance range of PP trays and suggest using special PP materials for food microwave heating orders.
How to choose between PET and PP blister trays?
3 criteria for judgment: 1) For food packaging requiring transparency and aesthetics - choose PET (transparent + aesthetically pleasing + food grade); 2) For food packaging requiring microwave heating - choose PP (heat resistant); 3) For electronics requiring anti-static properties - choose PP (easier to apply anti-static treatment). PET quotation is 1.8-2.5 CNY/piece, PP quotation is 2-3 CNY/piece. It is recommended that printing factory owners choose based on the client's industry and product usage scenario, not just the quotation.
How is the mold cost for blister trays calculated?
Mold costs for 4 types of materials: PVC 300-800 CNY/style, PET 500-1200 CNY/style, PP 600-1500 CNY/style, flocking 800-2000 CNY/style. A single mold can produce over 5000 pieces, and for a 5000 piece order, the mold cost allocation is 0.06-0.4 CNY/piece. Mold costs are allocated based on the total order amount. It is recommended that printing factory owners clearly state the mold cost and mold ownership (client purchase/printing factory retention/shared mold) in the quotation sheet. If the client has objections to mold ownership, it is recommended that printing factory owners clearly state in the contract: 1) Mold purchase fee (one-time payment); 2) Mold retention fee (printing factory retains, client pays per piece); 3) Shared mold (printing factory retains, multiple clients share).
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