Magnetic vs Lid and Base vs Drawer Gift Boxes
These three rigid styles look similar on a shelf but behave very differently in the hand. This guide compares how each one opens, what it holds well and where it causes problems.
By The Gift Boxes design team ·
What do the three styles have in common?
All three are rigid boxes. The walls are greyboard, wrapped in printed or coloured paper, so they hold their shape and are meant to be kept.
That shared build means the same print and finish options apply to each. Production is also the same: 8–10 working days after you approve the proof.
They also share the same weak point: the paper wrap. Corners take the knocks, so a dark paper will show scuffs sooner than a light one, and a laminated wrap resists marks better than plain paper.
The difference is the opening. A magnetic box has a hinged flap, a lid and base box has two loose parts, and a drawer box has a tray that slides out of a sleeve. You can see all of them together in our range of rigid gift boxes.
How does a magnetic lid gift box open?
The lid is joined to the base along one back edge. A front flap folds down over the front wall, and hidden magnets set under the paper hold it shut.
You lift the flap, the magnets let go with a soft pull, and the lid swings back on its hinge. It stays attached, so nothing gets put down on a table or lost.
This makes it a good fit for anything a customer will open more than once, such as a skincare set, a watch or a candle with spare wicks. See sizes and options on the magnetic lid gift boxes page.
- Best for: products opened again and again, sets you want shown in one view
- Watch for: the flap adds a little depth at the front, so allow for it on shelves
- Closure feel: a quiet catch rather than a tight snap
How does a lid and base box work?
This is the oldest style. A base tray sits inside a separate lid, and the lid slides down over the walls until it rests on the base or on a shoulder.
The lid can be full depth, covering the whole base, or shallow, so a strip of the base shows below it. A shallow lid lets the base be a second colour, which reads well on a printed range.
Because the lid is loose, friction does the holding. We build the lid slightly larger than the base so it slides on without scuffing the paper but does not drop off when lifted. Details are on the rigid lid and base boxes page.
When is a drawer box the better choice?
A drawer box is a tray inside a sleeve, open at one or both ends. You pull the tray out by a ribbon or a thumb notch, and the product appears in stages.
That slow reveal suits small, flat items: a necklace, a set of cards, chocolates in a row, a pen or a gift voucher. The sleeve also gives you four clean print panels with no lid seam breaking the design.
Drawers suit low, long shapes more than tall ones. A deep drawer is harder to slide straight and can twist in the sleeve. Look at the typical sizes on the drawer gift boxes page before you settle on a depth.
One more check: the tray should be a few millimetres shorter than the sleeve, so it slides without catching but does not rattle.
- Choose a ribbon pull if the tray will be opened often, as it saves the sleeve edges from fingers.
- Choose a thumb notch for a cleaner look and a slightly lower quote.
- Ask for the sleeve open at both ends if the tray needs pushing out from behind.
How do they compare side by side?
The table sets the three styles against the questions buyers ask most. None is better in every row, so pick the one that matches how the box will be used.
| Question | Magnetic lid | Lid and base | Drawer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parts once opened | One, lid stays attached | Two loose parts | Two, tray and sleeve |
| Shape it suits | Square or wide, medium depth | Almost any, including deep | Long, flat, shallow |
| How it stays shut | Hidden magnets | Friction between lid and base | Snug tray in sleeve |
| Print area seen first | Lid top and front flap | Lid top and lid sides | Sleeve, all four faces |
| Easy to repack | Yes, closes the same way | Yes, lid simply drops on | Yes, if the tray is not overfilled |
| Common buyers | Beauty, watches, candles | Hampers, clothing, cakes | Jewellery, chocolate, cards |
All three are made in 8–10 working days after proof approval, then sent by free tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses in 2–3 working days.
Which style suits a heavy or awkward product?
For a heavy item, the lid and base box is usually the safest. The weight sits in the base, and lifting the box by the lid is the only real risk, so tell the person packing to hold it from below.
A magnetic box carries weight well too, but the hinge takes strain if the box is picked up by the lid. A drawer is the weakest choice for weight, since the tray can slide out when the box is tilted.
For tall bottles or jars, choose a deep lid and base or a deep magnetic box. If items are uneven or fragile, add an insert cut to the product, explained in our guide to inserts for gift sets.
How does each one travel in the post?
None of these boxes is a shipping carton on its own. Each should go inside an outer mailer or a lined carton when it is posted to a customer.
A lid and base box can open in transit if it is turned over, so a belly band or a pair of ties around it helps. A drawer box needs the same, as a loose tray can slide free. Magnetic boxes hold shut better, though a sharp knock can still pop the flap.
If you are sending gifts direct, plan the outer pack at the same time as the box so the two sizes work together.
On a shop shelf the picture changes. A lid and base box shows its lid top and four lid sides, a magnetic box shows its front flap, and a drawer shows the end of the sleeve. Decide which face customers will see first and put your logo there.
Does the choice change the price?
Rigid boxes are always quoted higher than folding card. Our starting point of £0.25 a box applies to folding card styles, and these three appear as their own line on your quote.
Within rigid, the cost moves with size, quantity, print and extras more than with the style itself. Magnets, ribbon pulls and inserts each add a little. A shallow lid on a two-colour box adds a second wrap paper.
The fairest way to compare is to ask for two styles on the same quote. Send the item size, quantity and finish through the quote request form and say which two you want priced.
What mistakes do buyers make when choosing?
Most of these come down to measuring. Take the inside size you need in millimetres, then use our guide on how to measure a gift box to turn it into a brief.
- Picking a drawer for a product that is taller than it is wide
- Choosing a full-depth lid when the item is deep, which makes the box hard to open
- Forgetting that a magnetic flap needs a clear front panel in the artwork
- Measuring the product but not the insert that will sit around it
- Ordering the style before checking how it will be posted
How do I order the style I have chosen?
Send the product size, the quantity and the style. If you are unsure between two, say so, and we can quote both.
Your quote comes back within one working day. Once you go ahead, a designer places your artwork on the flat layout and sends a free proof, with edits until you approve. You can also start with a logo on the Design Your Gift Box page.
Minimums are low and quoted per job, so a short first run to test a style is usually possible.
Questions about this guide
Still unsure? Ask us on WhatsApp or call +44 7578 382054.
Do magnetic gift boxes lose their hold over time?
The magnets are set under the paper and do not wear with normal use. The flap may feel slightly softer after many openings as the hinge relaxes, but it still catches.
Can a lid and base box have a printed inside?
Yes. Both the inside of the lid and the floor of the base can be printed, which is a good place for a short message or care notes.
Can the drawer tray be a different colour from the sleeve?
Yes. The tray and sleeve are wrapped separately, so each can take its own paper or print.
Which of the three styles is quickest to make?
All three are rigid and take 8–10 working days after proof approval. If time is tight, a folding card style at 4–6 working days may suit better.
Can I add a window to a magnetic or drawer box?
Clear windows are an option on many styles. Tell us where you want it on the quote request and the designer will show it on the proof.
Is a drawer box suitable for a bottle?
Usually not. Bottles are tall and round, and a drawer works best for low, flat items. A deep lid and base or a magnetic box handles a bottle better.
Can I order one style in several sizes?
Yes. List each size and quantity on the quote request and each one is priced as its own line.
Do these boxes arrive flat?
No. Magnetic, lid and base and drawer boxes arrive made up, so allow storage space for the finished volume. If space is short, ask about our foldable rigid style.
Which style is easiest to fill quickly on a packing line?
Lid and base is the fastest to fill and close. Drawer boxes take longest because the tray has to be lined up with the sleeve each time.
Which of the three looks most like a keepsake box?
Magnetic boxes are the ones people most often keep and reuse, because the lid stays attached and closes the same way each time. Lid and base boxes are often reused for storage too.
Send us your brief
Tell us what goes in the box, the size and how many you need. A quote comes back within one working day, and a free design proof follows before anything is printed.