Best Custom Finishes for Kraft Boxes in 2025

In 2025, customized Kraft boxes have retained their top place in the hearts of brand owners looking for aesthetics and eco-friendly options. What makes these boxes extra special is not just the eco-friendly materials, but also the stunning finishes that make them unique. The right finishing touch can always add a distinctive touch for retail, food, cosmetics, e-commerce, and other industries.

Today, we take a closer look at the most popular finishing styles for Kraft boxes in 2025 and analyze how each one can be applied for maximum impact.

Who Uses Custom Kraft Boxes?

1. Bakeries
   
   

2. Cosmetic brands
   
   

3. Jewelry stores
   
   

4. Soap makers
   
   

5. Candle manufacturers
   
   

6. Apparel brands
   
   

7. Eco-friendly retailers
   
   

8. Organic food companies
   
   

9. Handmade product sellers
   
   

10. Subscription box services
    
    

11. Tea and coffee brands
    
    

12. Stationery brands
    
    

Now, let’s look into the finishing options for Kraft boxes:

1. Matte Lamination – Clean and Classy

Brands focused on delivering a smooth and velvety touch on their products will find matte lamination the best fit. This Kraft box finishing option is perfect for modern and minimalistic-looking boxes. Also, the finish prevents smudges and scratches, increasing the boxes’ durability.

Why Matte Lamination is Great in 2025:

• Works well with earthy, sustainable branding
  
  

• Printed content is easily readable
  
  

• Refined and contemporary
  
  

Make your packaging effortlessly stylish by adding matte lamination to custom Kraft boxes.

2. Shiny & Vibrant – Gloss Lamination

With gloss lamination, the shine makes colors and graphics even more vibrant. Although Kraft paper is naturally brown, gloss finishing helps a logo or a brand name stand out.

Best suited for:

• Kraft paper
  
  

• Promotional kits
  
  

• Beauty and food items
  
  

The laminates serve a dual purpose of adding aesthetic value by making the products stand out and protecting the items from moisture and wear and tear.

3. Touch of Luxury – Foil Stamping

Stamping your brand name with gold, silver, holographic, or rose gold foil is sure to make your brand stand out. You can make your logo or brand name with these foils and Kraft boxes, and they would still look eco-friendly and elegant.

Why it’s trending:

• Matches well with bold, simple designs
  
  

• Captures attention in a retail shop full of products
  
  

• Gives the look and feel of luxury
  
  

Pro tip: You can use the foil with your logo or the brand name to make it look stunning.

4. Textured Branding – Embossing & Debossing

Kraft boxes can have a combination of stamped logos and brand names to make the box prettier. Embossing, which is the raised effect done to the words, makes the box feel soft to touch and can feel luxurious even without colors.

Why it works:

• Gives added exposure to your brand with a tactile element
  
  

• Improves your product's perceived value
  
  

• Works well with natural Kraft tones
  
  

Stamping with custom Kraft packaging helps to emphasize your brand in a way that is easy to remember.

5. Spot UV Coating – Gloss Meets Precision

With Spot UV, a glossy coat is added to specific spots, for example: logo, quote, and other style elements. Glossy parts will be in contrast with the Kraft box with window that is matte, serving to add attention to the crucial areas.

Benefits in 2025:

• Works best with simple designs that have contrast
  
  

• Emphasizes elements without making the box look cluttered
  
  

• Adds class without additional recyclable materials
  
  

• Ideal for brands and companies that want to look modern and sleek
  
  

6. Soft Touch Coating – Luxury in Hand

Soft touch adds a super smooth and velvety texture to the box that instantly communicates high value. Soft touch is more common in beauty and tech items, as it feels good to the touch.

Why it is loved in 2025:

• Gives the impression of being luxurious and expensive
  
  

• Improves the process and packaging of the item
  
  

• Works for items of higher value
  
  

Soft touch is great for items with embossing or foil to add extra luxurious touch.

7. Die Cutting Windows – A Glance at the Product Inside

Though it is not a finishing technique, die-cutting is a functional and creative feature that can be added to the Kraft box. It allows for viewing the product while maintaining the natural and organic ethos of the product.

Trending:

• Seal windows for food or cosmetics made out of clear film
  
  

• Logo-shaped die cuts for branding and logo mark
  
  

• Artistic packaging: patterned die cuts
  
  

Best placed on retail shelves where sight confirmation of the product boosts purchase confidence.

8. Water-Based Coatings – Eco-Friendly Kraft Box Protection

For those Kraft box brands that are committed to protecting the environment, water-based coatings are emerging as the preferred finishing option. It protects the box on the light surface level while keeping it fully recyclable and compostable.

What’s added to its gaining traction:

• An eco-friendly substitute for coatings made from plastic
  
  

• Maintains the natural appearance of Kraft
  
  

• Provides basic resistance to moisture and wear without excessive danger
  
  

Use this finish along with eco-friendly Kraft to enhance the green image of your brand.

Closing Remarks

They say, “as of 2025, packaging is not merely a container, but a branding medium and a tool for narrating stories.” Using the right finishing options enables the custom-made Kraft boxes to enhance the value while keeping the brand identity intact.

From elegance and eco-friendliness to tactile charm, the right finishing technique can elevate a box from simple to superb.