SBS Paperboard / SBS Board
SBS paperboard, also called SBS board, is a white, clay-coated board made from bleached virgin pulp. It is the usual pick for folding cartons and printed covers that need accurate color and a clean finish. • Coated on the print side (C1S) with a white reverse, from about 190 gsm to 400 gsm and heavier • Takes offset printing, lamination, aqueous coating, spot UV, hot foil stamping, embossing, and die-cutting • Common on cosmetic, skincare, supplement, electronics, and gift cartons, plus brochure covers, postcards, and hang tags
What is SBS paperboard, and when should you use it?
SBS paperboard is a white, clay-coated board made from bleached virgin chemical pulp, and it is the usual starting point when a folding carton or printed cover needs clean, accurate color. The name stands for solid bleached sulfate. "Solid" means the board is bleached pulp all the way through, "sulfate" refers to the kraft pulping process, and "bleached" means the fiber is whitened instead of left brown. The print side carries a smooth mineral coating that keeps ink on the surface, so photography, fine type, and Pantone colors print evenly, while the reverse stays plain white.
What are the key specs of SBS paperboard?
Item | SBS paperboard |
|---|---|
Also called | SBS board, SBS card, C1S board (coated on one side) |
Fiber | Bleached virgin chemical pulp, white all the way through |
Surface | Smooth clay coating on the print side, plain white reverse |
Typical weight | About 190–400 gsm and heavier |
Typical caliper | A 300 gsm sheet is around 0.4 mm; the figure shifts between mills |
Common finishes | Lamination, aqueous coating, spot UV, hot foil, embossing, debossing |
Common uses | Folding cartons, sleeves, hang tags, covers, postcards |
What gsm and caliper does SBS board come in?
Weight | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
190–250 gsm | Sleeves, inserts, hang tags, postcards, lighter covers | Lighter, more flexible sheet |
250–350 gsm | Retail folding cartons: cosmetic and skincare boxes, supplement cartons, small electronics and accessory packagings | Working range for many cartons |
350–400 gsm and above | Larger or heavier cartons, display boxes | Walls need more stiffness |
250–300 gsm and up | Face paper on premium corrugated boxes, mounted onto E or F flute by litho-lamination | The heavier sheet keeps flute lines from showing through the print |
Two sheets mounted | Display boxes, drawer-style boxes, V-groove folding cartons | Used when one sheet is not stiff enough |
Give gsm and caliper together, since a bulkier board such as FBB is thicker at the same weight.
How is SBS paperboard printed and made into a carton?
Confirm the board: gsm, caliper, and coating, matched to the box structure and the finishes planned.
Check the artwork against the dieline, including bleed, fold positions, and where foil or spot UV will sit.
Run a printed proof on the chosen board, since color and finish both look different on paper than on screen.
Print by sheetfed offset in CMYK plus Pantone colors. Press sheets generally run on B1 / 102-format machines, so carton layouts are fitted to the sheet.
Apply the surface finish: aqueous coating, varnish, or lamination in gloss, matte, soft-touch, or anti-scratch film, followed by spot UV, hot foil stamping, embossing, or debossing where the design calls for them.
Die-cut and crease, then fold and glue on a folder gluer into tuck-end, crash-lock bottom, auto-lock bottom, or other carton styles.
Which products and industries use SBS paperboard?
Cosmetic, skincare, and fragrance cartons are the familiar use, because brand colors and product photography have to stay accurate under shop lighting. Supplement boxes, candle boxes, jewelry and watch cartons, phone accessory and earbud packs, stationery sets and gift cartons use SBS board too, along with tea, coffee, and confectionery cartons, where the coating or inner wrap is confirmed against the product.
In commercial printing, SBS covers brochures and catalogs, and it is also used for postcards, greeting cards, invitations, and garment hang tags. SBS also faces printed corrugated mailer boxes, shipping cartons, and retail display boxes, where a white, smooth top layer carries the artwork. Medicine and healthcare cartons, pet product packs, and more, follow the same logic of a white face and steady color.
How does SBS board compare with FBB, CCNB, and kraft?
Alternative | When it fits | How SBS differs |
|---|---|---|
FBB (folding box board) | Stiffness at lower weight; layered sheet with mechanical pulp in the middle | SBS is bleached pulp throughout, so cut edges stay white and the face is even and bright |
CCNB | Lower-cost retail boxes where the inside is not on show; coated duplex board with a grey back | SBS has a white reverse, which suits printed or visible interiors |
Kraft board | Natural brown look with one or two spot colors | SBS is the better ground for full-color images and light brand colors |
Metallic paperboard | Gold, silver, or holographic face built into the sheet | SBS stays white and takes hot foil on a logo or accent, keeping photography closer to the original |
Rigid box | Heavy products and a thick, gift-style unboxing; greyboard wrapped in printed paper | SBS cartons ship flat |
What are the advantages of SBS paperboard?
The white, evenly coated face comes first: colors print closer to the proof, fine detail stays sharp, and light shades do not pick up a tint. The finishing range comes next, since lamination, aqueous coating, spot UV, hot foil, embossing, and debossing all work on it. Consistent caliper from sheet to sheet helps die-cutting and folder gluing. And one board covers both packaging and printed pieces, so a carton, its insert card, and a hang tag can share the same stock and brand colors.
What value does SBS board add to a brand or product?
It gives the pack a clean ground, so what the customer notices is the brand's color, photography, and foil detail. On cosmetic and gift cartons, a matte-laminated face with a spot UV logo or a small foil accent often reads as a refined pack without moving to a rigid box, which helps balance appearance against unit cost. Across a multi-SKU range, one board and one finishing set keep the line consistent on the shelf.
Cost mostly follows gsm, the number of finish layers, and the carton structure. A lighter board with finishing placed where it counts can deliver the look at a lower unit cost than heavy board with full-surface effects.
What does JYLUXE print on SBS paperboard?
JYLUXE is a printing factory in Shenzhen, China, with more than 20 years in premium packaging and commercial printing. SBS is one of the boards used for tuck-end, auto-lock bottom, gable, pillow, hanging, window, and tear-strip cartons, as well as mounted paperboard cartons and SBS-faced corrugated boxes. Sheets run on sheetfed 4-color and 5-color Heidelberg presses, while an 8-color Heidelberg press with a UV unit handles jobs such as metallic paperboard and reverse UV, supported by CTP plate-making and color management. After printing, they move to automatic die-cutting, foil stamping, laminating, flute lamination, and folder gluing. A digital press handles short runs and proofing.
Consultants work one-on-one on board and finishing choices, give structure and file adjustment suggestions, and follow the job through production and quality control. Custom orders stay flexible, for smaller and larger quantities alike.
How do you choose a factory for SBS board cartons?
Ask for the board in numbers: grade, gsm, caliper, and coating. Ask which presses will run the job and how color is held from first sheet to last. Check that the planned finishes, such as foil, embossing, or spot UV, suit the carton structure, and that a printed proof on the actual board comes before the run.
Industry certifications also reflect operational standard: ISO 9001 quality management and ISO 14001 environmental standards are built into everyday operations. Operating from a 6,000-square-meter facility with a team of over 100 print professionals, JYLUXE has delivered high-quality custom packaging and printing solutions to thousands of brands and businesses worldwide.
Is SBS paperboard right for your project?
SBS fits when color accuracy and a white face matter, when the product suits a folding carton, and when the design depends on finishes such as lamination, spot UV, or foil. Choose kraft for a natural brown look, a rigid box for heavier products, and metallic paperboard when the gold, silver, or holographic face is the design.
Not sure which weight or finish to go with? Send the dieline, or just the product size, rough weight, and the effects you have in mind, and JYLUXE can suggest a matching board and finish. Get a custom quote, or contact JYLUXE's consultants to talk it through.