Tubes
Travel-Size Tubes
Travel-size tubes are 5–30 ml packs in 19–30 mm diameters, used for deluxe sizes, amenity programmes and sampling where the pack must be light, sealed and identical in quality to the retail format.
- 5 ml
- 10 ml
- 15 ml
- 20 ml
- 30 ml
At a glance
- Best for
- Deluxe sizes and gift-with-purchase · Subscription box and sampling programmes · Hotel and amenity products
- Formula fit
- Face cream · Cleanser · Eye cream
- Materials
- PE (virgin and PCR) · EVOH-barrier PE for actives · PCR-PE caps
- Decoration
- Custom colour matched to the brand palette · Printing on body, lid and shoulder
What are travel-size tubes?
Small tubes do a specific job: they let a customer try a formula without buying a full-size product, and they let a brand use retail-quality packaging in a sampling programme. Because print area is limited, artwork is simplified, but the finish can stay identical to the main SKU.
Digital printing has made small tube runs practical, which is why deluxe sizes are increasingly used in subscription boxes, gift-with-purchase sets and market tests.
Typical specification range
Values below are the ranges we quote most often. Confirm against your formula viscosity, fill weight and destination market before freezing a specification.
| Parameter | Options we quote |
|---|---|
| Capacities | 5 ml, 10 ml, 15 ml, 20 ml, 30 ml |
| Materials | PE (virgin and PCR), EVOH-barrier PE for actives, PCR-PE caps |
| Closures / dispensing | Flip-top cap, Disc-top cap, Screw cap, Nozzle cap |
| Customisation | Custom colour matched to the brand palette, Printing on body, lid and shoulder, Hot stamping for premium retail packs, Frosted, soft-touch or metallic finishing, Secondary packing: cartons, inserts, shrink sleeve, Closure and component upgrades (airless, dropper, pump) |
| MOQ | 1,000 pcs per design for stock moulds; 3,000 pcs for decorated orders; 10,000 pcs per size for custom moulds. |
| Sampling time | Stock samples in 5–10 working days; custom colour and decorated samples in 10–20 working days. |
| Production lead time | 15–30 working days after sample approval, depending on quantity, decoration and assembly complexity. |
Product features
Retail quality at trial size
The same tube construction and finish as the full-size pack, so the trial experience matches the paid product.
Air-travel friendly
5–30 ml packs stay under cabin liquid limits and are leak-tested inverted for travel.
Low entry quantities
Digital printing brings printed small tubes within reach at around 1,000 pcs for sampling and kit programmes.
Who it is suitable for
- Deluxe sizes and gift-with-purchase
- Subscription box and sampling programmes
- Hotel and amenity products
- Product testing before full launch
- Travel retail kits
Suitable formulas and products
- Face cream
- Cleanser
- Eye cream
- Sunscreen
- Hair mask
- Hand cream
Customisation options
Travel-Size Tubes can be delivered as a stock-mould pack with your colour and decoration, or developed into a proprietary format. Decoration is specified against the final surface finish so print adhesion and colour hold in use.
- Custom colour matched to the brand palette
- Printing on body, lid and shoulder
- Hot stamping for premium retail packs
- Frosted, soft-touch or metallic finishing
- Secondary packing: cartons, inserts, shrink sleeve
- Closure and component upgrades (airless, dropper, pump)
How these are manufactured
Parts are moulded by injection, injection blow or extrusion blow moulding depending on the format and material, then assembled, decorated and inspected in lots. Moulding parameters are recorded per mould so repeat orders match the approved sample. Read the manufacturing process.
Quality control
Dimension and weight checks, closure torque, leak and dose testing where relevant, colour verification (ΔE ≤ 1.5 opaque parts) and AQL 1.0/2.5 final inspection. Lot records are supplied with the shipping documents. See the inspection checklist.
Materials for this range
- PE — material guide
- PCR plastic — material guide
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions buyers ask most about travel-size tubes. Send any specific question through the contact form and a packaging engineer will reply in writing.
What is the smallest tube available?
Standard production starts at 5 ml with a 19 mm diameter. Below that, sachets and ampoules are usually more economical than tubes.
Can travel tubes use the same artwork as the full-size pack?
Artwork is usually simplified and rescaled. We supply tube dielines per diameter so the artwork can be adapted without trial and error, and we can print both sizes in the same production cycle for colour consistency.
What quantity should I order for a sampling programme?
1,000–3,000 pcs is common for digitally printed deluxe sizes; above 10,000 pcs offset printing becomes more economical per unit.
Are travel tubes available in PCR plastic?
Yes, with PCR-PE bodies at documented recycled percentages depending on the grade selected.
What is the MOQ for travel-size tubes?
1,000 pcs per design for stock moulds; 3,000 pcs for decorated orders; 10,000 pcs per size for custom moulds.
Can I customise the colour?
Yes. Colour is matched to a Pantone reference or a physical sample and verified on production-resin parts. Custom colour matched to the brand palette is the standard route, and we supply samples for approval before the run.
Can you print or emboss my logo?
Yes — printing, hot stamping, coating, labelling and custom closures are all available for travel-size tubes. Choose the method with your surface finish in mind: gloss print or foil works best on matte and soft-touch surfaces.
Can I request samples?
Stock samples in 5–10 working days; custom colour and decorated samples in 10–20 working days. Stock samples are supplied free (up to five pieces per SKU, courier at your cost); custom colour and decorated samples are quoted per project, typically USD 120–450.
Can you develop a custom mould?
Yes. Custom tooling is quoted as a separate line item with the cavity plan stated, usually from around 10,000 pcs per size and 25–40 calendar days from drawing approval to first-article inspection.
What is the production lead time?
15–30 working days after sample approval, depending on quantity, decoration and assembly complexity.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. We ship travel-size tubes to the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea and Latin America, quoting FOB, CIF, DDP and air freight.
Which materials are available?
PE (virgin and PCR), EVOH-barrier PE for actives, PCR-PE caps. Selection is driven by formula compatibility, clarity requirements, decoration and any recycled-content target.
Still have a question? Talk to a packaging expert.
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Quotes and samples for travel-size tubes
Send the capacity, quantity, colour reference and decoration you need. We reply with MOQ, unit price band, sampling time and lead time — and we will tell you if a different format suits your formula better. Stock mould formats from 1,000 pcs per design; decorated orders typically from 3,000 pcs; custom moulds usually from 10,000 pcs per size.
No account required · NDA available · Quote replies within one business day (Mon–Sat, GMT+8)