Tubes
Squeeze Tubes
A squeeze tube is a collapsible plastic pack that dispenses product by hand pressure: no mechanism, no air ingress, minimal product loss and low unit cost, which is why it dominates cream and gel packaging.
- 5 ml
- 10 ml
- 15 ml
- 20 ml
- 30 ml
- 50 ml
At a glance
- Best for
- Retail hand and body cream · Cleanser and gel formats · Treatment and mask tubes
- Formula fit
- Cream · Gel · Cleanser
- Materials
- PE (virgin and PCR) · EVOH-barrier PE · PCR-PE caps
- Decoration
- Custom colour matched to the brand palette · Printing on body, lid and shoulder
What are squeeze tubes?
Squeeze tubes are used across skincare because they solve practical problems rather than decorative ones. There is no pump to fail, no dip tube to drain, no head-space to oxidise, and the pack weighs little per millilitre of product.
The specification decisions are tube diameter (which sets both fill volume and shelf footprint), wall thickness, orifice style and print method. We quote tube, cap, print and PCR content as separate visible line items so the cost drivers are clear.
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, 50 ml, 75 ml, 100 ml, 150 ml |
| Materials | PE (virgin and PCR), EVOH-barrier PE, PCR-PE caps, PP caps |
| Closures / dispensing | Flip-top cap, Disc-top cap, Screw cap, Nozzle cap, Stand-up 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
No mechanism to fail
There is nothing to jam, leak or under-dose, which simplifies quality control and reduces consumer complaints.
Low pack weight and volume
Tubes use less plastic per ml than bottles and jars and pack tightly into cartons, reducing freight cost per unit.
Stand-up options
Oval and flat-oval tubes with stand-up caps sit upright on shelf and give a wide, print-friendly front panel.
Who it is suitable for
- Retail hand and body cream
- Cleanser and gel formats
- Treatment and mask tubes
- Pharmacy and clinical formats
- Trial and travel programmes
Suitable formulas and products
- Cream
- Gel
- Cleanser
- Ointment
- Scrub (with orifice check)
- Sunscreen
Customisation options
Squeeze 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
- PP — material guide
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions buyers ask most about squeeze tubes. Send any specific question through the contact form and a packaging engineer will reply in writing.
What is the difference between a squeeze tube and an airless tube?
A squeeze tube dispenses by hand pressure and works for most creams and gels. An airless pump tube uses a metered mechanism for formulas that need fixed dosing or maximum protection, at higher cost and complexity.
Can squeeze tubes be made from recycled plastic?
Yes. PCR-PE tube bodies are available with a documented recycled percentage depending on the grade, and they can be combined with PCR-PE caps for a higher total recycled content.
Which orifice should I choose for a cream?
Standard 6–8 mm orifices suit creams and lotions; thicker pastes and ointments need 10 mm or a wider nozzle cap; gels pour better with a 5–6 mm orifice and a self-closing disc.
What is the production lead time for squeeze tubes?
Stock samples in 5–10 working days; custom colour and decorated samples in 10–20 working days. 15–30 working days after sample approval, depending on quantity, decoration and assembly complexity.
What is the MOQ for squeeze 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 squeeze 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 squeeze 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, PCR-PE caps, PP caps. Selection is driven by formula compatibility, clarity requirements, decoration and any recycled-content target.
Still have a question? Talk to a packaging expert.
More in Tubes
Plastic Tubes
Plastic cosmetic tubes are extruded or laminated squeeze packs from 5 ml to 300 ml that dispense creams, gels and fluids hygienically and evacuate almost completely — the strongest all-round format for viscous formulas.
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Cosmetic Tube Packaging
Cosmetic tube packaging combines a tube body and cap with a printing system — offset, flexo, screen or digital — that can cover the entire pack, which makes tubes the most brand-communicative low-cost format in skincare.
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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.
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Quotes and samples for squeeze 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)