Design cost and printing cost are separate
The first thing to get clear: a packaging designer creates the artwork; a printer or converter manufactures the packs. Printing cost depends on material (paper, board, laminate, pouch), size, colours, finishes like foil or spot UV, and above all quantity — per-unit prices fall sharply as order sizes rise, and most printers set a minimum order quantity. None of that is in a design quote, so compare design quotes with design quotes.
Typical price ranges in India (2026)
| Scope | Common quote range (2026) |
|---|---|
| Single label, freelancer | ₹3,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Full pack design, studio (front, back, print-ready) | ₹20,000 – ₹75,000 |
| Range system across several SKUs or variants | ₹40,000 – ₹1,50,000+ |
| 3D mockups for listings | Often included; ₹2,000 – ₹10,000 when separate |
For reference, our Packaging Design rates are ₹20,000 (Standard) and ₹40,000 (Premium, with FSSAI and statutory layout and a range design system).
What drives the price
- Number of SKUs and variants. Three flavours in two sizes is six artworks, even if they share a system.
- Standard or custom structure. Designing onto a printer's stock dieline is cheaper than developing a new box shape.
- Statutory content. Laying out ingredients, nutrition tables and legal text cleanly takes real time, especially on small packs.
- Illustration and photography. Custom illustration or product shoots add cost but can carry the whole brand.
- Revision rounds. Agree the number up front.
The label details you must plan space for
If you sell packaged food, the label has to carry a set of mandatory declarations under FSSAI's labelling and display regulations and India's Legal Metrology rules for packaged commodities. These typically include:
- the FSSAI logo and licence or registration number;
- the veg or non-veg symbol;
- the list of ingredients and nutritional information;
- allergen declarations where applicable;
- net quantity and the MRP;
- date marking such as best before or use by, and the date of manufacture or packing;
- the manufacturer's or packer's name and address, and consumer care details.
Other categories — cosmetics, supplements, electronics — have their own rules. Rules are revised from time to time, so confirm the current requirements for your product with your food-safety or compliance consultant. A designer lays out the details you supply; they shouldn't be deciding what the law requires.
A reprint costs more than the design. Missing or unreadable mandatory details can mean scrapping a whole print run, so plan the back panel before you fall in love with the front.
What "print-ready" should mean
Ask for artwork in CMYK, with bleed, built on your printer's exact dieline, fonts outlined or embedded, and images at print resolution. Get the dieline from the printer before design starts — sizes that are "about right" are the most common cause of delays.
How to budget for it
Design your hero SKU first, test it with real customers and your printer, then roll the system across the range. Budget printing separately, and keep a small contingency for a proof run. If you sell online, make sure you get 3D mockups — they let you list the product and take orders before the first carton is printed.