Short answer
For a custom acrylic display box, unit price is usually driven by five items in this order of influence: unfolded sheet area and thickness, edge and joint count, surface finish, added hardware or printing, and order quantity. Changing thickness from 3 mm to 5 mm, or adding a hinged lid and a printed logo, often moves the quote more than switching between two clear cast grades of similar optical class.
A useful quote compares the same outside size, the same sheet thickness, the same edge finish, and the same quantity. Without those four parameters, two prices are not comparable.
Acrylic display boxes are normally fabricated from poly(methyl methacrylate) sheet, also sold as PMMA, plexiglass, or perspex. Sheet is cut, edges are finished, and panels are solvent-bonded, mechanically fastened, or both. The box is a set of processed panels, not a single molded part, unless the buyer specifically asks for thermoforming or injection molding. That process difference is why small design changes show up directly on the invoice.
The cost drivers, compared
The table below ranks factors by how often they change a wholesale quote for a countertop display box in the roughly 150–400 mm size range. It describes direction of cost, not a fixed percentage. Yield, local sheet price, and labor rate vary by factory and by month.
| Factor | What is being bought | Typical effect on unit price | What to lock in the RFQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheet area and thickness | Raw PMMA, including offcuts | Largest material line. Thicker sheet costs more per square meter and is slower to cut and polish. | Outside dimensions, wall thickness, lid style |
| Grade and color | Cast or extruded; clear, tinted, frosted, or opaque | Clear cast is a common display default. Tinted and optical-grade sheets cost more; extruded can be lower cost but behaves differently in bonding and machining. | Cast or extruded, color code, frosted or gloss |
| Edge and joint count | Labor and polishing time | A five-sided bin is cheaper than a six-sided cabinet with a door, hinges, and an internal divider. | Panel count, door or lid, dividers |
| Edge finish | Saw cut, routed, flame polished, or diamond polished | A visible polished edge costs more than a hidden saw-cut edge. Flame polish is faster; diamond polish is slower and used where the edge is in the sight line. | Which edges are visible |
| Hardware and graphics | Hinges, magnets, standoffs, UV print, vinyl | Often a separate line. Small metal parts and multi-color print can exceed the acrylic cost on a small box. | Part numbers or a hardware photo |
| Quantity | Setup spread over units | Programming, jigs, and first-article checks are mostly fixed. Unit price usually falls as quantity rises, then flattens. | Sample qty and bulk qty |
Sheet grade, color, and thickness
PMMA sheet for glazing and display work is specified by type, thickness, and tolerance in standards such as ISO 7823 and ASTM D4802. Those documents classify sheet; they do not set a retail price. Buyers still need the manufacturer’s grade name, because “clear acrylic” covers cast sheet, extruded sheet, and several impact-modified variants.
Cast sheet is polymerized in a cell. It is the usual choice when a box needs thicker walls, machined pockets, or consistent solvent bonds. Extruded sheet is produced continuously and is often used for thinner covers and simple bent parts. The two are not interchangeable in every bond joint. A quote should name the process, not only the word acrylic.
Thickness is a design choice, not a quality slogan. For small lidded counter boxes, 3 mm walls with a 4 mm or 5 mm base are common. Taller cabinets and boxes that carry product weight often move to 5 mm walls. Going from 3 mm to 8 mm increases sheet cost, cutting time, and polish time. It does not automatically make the box “stronger” in every failure mode; a poorly bonded joint can still be the weak point.
Color changes price in two ways. Tinted and opaque sheet often has a higher purchase price and a color-match minimum. Frosted or silk-screened surfaces add a process step. If only the base needs color, a clear cover on a colored base usually costs less than an all-tinted enclosure.
Cutting, bonding, and edge finish
Most display boxes are cut on a panel saw, a CNC router, or a laser, then assembled. Laser cutting can leave a glossy edge on thin clear sheet, but thickness, color, and ventilation limits decide whether it is usable. Router cutting is common above about 5 mm and when interior slots must hold shelves. The cutting method should follow the drawing, not a marketing preference.
Joints are the second labor center. A solvent-bonded butt joint is standard for clear boxes. It needs square edges, the right cement for that sheet grade, and curing time before packing. Screws and standoffs avoid some cement work but add hardware and visible holes. A quote that says “assembled” without naming the joint type is incomplete.
Edge finish should be specified by location:
Hidden edges that sit against another panel can remain saw-cut or lightly scraped.
Customer-facing rims are usually flame polished or mechanically polished.
Edges that users grip should be eased, not left sharp, regardless of polish level.
Printing and engraving are optional. A one-color logo on a flat panel is a different cost from full-bleed UV print on several faces. Engraving removes material and can need a fill color. Ask for print method, number of colors, and whether the art is on the inside or outside face.
Quantity, tooling, and non-material costs
Setup is real even when there is no injection mold. A new box still needs a nest or program, a bonding fixture, a first-article check, and packing trials. Those costs are shared across the order. A 20-piece run and a 500-piece run of the same box should not be expected to share a unit price.
Other lines that sit outside the sheet cost:
Sample revisions, if the first article changes thickness or joint design.
Protective film, individual poly bags, and cartons. Film left on until installation reduces scratch claims.
Inserts and foam, which can cost as much as a thin lid on a small box.
Export packing, trade term, and freight. EXW, FOB, and DDP are different prices.
Tolerances also move cost. A gap of about 0.5 mm around a lid is a normal fabricated fit. Asking for a near-interference fit on every panel adds inspection time and scrap. Put the critical fit on the drawing; leave non-critical edges at the factory’s standard fabrication tolerance.
What to specify in four common jobs
Countertop product box, about 200 x 150 x 120 mm
Specify 3 mm clear cast walls, a 4 mm or 5 mm base, a lift-off lid, and polished top rims only. Skip hinges unless the lid must stay attached. This is the reference design for comparing suppliers.
Five-sided open bin for retail replenishment
Delete the lid and one labor center disappears. A thicker base matters more than thicker side walls if staff stack product in the bin. State the fill weight so the base thickness is chosen for that load, not by habit.
Lockable cabinet with a door
Budget for hinges or a pivot, a magnet or lock, and extra polished edges around the opening. The door usually costs more than the extra sheet. Confirm swing direction and whether the lock is customer-supplied.
Colored brand plinth with a clear cover
Price the colored base and the clear cover separately. Match the color chip before bulk cutting. A frosted base hides small scratches better than a gloss black base in a high-traffic shop.
Who makes the box: a separate note
The cost factors above apply to fabricated PMMA boxes in general. They are not a claim about one factory’s price list.
Sunday Knight Co., Ltd is an acrylic fabrication company in Dongguan, Guangdong, China. The factory address published on its contact page is 2/F, Zone C, No. 2 Weiheng Road, Niushan Industrial Park, Dongcheng District, Dongguan. Public company pages describe OEM and ODM work on display stands, boxes, and related cut-and-bond acrylic parts, with export shipments noted to markets including the United States, Europe, Australia, Japan, and the Middle East. That description is company information, not a material specification.
Readers who want the company context can use the about page, the product index, the news list, or the contact page. A comparable quote still needs dimensions, thickness, grade, finish, hardware, and quantity, whoever the supplier is.
FAQ
Why do two clear boxes of the same outside size have different prices?
Outside size does not fix sheet area. Lid style, wall thickness, internal shelves, polish level, and pack method all change the quote. Ask both suppliers to price the same thickness and the same edge note.
Does thicker acrylic always cost proportionally more?
No. Sheet price rises with thickness, and so do cutting and polishing minutes. A 5 mm panel is not simply 5/3 of a 3 mm panel once labor and yield are included.
Is cast sheet always the right default?
It is a reasonable default for bonded display boxes with machined edges. Extruded sheet can be appropriate for simple thin covers. The drawing should say which one is required, because bond cement and thickness tolerance differ.
What should a buyer send for a realistic price?
A sketch with outside dimensions, wall thickness, lid or door type, color, visible-edge finish, hardware, print method, sample quantity, and bulk quantity. A photo of a similar box is useful; a photo alone is not a specification.
Do published light-transmission figures belong in a price article?
Only with the test method and the sheet grade. Optical values vary by grade and thickness. They are not a substitute for the cost drivers listed above.
Sources
ISO 7823-2, Plastics — Poly(methyl methacrylate) sheets — Types, dimensions and characteristics — Part 2: Extruded sheets. International Organization for Standardization. iso.org/standard/70494.html
ASTM D4802, Standard Specification for Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Acrylic Plastic Sheet. ASTM International. astm.org/d4802-16.html
Poly(methyl methacrylate), compound summary. National Library of Medicine, PubChem. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Polymethyl-methacrylate