Answers to the questions paper can buyers ask most — from minimum order quantity and food-grade materials to lead time, custom printing and samples.
Product Specifications & Materials
What exactly is a composite paper can?
A composite paper can is a rigid cylindrical container built from layers of food-grade paperboard wound and bonded into a tube, with a fitted base and lid. The layered construction typically consists of an outer printed paper wrap, a structural paperboard core, and an inner lining. Because each layer can be specified independently, stiffness, barrier performance and print quality can be tuned separately.
What standard sizes do you offer?
Our standard inner diameters are 53mm, 65mm, 73mm, 83mm, 99mm and 126mm, with most can heights between 40mm and 300mm. These are the sizes we hold tooling and board stock for. Any diameter within a practical range can be produced to order.
How do I choose the right wall thickness?
We produce paper cans at 0.9mm to 1.2mm wall thickness. 0.9mm suits lighter retail packaging, cosmetics and small gift tubes at lower unit cost. 1.0mm to 1.2mm suits heavier products, larger diameters and pet food where extra rigidity is needed for stacking and transport.
What materials are your paper cans made from?
Our standard construction uses 100% recyclable kraft paper with an aluminium foil inner liner. The kraft paper provides structure and a premium natural surface, while the foil liner provides the moisture and oxygen barrier. Food-grade PE or other barrier coatings can be specified depending on the application.
Are your paper cans food-grade and safe for direct food contact?
Yes. We manufacture with food-grade materials in a QS-certified dust-free workshop, and our food-grade paper cans are used by large-scale food enterprises.
Can paper cans be airtight and moisture-proof?
Yes, with the right liner specification. The aluminium foil liner blocks moisture vapour and oxygen transfer through the can wall. This matters most for products where freshness drives the buying decision, including tea, coffee, matcha, spices, dried pet food and nutritional powders.
Can a paper can hold liquids or wet products?
No. Composite paper cans are designed for dry and semi-dry products. The paperboard structure will fail in sustained contact with liquid or high-moisture contents. For wet pet food, sauces or liquids, a paper can is the wrong format.
What can a paper can be used for?
Food packaging such as tea, coffee, spices, cookies, candies, dried fruit and nutritional powder; pet food such as kibble, treats and dry pet food; cosmetics and skincare including lip balms, creams and powders; and retail or promotional items such as toys, kits, USB drives, branded pens and gift sets.
Custom Printing, OEM & ODM
Can you customise the size, structure and artwork?
Yes. Customisation is our core business. We support custom size, structure and pattern, and can adjust wall thickness, base and lid design, liner specification and opening style to fit your product.
Can you print our logo and brand artwork?
Yes. We offer screen printing, offset printing and UV printing, and work from your artwork files. If you only have a logo and a rough idea, our team can help develop the layout.
What surface finishes are available?
Our available finishes include embossing, debossing, anti-scratch, soft touch, window-punched, spot UV and hot stamping. These can be combined. Hot stamping and embossing are the most requested options for premium tea, coffee and gift packaging.
What is the difference between your OEM and ODM service?
With OEM, you bring the design, specifications or a finished reference sample and we manufacture to your requirement. With ODM, you bring the product and the market, and our team helps develop the packaging structure, artwork layout and finish selection.
Can you replicate or match an existing paper can we already use?
In most cases, yes. Send us a physical sample or precise measurements including inner diameter, height, wall thickness, liner type and finish. We will assess whether we can produce a direct match or need to adjust the structure slightly.
MOQ, Pricing & Samples
What is your minimum order quantity?
Our standard MOQ is 1,000 pieces. We keep MOQ deliberately low so you can validate the packaging with real customers before committing to a large run. MOQ can vary by specification: complex structures, specialist finishes or non-standard diameters may require a higher quantity because of setup costs.
How much does a paper can cost?
Our paper cans typically range from roughly USD 0.20 to USD 3.95 per unit, depending on size, material, printing method and finish. Snack cans start from about $0.30, pet food cans around $0.80 to $0.90, matcha and tea cans around $0.99, and premium embossed canisters around $3.40. The biggest cost drivers are order quantity, printing method and finishing.
Do you provide samples?
Yes. We provide samples so you can evaluate the stock, print quality and structure before committing to production. Contact us with your requirement to arrange sample dispatch.
Is there a plate or setup fee for custom printing?
Custom printing may involve a one-time plate or setup fee depending on the printing method and number of colours. Contact us with your artwork and target quantity and we will confirm the applicable setup costs upfront.
Production & Lead Time
What is your production lead time?
Our standard production lead time is 14 days after artwork confirmation and deposit receipt. This covers production, not shipping. Artwork revisions and peak season load ahead of Chinese New Year and major retail seasons can extend it.
What is your production capacity?
Our facility operates advanced automatic production lines with an annual capacity in the tens of millions of units. We run multiple lines so both small trial orders and large-scale repeat programs can be produced to the same specification.
Can you handle urgent or rush orders?
Rush orders can be discussed depending on current line capacity and the complexity of the specification. Tell us your required delivery date and we will confirm feasibility before you commit.
Shipping, Payment & Order Process
What shipping terms do you work with?
We quote FOB from our base in Foshan, Guangdong, and can arrange other terms depending on your requirement. We work with freight forwarders for sea, air and express shipments.
What are your payment terms?
Our standard terms are a deposit with order and the balance before shipment. Contact us to discuss terms for repeat and program orders.
Can you support private label and Amazon FBA?
Yes. Private label is standard for us, and we can produce packaging ready for retail or marketplace fulfilment, including barcodes and unit labelling where required. Contact us with your fulfilment requirements to confirm the exact scope.
How do I start an order?
It takes four steps. First, send us your requirement including product type, dimensions, target quantity and artwork. Second, we quote and propose a structure with unit pricing at your target quantity. Third, you approve a sample or mock-up. Fourth, production begins, typically 14 days from deposit, followed by shipment.
About Our Factory
Where is your factory located?
We are Foshan Hank Paper Can Co., Ltd., based in Leping Industrial Park, Sanshui District, Foshan, Guangdong, China, in the heart of China's manufacturing hub. Our modern facility spans 2,500 square meters.
How long have you been manufacturing paper cans?
We have over 10 years of expertise in the packaging industry. We originally produced traditional plastic packaging and transitioned to premium eco-friendly paper packaging as the global sustainability movement took hold.
Do you have certifications?
We manufacture in a QS-certified dust-free workshop using food-grade materials, and our products are trusted by large-scale food enterprises.
Sustainability
Are paper cans recyclable?
Yes. Our standard construction uses 100% recyclable kraft paper, making paper cans a direct substitute for single-use plastic and rigid plastic containers in most dry-goods applications. Cans with an aluminium foil liner may require the liner to be separated before paper recycling in some municipal systems.
How do paper cans compare to plastic containers?
Paper cans offer strong sustainability positioning, premium tactile shelf presentation and good moisture barrier when specified with a foil liner, and are best suited to dry goods, tea, coffee, pet food and cosmetics. Plastic containers offer a natural moisture barrier and suit liquids, wet products and high-humidity applications.
Send us your product details, target quantity and artwork. We will quote and propose a structure.