Packaging design pricing: based on samples or based on systems
Most packaging quotes are based on samples. The biggest difference lies in whether a system is created or not.
Packaging design in Vietnam in 2026 is divided into three tiers. A template design based on an existing mold costs around 1.5 to 5 million VND. A custom design with a proposed structure and material costs around 5 to 20 million VND. A packaging system for the entire product line, including label architecture and expanded standards for future SKUs, costs around 80 to 300 million VND. These figures represent the design cost and do not include printing and mold costs.
- Businesses are about to launch a product line with many SKUs.
- People are comparing packaging quotes that are too far apart.
- Business owners want to separate design costs from printing costs.
- Those needing quotes for printing and mold making should consult the printing house.
Packaging is the category most prone to misunderstandings about pricing, as both parties are often discussing different units. One side calculates by sample, while the other calculates by system. For the same product, the two methods can yield figures that differ by several dozen times, yet neither party is wrong.
Figures in USD. All prices on this page are in Vietnamese dong. Converted at roughly 26,300 VND to the US dollar (August 2026), the market bands are:
- Brand identity system: Template tier $50 to $600; Mid studio tier $1,250 to $3,750; Senior brand studio tier $5,750 to $19,000.
- Packaging design: Template tier $50 to $200; Mid studio tier $200 to $750; Senior brand studio tier $3,000 to $11,500.
- Website and digital experience: Template tier $250 to $750; Mid studio tier $550 to $2,250; Senior brand studio tier $3,750 to $15,000.
Sinh Vũ works at the senior studio tier. Entry points: Brand identity system from $5,750; Digital brand experience from $3,750; Packaging identity system from $3,000; Sales and communication kit from $1,500. These are starting points, not a price list; the final figure is built from each project's real scope.
Three tiers of packaging design pricing.
A template design based on an existing mold costs around 1.5 to 5 million VND. It involves taking an existing mold, changing the text, adjusting the color, and combining product images. Quick and inexpensive, suitable for trial products or small batches that need to be on shelves to gauge reactions.
A custom design costs around 5 to 20 million VND. It includes a proposed structure, consideration of materials and processing techniques, and a properly formatted mold layout for the printer. This is the common price for a serious flagship product.
A packaging system for the entire product line costs around 80 to 300 million VND. It is no longer calculated by sample but by system: tiered label architecture, rules distinguishing between categories and flavors, and expanded standards for future products. Sinh Vũ starts this category at 80 million VND.
Why is the system much more expensive than the total of individual samples? Because the challenge lies not in creating ten labels, but in establishing rules so that the eleventh label, made by someone else, still fits correctly within the product line two years later. Companies with many SKUs that overlook this aspect often have to redo everything after a few product launches.
Design costs are not printing costs.
This is where Sinh Vũ wants to clarify to avoid misunderstandings. The figures above represent the design work. Printing costs, mold creation, surface finishing, and transportation are separate expenses, depending on the printer, order quantity, material, and selected techniques. For large orders, printing costs often far exceed design costs.
Sinh Vũ provides consulting and design, specifies techniques, and delivers standard files to the factory, but does not guarantee printing prices and does not act as a printer. This separation ensures that advice on materials and techniques is in your best interest, not influenced by printing benefits.
What causes packaging prices to increase?
- Item code. Each flavor, each volume, each version is a separate design, even if they share a common system.
- The industry is tightly regulated. Food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals have mandatory requirements for displayed information, requiring space and compliance from the initial design.
- Special structure. Boxes with unique opening mechanisms, positioning trays, and multi-layer packaging all require physical samples to be tested before finalization.
- Export. Additional languages, additional regulations of the target market, an extra layer of checks.
How to ask for prices accurately.
When requesting a packaging quote, clearly state four things to receive accurate figures: the number of SKUs needed for this batch and planned expansions, the industry and regulations to comply with, whether there is an existing structure or if a new structure needs to be proposed, and whether a physical sample is needed for approval. Without these four pieces of information, all quotes received will be mere estimates.
Decision checklist
Topic: The cost of product packaging design in Vietnam. Sinh Vũ guide, sinhvu.com
Select each item you find appropriate, then print or save as PDF to take with you.
If you have marked most of the signs above, this is the time to discuss in more detail. Sinh Vũ can help you review and propose a direction.
References
The cost framework for packaging design is based on the complexity level in the domestic market (kaiza.vn, tatthanh.com.vn). The starting point for the packaging system is derived from Sinh Vũ's internal framework currently in use.
Frequently asked questions
How much does product packaging design cost?
A template design based on an existing mold costs around 1.5 to 5 million VND. A custom design with a proposed structure costs around 5 to 20 million VND. A packaging system for the entire product line costs around 80 to 300 million VND. These figures represent the design cost and do not include printing and mold costs.
Does the design price include printing costs?
No. Printing costs, mold creation, and processing are separate expenses, depending on the printer, order quantity, and selected techniques. Sinh Vũ designs and specifies techniques, delivering standard files to the factory, but does not guarantee printing prices.
If there are many item codes, should you create individual samples or a complete system?
From around five SKUs and above, creating a system is often cheaper in the long run. If each sample is done separately, every new product launch requires rethinking, and after a few rounds, the entire product line appears disjointed, necessitating a complete redesign.