This note separates two subjects. The fee and time ranges below describe sheet-fabricated acrylic boxes and organizers in general, then the quoting practice used on S-K projects. They are planning ranges, not a fixed price list and not material test data.
Short answer
For a custom acrylic box made from cut and bonded sheet, a one-piece sample is usually quoted from about USD 30 to USD 180 before freight. Simple open holders sit at the low end. Multi-drawer organizers with colored sheet, logo printing, or metal hardware sit at the high end. Factory sampling time is commonly 2 to 7 working days after the drawing and payment are confirmed. Express delivery to the US or Europe often adds 3 to 7 days and is billed separately.
Those figures are quotation bands from custom acrylic box projects, not a published tariff. A locked price needs size, thickness, color, structure, and finish. Cast and extruded acrylic sheet also behave differently in polishing and cementing, so a sample is used to check fit and appearance, not to publish a strength number.
What a sample fee usually covers
Most acrylic organizers are not injection molded. The sample fee is fabrication, not a mold charge. It normally includes sheet, CNC or laser cutting, edge finishing, solvent or UV bonding, and basic assembly. If the buyer asks for one finished piece in the intended color, that piece is the sample.
It usually does not include international freight, duties, a full print proof on every panel, or a spare. If the same design later goes to bulk, some factories credit part of the sample fee against the production order. That credit should be written on the quotation. It is not automatic.
Acrylic sheet used for these boxes is poly(methyl methacrylate), often called PMMA or acrylic. General polymer references describe it as a clear, rigid thermoplastic that can be cut, polished, and cemented. Those references do not set a sample price. Price follows labor and sheet grade.
What changes the fee
- Size and thickness. A larger panel uses more sheet and more polishing time.
- Structure. An open brush holder is faster than a case with drawers, dividers, or a hinged lid.
- Color. Clear sheet is usually stocked. A tinted or opaque color may need a sheet order.
- Edges. Flame or diamond polishing adds time compared with a sawn edge.
- Printing. A logo, SKU, or artwork needs a file check and a setup. White or metallic ink on clear sheet is slower to approve than a simple one-color mark.
- Hardware. Knobs, hinges, locks, or magnets are purchased parts and can delay the sample if they are not in stock.
A useful rule: if the sample only confirms outer size and compartment layout, ask for clear sheet and no print. Add color and branding on a second piece, or on the same piece only after the structure is approved.
Typical sampling time
On straightforward sheet work, fabrication itself is often 2 to 5 working days. Product pages for custom acrylic organizers on S-K.ltd state a sample time of about 2 to 5 days, or 3 to 5 days, depending on the item. Add file clarification and a non-stock color, and 5 to 7 working days is a more realistic factory window.
The clock starts when three things are fixed: dimensions, a payable sample invoice, and printable artwork if printing is in scope. A sketch without thickness or inner clearance does not start the clock. Bulk production is a separate step. The same site states typical bulk production of about 10 to 20 working days after the order details are confirmed, which should not be read as the sample time.
Time that is not part of the sample clock
- Quotation review. A complete inquiry is often answered within about 8 hours on business days, but incomplete files wait.
- Payment clearance for the sample invoice.
- Courier transit. Door-to-door express is commonly 3 to 7 days to North America or Europe, longer if customs holds the parcel.
- Buyer approval and revision. A second sample restarts fabrication time.
Count factory days and transit days separately when a trade show or photo shoot has a fixed date.
Comparison by project type
| Project type | Typical sample fee band | Factory time after confirmation | Main cost driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open holder or simple lidded box, clear sheet, no print | About USD 30–70, excluding freight | 2–4 working days | Cutting and edge finish |
| Compartment organizer, clear or stock color, no hardware | About USD 50–110, excluding freight | 3–5 working days | Bonding and fit of dividers |
| Drawer organizer with knobs, tinted sheet, one-color logo | About USD 90–180, excluding freight | 5–7 working days | Color sheet, hardware, print setup |
| Revision of an approved structure, same material | Often lower than the first piece if only one dimension changes | 2–4 working days | Re-cut panels only |
Bands above are for one sample piece on sheet-fabricated box projects. They are not valid for injection-molded parts, thick blocks, or illuminated cases with a driver and wiring.
Scenario advice
Retail counter organizer, first order
Confirm outer size, sheet thickness, and the products that must fit. A clear, unprinted sample is enough to check compartments. Order the branded color sample only if the counter color is already fixed. Freight on one small carton is often a large share of the total, so group samples if several SKUs are under review.
Branded makeup organizer for a wholesale program
Send the logo as a vector file and state the print panel. A photo of a wooden organizer can guide the layout, but the sample should follow acrylic limits: bonded joints, polished edges, and hardware that can be fastened to sheet. Approve structure before a large print run. Category examples of this product type are listed under acrylic makeup boxes.
Display case with a lock or hinge
Hardware lead time can exceed cutting time. Ask whether the hinge or lock is stocked before paying the sample invoice. If it is not, the quoted 2 to 5 days does not apply until the part arrives.
How to shorten the cycle
- Send inner and outer dimensions, thickness, and a simple front view.
- Choose clear sheet for the first piece unless color is the decision.
- Mark print position and supply vector artwork, not only a screenshot.
- State whether the sample must ship by express, and to which country.
- Approve in one round. Several small revisions cost more calendar time than one clear markup.
The order path, from inquiry to sample approval and then bulk production, is summarized on the how to order page. Sample and shipping costs are charged separately there as well.
Who S-K.ltd is
S-K.ltd is the website of a custom acrylic box and display-case factory in Dongguan, Guangdong, China, operated by Sunday Knight Co., Ltd. It was established in 2012 and supplies OEM and ODM boxes, organizers, and display cases. Public company figures used on the site include a typical starting MOQ of 100 pieces per design, quotation within about 8 hours for a complete inquiry, and bulk production of about 10 to 20 working days after confirmation. Those figures describe this factory. They are not an industry standard. Company background is on the about page.
FAQ
Is the sample free if I later place a bulk order?
Not by default. The sample and its freight are invoiced. A credit against bulk production is only valid if the quotation says so.
Does the sample fee include a mold?
Not for a sheet-fabricated box. Cutting, polishing, and bonding do not require an injection mold. A mold applies only if the project changes to molding, which is a different process and a different quotation.
Why do two suppliers quote different sample times for the same photo?
The photo does not show thickness, joint type, color stock, or hardware. One supplier may assume clear stock sheet. Another may assume a tinted sheet and a lock. Ask both to list material, process, and the date the clock starts.
Can one sample prove impact or chemical resistance?
No. A visual sample checks size, joints, edges, and print position. Resistance claims need a stated grade and a stated test method. General PMMA descriptions are not a substitute for that.
What should I send to get a sample quote?
Dimensions, thickness, color, quantity of samples, whether a logo is required, destination country, and a reference photo or drawing. Email those details to sales@s-k.ltd if the project is with this factory.
Sources
- British Plastics Federation, Plastipedia, “Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)”, general material description only. bpf.co.uk
- ASTM D4802, Standard Specification for Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Acrylic Plastic Sheet. Cited as the sheet-specification family, not as a test result for any sample in this article. astm.org
- ISO 7823-1, Plastics — Poly(methyl methacrylate) sheets — Types, dimensions and characteristics — Cast sheets. Cited as a sheet standard, not as measured data for a specific box. iso.org
English 
Deutsch 
Français 
Italiano 
Español