Custom Archive Boxes for Files, Records and Paperwork

What is an archive box?

An archive box is a storage box built around paper. Its inside is set so A4 or foolscap sheets stand upright, with a little space to pull a file out. The lid keeps dust off, and a printed panel on the end tells you what is inside without lifting it down.

There are two main shapes. The deep lidded box holds a run of files in a row, like a drawer. The slim flip-top file box holds one project, opens at the top like a briefcase, and sits on a shelf like a book.

Archive boxes belong to our range of cardboard boxes made to size, and every order is cut to your measurements.

Which archive box style suits my files?

Think about how often you will go back into the box. Daily access suits a flip-top. Yearly access suits a deep box with a lid.

How do I size an archive box?

Measure the largest folder you use, not a single sheet. A ring binder or lever arch file is taller and wider than the paper inside it. Stand it upright and note the height, then add 10 to 15 mm so it slides out easily.

Next, decide how many files go in each box and measure their combined thickness. Leave a finger's width at the end so you can tip the files forward to read the tabs.

Last, think about weight. Paper is dense, and a full box can be a heavy lift. A box that holds five lever arch files is about as much as most people should carry. Our guide to measuring box sizes covers inside and outside measurements.

Which board should archive boxes use?

Single wall C flute, at about 4 mm, is the usual choice. It keeps the box light, holds its shape when full of paper, and folds neatly at the corners.

Choose BC double wall, at about 7 mm, if boxes will stand five or six high. It also suits store rooms with little shelving, where boxes sit on the floor. The thicker wall stops the lower boxes bowing under the load. White lined board gives a cleaner look in client-facing offices, while kraft suits a back room.

How do I set up an archive room with these boxes?

The tidiest archive rooms use one or two box sizes only. Every shelf then holds the same number of boxes, and a gap shows at once when a box is out.

Measure your shelving before you order. Note the clear height between shelves and the shelf depth, then size the boxes so two or three fit across with a little room to spare. A box that overhangs the shelf edge will be knocked every time someone walks past.

Number the boxes in order and keep a simple index of what each one holds. When a destroy-after date passes, the whole box can go to shredding in one trip, and the empty space is ready for next year.

Can archive boxes be printed with our branding?

Yes. Most archive boxes are printed in one colour for the label panel, which keeps costs low. Some firms add their logo on the lid and front, so the boxes look tidy in a client meeting room.

We print one, two or full CMYK colours on kraft or white board. Matte lamination resists scuffs on boxes that are handled often. Our designers will set the label panel at no cost and send a digital proof for your approval.

If several departments share one store room, print each department's boxes in a different ink colour. Staff can then spot their own shelf from the door.

What goes wrong with archive boxes?

Sizing to the paper rather than the folder is the classic error. The box looks right for A4 sheets but refuses a ring binder by a few millimetres.

Overfilling is next. A box packed until the sides bulge will not stack straight, and the lid will not close. Last, many offices store boxes on the floor of a cellar. Damp softens the board over time, so raise boxes off the floor on shelving. For boxes that will hold mixed stock as well as paper, our general cardboard storage boxes may suit better.

How quickly can I get archive boxes?

Before anything is made, we send you a free digital proof to check. Production takes 4 to 6 business days once you approve it.

Tracked delivery takes a further 2 to 3 business days. We deliver free to offices and homes anywhere in the UK. Boxes come flat, so a full order fits in a cupboard until you need it.

How do I order archive boxes?

Archive boxes are priced from £0.25 per unit, with the final price fixed on your written quote. Tell us the inside size, style, board, quantity and what the label panel should say.

Request a price through our trade quote form for boxes, or set the box up in Design Your Box. Email info@ordercardboardboxes.co.uk or WhatsApp us if you would rather talk it through. If any box arrives damaged or misprinted, photos sent within 10 days get it reprinted or refunded.