Custom Boxes for Small Business, Made to Your Sizes

What counts as a box for small business?

It is less a single style and more a way of ordering. A small business needs boxes that fit its own products, carry its own name and arrive in quantities it can store.

In practice that means one of a handful of formats. Retail cartons sit on a shelf, mailers go through the post, and lid and base boxes suit gifts. You choose the format, then we build it around your inside size.

Most owners start with one box for their best seller. Once that works, a second size usually follows for bundles or larger items.

Which box style suits my products?

Start with how the box will travel. If it goes into a carrier bag or onto a shelf, a folding board carton is usually enough. If it goes straight into the post, a corrugated mailer protects it better.

The table below is a simple starting point. Our designers can suggest another style once they see your product and sizes.

How do I measure for a small business box?

Put a ruler against the product, never against the carton it came in. Length is the longest edge, width the shorter one, and height runs from base to top. Write the sizes down in millimetres if you can.

Allow roughly 3 to 5 mm of play around each side so the item slides in without forcing. Add more if you plan to use tissue, an insert or a thank you card. The step by step box measuring guide covers tolerances in more detail.

If you sell several sizes, measure the largest item that will share the box. One well chosen size can often cover two or three products.

Which board should a small business choose?

Folding board is a single, smooth sheet. It prints crisply and feels like a shop-bought carton. It comes in white or kraft, and it suits items that do not travel loose in the post.

Corrugated card has a fluted layer between two liners. E flute is about 1.5 mm and keeps a slim, neat look. B flute is about 3 mm and adds more cushioning for heavier items or longer journeys.

For most small shops, E flute mailers and folding board cartons cover nearly everything. Double wall BC board is rarely needed unless you post heavy or fragile goods.

If you are unsure, our single wall and double wall comparison explains when the thicker board earns its place.

How can I keep packing quick and tidy?

Boxes arrive flat, so store them flat and dry. Fold a day's worth in the morning and keep them stacked near your packing table.

Pick one inside size that fits most orders. Fewer sizes mean less storage space, faster packing and fewer mistakes when you are busy.

If items rattle, a card insert or a little crinkle paper holds them still. A tidy box arrives looking the way you packed it.

Keep a small stock of each size so a busy weekend does not leave you short. A quick count each Friday shows when it is time to reorder.

How many box sizes should a small shop start with?

Two is a sensible number for most new shops. One size covers single items and a second, larger size takes bundles or gift sets.

Lay out your ten best sellers and group them by size. You will usually find that most of them fit one of two boxes with a little padding.

Adding a third size later is easy, because your artwork can be adapted to the new shape. Starting small keeps cash and shelf space free while you learn what customers buy.

What does a small business box cost?

Small business boxes are priced from £0.25 per unit, and your figure is fixed on a written quote before you commit. Size, board, colours and finish all move that number up or down.

Shipping your batch costs nothing anywhere in the UK. Should any box turn up misprinted or crushed, send photos within 10 days and we will reprint it or give your money back.