Custom Cardboard Boxes Made to Your Size

What is in the cardboard box range?

This range covers the boxes most people picture when they say cardboard box. Some are corrugated board for posting and storing. Others are folding board or grey board for gifts, shelves and keepsakes.

Every style is made to order. You send the inside size, the board and the print, and we quote it in writing. Unit prices begin at £0.25 and move with size, board and quantity.

The range sits between our postal mailers and our printed retail cartons. It is where you start when the job is simply a good box at the right size.

If you need a box with no print at all, start with our plain cardboard boxes made to size. They are the simplest and quickest to specify.

Which cardboard box suits which job?

The table compares every style in the range. Use the middle column to match a box to what you sell or store, then open that page for sizes and board options.

How do I choose a cardboard box size?

Measure the item or the packed bundle first. Add a small allowance for wrapping or inserts, usually 5 to 10 mm on each side for soft goods and more for fragile ones.

Always quote inside sizes in the order length, width, height. Height is the side that runs from the opening to the base. If a lid or flap sits on the long side, say so on the order and we will check it on the proof.

Small items sit best in a box built close to them. For tiny goods, our small cardboard boxes for compact products page lists sizes that keep postage low.

Single wall, double wall or folding board?

Single wall corrugated board suits most parcels. E flute, at roughly 1.5 mm, folds into crisp small boxes. B flute is about 3 mm, and C flute is about 4 mm with more cushioning.

Double wall BC board is about 7 mm thick. Choose it for heavy loads, rough handling or stacking in a stockroom. Our large cardboard boxes for bulky goods are often made in BC.

Kraft or white folding board is thinner and smoother. It suits retail and gift styles where the box sits on a shelf rather than travelling alone in a van.

Not sure? Tell us the weight of a packed box and how it will travel. Your quote will then name the board we would use.

Can cardboard boxes be printed with my logo?

Yes. Print runs from a single ink up to full CMYK, or you can leave the board bare. We print outside, inside or both.

A one colour logo on brown kraft is the lowest cost way to brand a box. Full colour suits photographs, patterns and solid fills. Our black cardboard boxes with printed finishes show how a dark base takes foil and spot UV.

For the surface, you can leave bare kraft or add a matte or gloss film, spot UV, foil or an embossed logo. A free digital proof comes to you before any printing starts, and our designers will help with the layout at no charge.

Packing tips for cardboard boxes

Load the weightiest piece first and pack out the gaps until nothing moves. Movement inside the box causes more damage than a knock from outside.

Use tape across the centre seam and along both edges on the base of a taped box. Leave the contents level with the top. A bulging lid weakens the corners and lets moisture in.

For storage, stack the same size boxes together and keep the heaviest on the bottom row. Our cardboard storage boxes for stockrooms have a plain panel for a written label.

Label the outside of storage boxes on two sides. When boxes are stacked against a wall, one label is usually hidden.

Common mistakes when ordering cardboard boxes

Sending outside measurements is the error we see most. We make to inside sizes, so the outside will be larger by the board thickness on each side. With BC double wall that difference is about 14 mm per dimension.

Another mistake is choosing heavy board for light goods. Thick board adds weight and can push a parcel into a higher postage band. Our flat cardboard boxes for slim items are a good example of keeping height and weight down.

Finally, check that artwork has a bleed and that text stays clear of folds. The proof will show this, so read it carefully before you approve.

Last of all, think about how many you really need. Ordering for three months of sales is usually cheaper per box than ordering for three weeks, as long as you have dry space to keep them flat.

Round, cube and cylinder shapes

Not every product suits a rectangle. Round boxes are made to a diameter and height, and suit hats, flowers and candles. Cube boxes keep all three sides equal, which helps mugs and plants sit upright.

Cylinder boxes have a tube body and a fitted lid. They suit loose tea, rolled prints and cosmetics. See our cardboard cylinder boxes for tea and candles for typical diameters.

These shapes cost a little more to make than a plain carton because the board is cut and wrapped differently. Your written quote will show the exact unit price.