Custom Cardboard Boxes with Handles for Carry-Out Orders

What is a cardboard box with a handle?

It is a box you can carry with one hand, like a small bag. The most common type is the gable box. Two top panels fold up and meet in the middle, and a cut-out in each forms a single grip.

The photos above show this shape in several sizes. One is fully printed in red with cartoon art. Others are plain kraft with a printed label around the middle, and one is in black board with a simple line drawing.

A second type keeps a flat top and adds hand holes on the side panels. That style suits heavier or larger contents. Larger hand hole boxes also suit market stalls that send customers away with several items at once.

Gable top or hand holes: which handle style?

Both styles let people carry the box easily, but they behave differently. The gable shape closes the top fully, so it doubles as a lid. Hand holes keep a flat top that can be stacked.

Which board is best for a carry box?

Most handled boxes use kraft or white folding board. It folds sharply, prints well and keeps the box light. It suits snacks, pastries and party favours easily.

For heavier contents, such as a family meal or a bottle gift set, E flute corrugated adds stiffness at about 1.5 mm. The grip area takes the whole load when the box is lifted. A slightly heavier board stops the handle tearing on the walk home.

If the box will hold unwrapped food, mention it on your quote request. We will confirm the right board for that use.

How should I pack a handled box?

Keep the weight low and central. A heavy item at one end makes the box tip when lifted, and that strains one side of the handle. Use an insert or a card tray to stop items moving.

Do not overfill a gable box. If the contents push against the top panels, the grip will not close properly. For cakes, place the cake on a board first, then slide it in from the side if the box opens that way.

For takeaway orders, think about the order of packing at the counter. Hot items usually go in first and flat at the base. Drinks and sauces travel better in a separate carrier, so they cannot spill over the rest of the meal.

What mistakes should I avoid?

The first mistake is choosing the size by the outside of the box. Contents need the inside space, and the handle adds height above it. A box that looks big enough in photos can still squash a tall cake.

The second is light board for heavy contents. A drink set or large meal needs a stiffer board, or the handle can split. The third is forgetting the base. A tuck base can open under weight, so heavier boxes are better with a crash lock base. Test one full box by carrying it around the shop before you place a large order.

Can handled boxes be posted?

They are made mainly for carrying, not for the post. The peaked top does not stack well, and the cut-out can catch on parcel machinery. If you need to post one, place it inside a plain shipping carton.

For items that must travel by post, a flat-topped box usually works better. Our mailer boxes for posted orders are designed for that job.

How do handled boxes arrive?

They come flat in bundles, which is ideal for busy kitchens and counters with little space. A tracked service brings handled box orders within 2 to 3 business days, at no charge anywhere in the UK.

Fold a test box with a real product inside and lift it a few times. If any boxes reach you damaged or with a print fault, send photos within 10 days. We will reprint them or issue a refund.