Custom Chipboard Dividers for Vials, Bottles and Small Parts

What are chipboard dividers?

Chipboard dividers are partitions made from thin, flat card rather than fluted board. Each strip is cut with slots halfway down its height. Strips running one way slide into strips running the other way, and a stiff grid stands up inside the box.

Because the card is thin, the walls between cells take up very little space. A box that would hold a 6 × 6 corrugated grid can often hold a much denser chipboard grid instead.

Our photos show kraft grids of around a hundred cells inside mailer boxes, plus a white grid set in a white lidded box. They sit within our wider packing supplies and box inserts range.

Chipboard or corrugated dividers: which do I need?

Weight is the deciding factor. Thin card works well when each item is light and the box is not dropped from height. Heavier glass, such as wine bottles or jam jars, needs the cushioning of fluted board. For those, look at our fluted corrugated box dividers instead.

How do I measure for a chipboard grid?

Start with the inside of the box, not the outside. Measure the inside length and width at the base, then the inside height. Our guide on how to measure a box properly explains the difference.

Then measure one item at its widest point. A round bottle is measured across its body, or across the cap if that is wider. Add 2 to 3 mm so it drops in without forcing. Multiply that cell size by the number of cells in each row, and check the total fits the box.

Finally, decide on grid height. A grid at full box height steadies tall bottles. A lower grid leaves caps and labels showing, which makes picking quicker.

Which board suits chipboard dividers?

We cut chipboard dividers from kraft folding board or white folding board. Kraft has a warm brown look and hides small marks well, so it suits storage and trade packs.

White board looks clean and clinical. It suits lab samples, skincare sets and gift boxes where the grid shows as soon as the lid comes off. It also makes handwritten cell numbers easy to read.

Both boards fold cleanly at the slots and stay flat in the bundle. If the grid will be handled often, as in a parts store, pick kraft. If it is mainly seen once at unboxing, white usually wins.

Can chipboard dividers be printed?

Most dividers are left plain, because the items inside do the talking. Print is still possible when the grid is part of the unboxing.

We can print one colour, two colour or full colour CMYK on the strips. A simple use is a row of numbers or letters along the top edge, so each cell has a reference. Our designers set this up free and send a digital proof before production.

Packing tips for small items in a grid

Fill the outer cells first. They take the knocks when a box is handled, so a full outer ring keeps the grid square.

Lay a flat sheet of card over the tops before closing a tall box. It stops bottles lifting out of their cells if the parcel turns upside down. For extra cushion under the base, a thin layer of crinkle paper works well.

Pack one test box before a full run. Shake it gently, turn it over and open it again. If any item has moved or a cell wall has bowed, the cell size or board needs a change.

Common mistakes with chipboard dividers

The first mistake is measuring the item label instead of its widest part. A bottle that fits by its body can still jam by its cap.

The second is asking thin card to carry heavy glass. If one full cell feels heavy in the hand, move up to corrugated board. Last, people forget that the grid walls take a little space. Add their thickness when you work out the overall grid size, or let us do the sums.

Can a chipboard grid go into a box I already use?

Yes, and this is how many orders start. You already have a box that works, but items rattle around inside it. Send us the inside size of that box and we cut a grid to drop straight in.

If you are still choosing a box, it is easier to size both together. We can make a matching printed or plain mailer box with the grid fitted to it. That way the cell rows line up exactly with the walls, and there is no gap at the edges.

Keep a note of the box size and grid layout once you are happy. Repeat orders are then quick, because the sizes are already settled.

How do I order chipboard dividers?

Prices start from £0.25 per unit, and your written quote confirms the exact figure. Send us the box inside size, the cell layout, the board colour and the quantity. Use the trade quote form for inserts, or email info@ordercardboardboxes.co.uk. WhatsApp is fine too.

We send a free digital proof first. Production takes 4 to 6 business days after you approve it. Tracked delivery then takes 2 to 3 business days, and UK delivery is free. If anything arrives damaged or misprinted, send photos within 10 days and we reprint or refund.