Custom Handle Boxes for Carry-Out, Gifts and Parties

What are handle boxes?

They are cartons with a handle shaped into the top panels. When you fold the box closed, the two halves of the handle meet and lock, giving a firm grip.

Because the handle is part of the box, there is nothing extra to buy or attach. That keeps packing quick and the whole pack in one material.

Our photos show three common versions. There is the tall gable box, a cube with a curved loop handle, and a flat box with a tab that rises from the lid.

All three fold up from a single flat sheet. Nothing needs gluing at the counter, and the handle does not need tying or clipping.

Gable, cube or flat: which handle box suits you?

Each shape carries well, but they sit and stack differently. Use the table below as a rough guide, then tell us what goes inside.

How do I size a handle box?

Measure the product's length, width and height, then add room for napkins, cutlery or tissue if they travel with it.

Remember the handle sits above the box body. The height you give us is the inside space, not the overall height with the handle up.

Selling two items in one box, such as a cupcake with a drink pouch? Measure them side by side, the way they will be packed. It is easy to forget the second item.

For food that must stay level, like a decorated tart, a flat handle box is safer than a tall gable. A short read of our guide to measuring a box will help you get the inside size right first time.

What board is best for handle boxes?

Folding board, in white or kraft, works for most handle boxes. It folds sharply, holds print well and is light to carry.

Once the contents get heavy, the handle takes the strain. For loads like a full meal box or a jar gift set, E flute corrugated at about 1.5 mm gives a stronger handle.

Tell us roughly what the filled box weighs and we will recommend a board with the quote. If you need a much larger carry box for moving or storage, look at cardboard boxes with hand holes instead.

Print and finish ideas

Handle boxes are carried down the street, so every side is on show. Stripes, dots and all-over patterns work well, as the pink gable and patterned cube in our photos show.

We print plain, one colour, two colour or full colour CMYK, on the outside and inside. Uncoated kraft gives a market-stall feel, while gloss or matte lamination keeps white board looking fresh.

Foil stamping or spot UV on the logo panel adds a finishing touch for gift ranges. Embossing works best on flat panels away from the handle folds.

Handy packing tips

Fold up a batch before service and stand them open on a shelf. When an order comes in, staff only need to fill and close.

Train new staff to hold the box by the base, not the handle, while filling it. The handle is made for carrying a closed box, and pulling on it while open can tear a slot.

Put a square of greaseproof paper under oily food to keep the base clean. Close the top panels firmly so the handle halves lock fully.

For favours, drop the gift in first and add tissue last. That way the tissue peeks out of the top when the handle is opened.

Can I use handle boxes for events?

Yes. They are popular for birthday party bags, wedding favours, Easter egg hunts and Halloween treats.

A small cube with a loop handle can sit at each place setting as a name card and gift in one. Print the couple's names, a date or a simple message on the side panel.

For larger events, one printed design with blank space for a sticker lets you reuse the same boxes for several occasions.

Order event boxes a little early. Allow time for the proof, 4–6 business days of production and the delivery days, so the boxes are with you well before guests arrive.

Why choose a handle box over a paper bag?

A bag lets a cake slide and tip. A handle box holds it upright on a flat base, so it reaches home looking the way it left the counter.

It also saves a step. The box is the carrier, so staff do not have to box an item and then bag it.

Finally, a printed box gets seen. People carry it through town, put it on a table at a party and often keep it for small things afterwards.