Custom Regular Slotted Containers in Kraft, White or Print

What is a regular slotted container?

The regular slotted container is the box most people picture when they hear the word carton. It is cut and creased from a single sheet of corrugated board, then glued along one corner.

Each end has four flaps. The two long flaps are half the box width deep, so they meet neatly in the centre once folded down. The short flaps sit underneath them.

Packaging buyers often call it an RSC, and the industry code for the style is FEFCO 0201. It sits at the heart of our range of corrugated shipping boxes because it suits so many goods.

Who buys regular slotted containers?

RSCs suit anyone who packs in volume. Warehouses use them for picking and dispatch. Producers use them to send cases of goods to shops and wholesalers.

They are also a common choice for house moves, office relocations and archive storage, where people want plain, tough cartons in a few set sizes.

Online sellers use them for heavier orders that would strain a folding mailer, such as homeware, books or bottled goods.

Because the shape is so familiar, RSCs are also easy for temporary staff to pack. Nobody needs training to fold a four-flap carton and tape it shut.

Which board should an RSC be made from?

For most loads, single wall C flute does the job. At around 4 mm thick it has good cushioning and stacks well for the weight of an average parcel.

Choose BC double wall, at around 7 mm, when the carton is heavy, will be stacked several high, or will be handled many times. B flute single wall is thinner and folds more tightly, which helps for smaller cartons.

Our guide to corrugated board flutes compares each grade side by side.

Can a regular slotted container be printed?

Yes. A plain brown carton is the standard, but many customers add a logo, handling marks or product details to the side panels.

We print one colour, two colour or full colour CMYK. A white outer liner makes colours brighter and gives full colour artwork a cleaner base than kraft.

For a carton that doubles as a display, matte or gloss lamination, spot UV, foil stamping or embossing can be added. Our designers will help set out the panels, and you sign off a free digital proof first.

How do I seal and pack an RSC?

Close the short flaps first, then the long ones, and run tape along the seam where the long flaps meet. Carry the tape a short way down each end panel so the seam cannot lift.

For heavy cartons, add a strip of tape across each end seam too. This H-pattern holds the flaps flat and stops corners splitting.

Fill empty space at the top before you close the box. A carton with a void above the goods can cave in when another is stacked on it.

If the carton will be opened by a buyer with a knife, keep sharp tools in mind. Pack soft goods a little below the flaps so a blade drawn along the seam does not reach them.

What goes wrong with RSC orders?

The usual problem is measuring the outside of an old carton and sending that as the new inside size. The new box then comes out one board thickness too big on every side.

Another is ordering a long, deep carton in thin board. Large panels flex more, so bigger RSCs often need double wall even when the contents are light. If you need a guide to standard shapes, see our notes on common cardboard box sizes in the UK.

Lastly, people sometimes choose an RSC when the product would be better in a style with a full lid. If you need to open and close the box often, ask us about alternatives.

When should I choose a different slotted style?

The RSC is a sound default, but it is not the only slotted carton. A half slotted container drops the top flaps so a separate lid can sit on top. A full overlap container has long flaps that run the whole width for extra strength on the top and base.

If you are unsure, tell us what goes inside and how the box will be handled. We will point you to the style that fits.