How to measure for a custom box.
Custom boxes are sized by their inside dimensions, written length × width × height. Measure your product, add a few millimetres of room on each side, and enter the result; the dieline, the 3D box and the price all follow it.
Order custom boxes online: 21 styles in any size from 100 boxes: $1,468.10 for 1,000 3″ × 2″ × 5″ tuck end cartons, delivered to your door, and an instant 3D proof.
See my priceLength, width and height: which is which
| Dimension | Where it is measured |
|---|---|
| Length (L) | Across the front of the box, side to side: the longer side of the opening |
| Width (W) | Front to back: the shorter side of the opening |
| Height (H) | Bottom to top |
For a tuck end carton the opening is the top, so the height is the tall side. For a mailer box the opening is the lid, so the height is the shallow side.
How much room to leave
Inside dimensions are the space your product sits in. Leave about 3 mm (1/8″) on each side so the product slides in without forcing the box, and about 8 mm if it goes in with a foam or paper insert. Board thickness is added outside your inside size, so a thicker board does not shrink the space.
The sizes each family can be made in
| Family | Each side | Rules that keep it standing |
|---|---|---|
| Folding cartons | 0.75″ to 12″ | Height at least the width; no taller than 5 × √(L × W); the flat carton fits a 28″ press sheet |
| Mailer boxes, folders and trays | From 1.18″, up to 47.25″ | A shallow box: the height is no more than the shorter side |
| Shipping boxes | From 3.94″, up to 47.25″ | No taller than 8 × √(L × W); at least the widest side ÷ 12 |
| Rigid boxes | Up to 19.69″ long | Any proportion within the size range |
Type a size the style can’t make and the order card says why and offers the nearest size that works, in one press.
No ruler? Use the measuring tool
The order page has a measuring tool: hold a U.S. quarter against your screen to calibrate it, measure your product on screen, and it suggests a box with room around it.
Frequently asked questions
Are custom box sizes inside or outside dimensions?
Inside. The size you enter is the space your product sits in; the board thickness is added outside it.
In what order are box dimensions written?
Length × width × height. Length is across the front, width is front to back, and height is bottom to top.
How much bigger than my product should the box be?
About 3 mm (1/8″) on each side, or about 8 mm with a foam or paper insert.