Carton styles and sizes
Five styles of box. One way of measuring.
Most jobs land on one of these five. You do not need to know which before you call, but if you like knowing what you are asking for, here they are.
The five standard styles
Photos are of real jobs, so the printing varies. It is the construction to look at.
RSCRegular slotted carton
The common one. Easy to erect, flaps meet in the centre top and bottom, closed by taping or gluing.
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FOLFFull overlapping flap
Like an RSC, but the flaps fold right across the width. Four full layers of board top and bottom for extra strength.
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5 PANELFive panel folder
Creased board that wraps around the product and tapes closed, with end flaps folding in. Good for long, narrow things.
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HINGED LIDHinged lid box
Self erecting, no staples or glue. The lid folds down and the tabs tuck into the front. The nice one to open.
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BASE AND LIDBox and separate lid
Larger ones come flat packed for you to glue. Smaller die cut versions are self erecting, no glue or staples needed.
Get a quoteHow to work out the size you need
Which measurement is which?
Length is the longest side. Width is the shortest side. Height is from the base to the top. Always written in that order, length x width x height.
So 400x300x100mm is 400mm long, 300mm wide and 100mm deep.
Internal or external?
Internal, always. Every size we quote is the space inside the box, in millimetres, because that is the bit your product has to fit into.
What about the flute direction?
Length and width are usually measured across the flute direction, and height parallel with it. It affects how the board takes weight, which is why getting the sizing right is what keeps a product safe in transit.
How much room should I leave?
Measure your product at its widest points, then add about 10mm on each side for tissue, fill or a card. Make it 20mm if it is fragile. Stuck between two sizes, go up: a slightly big box can be packed out, a slightly small box is firewood.
Not sure which style
Describe the product. We will pick the style for you.
Nobody expects you to know what a five panel folder is. Tell us what is going in the box and how it gets shipped, and we will tell you which construction suits.
Or buy a stock carton online and skip the whole conversation.