A Guide to Standard Box Sizes and Their Uses

People often confuse mailer boxes with shipping boxes, and vice versa. After all, both are made from corrugated cardboard and are used as “shipping containers.”

However, one key difference is the mailer box’s built-in interlocking flaps and wings, which means you don’t need to use seals or stickers unless for decorative reasons.

The exterior of the mailer box can also serve as a blank canvas for your logos, designs, and other elements of your visual brand identity. Consequently, this box is perfect for showcasing stunning graphics and vibrant colors.

Mailer boxes are “scored” to indicate which lines are for folding.

In terms of size, mailer boxes are generally smaller than shipping boxes. As a result, they are commonly used for lightweight items such as the following:

• Apparel
• Books
• Cosmetics
• Health and beauty products
• Jewelry
• Small artisanal items
• Lightweight and flat E-commerce orders
• Wine and food samples

Standard shipping box sizes are generally bigger and more durable than mailer boxes because they are designed to carry larger and heavier items that often require cushioning materials like bubble wraps, air-filled pouches, and foam.

But just like mailer boxes, shipping boxes are also customizable. You can print your logo and other elements of your visual brand identity on their exterior.

Compared to mailer boxes, shipping boxes are more cost-effective if you need a durable container for fragile and bulky items such as the following:

• Fragile items like ceramics, glassware, and porcelain
• Large electronic devices, such as printers, TVs, computers, etc.
• Bulky items like chandeliers and sculptures
• Wine shipping boxes
• Bulky shipping boxes for multiple items
• Food and grocery shipping boxes

Product boxes, also known as folding cartons, are often made of high-quality cardstock with eye-catching print designs. Think of them as a presentation tool to help your brand make the best first impression.

However, you can also use product boxes as a shipping container, provided they are made from corrugated cardboard (instead of cardstock) for extra durability.

By contrast, product boxes made from cardstock do not offer enough protection during transit.

Consider using corrugated product boxes for shipping if your products fall into any of these descriptions or situations:

• Your items have unique sizes and shapes.
• Lightweight products like cosmetics, small electronics, clothing, and fashion accessories that don’t need additional packaging are suitable for custom product boxes.
• You want to streamline your packaging process by eliminating fillers, wrappers, and tapes. However, your product boxes should pass a drop test and meet other requirements.
• You need printed gift boxes for special clients.

Here are some tips when choosing the right box measurements for your items:

• Lay your product and measure it.
• Always use the interior box measurements to ensure that your products will fit inside it. If you measure the exterior dimensions, your items may not fit properly.
• If your products require extra packaging like bubble wraps and other fillers, choose shipping box sizes that can accommodate them.
• Order sample boxes to observe firsthand how your item fits. If necessary, tweak the dimensions before ordering a large batch for production.

Choosing the right box measurements is not just about making sure your products fit right. More importantly, it’s about ensuring they arrive safely and cost-effectively at their destination.

Understanding these standard box sizes and their uses is already a huge step to finding your winning package.

Check out UPrinting’s standard and custom boxes to find the right packaging products that can meet your aesthetic requirements and functional design.