Christmas postal boxes need to do the same job as the rest of the year, only for more orders, heavier depots and gifts that have to arrive on time. For most online sellers that means plain cardboard boxes and mailing bags in a few well-chosen sizes, with the festive feel added inside the parcel. Pack Solution supplies the postal side: Large Letter boxes, die cut and crash lock boxes, single wall cartons, grey mailing bags and fragile tape.
We do not sell Christmas-printed boxes, presentation gift boxes or decorated mailers. Everything here is plain brown cardboard or grey polythene, which you can dress up with tissue, ribbon and stickers once the gift is inside.
In This Guide
- Quick Picks: Christmas Postal Boxes and Mailers
- Choosing Christmas Postal Boxes by Gift Size
- Large Letter Boxes for Flat Gifts
- Christmas Packaging Boxes for Small Presents
- Boxes for Bigger Gifts and Bundles
- Christmas Mailers for Clothing and Soft Gifts
- Protecting Fragile Christmas Gifts
- Adding Festive Touches Inside Plain Packaging
- Christmas Postal Boxes Checklist
- Stocking Up Before Peak
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Picks: Christmas Postal Boxes and Mailers
These three cover most gift orders, from a slim calendar to a jumper or a set of mugs.
Best for flat gifts at the Large Letter rate
Royal Mail PIP Large Letter Boxes
Die cut cardboard boxes no deeper than 20mm, so a slim gift can go at the Large Letter rate instead of the Small Parcel rate.
- Five sizes, Mini (101 x 101 x 20mm) to C4 (325 x 225 x 20mm)
- Packs of 50, supplied flat
- Fold together from a flat blank
From £5.00 ex VAT (£6.00 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product
Best for small gift boxes that go up fast
Crash Lock Boxes
The base locks as you open the box, so only the top needs closing during a busy week.
- 10 sizes, CL-A (100 x 100 x 70mm) to CL-K (426 x 300 x 300mm)
- No tape on the base
- Sold per box, minimum 5 per size
From £0.59 ex VAT (£0.71 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product
Best for Christmas clothing and soft gifts
Grey Mailing Bags
Opaque grey polythene bags with a self-seal strip that hide what is inside the parcel.
- 16 sizes, 4 x 6" (100 x 150mm) to 34 x 42" (850 x 1050mm)
- Water resistant outer
- Packs of 100, 50 or 25 depending on size
From £2.90 ex VAT (£3.48 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product- Royal Mail PIP Large Letter Boxes are all 20mm deep, from Mini (101 x 101 x 20mm) to C4 (325 x 225 x 20mm).
- Crash Lock Boxes come in 10 sizes from CL-A (100 x 100 x 70mm) to CL-K (426 x 300 x 300mm).
- Die Cut Boxes Brown 070502 fold together without tape and come in packs of 50.
- Single Wall Cardboard Boxes include a 450 x 350 x 160mm Royal Mail Small Parcel Max size.
- Grey Mailing Bags run from 4 x 6" (100 x 150mm) to 34 x 42" (850 x 1050mm).
- Fragile Tape comes in 48mm x 66m and BigTape 48mm x 150m Low Noise rolls, 6 per pack.
Choosing Christmas Postal Boxes by Gift Size
Pick the outer by the size and shape of the gift, then check the finished parcel against the postage band you want. A box that fits closely costs less to post and needs less padding.
December orders tend to cluster around a handful of products, such as gift sets, candles, prints, accessories and clothing. Match each best seller to one box or bag and you can pack quickly without stopping to measure. The table sets out the main options in the range.
| Gift | Outer | Sizes from stock | Why it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cards, prints, slim calendars | Royal Mail PIP Large Letter Boxes | C6 (163 x 112 x 20mm) to C4 (325 x 225 x 20mm) | 20mm deep for the Large Letter rate |
| Jewellery, cosmetics, small accessories | Royal Mail PIP Mini or Crash Lock CL-A | 101 x 101 x 20mm or 100 x 100 x 70mm | Small footprint, little void to fill |
| Candles, mugs, small gift sets | Crash Lock Boxes or Die Cut Boxes Brown 070502 | CL-B (160 x 150 x 75mm) to CL-E (252 x 136 x 88mm) | Neat retail shape, quick to assemble |
| Homeware, hampers of several items | Single Wall Cardboard Boxes | 8 x 6 x 4" (203 x 152 x 102mm) to 12 x 12 x 12" (305 x 305 x 305mm) | Room for padding round each item |
| Clothing, scarves, soft toys | Grey Mailing Bags | 10 x 14" (250 x 350mm) to 14 x 21" (350 x 525mm) | Light, opaque and self-seal |
Good to know: Royal Mail sets the size and weight limits for each postage band. Check the current figures before you plan your Christmas packaging around a particular rate.
Large Letter Boxes for Flat Gifts
Flat gifts up to 20mm thick can go at the Large Letter rate, which is lower than the Small Parcel rate, as long as the packaging is no deeper than 20mm.
Royal Mail PIP Large Letter Boxes are die cut cardboard boxes made to that depth. Each arrives as a flat blank and folds into a letterbox-sized parcel. The Mini (101 x 101 x 20mm) takes rings, earrings and badges. C6 (163 x 112 x 20mm) suits greeting cards and phone accessories, DL (218 x 108 x 20mm) takes long, thin items such as pens and straps, and C5 (229 x 159 x 20mm) holds an A5 item flat. C4 (325 x 225 x 20mm) takes an A4 print or a thin piece of clothing.
A card box also protects a flat gift better than an envelope does, which matters for prints and calendars that crease easily. Measure the gift with any tissue or card insert in place. Extra layers can push a parcel over 20mm, and that changes the postage on every order.
Christmas Packaging Boxes for Small Presents
For gifts deeper than 20mm, a small die cut or crash lock box gives protection and a tidy shape that looks right when the customer opens it.
Die Cut Boxes Brown 070502 fold together by hand without tape and come flat in packs of 50. The plain brown surface takes a label, a stamp or a festive sticker. For exact internal dimensions, ask Pack Solution before you order, as the product page advises.
Best for small presents with a tidy finish
Die Cut Boxes Brown 070502
Fold-together brown postal boxes that assemble without tape and give a plain surface for a festive sticker.
- Pack of 50
- Supplied flat
- No tape needed to assemble
£20.00 ex VAT (£24.00 inc VAT)
Buy nowView productCrash Lock Boxes have a base that locks into place as you open the box out, so the base needs no tape. When you are assembling dozens of boxes a day, that saves real time at the bench. CL-A (100 x 100 x 70mm) takes small cosmetics and samples, CL-C (180 x 100 x 50mm) suits long, narrow items, and CL-F (290 x 208 x 95mm) holds an A5 item flat with space to spare. They are sold per box with a minimum of 5 per size, so you can trial a new size before a big order.
Both styles make good Christmas packaging boxes because the outside stays plain and clean. If you want them to feel festive, the presentation goes inside, which we cover further down. Our guide to die cut, crash lock and PIP boxes compares the three styles in more detail.
Boxes for Bigger Gifts and Bundles
Larger gifts and multi-item orders need a corrugated carton with space for padding on every side.
Single Wall Cardboard Boxes are lightweight corrugated boxes in sizes from 5 x 5 x 5" (127 x 127 x 127mm) up to 24 x 18 x 18" (610 x 457 x 457mm). The 5 x 5 x 5" to 7 x 5 x 5" sizes suit candles, mugs and small gifts. The 12 x 9 x 4" to 12 x 9 x 9" sizes take A4 items flat on a 305 x 229mm base. One size is listed as Royal Mail Small Parcel Max at 450 x 350 x 160mm, which is handy for bundles you want to keep within that band.
Best for bigger gifts and multi-item orders
Single Wall Cardboard Boxes
Lightweight corrugated boxes for everyday orders, from small cubes up to large boxes.
- 15 sizes, 5 x 5 x 5" (127 x 127 x 127mm) to 24 x 18 x 18"
- Includes a 450 x 350 x 160mm Royal Mail Small Parcel Max size
- Minimum 5 per size
From £0.35 ex VAT (£0.42 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productSizes are internal, so measure the gift, add room for wrapping and choose the next size up. A gift that rattles around in an oversized box is more likely to arrive damaged, and the extra void fill adds weight. If you sell gift bundles, test a full bundle in two or three sizes before December so the packing team knows which box to reach for. The postal boxes size guide lists more box sizes against Royal Mail bands.
Christmas Mailers for Clothing and Soft Gifts
Soft gifts that cannot break travel well in a mailing bag, which is lighter than a box and quicker to seal.
The Grey Mailing Bags are opaque grey polythene with a self-seal strip, so no tape is needed. The outer is water resistant, which helps on wet doorsteps. Sizes from 10 x 14" to 14 x 21" suit folded clothing, scarves and paperbacks, and 17 x 24" or larger takes bedding, cushions and other bulky soft goods.
Opaque bags work well as Christmas mailers because nobody can see the gift through them. That matters when a parcel is meant to be a surprise for someone in the same house. Fold the item neatly, wrap it in tissue if you like, and slide it in so the flap closes flat. Keep anything breakable or rigid in a box.
Protecting Fragile Christmas Gifts
Glass, ceramics and candles need padding on every side and a clear warning on the outside of the box.
- Wrap each item on its own so pieces cannot touch.
- Choose a box with room for padding on all six sides.
- Put a layer of padding in the base before the gift goes in.
- Fill the gaps so the item cannot move when you shake the box.
- Seal the top and bottom seams fully.
- Run fragile tape across the top seam and down the sides.
Fragile Tape has FRAGILE printed along its length, so the message shows on every sealed seam and you do not need a separate sticker. The 48mm x 66m roll suits occasional breakables. BigTape 48mm x 150m Low Noise is over twice the length and unwinds more quietly, which helps on a shared packing floor in December.
Best for glass and ceramic gifts
Fragile Tape
Printed FRAGILE packing tape seals the box and warns handlers in one step.
- 48mm x 66m or BigTape 48mm x 150m Low Noise
- Packs of 6 rolls
- Acrylic adhesive on polypropylene film
From £5.50 ex VAT (£6.60 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productHandlers may still drop a box marked fragile, so pack every gift as if the parcel will take a knock on the way.
Adding Festive Touches Inside Plain Packaging
Keep the outer plain and put the Christmas feel inside, where the customer sees it when the parcel is opened.
A sheet of tissue folded over the gift, a length of ribbon or string and a small sticker on the tissue all cost little and make a brown box feel like a present. A handwritten note or a printed card with a short festive message adds a personal touch. Brown kraft paper with string or ribbon is a classic look, and our guide to brown paper Christmas wrapping covers how to do it. For sweets and small treats, clear bags tied with ribbon show the gift off, as the guide to Christmas cellophane bags explains.
Keep presentation items flat and light. Loose glitter and confetti end up all over the recipient's floor, and thick bows can push a Large Letter box over 20mm. A festive sticker on the outside is fine, but keep it clear of the address label and any barcode.
Christmas Postal Boxes Checklist
- List your best-selling Christmas products and match each to one box or bag size.
- Test-pack every best seller before December.
- Keep flat gifts to 20mm deep if you want the Large Letter rate.
- Use opaque bags or plain boxes so gifts stay a surprise.
- Pad fragile gifts on every side and seal with fragile tape.
- Put tissue, ribbon and notes inside the parcel.
- Order packaging ahead of your busiest weeks.
- Check last posting dates with Royal Mail or your courier.
- Keep a few spare boxes for replacement orders.
Stocking Up Before Peak
Order your Christmas packaging once you know which sizes sell, and well ahead of your busiest weeks. Boxes and bags arrive flat, so a few weeks of stock fits on a shelf. Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same working day, and Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free on every order with no minimum. For posting deadlines, check the current last posting dates with Royal Mail or your courier, since we cannot set those. The boxes, bags and tapes collections have every size mentioned here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Christmas postal boxes for small gifts?
Plain cardboard boxes sized to the gift. Royal Mail PIP Large Letter Boxes suit flat items up to 20mm thick, with the Mini at 101 x 101 x 20mm. For deeper gifts, Crash Lock Boxes start at CL-A (100 x 100 x 70mm) and Die Cut Boxes Brown 070502 fold together without tape.
Do you sell Christmas-printed boxes or gift boxes?
No. Pack Solution sells plain postal packaging in brown cardboard and grey polythene. Add the festive side yourself with tissue paper, ribbon, a sticker or a printed note inside the box. Plain outers also keep the gift a surprise if someone else takes the parcel in.
What Christmas mailers work for clothing?
Grey Mailing Bags are opaque grey polythene with a self-seal strip and a water resistant outer. The 10 x 14" to 14 x 21" sizes suit folded clothing, and 17 x 24" and larger take bulky soft gifts such as bedding and cushions.
When are the Christmas last posting dates?
Royal Mail and each courier publish their own last posting dates for Christmas, and they change every year. Check the current dates with Royal Mail or your courier before you promise delivery to customers, and add a little margin for busy depots.
How early should I order Christmas packaging boxes?
Order once you know your best-selling sizes, well before your busiest weeks. Boxes and bags are supplied flat, so a few weeks of stock fits on a shelf. Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same working day.
How do I post breakable Christmas presents?
Wrap the item, place it in a box with room for padding on every side, fill the gaps so nothing moves, then seal the seams. Fragile Tape comes as 48mm x 66m or BigTape 48mm x 150m Low Noise and adds a printed FRAGILE warning as you seal.
