Small Boxes: Cardboard Sizes And Uses For Posting Small Items

Small items are easy to under-pack and easy to over-box. A ring in a box far too big rattles, and a book squeezed into a box far too small splits the corners. Small boxes work when the internal size matches the item plus a little room for wrapping.

Pack Solution sells small cardboard packaging boxes in three styles: single wall cardboard boxes from 5 x 5 x 5", crash lock boxes from CL-A at 100 x 100 x 70mm, and brown die cut postal boxes in packs of 50. For flat, soft items a padded envelope can be the better pack, and the padded envelopes vs postal boxes comparison goes through that choice.

Quick Picks: Small Cardboard Boxes For Posting

Single wall suits most small items, crash lock suits fast packing, and die cut boxes suit small brown postal orders.

Best for the widest choice of small sizes

Single Wall Cardboard Boxes

Lightweight corrugated boxes; the small sizes suit candles, mugs, gifts, books and small electronics.

• Smallest size 5 x 5 x 5" (127 x 127 x 127mm)
• 10 x 8 x 6" tops out the small sizes
• Minimum 5 per size

From £0.35 ex VAT (£0.42 inc VAT)

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Best for fast packing of small products

Crash Lock Boxes

The base locks into place as the box is opened, so there is no tape on the bottom.

• CL-A 100 x 100 x 70mm for jewellery and samples
• CL-F 290 x 208 x 95mm takes an A5 item flat
• Minimum 5 per size

From £0.59 ex VAT (£0.71 inc VAT)

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Best for small brown postal orders

Die Cut Boxes Brown 070502

Easy fold postal boxes that assemble without tape, for online sellers, gift shops and crafters.

• Pack of 50, supplied flat
• Assembles without tape
• Model 070502, brown cardboard

£20.00 ex VAT (£24.00 inc VAT)

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Key Facts

• The smallest single wall box is 5 x 5 x 5" (127 x 127 x 127mm), and sizes are internal, length x width x height.
• The smallest crash lock box is CL-A at 100 x 100 x 70mm, and CL-F at 290 x 208 x 95mm takes an A5 item flat.
• The 070502 brown die cut boxes are supplied flat in packs of 50 and assemble without tape.
• The minimum order is 5 boxes per size for single wall and crash lock boxes.
• White padded envelopes start at EP1 A/000 (100 x 165mm) and are sold in boxes of 100.
• Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same working day, and Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free with no minimum.

What Counts As A Small Box?

In this guide a small box is a single wall box up to 10 x 8 x 6", a crash lock box from CL-A to CL-F, or the 070502 die cut box. They cover items from earrings to A5 paperwork.

Small cardboard boxes are bought for the same few jobs: jewellery, cosmetics, candles, mugs, books, small electronics and accessories. The table lists the box sizes that suit each one. Measure every item before choosing, since something that looks small can be taller than expected. Boxes small cardboard sellers use for gifts and accessories are easiest to pick by height first.

Smallest Single Wall Cardboard Boxes

The smallest single wall boxes run from 5 x 5 x 5" (127 x 127 x 127mm) to 10 x 8 x 6" (254 x 203 x 152mm). They are lightweight corrugated boxes, supplied flat and sold per box.

The 5 x 5 x 5", 6 x 6 x 6" and 7 x 5 x 5" sizes are small cardboard boxes and postage boxes for candles, mugs and gifts. The 8 x 6 x 4", 8 x 6 x 5", 9 x 6 x 6" and 10 x 8 x 6" sizes suit books, small electronics and accessories. The 8 x 6 x 4" box is the shallowest of the group, and the 9 x 6 x 6" is the deepest, so choose by the item's height first. In millimetres, the 7 x 5 x 5" box is 178 x 127 x 127mm, the 8 x 6 x 4" is 203 x 152 x 102mm, the 8 x 6 x 5" is 203 x 152 x 127mm and the 9 x 6 x 6" is 229 x 152 x 152mm, which helps if your item is measured in metric.

Small card board boxes in single wall give the widest range of sizes. A carton box small enough for a mug or a candle is a good match for light items. For heavier small parts, double wall cardboard boxes start at 7 x 5 x 5", although they sit outside this guide. The wider cardboard boxes buying guide compares single and double wall.

Crash Lock Boxes For Small Products

Crash lock boxes have an automatic base that locks as you open the box, so you only close the top. That cuts tape use and packing time.

Six sizes cover most small products. CL-A (100 x 100 x 70mm) suits jewellery, small cosmetics and samples. CL-B is 160 x 150 x 75mm, CL-C is 180 x 100 x 50mm, CL-D is 220 x 111 x 78mm and CL-E is 252 x 136 x 88mm. CL-F (290 x 208 x 95mm) takes an A5 item flat with room to spare.

Each of these small carton boxes has a clean shape for products, samples and gift boxes, and sellers on eBay, Etsy and Vinted use them for subscription orders and daily repeat items. Small carton boxes with a locking base save the most time when you pack dozens in a row.

Die Cut Boxes For Small Postal Orders

The 070502 brown die cut box folds together by hand and needs no tape to assemble. It is supplied flat in packs of 50.

These suit online sellers, gift shops and crafters posting small orders, and the plain brown cardboard takes labels, stamps and branded stickers well. A strip of tape or a label across the lid adds security in the post if you want it.

A pack of 50 stores flat on a shelf, which makes the 070502 easy to keep in stock for a seller who ships small items every week. Because the folds lock the box together, there is no separate base to tape, and a finished box is ready for a label straight away. The Large Letter rate has its own depth limit, which the Large Letter box guide covers.

Small Box Or Padded Envelope?

Use a box when the item has corners, can be crushed or needs a rigid shell, and use a padded envelope when the item is flat or soft and light. A padded envelope adds very little weight, which helps keep postage costs down.

White bubble padded envelopes come in 10 sizes, from EP1 A/000 (100 x 165mm) to EP10 K/7 (350 x 470mm), in boxes of 100. EP1 and EP2 suit rings, earrings, keys and memory cards. EP3 and EP4 suit phone cases, cosmetics, DVDs and paperbacks. EP5 E/2 (220 x 265mm) works as an A5 padded envelope for games and boxed gifts.

Best for flat, soft or light small items

White Bubble Padded Envelopes

Self-seal envelopes with a bubble lining that cushions small items on their way through the post.

• EP1 A/000 (100 x 165mm) to EP10 K/7 (350 x 470mm)
• Box of 100 envelopes
• Self-seal closure

From £8.00 ex VAT (£9.60 inc VAT)

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How To Choose A Small Box In Four Steps

Measure the item at its longest, widest and tallest points, then add room for wrapping and pick the next internal size up.

1. Measure the item in length x width x height, because box sizes are internal and listed in that order.
2. Add room for wrap or void fill on every side, then match the result to a size in the table above.
3. Choose the style: single wall for the widest choice of sizes, crash lock for fast assembly, die cut for small brown postal orders.
4. Check the minimum order of 5 per size, or 50 in a die cut pack, before you add to the basket.

Once the box is chosen, pack the item snugly. Wrap it, fill any gap with void fill so it cannot slide, and close the lid. A box that is only slightly too big is easy to fix with void fill, while a box that is too small cannot be fixed at all. If the item is borderline between two sizes, go up. The postal box sizing guide covers parcel size limits in more detail.

Ordering Small Boxes: Minimums And Delivery

Single wall and crash lock boxes have a minimum of 5 per size, die cut boxes come in packs of 50, and orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same working day from Manchester.

The price per box falls automatically as the quantity rises, and each tier is shown on the product page. Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free on every order with no minimum, usually 2-3 working days after dispatch. Express is also available, as is DPD Next Day, and click and collect from Manchester M8 8HF is free.

Unused items can be returned within 30 days of delivery, as set out in the refund policy. Items too big for any of these sizes belong in the large cardboard boxes guide.

Small Boxes Checklist

• Measure the item and add room for wrapping.
• Pick the next internal size up.
• Choose single wall, crash lock or die cut for the way you pack.
• Think about a padded envelope if the item is flat and soft.
• Check the minimum: 5 per size, or a pack of 50 for die cut.
• Order by 2pm Monday to Friday for same-day dispatch.

Wrap-Up: Match The Box To The Item

Browse the boxes collection for every size, or the envelopes collection if a padded envelope suits the item better.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the smallest single wall cardboard boxes?

The smallest single wall box is 5 x 5 x 5" (127 x 127 x 127mm), followed by 6 x 6 x 6" and 7 x 5 x 5". The 8 x 6 x 4" to 10 x 8 x 6" sizes suit books, small electronics and accessories. Sizes are internal, length x width x height, and the minimum is 5 per size.

Which small carton box fits jewellery?

The crash lock CL-A at 100 x 100 x 70mm suits jewellery, small cosmetics and samples. It has an automatic base that locks as you open the box, so you only tape the top. The minimum order is 5 boxes per size.

Do small die cut boxes need tape?

No. The 070502 brown die cut boxes fold together by hand and assemble without tape. You can add a strip of tape or a label across the lid for extra security in the post. They are supplied flat in packs of 50.

Should I use a small box or a padded envelope?

Use a box for items with corners or a rigid shape, and a padded envelope for flat or soft items. White bubble padded envelopes start at EP1 A/000 (100 x 165mm) and are sold in boxes of 100. The bubble lining adds very little weight.

What size box takes an A5 item?

Crash lock CL-F, at 290 x 208 x 95mm, takes an A5 item (148 x 210mm) flat with room to spare. For an envelope, EP5 E/2 (220 x 265mm) also works as an A5 padded envelope. Measure the item first and allow for wrapping.

How quickly are small boxes dispatched?

Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same working day from Manchester. Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free with no minimum and usually takes 2-3 working days after dispatch. DPD Next Day and free click and collect are also available.

Shop for This Job

• Cardboard Boxes
• Envelopes

Related Guides

• Cardboard Boxes Buying Guide: Types, Sizes And Where To Buy
• Large Cardboard Boxes: Sizes, Strength and Best Uses
• Padded Envelopes vs Postal Boxes for Small Items
• What Size Box Do I Need? Postal Box Sizing Guide

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