A literature mailer is a flat corrugated fold-over mailer built to ship books, catalogs, brochures, magazines and documents without bending them. The Best Price Boxes prints custom literature mailers with no minimum order, and we beat any written quote for the same specs. Send the dimensions of what you ship and a quantity, even one, and we will return a dieline and a quote.
What makes a literature mailer different
A standard shipping carton is deep. A literature mailer is shallow and wide, so a book or a stack of printed sheets lies flat inside and cannot slide or flex. The box is cut from one piece of corrugated board, folds around the contents, and locks with built-in tabs. Many are tape-free, which is a real time saver when you pack by hand. Because the walls are low, the item does not rattle, and you pay for less board than a deep box would use.
They are also lighter than boxes meant for bottles or electronics, which keeps postage down. Thin products ship well in them. Heavy or dense products usually do not.
Pick the flute for the weight
Corrugated board is made of a fluted layer between flat liners, and the flute size controls stiffness and thickness. E-flute is thin and prints cleanly, which is why it is the common choice for retail-looking mailers that carry a printed design. B-flute is thicker and cushions better, so it suits heavier books or items with sharp corners. Our corrugated cardboard guide covers flutes and wall types in detail.
A rough guide: single paperback or catalog, E-flute. A hardcover or a stack of several books, B-flute or a double-wall build. If you ship more than a couple of pounds in one mailer, tell us the weight and we will recommend a board, not guess.
How to measure for a literature mailer
Measure length and width of the item, then its stack thickness. Do not measure the thickness of one book if you ship three at a time. Add about an eighth of an inch around the edges so the item slides in without scraping, and keep the fit snug enough that it cannot shift. A loose mailer lets books slide into the corners and crush them in transit. If you ship several quantities, ask about sizing for the thickest case and filling the gap with paper.
Printing
The outside takes full-color artwork, and the inside can be left kraft brown or printed. Plain brown kraft keeps cost down for fulfillment. A printed design makes a book or catalog look finished the moment the customer opens the package. Ask us to confirm coatings or special finishes for your spec.
Literature mailer spec at a glance
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | None |
| Material | Corrugated board, flute chosen for weight |
| Closure | Self-locking tabs |
| Custom artwork, inside and outside | |
| Ships | Flat |
| Price | Price-beat guarantee on any written quote for the same specs |
Other mailers to compare
If you ship products that have depth, a standard mailer box or tuck top mailer box is a better fit. Our mailer box guide explains the styles, and custom corrugated boxes cover deeper shipping cartons. For paper documents that need presentation rather than shipping, see custom presentation folders.
How to order
Send item dimensions, quantity and your artwork through the quote form. We prepare a dieline and a proof for approval before production. Design help, samples and shipping are free on qualifying orders.
Questions buyers ask
Is there a minimum order for literature mailers?
No. Order a single mailer to test the fit or a full run for fulfillment. There is no minimum quantity, and we will beat a written quote for the same specs.
What can I ship in a literature mailer?
Books, catalogs, magazines, brochures, documents, certificates and flat printed kits. Anything flat and not too heavy works. Deep or fragile items belong in a mailer box or a corrugated shipper.
Which flute should I choose?
E-flute for light items and clean printing, B-flute for heavier books or sharp corners. If you ship more than a couple of pounds, send the weight and we will pick the board.
Do literature mailers need tape?
Many designs lock with built-in tabs and need no tape, which speeds up packing. If you want extra security for long transit, a strip of tape or a seal sticker is easy to add.
How do I stop books from shifting inside?
Size the mailer snugly, with about an eighth of an inch around the edges, and measure the stack thickness you actually ship. A loose fit allows books to slide and crush their corners.