A suitcase box is a gift or retail box shaped like a small briefcase, with a carry handle on top and a clasp or tuck closure on the front. Brands use them for gift sets, kits, party favors and boutique products, anywhere the box itself is part of the present and the customer is going to carry it.
Reviewed by the TBPB packaging team, October 2026.
| Quick facts | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | None. Order one box or ten thousand. |
| Shape | Briefcase style with a top carry handle |
| Closure | Front clasp or tuck closure |
| Typical use | Gift sets, kits, party favors, boutique and retail products |
| Sizing | Made to your product dimensions |
| Weak spot | Heavy loads, since the handle carries the whole weight |
What is a suitcase box used for?
Mostly for products that arrive as a set. A skincare trio, a candle with matches and a card, a kids’ craft kit, a bridal party gift, a tasting flight of small jars. The briefcase shape signals that there is something worth opening inside, and the handle turns the box into the bag, so you can skip the extra gift bag and tissue.
It also works as a branded leave-behind. A small suitcase box of samples or merch handed out at a trade show gets carried around the room, which is more exposure than a flat folding carton ever gets.
How big should a suitcase box be?
Measure the products laid out the way they will sit, not each one separately, then add a little clearance for the lid and any paper fill. The inside length and width come from the footprint of the layout. The inside height comes from the tallest item.
- Lay your items on a table in the arrangement you want in the box.
- Measure the overall length and width of that arrangement, then the height of the tallest item.
- Add roughly 1/8 to 1/4 inch of clearance around the items so the lid closes without squeezing.
- Decide if you want tissue, shred or an insert, and add that depth.
- Send us the final inside measurements and we draw the dieline.
A worked example. A gift set holds a 3 x 3 x 3.5 inch candle and a 2.5 x 2.5 x 3.5 inch jar side by side, with a 1/4 inch gap between them. Footprint: 3 + 0.25 + 2.5 = 5.75 inches long and 3 inches wide. Height: 3.5 inches. Add 1/4 inch clearance all around and you land near 6.25 x 3.5 x 4 inches inside. The box should be about that size, not the nearest standard size you can find, because a loose fit rattles and a tight one bulges.
How much weight can the handle hold?
Less than most people expect. The handle is a strip of the same paperboard as the box, so it is fine for a light to moderate gift set and a poor choice for something dense. Glass jars, bottles and metal tools add up quickly, and a handle that tears in the customer’s hand ruins the unboxing.
We do not quote a single weight limit because it depends on the board and the box size. Tell us what you plan to put inside and the total packed weight, and we will say if a suitcase box is the right structure. Order a sample and carry it around with the real contents before you place a big run.
Suitcase box or another gift box style?
| Style | Choose it when | Skip it when |
|---|---|---|
| Suitcase box | You want a carry handle and a gift-set look | The contents are heavy or sharp-edged |
| Handle box | You want a more basic carry box | You want the briefcase character |
| Tuck top box | You want a simple, flat-packed carton | The customer needs to carry it far |
| Rigid gift box | You want a heavy, premium structure | You need to keep unit weight and freight low |
If you only need a plain carrier, our handle boxes are simpler. If the gift is heavy or high-end, a rigid box is the stronger choice, and you can browse custom rigid boxes for that.
Can I ship products in a suitcase box?
Not on its own. A suitcase box is a presentation box, so it needs an outer shipper when it goes through the mail. The handle and clasp are not built to take parcel handling. Pack it inside a mailer or corrugated carton with some void fill.
See our mailer boxes for the outer layer, or read our subscription box packaging guide for how brands pair an inner presentation box with an outer shipper. For a wider range of gift formats, browse custom gift boxes.
What can I print on a suitcase box?
The front, lid and sides take your artwork like any custom carton, and the handle area is often the first thing a customer sees. Put the logo on the front where the clasp sits and keep the busy artwork away from the handle strip, which gets folded and handled.
For metallic accents, see our guide to holographic foiling boxes. Ask us to confirm any special finish for your spec before you design around it.
Questions buyers ask
Is there a minimum order for custom suitcase boxes?
No. We take orders with no minimum order, so you can order one sample box or thousands for a full run. Send your dimensions and quantity, even one, and we will quote it.
What is a suitcase box?
It is a gift or retail box shaped like a small briefcase, with a top carry handle and a clasp or tuck closure on the front. People use it for gift sets, kits, party favors and boutique products.
How much can a suitcase box hold?
It suits light to moderate gift sets. The handle carries the full weight, so dense items like several glass jars can strain it. Tell us the contents and packed weight, and order a sample to carry before a large run.
Can I ship a suitcase box through the mail?
Pack it inside an outer mailer or corrugated carton with void fill. The handle and clasp are not designed for parcel handling, so the suitcase box works best as the gift layer inside the shipper.
Can I order a custom size?
Yes. We make suitcase boxes to your product dimensions. Send the inside measurements of your product layout and we draw the dieline to fit.
How do I get a quote and a dieline?
Send your dimensions, quantity and artwork through the request a quote page. We draw the dieline for your size and send it back with your quote.
How to order
Start with the product layout and the total weight. Send us the size, a quantity (even one) and your logo, and we will draw the dieline and mark the handle and clasp position. Design help, samples and shipping are free, and if you hold a written quote from another supplier for the same specs, we will beat it. See the suitcase boxes page, or go straight to request a quote.
Is there a minimum order for custom suitcase boxes?
No. We take orders with no minimum order, so you can order one sample box or thousands for a full run. Send your dimensions and quantity, even one, and we will quote it.
What is a suitcase box?
It is a gift or retail box shaped like a small briefcase, with a top carry handle and a clasp or tuck closure on the front. People use it for gift sets, kits, party favors and boutique products.
How much can a suitcase box hold?
It suits light to moderate gift sets. The handle carries the full weight, so dense items like several glass jars can strain it. Tell us the contents and packed weight, and order a sample to carry before a large run.
Can I ship a suitcase box through the mail?
Pack it inside an outer mailer or corrugated carton with void fill. The handle and clasp are not designed for parcel handling, so the suitcase box works best as the gift layer inside the shipper.
Can I order a custom size?
Yes. We make suitcase boxes to your product dimensions. Send the inside measurements of your product layout and we draw the dieline to fit.
How do I get a quote and a dieline?
Send your dimensions, quantity and artwork through the request a quote page. We draw the dieline for your size and send it back with your quote.
