Custom shipping boxes are corrugated cartons cut to your product’s size and printed with your branding, so the item rides snug instead of sliding around a stock box full of filler. At The Best Price Boxes there is no minimum order: you can order one box to test the fit or thousands for a full run.
Reviewed by the TBPB packaging team, October 2026.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | None. One box or ten thousand. |
| Board | Corrugated. Single wall for light or snug items, double wall for heavy or fragile ones. |
| Size is given as | Inside length x width x height, in inches. |
| Best for | Products that travel by carrier and need protection first, branding second. |
| Better elsewhere | Unboxing-first products belong in a mailer box. |
| To order | Send dimensions and quantity through the quote form. |
Shipping box or mailer box: which one do I need?
Pick a shipping box when the product is heavy, fragile or oddly shaped, and a mailer when the opening moment is part of what you are selling. The two are built differently. A shipping box is a plain corrugated carton, usually closed with tape, made to take abuse and stack on a pallet. A mailer is a self-locking die-cut box with a tuck front that looks good open on a customer’s kitchen table.
Plenty of brands ship in a mailer that holds up fine for lighter goods. For anything with real weight, we lean toward the shipping carton and put the unboxing effort into a printed insert or a wrapped inner box. Our mailer box range and the kraft versus corrugated comparison cover that side if you are leaning that way.
How strong does the corrugated need to be?
Strength comes from the construction of the board, so match it to the weight and fragility of what is inside. Corrugated board is a wavy fluted layer glued between flat liners. Single wall has one fluted layer. Double wall has two, which makes the box stiffer and better at carrying a stack above it.
| Build | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Single wall | Apparel, cosmetics cartons, books, snug light products | Dents more easily if the product is heavy and loose inside |
| Double wall | Glassware, ceramics, heavy kits, items shipped in multiples | Thicker board, so a larger outer size for the same inside size and a stiffer fold |
Two ratings are worth asking about on a quote: edge crush test (ECT), which tells you how well the board resists stacking load, and bursting strength, which is how much pressure it takes to rupture a face. We cover the grades in more detail in our corrugated board specifications guide. If you cannot decide, send the product weight and we recommend a build.
How do I size a custom shipping box?
Size the box to the product plus the cushioning it needs, and nothing more. Oversized boxes cost more to ship and let the product move. The method is short:
- Measure the product (or its retail carton) at its longest, widest and tallest points.
- Decide the clearance on every side: roughly a quarter to a half inch for a snug fit in rigid goods, an inch or more for fragile items that need cushioning.
- Add the clearance to each dimension, remembering it applies on both sides.
- Write the result as inside length x width x height, with length along the longest side of the opening.
Take a skincare set in its retail carton, 10 x 6 x 3 inches. Wrapped in kraft paper with a thin cushion, a quarter inch per side gives an inside size of 10.5 x 6.5 x 3.5 inches, about 239 cubic inches. Give the same carton an inch of protection on every side because it holds glass bottles, and the box becomes 12 x 8 x 5 inches, about 480 cubic inches. Double the volume, from a decision about padding. Carriers generally bill on the larger of actual weight and a volume-based weight, so that decision shows up on every shipment. Our shipping box size guide lists common dimensions to compare against.
Is printing a shipping box worth it?
For most small brands a one color logo on the outside is the right amount of print. It makes the box recognizable on a porch, and it keeps the job simple. Full coverage artwork looks great, but it adds cost and is wasted on a box that gets thrown in recycling in ten seconds.
Kraft exteriors suit earthy brands, though bright colors print duller on brown board, while a white exterior gives colors more punch. If you ship a handful of orders a month across several products, a plain box with printed packaging tape can get you most of the branding without a custom size per product. We would rather tell you that than sell you a run you do not need.
What drives the price of custom shipping boxes?
Five things move the price: box size, board strength, print coverage, quantity and any insert. Nothing here is a fixed price, because the same carton quoted in two thicknesses or two print setups can come out very differently. That is also why comparing quotes takes care. Line them up on inside dimensions, wall type, flute, print colors, quantity and any shipping charge. Two quotes that differ on any of those are not the same box. Our guide to custom shipping box cost walks through the line items.
Do I need an insert or void fill?
If the product still moves when you shake the closed box, yes. A fitted packaging insert holds the product exactly and replaces loose filler, which makes unboxing neater. For lighter items, crinkle paper or a corrugated pad is often enough. Our guide to choosing a box insert shows how to decide.
Questions buyers ask
Is there a minimum order for custom shipping boxes
No. You can order one box to test the fit or ten thousand for a full run. Send the inside dimensions and quantity through the quote form and we return a dieline and a price for that exact spec.
Single wall or double wall for my product
Single wall handles most light to medium products that are packed snugly. Go double wall for heavy items, glass, ceramics, or anything that will be stacked on a pallet. Tell us the product weight and we suggest the build.
How do I measure for a shipping box
Measure the product, add clearance for cushioning, and write the result as inside length by width by height. Length is the longest side of the opening. Measure inside the box, not outside, because board thickness changes the outer size.
How is a custom shipping box different from a mailer box
A shipping box is a plain corrugated carton, usually closed with tape, built for protection and stacking. A mailer is a self-locking die-cut box built to be opened as part of the unboxing. Heavy or fragile items usually belong in the shipping box.
How do I get a quote and a dieline
Use the request-a-quote form with your inside dimensions, product weight, print needs and quantity, even if it is one box. We send back a dieline and a price. If you already hold a written quote for the same specs, send it along.
Can I print my logo on a shipping box
Yes. A one color logo on the outside is the usual starting point and keeps the job simple. Full coverage artwork is possible too. Ask us to confirm any special finish for your spec before you design around it.
How to order
Send your inside dimensions, the product weight and a quantity, even if that quantity is one. We return a dieline and a quote, and you can see the exact box before anything is printed. If you already hold a written quote for the same specs from another supplier, bring it: the price-beat guarantee means we beat it. Design help, samples and shipping are free. Start on the request a quote page or browse the shipping boxes category and corrugated boxes.
