Kraft Bin Boxes Cut to Your Shelves

Where are bin boxes used?

Stockrooms are the obvious place. A row of bins on a shelf turns a mess of small packets into something you can count at a glance.

Shops use them under the counter for spare stock and on display shelves for loose items such as soap ends, seed packets or socks. Workshops use them for fixings and parts. Online sellers use them at the packing bench, one bin per product.

Schools, salons and small offices order them too, for stationery, towels or files that need a home on an open shelf.

They belong to our kraft inserts and dividers collection, which covers the boxes that organise rather than post.

How is a bin box built?

A bin is a long open tray with a back, two sides, a base and a front that is lower than the back. Some have a sloping front, cut away at an angle so you can see in from above and from the side.

Our photos show three versions: a bin with tall internal walls dividing it into narrow slots, two slim bins with several sections each, and stacked brown bins with angled open fronts. All fold from a single sheet and lock with tabs, so there is no glue or tape to deal with.

The back wall is usually the tallest panel, which stops stock sliding off the rear of the shelf.

• Double-layer front lip that keeps its shape when pulled
• Sloping sides so you can see what is inside from the aisle
• Locking tabs that hold the bin square
• A flat front face that takes a label

What size bin box do you need?

Start with the shelf. Measure its depth from front edge to back wall, and the clear height between shelves. The bin length usually matches the shelf depth so nothing gets lost at the back.

Then decide how wide each bin should be. Narrow bins suit small parts; wider bins suit bulky items. The sizes below are starting points only, given as width × depth × height.

Should a bin box have dividers?

Dividers are worth it when one bin holds several similar items. A single wide bin split into four sections takes the place of four narrow bins and keeps the shelf tidy.

If every item needs its own label, separate bins are often simpler. You can move them around as stock changes without reorganising a whole divided bin.

Divider walls can run the full height of the bin or stop short of the front, so you can still see into each section from the aisle. Say which you prefer when you send your sizes.

Which board is right for a bin box?

Brown kraft corrugated is the standard. It stands up on its own on a shelf, the edges show the familiar fluted line, and the brown colour hides dust and finger marks well.

A white outer face, like the white bins in two of our photos, makes labels and printed numbers easier to read. White-lined board is available on request.

Corrugated also takes a crease well along the front lip. A double-folded lip keeps its shape when you hook a finger over it to pull the bin forward, which happens dozens of times a day in a busy stockroom.

Can bin boxes be printed or labelled?

Most bins stay plain and get a sticker or a handwritten label on the front lip. That keeps them flexible when stock changes.

If you use bins on a shop floor, a one-colour logo on the side or a printed number on the front looks tidy. Black ink on brown is clear from a few steps away. Our guide on brown, white-lined and corrugated kraft board explains how each surface takes print.

How do you set up a shelf of bins?

1. Measure each shelf and list what goes on it.
2. Group items by size and pick a bin width for each group.
3. Order a few spare bins of each width for new stock.
4. Fold the bins and line them up with the low fronts facing out.
5. Label the front lips before you fill them, while they are easy to write on.

What mistakes do people make with bin boxes?

Most of them come from sizing the bin before looking at the shelf.

• Bins deeper than the shelf, so they stick out into the aisle
• Bins too tall for the gap, so the sloping front cannot be seen into
• One width for everything, so small parts disappear in large bins
• Overfilling, so the front lip bows outward
• Forgetting space for a label on a sloping front

Can bin boxes be stacked?

Some bins are designed to stack, as one of our photos shows, with the open front of the top bin set back so you can still reach into the lower one. Tell us if you want them to stack and we shape the sides to suit.

Stacked bins work best for light stock such as packets, labels or soft goods. For anything dense, keep one bin per shelf level.

Stacking also needs a little headroom between shelves. Measure the gap before you decide on two levels of bins.

Bins at the packing bench

If you pack orders yourself, a row of bins along the back of the bench keeps tape, labels, stickers and inserts within reach. Pick a bin width for each and they line up like a small shelf unit.

Spare flat bins take almost no storage, so you can add more as the business grows.

A bin per product line also makes stock checks quicker. You can see at a glance which item is running low and reorder before the bin is empty.

How do I order kraft bin boxes?

Send your shelf depth and height, the bin widths you need, whether you want dividers and the quantity of each. Mention any print or labels.

Small plain bins start from £0.25 per unit, and the written quote gives your exact price. A free proof shows the dieline and any print, and our designers keep editing until it is right.

Production is 4–6 business days from approval. Free tracked delivery covers the UK and takes 2–3 business days. If bins arrive wrong, damaged or misprinted, photos inside 10 days get a reprint or refund.