Kraft Shipping Boxes and Brown Cardboard Boxes to Your Size
Brown corrugated cartons for bulk orders, stock moves and parcels too big for a mailer. Choose flap tops you tape shut, a tear strip opening or a separate lid, all cut to your inside size.
Written price from£0.25 a box
What are kraft shipping boxes?
Kraft shipping boxes are brown corrugated cartons used as the outer box for posting and moving goods. Most close with four flaps on top and bottom, sealed with tape. We cut them to the inside size you need and can print a logo or handling marks.
- Closure
- Four flaps top and bottom as standard; tear strip or lift-off lid as options
- Board
- Brown kraft corrugated; other corrugated grades available on request
- Plain, one colour logo or handling marks, or full colour
- Arrives
- Delivered flat and folded open on your bench
Kraft Shipping Boxes Sizes
| Size | Typical inside size | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 250 × 200 × 150 mm | Small stock orders |
| Medium | 350 × 250 × 250 mm | Multi-item orders |
| Large | 450 × 350 × 300 mm | Bulk restocks |
| Tall | 300 × 300 × 600 mm | Long or stacked items |
Sizes are typical starting points, not stock sizes. Every box is cut to the inside size you send.
Who needs kraft shipping boxes?
Online shops sending bigger orders, makers moving stock to a market stall, and anyone posting more than a mailer can take. Stockrooms use the same cartons to store finished goods.
These are the brown cardboard boxes most people picture. The difference with ours is that each one is cut to your inside size, not picked from a list of near misses.
Because the size is yours, the box can match a pallet layout, a shelf in your stockroom or the boxed product you buy in. Small changes in size can save a lot of filler over a year of orders.
How do kraft shipping boxes close?
Our photos show four ways of closing a shipping box. The flap top is the most common and the cheapest to make.
| Closure | How it works | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|
| Flap top and bottom | Four flaps fold in and meet in the middle, sealed with tape | General posting and storage |
| Tear strip opening | A pull strip runs around the box; the customer tears it to open | Orders where a clean first opening matters |
| Lift-off lid | A separate shallow lid sits over the base | Stock you open and close often |
| Tall carton | Long box with flaps at each end | Tall items such as floor lamps, rolled rugs or umbrellas |
What size shipping box should I order?
Measure the item or the full stack you put in one box. Add room for void fill on every side if the item is fragile, then send us the inside size.
Our typical sizes are a starting point only. About 250 × 200 × 150 mm suits a small mixed order. About 350 × 250 × 250 mm takes several jars or a boxed product. About 450 × 350 × 300 mm is for bulk orders, and a tall 300 × 300 × 600 mm carton takes long items.
Our guide on taking inside sizes for a kraft box shows how to add clearance for filler.
Which corrugated board goes into a shipping box?
Shipping boxes are made in brown kraft corrugated. The wavy fluting inside the sheet is what keeps the walls standing when cartons are stacked.
Other corrugated grades are available on request. Tell us what goes inside and how the boxes travel, and we suggest a board in writing. We do not quote strength figures; we match the board to your goods.
Brown kraft also hides the marks of a long journey. Scrapes and handling scuffs blend into the board rather than standing out as they would on a white carton.
Our guide to brown, white-lined and corrugated kraft board compares each type.
Can you print on brown cardboard boxes?
Yes. Many customers print one colour only: a black logo on two sides and simple handling marks on the ends. That is enough for a parcel to look like it came from a business.
Full colour is possible too, but on large corrugated panels a bold one-colour design often looks sharper than a photo.
A printed box also helps in your own stockroom. Staff can tell your cartons apart from supplier boxes at a glance.
- Logo on the top and front so it shows on a shelf
- This way up arrows and fragile marks on the ends
- A contents line or product code for stockrooms
- A printed message on the inside of the flaps
What extras suit a shipping box?
Tear strips make opening easy and show if a box has been opened. Handles cut into two sides help with cartons carried by hand.
Corrugated dividers split the inside into cells so bottles or jars do not touch. Inserts can hold one product in the centre of a bigger carton.
For bottle and jar orders, see our kraft box dividers made to size.
Should I use a shipping box or a mailer?
A shipping box suits bigger, mixed or bulky orders, and anything you will tape shut. A mailer suits smaller orders that should look neat when opened.
The flap top is the simplest box to make, so it is usually the lower price for a given size. A mailer takes more board for the same inside size, because the lid and walls fold over themselves.
| Question | Shipping box | Mailer |
|---|---|---|
| How it closes | Flaps sealed with tape | Lid tucks into the front |
| Opening experience | Cut the tape, open the flaps | Lift the lid like a book |
| Typical order | Bulk, mixed or bulky items | One to a few small items |
| Logo and handling marks | Logo outside, message inside |
Can shipping boxes be used for moving stock?
Yes. Many customers order one size for customer orders and another for moving stock to markets, fairs or a shop. A printed contents line on the end saves opening every carton to find something.
For stock moves, a box you can open and close again is handy. The lift-off lid style suits this, and hand holes make the cartons easier to carry.
How do I pack a kraft shipping box well?
- Fold the box open and tape the bottom flaps along the centre seam.
- Add a layer of void fill if the goods are fragile.
- Place the heaviest items at the bottom and the lightest on top.
- Fill gaps at the sides so nothing moves when you shake the box gently.
- Fold the top flaps in and tape along the seam and across both edges.
- Put the label on the largest flat face, away from any seam.
What goes wrong with shipping box sizes?
Most problems come from a box that is a little too big. Empty space lets goods slide, and the extra filler costs time on every order.
- Choosing one big carton for every order size
- Measuring the product and forgetting the inner packaging around it
- Sending outside sizes where we need inside sizes
- Ordering a tall box for items that would lie flat in a shorter one
If your orders are small and flat, a mailer may suit better. Compare our plain kraft mailer boxes.
How do I get a price for kraft shipping boxes?
List the inside size, the number of boxes and any print or extras. Several sizes can go on one request and we price them together.
Brown shipping cartons start from £0.25 per box. Every price is put in writing, and we send a free proof before the boxes are made.
Production runs 4–6 business days from your approval. The flat cartons then travel on our free tracked service and reach UK addresses in 2–3 business days.
Cartons that arrive crushed, misprinted or the wrong size are covered too. Send photos inside 10 days and we reprint them or refund you.
Ask for your written quote for shipping boxes and we reply within one business day.
Related Kraft Boxes
All mailers and shipping boxes
Kraft Mailer BoxesPosting orders and giftsMade to size · from £0.25Price this box
Kraft Box DividersSeparating items inside a boxMade to size · from £0.25Price this box
Kraft Shipping TubesPosters, prints and plansMade to size · from £0.25Price this box
Kraft Boxes with HandlesCarry-out gifts and hampersMade to size · from £0.25Price this box12questions answered
Questions About Kraft Shipping Boxes
Straight answers from the people who cut and print the boxes. Open any question to read the reply.
Are kraft shipping boxes delivered flat?
Yes. Flap-top cartons arrive flat with the side seam already joined, so you fold them open and tape the base.
Can I get brown cardboard boxes without any print?
Yes. Plain brown kraft is the standard and costs the least. You can add a printed logo on a later order without changing the size.
What is a tear strip on a shipping box?
It is a pull strip built into the board that runs around the box. The customer pulls it to open the carton without a knife.
Can a shipping box have a separate lid?
Yes. A lift-off lid that sits over the base is an option, and it suits stock that is opened and closed often.
Do you make tall kraft cartons for long items?
Yes. Send the length and the widest point of the item and we cut a tall carton with flaps at each end.
Can you print handling marks on shipping boxes?
Yes. This way up arrows, fragile marks and a contents line are common one-colour additions, usually printed on the ends.
Do kraft shipping boxes come with handles?
Hand holes cut into two sides are available as an option. They help with cartons carried by hand to a stall or stockroom.
How much void fill room should I leave in a shipping box?
For fragile goods allow around 20 to 30 mm on each side. For soft goods you can cut the box closer to the product.
Can I order shipping boxes in several sizes?
Yes. List each inside size and quantity, and the written quote prices every size line by line.
Are your brown cardboard boxes double wall?
Single wall brown corrugated is the usual choice. Other corrugated grades are available on request; tell us what you ship and we suggest one.
Can I store stock long term in kraft shipping boxes?
Yes. Many customers use the same cartons for storage. A printed contents line on the end makes stacked boxes easier to find.
Do you supply packing tape with the boxes?
We make the boxes only. Any standard parcel tape works on brown corrugated.
Tell us what you ship
Send the product, a rough size and a quantity. We reply in writing within one business day with a price and a free design proof. Prefer to talk? Call +44 7578 382054 or message us on WhatsApp.