Gift Box Sizes and How to Pick the Right One
Every box we make is built to the inside size you give us. Use the starting sizes below as a guide, then adjust them to your product.
How do you read a gift box size?
A gift box size is three numbers in millimetres: length × width × height. We always quote the inside size, which is the space your product actually sits in.
Length is the longer side of the base as you look down on it. Width is the shorter side. Height runs from the floor of the box to the underside of the lid.
The outside of the box is a little bigger than the inside, because board has thickness. That matters for shelf space and outer cartons, but it never eats into the room you asked for.
If you are measuring for the first time, follow our step-by-step guide to measuring a gift box before you send numbers.
How much room should you leave around the product?
Clearance is the small gap between the product and the walls. Too little and the item sticks when someone lifts it out. Too much and it rattles, scuffs or tips over in transit.
- Jewellery on a pad: allow for the pad, then only a couple of millimetres either side.
- Candles in jars and bottles: a few millimetres around the widest point, plus room above the lid or cap.
- Folded clothing: leave space for tissue on every side so the fold does not crush.
- Gift sets with several items: size the box to the insert, not to the items one by one.
- Flowers: measure the bouquet at its widest and tallest once it is arranged.
Small, precious items need the tightest fit. Our jewellery gift boxes with fitted pads show how little room a ring or necklace needs.
Which size suits each occasion?
Wedding favours are usually small, often around 80 mm square, so a few sweets or a candle tin sit neatly at each place setting. Birthday party boxes run a little bigger to take a slice of cake or a handful of treats.
Corporate gifts vary the most. A desk gift for a pen and card fits a slim box, while a welcome kit with a notebook, bottle and snacks needs a deep box with an insert.
Clothing boxes are shaped by the fold: a shirt lies flat and shallow, while knitwear needs extra height. Hampers need the most depth, because jars and bottles stand upright.
Our corporate gift boxes for welcome kits list typical sizes for each kind of company gift.
Common starting sizes by box style
These are typical inside sizes in millimetres for each style. They are a starting point for your quote, not fixed sizes: every box is made to the measurements you send.
| Box style | Smaller starting size (mm) | Larger starting size (mm) | Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnetic lid | 150 × 110 × 60 | 250 × 250 × 150 | Rigid |
| Rigid lid and base | 100 × 100 × 60 | 320 × 240 × 110 | Rigid |
| Drawer | 90 × 90 × 40 | 260 × 190 × 70 | Rigid |
| Book style | 160 × 115 × 40 | 250 × 200 × 90 | Rigid |
| Clear lid | 80 × 80 × 50 | 300 × 220 × 100 | Folding card or kraft |
| Round | 80 × 80 × 60 | 300 × 300 × 200 | Rigid |
| Foldable | 160 × 120 × 60 | 380 × 280 × 120 | Rigid, folds flat |
| Gable | 80 × 60 × 80 | 250 × 150 × 150 | Folding card or kraft |
| Gift card | 95 × 65 × 15 | 160 × 120 × 40 | Folding card or kraft |
| Birthday | 80 × 80 × 80 | 300 × 220 × 120 | Folding card or kraft |
| Corporate | 200 × 150 × 60 | 400 × 300 × 120 | Rigid or folding card |
| Hamper | 250 × 200 × 100 | 350 × 300 × 200 | Rigid or folding card |
| Clothing | 200 × 150 × 50 | 420 × 320 × 120 | Rigid or folding card |
| Jewellery | 60 × 60 × 40 | 190 × 90 × 40 | Rigid |
| Flower | 150 × 150 × 120 | 260 × 260 × 200 | Rigid |
| Presentation | 200 × 150 × 50 | 300 × 220 × 120 | Rigid |
Each product page shows four typical sizes with photos. Compare them side by side on our page of all gift boxes we make.
How do lids and inserts change the size?
The inside size is the space left once everything is in place. Lids, inserts and wrapping can all take some of it, so plan for them early.
- Measure the product with any cap, bow or tag attached.
- Decide on the insert and note roughly how much height it takes.
- Add room for tissue or a printed card if you plan to use one.
- Check whether the lid sits on top or slides over the base, because a deep lid can rest on the product.
- Send the finished inside size, and mention the insert so we can check the numbers.
Foam and pulp inserts hold products in cut-outs, which changes the height you need. Our guide to card, foam and pulp inserts explains how much room each type takes.
What should you send with your sizes?
Send the inside size, the quantity and the style you like. A phone photo of the product next to a ruler helps our team spot a size that looks too tight.
If you only have an old box, send its inside size and tell us what feels wrong with it. We will suggest changes on the free proof before anything is printed.
When you are ready, request a written gift box quote and we will reply within one working day.
Typical starting sizes by style
Inside sizes in mm. Every box is made to your own sizes; these are only a guide.
| Style | Size 1 | Size 2 | Size 3 | Size 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnetic Lid Gift Boxes | Small 150 × 110 × 60 | Medium 220 × 160 × 80 | Large 300 × 220 × 100 | Deep 250 × 250 × 150 |
| Rigid Lid and Base Gift Boxes | Small 100 × 100 × 60 | Medium 200 × 150 × 80 | Long 300 × 100 × 60 | Large 320 × 240 × 110 |
| Drawer Gift Boxes | Small 90 × 90 × 40 | Medium 180 × 120 × 50 | Long 250 × 100 × 50 | Large 260 × 190 × 70 |
| Book Style Gift Boxes | A6 160 × 115 × 40 | A5 220 × 160 × 50 | A4 310 × 225 × 60 | Deep 250 × 200 × 90 |
| Clear Lid Gift Boxes | Favour 80 × 80 × 50 | Small 150 × 150 × 60 | Medium 220 × 160 × 80 | Large 300 × 220 × 100 |
| Round Gift Boxes | Small 80 × 80 × 60 | Medium 150 × 150 × 100 | Large 220 × 220 × 150 | Hat box 300 × 300 × 200 |
| Foldable Gift Boxes | Small 160 × 120 × 60 | Medium 240 × 180 × 80 | Large 320 × 240 × 100 | Extra large 380 × 280 × 120 |
| Gable Gift Boxes | Mini 80 × 60 × 80 | Small 120 × 80 × 100 | Medium 180 × 100 × 120 | Large 250 × 150 × 150 |
| Gift Card Boxes | Card 95 × 65 × 15 | Card and note 120 × 90 × 20 | Voucher 220 × 110 × 15 | Keepsake 160 × 120 × 40 |
| Birthday Gift Boxes | Favour 80 × 80 × 80 | Small 150 × 110 × 60 | Medium 220 × 160 × 90 | Large 300 × 220 × 120 |
| Corporate Gift Boxes | Desk gift 200 × 150 × 60 | Welcome kit 300 × 220 × 80 | Drinks gift 340 × 250 × 110 | Event pack 400 × 300 × 120 |
| Hamper Gift Boxes | Small 250 × 200 × 100 | Medium 320 × 250 × 120 | Large 400 × 300 × 150 | Deep 350 × 300 × 200 |
| Clothing Gift Boxes | Accessory 200 × 150 × 50 | Shirt 330 × 250 × 70 | Knitwear 350 × 280 × 100 | Outfit 420 × 320 × 120 |
| Jewellery Gift Boxes | Ring 60 × 60 × 40 | Earring 80 × 80 × 35 | Necklace 120 × 120 × 35 | Bracelet 190 × 90 × 40 |
| Flower Gift Boxes | Small round 150 × 150 × 120 | Medium round 200 × 200 × 160 | Heart 250 × 230 × 100 | Large round 260 × 260 × 200 |
| Presentation Boxes | Award 200 × 150 × 50 | Sample kit 250 × 180 × 60 | A4 320 × 240 × 50 | Deep 300 × 220 × 120 |
Questions
Still unsure? Ask us on WhatsApp or call +44 7578 382054.
Do you quote gift box sizes as inside or outside measurements?
Always inside. The outside comes out slightly larger because of the board, and the quote states the inside size you asked for.
What order should I write the three box measurements in?
Length, then width, then height, all in millimetres. Length and width are the base; height is the depth from floor to lid.
Can I choose a size that is not in the typical sizes table?
Yes. The table is only a starting point, and every box is made to the size you send.
How tight should a gift box fit around the product?
Snug enough that nothing slides, with a few millimetres to lift the item out. Precious items on a pad can sit closer than bottles or jars.
Does a foam insert make the box bigger on the outside?
It can. We add the insert to the inside size, so the box grows enough to hold both the foam and the product.
What size box fits a folded shirt?
A common starting point is about 330 × 250 × 70 mm inside. Fold the shirt as you will pack it and measure that.
Which gift box size suits a single wedding favour?
Around 80 × 80 × 50 mm inside suits a few sweets or a small tin. Measure the actual favour before you order.
Will a different size change the price of my boxes?
Usually, yes, because a bigger box uses more board. Your quote gives the price for the exact size you choose.
Can I get two sizes of the same design in one order?
Yes. Send each size and quantity, and we will set the artwork on both layouts for one free proof.
What if the boxes arrive and the product does not fit?
We make the size you approve on the proof, so check it carefully against the product first. If something is wrong with the boxes we made, report it within 10 days with photos for a reprint or refund.
Send us your brief
Tell us what goes in the box, the size and how many you need. A quote comes back within one working day, and a free design proof follows before anything is printed.