Guides
Shoe box dimensions: typical sizes and how to size yours
A typical adult shoe box is about 14 x 8 x 5 inches for men's and 12 x 7 x 4 inches for women's, with children's boxes around 8 x 5 x 3 inches. There's no standard, though. Two supplier guides give figures an inch or two apart, so measure the shoe you're boxing instead of copying a number.
For your own brand, the shoe sets the box. Heel height, toe shape and whether it's a sneaker or a boot all change what fits.
By Talha LoneUpdated
Typical shoe box sizes
| Box | IBEX Packaging | DN Packaging |
|---|---|---|
| Men's | 14 x 8 x 5 | 14 x 10 x 5 |
| Women's | 12 x 7 x 4 | 13 x 7.5 x 4 |
| Kids' | 8 x 5 x 3 | 7–10 x 5–6 x 2–3 |
| Boots | No figure given | No figure given |
Figures from IBEX Packaging and DN Packaging. Both say boots need more room, and neither gives one size for them. Treat the table as a range, not a rule.
How to size a shoe box for your shoe
- Measure the shoe, not another box. Length from toe to heel at the longest point, width at the widest, height at the tallest, which is often the heel or the ankle.
- Decide how it sits. Most shoe boxes open on the top. The opening is length x width, and height runs down.
- Add what goes in with it. Tissue, a dust bag or a card.
- Send the numbers in length x width x height order. We add clearance when we draw the dieline.
Don't add clearance yourself. We add it when we draw the dieline, based on the board and any insert. The measuring order is in how to measure a box, and if you want to build a prototype, see the box template guide.
Shipping shoes without paying for air
A shoe box isn't a shipping box. It usually goes inside a corrugated mailer or carton, and the carrier bills the outside size. Under the USPS Domestic Mail Manual, most parcels can't exceed 108 inches in length plus girth, which a shoe box won't approach, but price depends on size and weight.
A worked example: UPS divides length x width x height by 139 on daily rates and rounds up to the next pound. A 14 x 8 x 5 inch outer box comes to 560 divided by 139, which is 4.03, so it bills as 5 lb even if the shoes weigh 2 lb. Trim the height to 4 inches and it comes to 448 divided by 139, or 3.22, which bills as 4 lb. Details are in shipping box sizes.
Custom shoe boxes
A custom shoe box is drawn around your shoe, so it doesn't rattle. Options include lid-and-base boxes, drawer styles and a sleeve over a plain tray. See custom shoe boxes for the sizes and finishes we make.
When not to order custom shoe boxes
If a stock box already fits and you don't need it printed, buy stock. It's cheaper and faster.
- You sell fewer than 50 pairs. A stock shoe box with a printed sticker will cost you less.
- You haven't settled the shoe design. Heel height or sole thickness changes the box.
- You need them within days. Production takes 10–12 days from proof approval, plus shipping.
If you need 50 or more, send the shoe's length x width x height, or a photo of it on a ruler. It doesn't have to be a good photo.
Frequently asked questions
What are standard shoe box dimensions?
There is no standard. Supplier guides put an adult men's box around 14 x 8 x 5 or 14 x 10 x 5 inches, and women's around 12 x 7 x 4 or 13 x 7.5 x 4 inches.
What size is a kids' shoe box?
About 8 x 5 x 3 inches in one supplier guide, and 7–10 x 5–6 x 2–3 inches in another.
How do I size a shoe box for my own shoe?
Measure the shoe at its longest, widest and tallest points. Send the numbers as length x width x height, and we add clearance when we draw the dieline.
Can I ship shoes in the shoe box?
Put the shoe box inside a corrugated mailer or carton. A shoe box on its own isn't strong enough for the mail.
Do you have a shoe box template?
We draw the dieline around your shoe for $0. See our box template guide for how to read one.