Mailer box
Mailer boxes
Self-locking corrugated boxes that ship without an outer carton and open like a lid.
Corrugated
Mailer box · Corrugated
Custom shoe boxes
Custom shoe boxes are corrugated or rigid boxes printed with your brand and sized to your shoe, from 50 units per design. We draw the box around your last for free, and production takes 10–12 days from proof approval.
- Over 30 years in print and packaging
- Free structural design
- From 50 units
- Plastic-free options
- Style
- Lid and base, or mailer
- Board
- Corrugated or rigid
- Best for
- Footwear, sneakers
- Minimum order
- 50 units
- Typical production window
- 10–12 days
- Paper-first materials
- 100% recyclable
- For structural design
- $0
Overview
What is a shoe box?
A shoe box is two things: the box the shoe ships in and the box a customer keeps it in. Corrugated does the first job well, and rigid does the second. If your shoes ship in their own box with no outer carton, choose corrugated.
The classic shoe box is a two-piece lid and base: a tray with a lid that drops over it. Made in corrugated, it's light, strong and prints well. Made in rigid board, it's heavier and meant to be kept.
Many brands now ship in a mailer-style shoe box that closes with a tuck, so the shoe goes in the post without an outer carton. It saves one box per order.
- Base. A tray that holds the shoes and tissue.
- Lid. Full depth, or shallow so the base shows.
- Tissue and inserts. Keep the shoes from rubbing and hold the shape.
- Print. Logo on the lid, inside print under it.
Specifications
Custom shoe boxes: specifications
Every box is drawn to your product, so these are the options, not a fixed catalogue. Your specialist confirms the exact spec on the proof.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Style | Two-piece lid and base, or tuck-front mailer shoe box |
| Board | E-flute or B-flute corrugated, or wrapped greyboard for rigid |
| Outside, inside, or both. One color to full color | |
| Inserts | Paperboard or corrugated insert, cut to your shoe |
| Add-ons | Handle cut-out, tear strip, ribbon pull on rigid |
| Size | Drawn to your shoe |
| Ships to you | Flat for corrugated, assembled for rigid |
| Recyclability | Corrugated is 100% recyclable. Skip plastic lamination to keep it that way |
| Minimum order | 50 units per design |
| Structural design | $0. We draw the dieline around your product |
| Proof | Digital proof on your dieline, checked for bleed, folds and barcodes |
| Production | 10–12 days on most orders, from proof approval. Shipping time is on top |
| Default finish | Aqueous coating on every box. Water-based, and it recycles with the box |
| Point of contact | One packaging specialist, from first sketch to delivery |
Board and build
Which board for a shoe box?
Corrugated if it ships. Rigid if it sits on a shelf or gets kept.
| Option | Looks like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| White E-flute | Bright. Takes full-color print | Sneakers, bold color prints |
| Kraft E-flute | Brown and natural. Ink prints darker | Sustainable and craft brands |
| B-flute | Thicker wall | Boots and heavier shoes |
| Rigid lid and base | Heavy and stiff | Premium shoes and gift sets |
Pale colors print duller on kraft. If your brand is light, use a white liner. See custom kraft boxes.
Compare
Shoe box or mailer box?
Two ways to ship a pair of shoes.
| Lid-and-base shoe box | Mailer box | |
|---|---|---|
| Goes in the mail on its own | No. Needs an outer box | Yes |
| Opens by | Lifting the lid off | Lifting a hinged lid |
| Boxes per order | Two | One |
| Best for | Retail and keeping | Direct-to-consumer |
A mailer saves a box per order. See custom mailer boxes.
Sizing
Sizing a shoe box
Send the size of your biggest shoe, with the toe pointing up as it will sit in the box, plus the tissue and any insert. Shoes vary by style, so tell us if you sell boots or high tops as well as low sneakers.
Don't add clearance yourself. Structural design is $0 and we add it on the dieline. How to measure a box covers the order.
Who uses custom shoe boxes
- Sneaker and footwear brands. Printed lids that look like the brand.
- Direct-to-consumer shoe sellers. A mailer-style box that ships on its own.
- Resellers. Boxes with your own branding.
- Kids and specialty shoes. Smaller runs of 50 units.
Finishes
One finish, on the logo.
Aqueous coating goes on every box by default. Add one more where it will be noticed.
Foil stamping
One logo on the lid.
Debossing
Pressed in, no ink. Works on kraft.
Spot UV
A glossy logo on a matte lid.
Quote
Get a quote for custom shoe boxes
One measurement and a quantity is enough to start. Your specialist replies with a structure, so you can see the box before you commit to anything.
How it works
Four steps, one person.
The specialist who picks up your first email stays with the project until the boxes arrive.
Step 01
Tell us what you're packing
Send the product dimensions, how it ships and how many you need. A photo on a ruler is enough to start.
Step 02
We draw the structure
Your packaging specialist builds the dieline around your product. Structural design is free.
Step 03
You approve the proof
Drop your artwork onto the dieline. We check bleed, folds and barcodes, and send a digital proof.
Step 04
We make and ship
Production takes 10–12 days on most orders. Boxes ship flat, packed in cartons, to your door.
FAQ
Custom shoe boxes: questions.
What is the minimum order for custom shoe boxes?
50 units per design. That's enough to test a box with real customers before a bigger run.
Can a shoe box go in the mail without another box?
A mailer-style shoe box can, because it's self-locking corrugated. A lid-and-base box needs an outer carton.
Can you print the inside of a shoe box?
Yes, inside, outside or both. Inside print is what people see when they lift the lid.
Do you make rigid shoe boxes?
Yes, a rigid lid and base in wrapped greyboard. It's heavier and made to be kept, and it needs a mailer around it in the post.
How do I size a shoe box?
Send the size of your biggest shoe in the box, with tissue and any insert. We draw the box around it.
How long do custom shoe boxes take?
10–12 days on most orders, counted from proof approval. Shipping time is on top.
Honest fit
When not to hire us.
You have one shoe size and a tight deadline
If you need a few boxes this week, a stock shoe box with a printed sticker will cost you less. Custom starts at 50 units per design and takes 10–12 days.
You need fewer than 50 boxes
Our minimum is 50 units. For 10 or 20, a stock box with a printed sticker will cost you less.
You need boxes next week
Production runs 10–12 days before shipping. If your launch is sooner, buy stock boxes now and switch to custom for the next run.
You want plain brown boxes
If nothing gets printed, a stock box supplier is cheaper and faster. We're worth it once the box carries your brand.
What size is your biggest shoe?
Send the size of the shoe in the box, or a photo of it on a ruler, and how many boxes you need.
Start a projectPopular boxes
Related boxes.
Rigid box
Rigid boxes
Two-piece lid and base boxes in wrapped greyboard. The box people keep on a shelf.
Rigid board
Mailer box
Apparel boxes
Shallow mailers sized for folded garments. Tissue and a sticker finish the job.
Corrugated
Folding carton
Kraft boxes
Unbleached kraft cartons with one- or two-color print. Reads as natural without saying so.
Kraft