Mailer box
Mailer boxes
Self-locking corrugated boxes that ship without an outer carton and open like a lid.
Corrugated
Mailer box · Corrugated
Custom subscription boxes
Custom subscription boxes are corrugated mailers printed inside and out, sized for what you ship each cycle. We make them from 50 units per design, so you can test a box on your first subscribers before you order thousands.
- Over 30 years in print and packaging
- Free structural design
- From 50 units
- Plastic-free options
- Style
- Self-locking mailer
- Board
- E-flute corrugated
- Best for
- Monthly and quarterly boxes
- Minimum order
- 50 units
- Typical production window
- 10–12 days
- Paper-first materials
- 100% recyclable
- For structural design
- $0
Overview
What makes a subscription box different?
Most of the work is in the order things come out. Decide what people see when the lid lifts, then build the box around that. If your contents change shape every month, a fixed insert will fight you, so tell us early.
Structurally, a subscription box is a mailer box: corrugated, self-locking and strong enough to go in the mail on its own. The difference is the job. It arrives again and again, so it has to look planned every time and survive contents that change.
That changes three decisions. Print goes inside as well as out. The insert has to suit more than one month's contents. And the size has to hold the biggest month, not the average one.
- Printed inside lid. The first thing a subscriber sees. Put the message or the month here.
- Insert or tray. Paperboard or corrugated, cut to hold items in place and in order.
- Outer print. Your name for the doorstep. Keep it simple if you want the box reused.
- Seal. A sticker or tear strip so the subscriber knows it's untouched.
Specifications
Custom subscription 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 | Self-locking mailer (roll end tuck front) |
| Board | E-flute corrugated (roughly 1/16 inch per wall). B-flute for heavier boxes |
| Inside and outside, one color to full color | |
| Inserts | Paperboard or corrugated, single or multi-cavity |
| Add-ons | Tear strip, printed tissue, card slot in the insert |
| Size | Drawn to your largest regular month |
| Recyclability | 100% recyclable corrugated and paperboard inserts |
| 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
Fixed insert or open box?
The right inside depends on how much your contents change from cycle to cycle.
| Inside | How it works | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed insert | Cavities cut for each item | Contents are the same shape every cycle |
| Adjustable divider | Slotted partitions that move | Item count stays the same but sizes vary |
| Open box with tissue | No insert. Items wrapped and stacked | Contents change completely each cycle |
| Card tray | Shallow paperboard tray for a booklet or card | You include a printed note every time |
Changing contents and a fixed insert don't mix. If you're not sure what month four looks like yet, start with an open box and add an insert once the range settles.
Compare
Mailer or shipping box for a subscription?
Most subscriptions use a mailer. Some outgrow it.
| Mailer box | Shipping box | |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Lid lifts, inside print shows | Cut tape, fold back flaps |
| Inside print | The point of it | Rarely used |
| Heavy contents | Fine with B-flute and an insert | Better for bottles, books, bulk |
| Packing time | Fold, fill, tuck | Fold, fill, tape |
If your box regularly holds glass bottles or several pounds of product, a printed custom shipping box with a divider is the safer choice. Otherwise, stay with a custom mailer box.
Sizing
Sizing for the biggest month
Size the box for the largest set of contents you plan to send regularly, then fill smaller months with tissue or a card. A box that fits the average month fails the first time you add a bonus item.
Send the inside dimensions you need as length x width x depth, or a photo of a full month's contents laid out on a ruler. We add clearance when we draw the dieline. How to measure a box explains which side is which.
Order 50 for your first cycle. It's enough to see how the box survives the mail and how subscribers react before a bigger run.
Subscriptions we size boxes for
- Beauty and skincare. Small bottles held upright in a multi-cavity insert.
- Food and coffee. Pouches and packets laid flat, several to a box.
- Books and stationery. Flat, heavy contents that need a stiffer wall.
- Clothing and socks. Shallow boxes with tissue and a printed card.
Finishes
Spend on the inside, not the outside.
The outside gets handled by couriers. The inside gets filmed. Put the finish where the camera is.
Aqueous coating
Default on every box, inside and out.
Foil stamping
One foil mark inside the lid lands better than three outside.
Spot UV
Gloss on a logo inside a matte box. Keep it off small text.
Quote
Get a quote for custom subscription 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 subscription boxes: questions.
What is the minimum order for custom subscription boxes?
50 units per design. Enough for a first cycle, so you can see how the box performs before ordering thousands.
Can you print the inside of a subscription box?
Yes. Inside print is standard on subscription boxes, since the inside of the lid is the first thing subscribers see.
Should I use an insert in my subscription box?
Use a fixed insert only if your contents are the same shape every cycle. If they change, start with an open box and tissue, or an adjustable divider.
What size should my subscription box be?
Size it for your biggest regular month, not the average one. Fill smaller months with tissue or a printed card.
How long do custom subscription boxes take?
10–12 days on most orders, counted from proof approval. Shipping time is on top, so plan your first cycle from the proof date.
Honest fit
When not to hire us.
You change the box every month
Each new design has its own 50-unit minimum. If you want a different print every cycle, use one printed box and change the card or sticker instead.
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.
Planning your first box?
Send a photo of one cycle's contents on a ruler and your subscriber count. We'll suggest a structure and an insert.
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