Shipping box
Printed shipping boxes
Standard flap-top cartons with your logo on the outside. Built for heavier orders.
Corrugated
Shipping box · Corrugated
Sporting goods packaging
Sporting goods packaging is a printed box or carton sized to a piece of gear: a ball, a pair of gloves, a grip set, a mouthguard, a water bottle. We make corrugated shippers, folding cartons and display boxes, draw the structure 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
- Shipper, carton, display
- Board
- Corrugated or paperboard
- Best for
- Gear and accessories
- Best value starts at
- 50 units
- Typical production window
- 10–12 days
- Quote reply time
- 12–24 hours
- For structural design
- $0
Overview
What shape is the gear?
The catch is shape. Balls are round, bats are long, gloves are soft, and none of them sit well in a plain rectangle. Send what you sell and how it ships and we'll say which box fits, or whether a pouch or tube does the job better.
Small accessories like grips and mouthguards fit a folding carton with a cradle. Balls and larger gear ship in corrugated boxes with an insert that holds them still. Long items like bats and poles suit a tube or a long telescoping box.
A retail display box turns a row of accessories into a counter sale, and ships the stock to the store.
- Folding carton. For small accessories. See custom folding cartons.
- Corrugated shipper. For balls and gear. See custom shipping boxes.
- Paper tube. For long items. See custom paper tubes.
- Display box. For counter sales. See custom display boxes.
Specifications
Sporting goods packaging: 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 | Folding carton, corrugated shipper, telescoping box, display box or paper tube |
| Board | Paperboard or corrugated |
| Full color, with logo and size panels | |
| Inserts | Paperboard or corrugated, cut to the item |
| Add-ons | Window, hang tab, handle cut-out |
| Size | Drawn to your product |
| Ships to you | Flat, packed in cartons |
| Recyclability | Paper-first materials are 100% recyclable |
| Order size | Best value from 50 units per design, because of logistics and shipping. Smaller orders can be considered |
| 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 box for which gear?
Pick by shape and by how it sells.
| Gear | Box | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Grips, mouthguards, accessories | Folding carton | Low cost, ships flat |
| Balls | Corrugated box with a cradle | Holds a round shape still |
| Gloves, apparel | Corrugated mailer | Ships on its own. See apparel packaging |
| Bats, poles | Paper tube or long box | Fits a long, thin shape |
For shoes, see custom shoe boxes.
Compare
Retail box or shipper?
Most sports brands use both.
| Retail box | Shipper | |
|---|---|---|
| Full color, branded | Minimal | |
| Strength | Light | Strong |
| Ships alone | No | Yes |
| Best for | Shelf sales | Warehouse and online |
If a box goes in the mail on its own, it needs corrugated. See ecommerce packaging.
Sizing
Sizing gear
Send the item's length, width, height and weight, measured at the widest point. For round items, send the diameter.
See shipping box sizes for carrier limits. We add clearance when we draw the dieline.
Who uses sporting goods packaging
- Equipment brands. Boxes for shelves and online orders.
- Team and club merchandise. A short run per season.
- Nutrition and accessory makers. See wellness packaging.
- Distributors. Bulk boxes with size and SKU panels.
Finishes
Bold print, one finish.
Sports packaging runs on color and logo. Aqueous coating goes on every box by default.
Aqueous coating
Water-based and on every box by default. It recycles with the box.
Spot UV
Gloss on one area of a matte box. Good for a logo, bad for small text.
Foil stamping
Metallic foil on the logo. It catches the light on the shelf.
Quote
Get a quote for sporting goods packaging
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
Sporting goods packaging: questions.
What is the minimum order for sporting goods packaging?
Best value starts at 50 units per design, because of logistics and shipping. If you need fewer, tell us: we can consider smaller orders.
How long do sporting goods packaging take?
10–12 days on most orders, counted from proof approval. Shipping time is on top and depends on where the boxes are going.
Do you charge for structural design?
No. Structural design is $0. We draw the dieline around your product, and you only pay once you order boxes.
Can you box round items like balls?
Yes, with a cradle insert that holds the shape still inside a corrugated box.
Can you make boxes for long gear?
Yes, as paper tubes or long telescoping boxes. Send the length and diameter.
Can I order in bulk?
Yes. Bulk is where per-box cost comes down. Tell us the quantity and we'll quote it.
Honest fit
When not to hire us.
You sell only a few units
A stock box with a printed sticker may cost less for a handful. Custom pays once the box is part of the product.
You only need a handful of boxes
Best value starts at 50 units, because of logistics and shipping. For 10 or 20 we can consider it, but the cost per box is higher and a stock box with a printed sticker may 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.
Popular boxes
Related boxes.
Mailer box
Shoe boxes
Corrugated and rigid shoe boxes, including mailer-style boxes that ship on their own.
Corrugated
Folding carton
Folding cartons
Tuck-end cartons for the shelf. Ship flat, fold in seconds, print edge to edge.
Paperboard
Paper tube