Overview & Specifications
What Are Custom Parcel Boxes?
Custom parcel boxes are small shipping boxes for single items and small orders sent through the postal service or a courier. Their size matters twice: it must protect the item and keep the parcel's billed size down.
Custom Parcel Boxes sit in Shipping & Logistics Packaging and are built on Custom Shipping Mailer Boxes or small RSC cartons from Corrugated Shipping Boxes.
What it has to do
What a Small Parcel Needs from the Box
A small parcel is billed by size, handled by machines and opened by one person. Each need below is matched to how it is met.
01
Sized
Sized Against Carrier Billing
Carriers bill by a parcel's size as well as its weight, so empty space costs money. The box is set to the smallest size that protects the item. Check current carrier rules, which change.02
Item
Item Held in Place
A snug fit or an insert stops a small item from moving, which matters more in a small box where any gap is large relative to the item.03
Closed
Closed for the Post
A tuck-top mailer closes with its lid plus tape or an adhesive strip as the carrier and product require; an RSC closes with tape.04
Easy
Easy to Open
A tear strip on a mailer lets the customer open it without a knife, where specified.
Parcel Mailer Box vs Small RSC
A parcel mailer box opens like a lid and presents the item; a small RSC is a plain flap carton. The table compares them.
| Attribute | Parcel Mailer Box | Small RSC Carton |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | One-piece roll end tuck top | Four flaps top and bottom |
| Opening | Lid lifts, tear strip where specified | Cut the tape, open flaps |
| Presentation | Printed inside and out | Mostly outside print |
| Sealing | Tape or adhesive strip per carrier | Tape |
| Page | Custom Shipping Mailer Boxes | Corrugated Shipping Boxes |
Custom Parcel Boxes Specifications
Custom Parcel Boxes are specified around the item, the structure, the board and the closure. Review the specifications below to plan the box.
| Specification | Available Configuration |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Small parcel box for post and courier |
| Category | Shipping & Logistics |
| Structure Options | Custom Shipping Mailer Boxes (Roll End Tuck Top); small RSC cartons |
| Dimensions | Custom inside L × W × D, the smallest size that protects the item |
| Board | Paperboard or E-/B-flute corrugated for mailers; single wall corrugated for RSC |
| Inserts | Paperboard, corrugated, foam/EVA or molded pulp |
| Features | Tear strip, adhesive strip, tongue lock, where specified |
| Sealing | Tape, adhesive or other closure per carrier and product |
| Print Coverage | Exterior only, exterior + interior, or full inside and outside, by structure |
| Print Methods | Offset, digital, UV, screen or flexographic printing; CMYK and Pantone spot colors |
| Shipping Specification | Confirmed for the packed product and route |
| Starting Price | From $1.25 / unit; final price depends on structure, size, board, print and quantity |
| Minimum Order | 500 units |
| Standard Production | 7 days from approved proof |
| Rush Production | Available on request |
| Shipping | Ships flat, USA and worldwide |
What Size Parcel Box Do I Need?
Measure the item with any wrap, then add only the space an insert needs. Final dimensions are set on the approved dieline.
| Measurement | What to Record |
|---|---|
| Item | Length, width and height with wrap |
| Insert | Insert or snug fit |
| Weight | Packed weight |
| Carrier | Postal service or courier used |
Check the Billed Size
Before approving the size, check what your carrier will bill for the outside dimensions under its current rules.
What to Check Before Bulk Production
Review a sample packed with the real item and sealed as it will ship. Record the approved structure, board and closure on the signed-off sample. Where a sample shows a problem, review the cause, revise the specification and confirm it on another packed sample.
| If the sample shows | Cause to review |
|---|---|
| Item moves in the box | Fit or insert |
| Box larger than needed | Size against the item |
| Lid opens in handling | Closure and sealing per carrier |
| Corners crush in transit | Board and shipping specification |
Seven days covers standard production from approved proof once the specification is confirmed; delivery timing is confirmed separately, so count back from the date you need stock.
