Rigid gift boxes
Lid-and-base boxes with moulded trays for 9 to 24 cavities. MOQ 300 pcs, 7–15 days.
View gift boxesInternal dimensions by chocolate format and cavity count
Chocolate Box Sizes Chart
A 100 g chocolate bar needs an internal box of 17.0 × 8.5 × 2.0 cm. A 12-piece 25 mm truffle box needs 13.5 × 10.0 × 4.5 cm; a 12-piece 35 mm praline box 17.5 × 13.0 × 5.0 cm. Depth of 4–6 cm covers one layer plus a pad, base board and 4 mm lid recess.
Jump to the size table
Chocolate box size chart
All figures are internal dimensions in centimetres, measured length × width × depth. Cavity counts include 3 mm corrugated dividers and 4 mm outer edge clearance. Bar rows are measured from the wrapped bar, not the bare chocolate.
| Chocolate format | Piece size / count | Grid | Minimum internal size (L × W × D) | Depth basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bar, 100 g | 160 × 75 × 12 mm, 1 piece | 1 × 1 | 17.0 × 8.5 × 2.0 cm | 12 mm bar + 8 mm wrap and pad |
| Bar, 100 g four-pack | 160 × 75 × 12 mm, 4 pieces | 4 stacked | 17.5 × 9.0 × 6.5 cm | 4 × 12 mm + 3 gaps + 8 mm |
| Truffle, 25 mm | 25 mm diameter × 25 mm high, 6 pieces | 3 × 2 | 10.0 × 7.0 × 4.5 cm | 4.1 cm + lid recess |
| Truffle, 25 mm | 25 mm diameter × 25 mm high, 9 pieces | 3 × 3 | 10.0 × 10.0 × 4.5 cm | 4.1 cm + lid recess |
| Truffle, 25 mm | 25 mm diameter × 25 mm high, 12 pieces | 4 × 3 | 13.5 × 10.0 × 4.5 cm | 4.1 cm + lid recess |
| Truffle, 25 mm | 25 mm diameter × 25 mm high, 24 pieces | 6 × 4 | 20.0 × 13.5 × 4.5 cm | 4.1 cm + lid recess |
| Praline, 35 mm | 35 mm diameter × 28 mm high, 12 pieces | 4 × 3 | 17.5 × 13.0 × 5.0 cm | 4.4 cm + lid recess |
| Praline, 35 mm | 35 mm diameter × 28 mm high, 24 pieces | 6 × 4 | 26.0 × 17.5 × 5.0 cm | 4.4 cm + lid recess |
| Heart box | 35 mm pralines, 12 pieces | Heart layout | 18.0 × 18.0 × 5.5 cm | Bounding box, not grid |
| Heart box | 35 mm pralines, 24 pieces | Heart layout | 25.0 × 25.0 × 6.0 cm | Bounding box, not grid |
Three constraints decide the size:
- Cavity clearance: 5 mm. 2.5 mm per side around each piece, so a 25 mm truffle uses a 30 mm cavity and a 35 mm praline a 40 mm cavity.
- Depth: 4–6 cm for one layer. Piece height plus 16 mm covers a 5 mm top gap, 5 mm pad, 2 mm base board and 4 mm lid recess. Two layers need 7.5–8.5 cm.
- Weight: 24 × 35 g pralines ≈ 0.84 kg. Above 0.8 kg packed, use 1,000 gsm board or above, or a double-wall base, to stop the base flexing.
How the internal size is calculated
Chocolate boxes are sized cavity first, box second. Decide the piece diameter and the grid, add the divider space, then add the outer edge clearance. Do not size from the number of pieces alone: 12 truffles and 12 pralines need boxes 4 cm apart in length.
cavity_L = piece_diameter + 5 mm
cavity_W = piece_diameter + 5 mm
cavity_D = piece_height + 16 mm (5 top + 5 pad + 2 base + 4 lid recess)
box_L = columns × cavity_L + (columns − 1) × 3 mm + 4 mm
box_W = rows × cavity_W + (rows − 1) × 3 mm + 4 mm
box_D = cavity_D
two_layer_D = piece_height × 2 + 26 mm
bar_box_D = bar_height + 8 mm (wrap and pad only, no lid recess needed)
Worked example for 12 × 25 mm truffles in a 4 × 3 grid: 4 × 30 + 3 × 3 + 4 = 133 mm length, 3 × 30 + 2 × 3 + 4 = 100 mm width, and 25 + 16 = 41 mm depth. Rounded up, that is 13.5 × 10.0 × 4.5 cm.
Why 4–6 cm depth, and when it is not enough
- 4.5 cm covers a 25 mm truffle. The piece sits on a 5 mm pad with 5 mm of air above it, so the lid does not press on the chocolate.
- 5.0 cm covers a 35 mm praline. A domed or decorated praline is 25–28 mm high; the extra 4 mm lid recess keeps the decoration clear.
- 6.0 cm covers a heart box or a dome lid. The bounding box of a heart shape wastes corner space, and a domed lid needs a deeper recess.
- 2.0 cm is correct for bars. A 100 g bar is 12 mm high and needs no cavity, so a shallow tuck-top box is the lower-cost choice.
- 7.5–8.5 cm is the two-layer case. Two 25 mm truffles plus an interlayer pad need 76 mm; do not try to compress this into 6 cm.
Do not use the same depth for bars and pralines. A 4.5 cm box on a 100 g bar adds about 45 percent to the carton volume and buys nothing; a 2 cm box on pralines will crush the lid onto the chocolate.
Cavity counts: 6, 9, 12 and 24
The grid drives the footprint and divider count. Each divider takes 3 mm, so a 6 × 4 grid loses 15 mm of length and 9 mm of width before edge clearance.
- 6 cavities (3 × 2). The smallest gift format at 10.0 × 7.0 cm internal; suits a single-layer truffle assortment.
- 9 cavities (3 × 3). Square footprint at 10.0 × 10.0 cm; popular for retail counter displays.
- 12 cavities (4 × 3). 13.5 × 10.0 cm for truffles, 17.5 × 13.0 cm for pralines; the most common gift box size.
- 24 cavities (6 × 4). 20.0 × 13.5 cm for truffles, 26.0 × 17.5 cm for pralines; above 0.8 kg packed, check board weight.
For heart formats, the cavity grid is cut into a heart-shaped insert and the box is measured as a bounding square. A 12-piece 35 mm heart box needs 18.0 × 18.0 cm; a 24-piece version needs 25.0 × 25.0 cm.
Transit, board and packed weight
Chocolate is temperature-sensitive as well as fragile. The retail box protects the pieces; the transit carton protects the box, and the two allowances are separate. If the box ships direct, wrap it in a corrugated mailer with 15 mm clearance per side.
- Board range. 500–2000 gsm covers folding and rigid boxes. A 24-cavity praline box needs 1,000 gsm or above on the base panel.
- Packed weight. 12 × 25 g truffles ≈ 0.30 kg; 24 × 35 g pralines ≈ 0.84 kg. Keep a single retail box under 1.2 kg.
- Divider material. A 3 mm E-flute divider is standard; a 1.5 mm card divider saves space but gives less drop protection.
- Heat and humidity. Avoid tight shrink wrap on the box; a sealed box traps warmth and can bloom the chocolate in transit.
We coordinate with specialized converting partners on cavity tooling and board weight, and confirm every cavity on a physical sample.
Related packaging
Heart boxes
Heart-shaped lids for 12 and 24 pralines, with a printed insert and 6 cm depth.
View heart boxes
Folding boxes
Flat-shipping bar cartons and 6-cavity truffle boxes. Board 500–2000 gsm.
View folding boxesRelated sizing charts
- Gift box sizes chart — jewellery, candles, mugs, chocolate and hampers.
- Perfume box sizes chart — 30–200 ml bottles with insert allowance.
- Mailer box size chart — outer transit cartons and volumetric weight.
- Candle box sizes chart — 100 g to 1 kg candle jars and gift sets.
- Mug box sizes chart — 11 oz to 20 oz mugs and double-cup gift sets.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a 12-piece chocolate box?
For 25 mm truffles in a 4 × 3 grid, use 13.5 × 10.0 × 4.5 cm internal. For 35 mm pralines in the same grid, use 17.5 × 13.0 × 5.0 cm. The length and width grow with cavity size, not with the number of pieces alone.
Why is a chocolate box 4–6 cm deep?
Depth equals the piece height plus 16 mm: 5 mm top clearance, 5 mm pad, 2 mm base board and 4 mm lid recess. A 25 mm truffle lands at 4.5 cm and a 28 mm praline at 5.0 cm. Two stacked layers need 7.5–8.5 cm.
How many truffles fit in a 20 cm chocolate box?
A 25 mm truffle needs a 30 mm cavity. In a 20 cm box you fit six columns and four rows, giving 24 cavities at an internal size of 20.0 × 13.5 × 4.5 cm.
What is the minimum order and lead time?
Custom chocolate boxes start at 300 pcs, or 500 pcs for custom cavity molds and irregular shapes. Lead time is 7–15 days after artwork approval, with free samples, a 24-hour quote and worldwide shipping. Board weight is 500–2000 gsm.
Send the piece size, not just the piece count.
Tell us the chocolate diameter, height, cavity grid and pack weight. We reply within 24 hours with an internal size recommendation and a packed quote.