Rigid gift boxes
Lid-and-base construction for premium gifting. Minimum order 100 pieces.
View gift boxesInternal dimensions by gift category
Gift Box Sizes Chart
A small rigid gift box is usually 12 × 12 × 6 cm; a candle box 10 × 10 × 12 cm; a mug box 14 × 11 × 11 cm; an apparel gift box 35 × 25 × 12 cm. The values below are minimum internal targets for eight common gift categories, derived from packed content plus protection and a 2–3 mm tolerance. Confirm against a packed sample before ordering.
Jump to the size table
Gift box size chart
| Gift category | Packed content | Minimum internal size (L × W × D) | Suggested style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewellery | Pendant, ring box or small pouch | 12 × 12 × 6 cm | Rigid lid-and-base with foam or card insert |
| Candle | 200–300 g jar with lid | 10 × 10 × 12 cm | Rigid box, top pad, base pad |
| Mug | Single mug with handle | 14 × 11 × 11 cm | Folding box with die-cut insert |
| Chocolate | 6–12 bars or pralines | 20 × 14 × 5 cm | Folding or rigid, divider optional |
| Apparel | Folded shirt or knitwear | 35 × 25 × 12 cm | Rigid mailer-style or folding box |
| Cosmetics set | 3–5 bottles or jars | 22 × 16 × 8 cm | Rigid with moulded or folded tray |
| Wine | Single 750 ml bottle | 10 × 10 × 32 cm | Rigid neck-and-base or folding sleeve |
| Hamper | Mixed food and gifts | 35 × 25 × 15 cm | Rigid with removable lid, divider set |
Read the depth column first: most returns and refusals come from boxes that are wide enough but too shallow once a pad, tray or lid is added.
Rigid or folding: the depth difference
Rigid boxes use grey board walls, usually 1.5–2 mm per side plus a wrap. Folding boxes use a single board thickness with folded edges. For the same exterior size, a rigid box gives you 3–5 mm less internal space in each direction — enough to matter on a 12 cm jewellery box.
rigid_box_internal ≈ exterior − (2 × wall_thickness) − (2 × wrap_thickness)
folding_box_internal ≈ exterior − (2 × board_thickness)
wall_thickness: 1.5–2.0 mm grey board
wrap_thickness: 0.1–0.2 mm per side
board_thickness: 0.5–1.5 mm depending on grade
Ask for both internal and external values on the same drawing. A supplier that quotes only one number is leaving the fit decision to chance.
Choosing a size that still ships well
- Volume, not just dimensions. Courier charges follow volumetric weight; a box 2 cm too deep can add cost across a full run.
- Insert space is real space. A foam or card tray costs 1–2 cm of depth and 3–5 percent of width.
- Gift wrapping adds a layer. If the box is wrapped, allow for paper thickness and a closure gap of 1–2 mm.
Compare formats in custom gift boxes and folding boxes. If the gift ships directly to a customer, the mailer box size chart covers the outer transit carton.
For perfume bottles, the perfume box sizes chart covers 30 to 200 ml formats with insert allowance.
Related packaging
Folding boxes
Lower unit cost and flat shipping for volume programmes.
View folding boxesFrequently asked questions
What is a standard gift box size?
There is no universal standard. A common small rigid gift box is 12 × 12 × 6 cm, while an apparel or hamper box can reach 35 × 25 × 12 cm. Size from the packed content, not from a catalogue default.
How much internal space does a rigid box lose to the wall?
Rigid boxes commonly use 1.5–2 mm grey board per wall plus a wrap, so a 20 cm exterior box can have about 19.4–19.6 cm internal length. Confirm the internal value rather than deducting an assumed amount.
Which is cheaper, folding or rigid?
Folding boxes cost less per unit and ship flat, which reduces freight. Rigid boxes present better for premium gifting. At low volume, a printed folding box is usually the lower total cost.
How deep should a chocolate gift box be?
Allow the chocolate height plus 1–2 cm for a pad or insert. Bars and pralines typically need 4–6 cm of internal depth.
What is the minimum order and lead time?
Standard boxes start at 50–100 pieces with a 3–5 business day lead time. Custom printed boxes start at 500 pieces with 7–15 business days after artwork approval. Samples run 1–10 pieces in 5–10 business days.
Send the content, not just the box size.
Tell us what goes inside, how many units and where it ships. We reply within 24 hours with a size recommendation and a packed quote.