Custom Bakery Boxes with Handles

Sizing Custom Bakery Boxes with Handles

Measure the finished bake on its board, not the tin. A 200 mm sponge often sits on a 230 mm cake board, and that board is what needs to fit the base. Add around 10 mm to the board size for the inside of the box so the cake slides in without catching the icing on the sides.

Height is the most common mistake. Measure to the highest point, including piped decorations, fruit or toppers, and add at least 15 mm so the lid never touches. With gable boxes, remember the handle folds above the lid line and takes up some of the box height, so the usable inside height is less than the overall height.

For pastries and cupcakes, think in rows. A box holding six croissants side by side is a very different shape from one holding six cupcakes in a two-by-three insert. If you are unsure where to measure from, our guide to measuring a cake for its box covers board diameter, height and headroom.

Board, Food Contact and Grease

Bakery boxes are usually made from folding board in white or kraft. White board gives clean, bright print that suits modern patisseries; kraft has a warm, natural feel popular with artisan bakeries and farm shops. Food-contact grade board is available on request for boxes where bakes sit directly on the base.

Butter-rich pastries and oily bakes can mark board over time. A grease-resistant coating on the inside, or a simple liner sheet, keeps the outside print clean. For heavier cakes, a thicker board stops the base from sagging when the box is lifted by its handle.

Chilled cakes bring condensation when they leave the fridge. A coated outer surface helps the print survive a short walk from a cold counter into a warm car, and a slightly heavier board keeps its shape better if the box gets a little damp on the way. The board grades we use for food boxes are explained in plain terms on the guide page.

Inserts and Windows

Cupcake and pastry inserts hold each item in its own cell so nothing slides into its neighbour. They are cut to the base diameter of your cupcake cases, so send us that measurement when you order. A window in the front or lid lets customers see the bake before they open it, which is lovely for display on the counter.

Windows should stay clear of the handle area so the box keeps its strength where it carries the weight. We plan this on the dieline.

For celebration cakes, a raised card platform inside the box can lift the cake slightly so it is easier to remove without tipping the box. It is a small addition that saves a lot of nervous moments when a decorated cake is lifted out at a party. Counter display works better with the window bakery boxes made for display, which show the whole top.

Printing Your Bakery's Look

A handled box is carried through town, on the bus and into offices, so the print travels further than almost any other packaging you own. Bold logos, a signature pattern or a single colour on kraft all work well. Print on all sides if you can, because a carried box is seen from every angle.

Inside the lid is a good spot for a thank-you or storage advice such as keeping cream cakes chilled. Leave a small blank area on the side for a sticker with the flavour or order name if you make bakes to order.

If you make bakes to order, think about a box that still looks complete with only your logo, then personalise it with a printed sticker for each customer. A name sticker on the handle or the lid makes collection days run smoothly, because staff can find the right box quickly on a crowded shelf. Brownies and traybakes sold alongside cakes can carry the same colours on our brownie boxes in matching print.

Weigh the Heaviest Cake You Sell

A handle only works if the board underneath it can take the load, so the first thing to tell us is the weight of the heaviest cake that will go in the box. A two-tier celebration cake needs a thicker board and a reinforced handle than a box of six pastries, and pricing the box for the lighter job and using it for the heavier one is where handles fail. Give us the cake board diameter and the height to the top of the icing, plus 20 mm of headroom, and say if you want a window. Artwork should be a vector logo and a Pantone or CMYK reference for your shop colour; we lay it on the flat dieline so you can see where folds cross the design. Your quote comes by email within one working day, the proof is free, production takes 4 to 7 working days from approval and tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses is included. Mixed pastry orders are easier in our divided boxes for mixed pastries.