Custom Cardboard Boxes with Handles

Choosing Board Strength for Cardboard Boxes with Handles

A hand hole concentrates the load into a small area of board, so the board grade matters more here than on an ordinary box. Single wall corrugated with a standard flute is fine for lighter loads such as a bundle of bread, a gift set or folded clothes. Once you reach heavier produce boxes, jars, bottles or books, double wall corrugated is the safer choice because it resists tearing around the hole and keeps the box square when it is lifted.

We also position the hand holes with care. Holes too close to the top edge tear out; holes too low leave the box swinging. On double wall boxes we can add a reinforcing strip inside the end panels to spread the load further. Tell us the heaviest the packed box will be and we will specify a board grade to match rather than guessing.

Printing on Corrugated Board

Corrugated board takes print differently from smooth folding board. For bold logos, simple graphics and contact details, direct flexo printing in one or two colours onto brown or white corrugated is cost effective and looks honest and robust. Brown kraft board with a single dark ink is a classic look for farm shops and delis.

Where you need photography or detailed full colour artwork, we print onto a litho-laminated sheet that is mounted on the corrugated board. This gives a glossy, retail-grade finish suited to gift hampers and display boxes. It costs more than direct print, so many customers keep the outer box simple and add colour with a printed sleeve or label.

Remember that the handle cut-outs remove part of the printed panel. Your free proof shows exactly where the holes fall so nothing important is lost.

Farm Shops, Hampers and Moving Day

Farm shops and veg box schemes use handled boxes as a reusable crate that customers bring back, which makes a strong double wall board worth the extra cost. Hamper companies want an attractive carry top that looks good under a ribbon. Removal firms and self-storage businesses order heavy-duty handled boxes printed with their name and phone number, because every box that goes into a new home is a small advert.

Wine merchants, breweries and cider makers ask for carry boxes with internal dividers so bottles do not knock together. Charities and food banks order handled boxes for parcels that volunteers deliver by hand. Event organisers use them for delegate packs and goody boxes that people take home on the train. Where the contents need a separate lid rather than flaps, cardboard boxes with lift-off lids carry the same handle options.

Packing Tips Before You Order

Pack a sample load by hand before you commit to a size. Fill an old box of similar dimensions with your heaviest realistic contents and carry it the way your customers will: from the counter to a car, up stairs, or along a market aisle. If you find yourself gripping the base, the box is too heavy for its handles or the holes are in the wrong place. If the contents shift and tip the box, you probably need a smaller footprint or internal dividers.

Think about the closed height too. A carry top adds roughly the height of a hand to the box, which matters if the boxes will travel in a van or stack on shelves. Side hand holes add nothing to the height and suit boxes that are palletised or stacked several high. For stacked boxes, the holes also weaken the end panels slightly, so the board grade needs to allow for the weight of the boxes above.

Finally, consider how the boxes will be closed. Gift hampers often use a ribbon or a printed belly band; produce boxes are usually left open or tucked; removal boxes need tape on the base and top. If you tell us how you close them, we design the flaps to match, which saves time on every box packed.

Ordering Your Boxes

Tell us the internal size you need, the contents and approximate weight, the handle style and your artwork. We reply by email within one working day with a custom quote, with low minimums set according to the job. Boxes start from £0.25 each for simple sizes and print, rising with board grade and size.

We send a free design proof showing the dieline, the handle positions and your print. Production takes 4 to 7 working days after you approve it. Boxes are delivered flat, strapped in bundles, with free tracked UK mainland delivery in 2 to 3 working days.

If any boxes arrive damaged or misprinted, photograph them and let us know within 10 days. Any affected boxes are reprinted or refunded. For your first order, we suggest packing a few with your heaviest load and carrying them around before using the rest.