Custom Corrugated Shoe Boxes

Board Grades for Different Footwear

E-flute corrugated board is thin and smooth, which gives the sharpest print and works well for trainers, sandals and lightweight shoes. B-flute is thicker and stronger, better suited to heavier boots or high-value shoes that need extra protection. For very heavy work boots or pairs that travel long distances, a double-wall board adds more stacking strength.

The outer liner can be white for bright, full colour print, or brown kraft for a natural look. A white inner liner gives a clean reveal when the box is opened and allows inside print.

A useful test is to stand on a corner of a sample box. That sounds crude, but it tells you quickly whether the board will survive being at the bottom of a cage of parcels in a depot. If the corner buckles easily, a heavier flute or a double-wall board is worth the small extra cost for the shoes you sell.

Board choice also shapes the feel of the box in the customer's hands. A smooth E-flute box with a white liner feels close to a retail shoe box, while a kraft B-flute box feels sturdier and more workmanlike. Neither is better in every case; it depends on how far your brand leans towards fashion, outdoor or workwear.

Sizing Around a Pair of Shoes

Shoe boxes are sized for the largest size in a range, usually with one or two box sizes covering the whole run. Measure the largest shoe length, the width of the pair when placed heel to toe, and the height at the tallest point, which for boots is the shaft. Add a little clearance for tissue paper and any shoe inserts.

Boots need a longer box or a box where they lie flat side by side. High heels need extra height at the heel end. Trainers with chunky soles need a deeper box than flat-soled shoes. If you sell several styles, we can help you choose two or three box sizes that cover the range without leaving shoes rattling around.

Half sizes and wide fittings rarely need their own box. A small amount of clearance in the standard box absorbs them, and tissue paper takes up any slack. What matters most is that the toes are not pressed against the end panel, because the toe box of a trainer can crease if it is squeezed for several days in transit. p2 The measuring guide for custom boxes shows how to take the heel-to-toe measurement.

Print That Survives the Courier Network

Corrugated shoe boxes travel through sorting depots, conveyor belts and vans, so the print needs to tolerate scuffs. A varnish or a matt laminate over the print helps. Bold, simple designs also hide minor scuffs better than delicate, pale artwork.

Leave a clear area on the lid for the shipping label, so it does not cover your logo. Inside print, such as a pattern or a thank-you message, is protected from scuffs in transit and gives the customer a pleasant surprise. A size and style label on the end panel helps stock management in your warehouse. p1 Brands with a very dark design can see how scuffs show on black shoe boxes in laminated board.

Brands That Choose Corrugated

Online footwear brands, trainer resellers, boot makers, children's shoe retailers and independent shoe designers all use corrugated shoe boxes. Subscription and limited edition drops benefit from a box that arrives looking pristine. Brands selling on marketplaces use them to meet carrier packaging rules while keeping their brand visible.

Handmade shoemakers often add printed tissue paper, a dust bag and a care card inside the box, turning a strong shipping box into a premium unboxing.

Brands that also run a physical shop sometimes use the same box for in-store purchases, adding a handle so customers can carry it home without a bag. One box design then covers every channel and simplifies stock. p2 A box with a carry handle for in-store sales is covered on our shoe boxes with handles page.

Measure Your Biggest Size With the Shoes Heel to Toe

A shoe box is sized for the largest pair in the range, placed the way they will be packed: one shoe heel to toe against the other, which is narrower than two shoes side by side. Measure that pair's length, combined width and height at the tallest point, which on a boot is the shaft and on a trainer is the chunkiest part of the sole. Add 10 mm each way for tissue, then send the monthly pairs shipped so the quote reflects your real run.

Pick the flute by weight rather than looks: E-flute for trainers and flats, B-flute for boots and anything over about 1.5 kg a pair. The custom quote arrives by email within one working day, from £0.25 for a plain mailer-style box, with the minimum set per job.

The free proof shows the box flat with the label area marked clear of the logo. Production takes 4 to 7 working days after approval and the flat boxes reach UK mainland addresses by free tracked delivery. Brands that still want a classic lift-off lid in store usually keep our cardboard shoe boxes with separate lids for the shop floor and ship in corrugated.