Custom Crockery Boxes

Choosing the Board

For a single mug or a small set sold in shops, E-flute corrugated gives a slim, printable box with good cushioning. Dinner sets and heavy stoneware need B-flute or double-wall corrugated, which resists crushing and protects the corners when boxes are stacked several high in a warehouse.

White-lined corrugated is the usual choice for retail boxes, as it gives clean, bright print. Kraft corrugated suits shipping cartons and rustic or handmade brands. For a premium mug gift box, a rigid box with a fitted insert gives a heavier, more luxurious feel, with a separate corrugated mailer used for posting.

Box weight matters too. A full dinner set can be surprisingly heavy, so we reinforce the base and suggest hand holes on larger boxes so they can be lifted safely.

If you sell through marketplaces or larger retailers, check their packaging requirements before choosing board. Some insist on a drop test or a minimum board grade for fragile goods, and it is better to design for that from the start than to repack later.

Sets, Singles and Mixed Collections

A single mug box is the most common crockery pack and works for gifts, souvenir shops and online orders. Twin mug boxes and four-piece sets follow the same principle, with one cell per mug. Dinner sets for four or six people are larger projects, with plates on edge in one section and bowls and mugs in another.

If you sell mix-and-match pieces, consider a modular approach. A set of standard boxes, one for plates, one for bowls and one for mugs, can be combined in a larger outer box to fulfil any order, which avoids designing a new box for every combination.

Gift sets deserve a little extra thought. A pair of mugs in a box with a printed inside lid, or a breakfast set with a short story about the maker, turns a practical purchase into a present. Many potters find that a well presented gift set sells at a noticeably better margin than the same pieces sold loose.

Print That Reflects the Tableware

Tableware brands often photograph the product on the box, especially for retail, so shoppers can see the pattern without opening it. A full colour lifestyle image on the front, with the piece count and dimensions on the side, helps customers choose quickly in a shop.

Handmade potters often prefer a simpler look: kraft board with a stamped or printed logo, a short line about the glaze and a care note. Either way, include care information such as whether pieces are dishwasher and microwave suitable, based on your own testing. A fragile handling mark on the outer shipping box is worth adding.

For retail shelves, print the piece count, dimensions and the pattern name on at least two faces. Shoppers often see boxes stacked, with only an end or side visible.

Handwritten or stamped details, such as a batch number or glaze name, can go on a blank panel left on kraft boxes. It suits small studios where each batch varies slightly.

Measuring Crockery for a Box

Measure each piece at its widest point, including handles and rims, and note the height. For plates, measure the diameter and the rim height. Then decide how the set will be arranged: plates on edge, bowls nested or separate, mugs upright or on their sides. Send us these details, or better, a sample set, and we will design the insert and box size.

Leave room for protection. A box that is too tight transfers knocks directly to the crockery, while a box that is too loose lets pieces move. The insert should hold each piece firmly with a small cushion all round.

Mugs with large or unusual handles need extra care. A cell cut slightly wider at the handle side stops the handle taking the strain when the box is knocked.

Quotes, Proofing and Delivery

You will receive a custom quote by email within one working day, covering the box, inserts and print. A free design proof shows the insert layout and the printed box before production begins. Minimums are quoted per job, so a small pottery and a large homeware brand can both order sensibly.

Production takes 4 to 7 working days from approval. Boxes and inserts are delivered flat-packed by free tracked UK mainland delivery within 2 to 3 working days. If anything arrives misprinted or damaged, let us know within 10 days for a reprint or refund.

If you already pack crockery in a different way and see breakages, send us photos of the damage along with your current packaging. It usually shows exactly where pieces are touching or moving, and we can design the insert to stop it.