Fits a boxed pair of trainers with room for padding.
Typical price
£22 to £34
Why we pick it
- Typical price
- £22 to £34
- Works with
Double-wall board resists crushing better than single-wall, so your boxed trainers arrive intact.
Good for
- Boxed trainers
- Electronics and homeware
Not for
- Small, light items, where it adds weight
Our approved alternative for the same job: Small single-wall boxes, 25 pack
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Boxed trainers, electronics and heavy stock
Use double-wall boxes for boxed trainers and electronics, or heavy homeware that must arrive without a dent. At 18 x 12 x 8 inches, this size takes a boxed pair of adult trainers with room for padding round the shoebox.
A 15 pack covers a trainer or electronics reseller posting a few boxes a week. If you post high volumes from a garage, buy by the bale from a packaging supplier.
Flutes, flaps and internal size
Double-wall board has two fluted layers, so the cartons stack higher and resist more edge pressure. Look in the listing for the flute combination, such as BC, and an internal size in inches or millimetres. The quoted size is usually internal and the outer box is a little larger, so check the outer size against postage limits.
Full flaps top and bottom let you seal the carton with an H-seal. Reject cartons that arrive creased or with crushed edges.
Measure your largest boxed pair of trainers before you buy. Some high-top and large-size shoeboxes need a bigger carton.
Packing boxed trainers or electronics
Tape the base with an H-seal of brown parcel tape. Lay a bed of bubble wrap or crumpled paper, then wrap the shoebox or product box in a layer of bubble wrap to keep its corners sharp.
Pack void fill into each gap until the inner box cannot shift. Close and seal the top, then put the label on the largest face, away from the seams.
Weigh and measure the packed box before you buy postage. A larger, heavier box costs more to post, so compare it with the courier's current price bands for its size.
Single-wall boxes or rigid mailers instead
Small single-wall boxes in a 25 pack cost less per box and suit light items under a couple of kilos that only need a rigid shape.
Rigid mailers suit flat items and add less weight to the parcel. For high-value jewellery or bags, put Rigid presentation boxes, 10 pack inside a double-wall box, and keep the presentation box clear of tape and labels.
£1.47 to £2.27 a box against a refund
At £22 to £34 for 15, each box costs more than a single-wall box. On a £150 pair of trainers, a refund for a crushed shoebox costs you the sale as well as the carton.
If you sell boxed trainers or collectibles, buyers judge condition by the box that comes with the item, so keep that box undamaged. Add the carton cost to your listing price.
Common mistakes
Each one costs you money or reviews, and each has a fix.
- Wrap the shoebox and fill the gaps, or the corners crush against the carton walls.
- Don't tape a label onto the product's own box. Put boxed stock in an outer carton and label that.
- The quoted size is usually internal, so the packed parcel can come out bigger than you priced for. Measure the packed box.
- Seal the bottom with an H pattern, or a heavy base can split open with only the top taped.
- Don't reuse a crushed carton for heavy or fragile items, because it has lost strength.
Ranked in
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Step-by-step help where this product does a job.
Questions
Do 18 x 12 x 8 inch boxes fit boxed trainers?
They fit most adult shoeboxes with room for padding. Measure larger sizes and high-top boxes before buying.
Is double-wall worth the cost over single-wall?
For heavy or fragile items, yes: one damage refund costs more than a box at £1.47 to £2.27.
Can I post these boxes with Royal Mail?
Measure and weigh the packed box, then compare it with Royal Mail's current size guide. A larger box may suit a courier service better.
Is the listed size internal or external?
Most listings quote internal size. The outer box measures a little more.
How much padding do I need inside?
Enough that the inner item cannot move when you shake the box. Leave room for padding on each side.
Alternatives
Other picks for the same job, cheaper and pricier.
Small jewellery boxes, 50 pack
A foam insert holds the piece still in the box. The box fits in a padded envelope, so most orders still go as a Large Letter.
Typical price£8 to £14
See on AmazonSmall single-wall boxes, 25 pack
Use these for boxed toys and beauty sets that a padded bag would crush, when double-wall board costs more than you need.
Typical price£8 to £14
See on Amazon12-inch LP record mailers, 10 pack
A folding board mailer holds one 12-inch record flat with stiffeners either side, so the corners and sleeve seams survive the sorting belts. Buy them if you sell vinyl every week; for a box set or a stack of records, use a small box with bubble wrap instead.
Typical price£10 to £18
See on AmazonLarge Letter postal boxes, 50 pack
A slim box under 25 mm deep protects a small item better than an envelope and can still go at Large Letter postage. Measure the packed box before you buy postage.
Typical price£14 to £22
See on Amazon