Mailer Box vs Shipping Box: What Is the Difference and Which Do You Need?

If you sell online, you will hear both terms: mailer box and shipping box. They sound similar, but they do different jobs. Here is a simple way to tell them apart and decide which one you need.

What is a mailer box?

A mailer box is a printed folding box made to be seen. It usually has a front panel that tucks or locks, and it can be printed on the outside and the inside. Brands use it for the unboxing moment, because it is the first thing the customer touches.

What is a shipping box?

A shipping box is usually a plain corrugated carton. Its main job is to protect the parcel while it travels. It is often unprinted or has only a simple logo, because the customer mostly throws it away.

The main differences

• Purpose: a mailer box builds the brand experience, a shipping box protects the parcel in transit.
• Printing: a mailer box is often fully printed, a shipping box is usually plain.
• Look: a mailer box feels like part of the product, a shipping box feels like packing material.
• Use: many brands ship a printed mailer inside a plain shipping carton, or on its own for lighter items.

Which one do you need?

If you ship light items such as apparel, stickers, soft goods or small beauty products, a printed mailer box can often ship on its own. If you ship heavy or breakable items such as glass jars or bottles, you will want a sturdier board and an insert, and many brands add an outer shipping carton on top.

How to choose in four questions

1. How heavy is the packed product?
2. Is it fragile or can it bend?
3. Do you want the customer to remember the unboxing?
4. How many boxes do you need to start with?

If you want the box to be part of your brand, start with a custom mailer box. For a more premium feel, look at rigid boxes. For candles or soap, see candle boxes and soap boxes.

Our box prices start from $0.75 per unit and rise with size, material, printing and finish. Orders start at 100 units, we share a free digital mock-up before printing, and production takes 15 to 17 business days after design approval. Send us your product size and we will suggest the right style.