Guide / Box & packaging styles / Chapter 2.15
Multi-crease (adjustable height) boxes.
One box, several heights. Here's how multi-crease boxes work, why they're popular for books, prints and flat products, and how they can cut the number of box sizes you need to keep.
The short answer
A multi-crease box has extra fold lines along its sides, so you can fold it to different heights to suit what's inside. Most of our current multi-crease mailing boxes fold to five heights: 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mm, in sizes from A5 to A1, including oversized A5, A4, A3 and A2 kraft brown styles. The length and width are fixed; only the height changes. Instead of stocking five box sizes for products of different thickness, you keep one and fold it to fit. That means less empty space, less filler and fewer box sizes on your shelf.
How a multi-crease box works
A standard box has one fold line where each side wall meets the lid. A multi-crease box has a series of fold lines at set heights. When you assemble it, you fold along the line that matches your product, and the extra wall folds inwards or down. The result is a lower box that fits a thinner product snugly.
Because the length and width stay the same, the box still suits the same footprint, such as an A4 book or print. Only the height changes.
What they're good for
- Books and journals of different thicknesses, from a single paperback to a small stack.
- Prints, calendars and documents, sent flat.
- Flat-packed products and clothing folded to different heights.
- Businesses with many product sizes, who'd rather keep one box than five.
- Orders that vary, like one item one day and three the next.
Our multi-crease sizes
Our standard multi-crease boxes fold to 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mm. The A4 and A5 peel and seal multi-crease mailers use different heights, so check each product for its exact heights and internal dimensions.
| Size | Suits | Heights |
|---|---|---|
| A5 | Small books, notebooks, cards | 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 mm |
| A4 | Books, documents, A4 prints | 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 mm |
| A3 and oversized A3 | Large prints, calendars, art books | 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 mm |
| A2 and A1 | Posters, large prints and artwork sent flat | 10 / 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 mm |
What it means for you
The same question, answered for where your business is today.
Choose your stage at the top of the page to open the advice for you.
Start-up · under 100 units
If you sell flat items in a few thicknesses, one multi-crease size can replace several boxes, which keeps your first order small.
Fold a sample to each height and try your products in it before buying more.
Growing · 100 to 2,499 units
As your range grows, multi-crease boxes stop you adding a new box size for every new product. Fewer sizes means simpler packing and reordering.
Try this: list your products by footprint. Those that share an A-size footprint can usually share one multi-crease box.
Enterprise · 2,500 units and more
At volume, compare the convenience of one adjustable box with the cost of right-sized fixed boxes for your best sellers. Many businesses use both.
Write the fold height for each product into your packing specification so every packer uses the same one.
Common mistakes
- 1Choosing the wrong footprint. Multi-crease boxes adjust the height, not the length or width. Pick the A-size that fits your product's footprint.
- 2Folding to the tallest height by default. Fold to the lowest height that fits, so the product can't move and the parcel stays small.
- 3Forgetting thick items. The tallest setting is 50 mm. Thicker products need a different box.
- 4Not testing heavy books. A stack of hardcovers is heavy. Check the board listed on the product suits the weight.
Multi-crease box questions
What is a multi-crease box?
What heights do your multi-crease boxes fold to?
What sizes are available?
Are multi-crease boxes good for books?
Do multi-crease boxes reduce postage?
From our customers
Bespoke Art FramingA1 multi-crease boxes in brown for items that are often custom sizes.
Read their story →Keep reading
Shop multi-crease boxes
Sending products in lots of thicknesses?
Tell us your product sizes. Our Melbourne team will tell you whether a multi-crease box or a fixed size suits you best, usually within 1 business day.