Introduction to Common Packaging Box Structure Names and Their Meanings

Telescope Box

The telescope box (two-piece box) is a box style with a separate top lid and bottom base, where the top lid fits over the outside of the bottom base. To open, you simply lift the top lid without picking up the entire box, providing a good user experience.

Typical applications: high-end gift boxes, cosmetic boxes, tea boxes, health supplement boxes, and 3C digital product boxes. Common materials are greyboard + specialty paper lamination, or MDF + veneer.

Structural features: the lid and base are two independent pieces that snap together through precise dimensional coordination. The dimensional tolerance between the lid and base is usually controlled within ±0.3mm; otherwise, the fit will be too loose or too tight.

Mailer Box

The mailer box (airplane box) is formed by die-cutting and creasing a single piece of cardboard, then folded into shape without gluing. When opened, it flips open from the side like an envelope, with an integrated interior cavity.

Typical applications: e-commerce shipping boxes, apparel boxes, small digital accessory boxes, subscription boxes. Commonly made from E-flute or B-flute corrugated paperboard, with a thickness of 1.5-3mm.

Structural features: saves glue and labor costs, and can be folded flat during transport to save warehouse space. Offers a great unboxing experience, making it the mainstream box style in e-commerce scenarios.

Book-Style Box

The book-style box opens like a book, with the box body fixed to the inner side of the cover, presenting an overall book-like shape. It offers a strong sense of premium quality and ceremonial appeal.

Typical applications: high-end jewelry boxes, luxury packaging, limited-edition gift boxes, and business gift boxes. The commonly used materials are gray board + specialty paper lamination, with optional magnetic closures or ribbons for fastening.

Structural features: the box body and cover are connected by glue or hinges; when closed, the book-style box resembles a hardcover book, making it suitable for high-end packaging in gift-giving occasions.

Sleeve Box

A sleeve box consists of an inner box and an outer sleeve, with the inner box sliding into the sleeve from one side. When opened, it works like pulling out a drawer, offering a novel user experience.

Typical applications: chocolate boxes, accessory boxes, cultural and creative product boxes, men's gift boxes. Commonly used materials are greyboard + art paper.

Structural features: the inner box can be removed individually to display the product, while the outer sleeve retains brand information and decoration. The fitting precision between the inner box and outer sleeve requires high accuracy, with tolerances within ±0.5mm to prevent jamming.

Hinged Lid Box

The hinged lid box connects the lid and box body via a hinge or glue, allowing the entire unit to open like a jewelry box. The lid and box body do not separate.

Typical applications: jewelry boxes, chocolate boxes, electronic product accessory boxes. Common materials are MDF (medium-density fiberboard) or thick gray board with paper overlay.

Structural features: the lid and box body are integrated, offering convenient opening and closing. However, during transportation, the lid must be fixed to prevent popping open, and the box shape is relatively thick, requiring large storage space.

Other Common Box Types

Handheld Box: Features a handle on the top of the box body for easy carrying. Commonly used for gift packaging, mooncake boxes, and holiday gift boxes.

Special-Shaped Box: Non-standard geometric shapes such as circles, polygons, animal shapes, etc. Complex structure and high cost, suitable for limited editions and high-premium brands.

Display Box: The box lid can stand upright to display the product, commonly seen in retail display packaging.

Box Type Selection Decision

Choose by usage scenario: use mailer boxes for e-commerce shipping; choose telescope boxes or book-style boxes for high-end gifting; choose drawer boxes for unboxing ceremony; choose flip-top boxes or display boxes for retail presentation.

Choose by cost budget: mailer boxes have the lowest cost (no gluing required), telescope boxes are in the middle range, while book-style boxes and special-shape boxes have the highest cost.

Choose by product dimensions: for products over 100mm in height, prioritize telescope boxes or flip-top boxes; for flat products (such as mooncakes, cultural-creative cards), prioritize book-style boxes or drawer boxes.

Naming Tips

In the industry, the same box style may have multiple names. For example, a lid-and-base box is also called a top-and-bottom box, a cover-and-bottom box, or a rigid box. When communicating, prioritize using structural descriptions (a box style with separated top and bottom, where the lid fits over the base) to avoid misunderstandings caused by different naming conventions.