Custom Rigid Shirt Boxes Cut to Your Shirt Fold
Priced per orderQuoted in writing to your size
A flat, wide two-piece box that takes a folded shirt with its collar standing, so it comes out looking as it did on the shop table. Choose the wrap, the lid colour and a ribbon tie, and we make it to your fold size.
- Construction
- Lift-off lid
- Board
- Wrapped greyboard
- Best for
- Folded shirts, polos and knitwear, one or two per box
- Delivery
- Free and tracked, UK only
Every box is quoted in writing to your size, wrap and finish.
What are rigid shirt boxes?
Rigid shirt boxes are shallow, wide two-piece boxes with a lid that lifts off a base. They are cut to the size of a folded shirt, with enough depth for the collar. The board does not bend in the post, so the shirt arrives without creases from the box.
A separate lid lifts straight off the base. A slow lift as air lets the lid go.
Common sizes
| Garment | Typical inside size |
|---|---|
| T-shirt or polo, folded | about 230 x 300 x 50 mm |
| Dress shirt, folded on a card | about 250 x 350 x 60 mm |
| Shirt with a tie on top | about 260 x 360 x 70 mm |
| Light jumper or cardigan | about 280 x 380 x 90 mm |
| Two shirts stacked | about 260 x 360 x 110 mm |
Rigid Shirt Boxes specifications
| Box | Rigid Shirt Boxes |
|---|---|
| Range | Fashion and Apparel Boxes |
| Construction | Two-piece rigid box, lid and base |
| Closure | Lid sits over the base by friction |
| Ships | Made up, lids on, nested where the sizes allow |
| Typical size | About 250 x 350 x 60 mm inside for one folded shirt |
| Lid depth | Shallow lid about a third of the base height, or full depth on request |
| Ribbon | Ribbon band and bow across the lid, as an option |
| Board | Greyboard core, thickness options on request |
| Wrap | Printed or plain paper wrap; textured and linen-look papers on request |
|---|---|
| Printing | Full colour or spot colours on the wrap, inside print on request |
| Finishes | Soft touch, matt or gloss lamination, foil, emboss, deboss or spot UV, as options |
| Inserts | Card, foam or satin inserts made to your product, on request |
| Size | Made to your measurements, worked in millimetres |
| Quantity | Quoted per order |
| Proof | Free design proof before anything is made |
| Production | 4–6 business days after proof approval |
| Delivery | Free tracked UK delivery in 2–3 business days |
How rigid shirt boxes are put together
A separate lid lifts straight off the base. Each one is built from five parts:
- Lift-off lid
- Printed wrap
- Greyboard walls
- Insert or tissue bed
- Lid depth and fit
What is a rigid shirt box?
A shirt box is the flat, wide box a good shirt is folded into at the shop. A rigid one is built from greyboard and wrapped in paper, so it keeps its shape however many times it is opened.
Folding cartons flex when you pick them up by one corner. A rigid shirt box does not, which keeps the fold and the collar intact from your bench to the wardrobe.
It is one of several garment styles in our fashion and apparel range, and probably the one we cut in the widest spread of sizes.
Who uses apparel rigid boxes for shirts?
Anyone who sells a shirt as a gift rather than a basic. The box tells the buyer the shirt is the main present, not a stocking filler.
- Shirtmakers and made-to-measure tailors handing over a finished order
- Menswear shops boxing shirts bought as gifts at the till
- Clothing labels sending a launch piece to press or stylists
- Wedding parties giving matching shirts to the groom's side
- Schools and clubs presenting a framed or folded commemorative shirt
How does the lid lift off a shirt box?
The box is two pieces: a base tray and a lid that sits over it. Raise the lid and the shirt is waiting, collar first.
Most shirt boxes use a shallow lid, about a third of the base height, so it is easy to grip. Our white and orange sample shows this, with the colour of the base showing below the lid edge.
Some shirtmakers prefer a lid that reaches right down to the table. It hides the base and reads as more formal. Both are versions of our standard lid and base boxes, made wider and lower for clothing.
What size box fits a folded shirt?
Fold the shirt the way you sell it, on its card if you use one. Measure the folded length and width, then the height at the collar, which is the highest point.
Allow an extra 5 to 10 mm on each flat measurement, plus about 15 mm over the collar. That leaves room for tissue without letting the shirt slide about.
A typical dress shirt folded on a card ends up near 250 x 350 x 60 mm inside. Thicker fabrics, such as flannel or oxford cloth, need more height.
| Measure | Where to take it | Allowance to add |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Collar to folded hem | 5 to 10 mm |
| Width | Across the folded body | 5 to 10 mm |
| Height | Top of the collar, resting on a table | About 15 mm |
| Extras | Tie, cufflinks or card laid on top | Their thickness plus 5 mm |
For trickier garments, our guide on measuring and clearance for rigid boxes has more worked sizes.
Board and wrap choices for shirt boxes
Greyboard gives the box its stiffness, and thickness options are available on request. A wide, shallow box needs a firm board, or the base can bow when lifted from the middle.
The wrap goes over every outside face and folds into the base and lid. Plain smooth papers suit clean menswear, like the white lid in our first photo. Linen-look papers suit shirting brands because they echo cloth.
A two-colour build is popular: one colour on the lid, another inside or on the base. It costs nothing in effort for the buyer and gives a small surprise at opening.
Should a shirt box have an insert?
Usually not. A folded shirt on its card is the insert, and tissue does the rest. Flat boxes look best with the shirt filling the tray.
A card insert helps when the shirt is sold with small extras. A shallow card tray along one side can hold cufflinks, collar stiffeners or a pocket square.
For a shirt and tie set, a card divider stops the tie slipping under the collar. Dividers and trays are explained in our guide to inserts and dividers.
How should shirt boxes be printed and finished?
Shirt boxes have a big flat lid, so they show print well. A single centred logo is the classic choice, but a full pattern across the lid also works.
Our navy sample uses a ribbon band, a bow and a hanging tag instead of heavy print. That is an easy way to make a plain box feel like a gift.
On a shirt lid, a matt or soft touch laminate with one foil logo is hard to beat. Gloss, embossing, debossing and spot UV are also there as options. Try your mark on a wide lid first in Design Your Box for shirt lids.
Can rigid shirt boxes be stored and posted?
These boxes arrive made up, lids on, nested where the sizes allow. A wide lid nests well, so a few hundred take less room than you might think.
If storage is very tight, a box that folds flat may suit you better. Our collapsible rigid boxes that ship flat come in garment sizes too.
To post a boxed shirt, use an outer carton just larger than the box. Lay it flat with packing on the edges, and the rigid board keeps the shirt pressed on the way.
Do shirt boxes work for made-to-measure orders?
They suit them well. A tailor usually hands over two to four shirts at once, and a box per shirt keeps each one pressed until it is worn.
Some tailors prefer one deeper box for the whole order, with a card sheet between each shirt. That works up to about four shirts before the bottom one starts to flatten.
A small printed card tucked under the lid can carry the customer's name, the cloth and the fit notes. It turns the box into a record of the order, and many customers keep it for their next fitting.
What goes wrong with shirt boxes?
Shirt boxes are simple, so the mistakes are usually about depth and handling.
- Measuring the shirt flat but not the collar height, so the lid crushes the collar
- Choosing a deep box, so the shirt slides and arrives unfolded
- Picking a thin board for a wide box, which then bows
- Using a pale gloss wrap that shows every fingerprint in a busy shop
- Forgetting tissue, so the shirt rubs on the wrap
How do I order rigid shirt boxes?
We quote every order in writing, priced on the fold size, lid style and wrap. Production waits for your sign-off on the artwork.
Your measurements and a photo are all we need on the rigid shirt box quote form.
- Fold a shirt as you sell it and measure length, width and collar height.
- Choose a shallow or full-depth lid and the colour of each part.
- Add a ribbon, tag or insert if you want one.
- Approve the free proof from our designers.
- Production takes 4–6 business days after approval.
- Free tracked delivery to any UK address takes 2–3 business days.
Rigid Shirt Boxes: questions
Can a shirt box fit a shirt on a hanger?
Not neatly. Shirt boxes are made for folded shirts; a hanging garment needs a much longer box.
Will a rigid shirt box crease the shirt?
No, if the depth is right. We size the box to the collar height so the lid never presses on it.
Can I put a tie in with the shirt?
Yes. Add the tie's thickness to the height, and we can add a card divider so it stays in place.
Do shirt boxes come with tissue paper?
Tissue is not part of the box. Most brands add their own when they fold the shirt in.
Can the lid and base be different colours?
Yes. A different colour on the base or the inside is a popular choice, as in our white and orange sample.
Are shirt boxes suitable for knitwear?
Yes. Jumpers and cardigans need more height, usually 80 to 100 mm, and a slightly larger footprint.
How do the ribbon and bow attach to the lid?
The ribbon is fixed under the lid wrap or around the box, with the bow tied on top as an option.
Can I fit a shirt and tie set in one shirt box?
Yes. We make the box slightly deeper and can add a tray for the tie and cufflinks.
Do rigid shirt boxes stack on a shelf?
Yes. They are flat and stiff, so they stack well in a shop window or stockroom.
Can a shirt box have a printed message inside?
Yes. A message, care note or pattern can be printed inside the lid on request.
What is the difference between a shirt box and a suit box?
A suit box is larger and deeper for a jacket. Our tuxedo and suit boxes cover that size.
Can children's shirts go in a smaller box?
Yes. Every box is made to the folded size you send, so small shirts get a smaller box.
Something else? Call +44 7578 382054, message the box team on WhatsApp or email info@shoprigidboxes.co.uk.
Other boxes to compare
Fashion and Apparel Boxes
Tie and Bow Tie BoxesRolled ties, bow ties and tie sets with cufflinksLift-off lidPriced per order
Tuxedo and Suit BoxesDinner jackets, suits and waistcoats, foldedLift-off lidPriced per order
Scarf BoxesFolded silk squares, stoles and hijabsLift-off lidPriced per order
Lift-Off Lid BoxesClothing, shoes, hampers and presentation piecesLift-off lidPriced per orderDesign Your Box
Choose a box from the photos, place your logo on it, pick a wrap colour and send it. We turn it into a free design proof.
1. Choose a box
2. Place your logo
Upload a logo to see it on the box
Selected: Rigid Shirt Boxes
Send us the full brief
The more we know, the closer the first price. Rough numbers are fine; we ask before we guess.
- A written price per box for your quantity
- A free design proof before anything is made
- Made in 4–6 business days after you approve it
- Free tracked delivery to any UK address
Rather talk? Call +44 7578 382054 or message us on WhatsApp.