Earring boxes are small enough that a quarter inch is the difference between a snug presentation and a pair that rattles. There is no published standard earring box size, so the reliable route is to measure the pair the way it will actually sit inside, then let the insert set the depth. Below is how each earring style drives a different dimension.
What actually sets the size, by style
| Earring style | The dimension that governs | What people forget |
|---|---|---|
| Studs | Depth, set by post length plus the backing | The butterfly or screw back sits proud of the card and needs its own clearance |
| Drops and danglers | Length, measured from the top of the hook to the lowest point | The earring hangs and swings, so it needs vertical room rather than a tight slot |
| Hoops | Outside diameter, plus the hinge or clasp | A hoop laid flat needs width in two directions, not one |
| Ear climbers and cuffs | The curved footprint, measured at the widest span | They rarely sit flat, so depth grows more than expected |
The insert is the real dimension
In most jewelry packaging the earring never touches the box. It sits on a foam pad, a slotted card, a flocked tray or a velvet pillow, and that component sets the internal depth. Measure the loaded insert at its thickest, add a small clearance so the lid closes without compressing the pad, and quote from that. If you are using a printed card with slits, check that the card itself fits the footprint with enough margin that it does not buckle when pushed in.
For a scale reference, a US business card is 3.5 x 2 in, which is close to the footprint small jewelry boxes often land near. Treat that as an industry-typical anchor to sanity check your own measurement against, not as a stock size.
Box style changes the wall thickness
A folding carton in paperboard has thin walls and takes an internal dimension close to your insert. A rigid box has a wrapped chipboard wall, so the outside grows noticeably beyond the cavity and the lid needs its own tolerance to sit without binding. If the box is going into a retail display or a shipping mailer, work out the external dimension too, and say on the quote which of the two numbers you supplied.
Ordering earring boxes
Minimum order is 100 boxes. Pricing starts from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes and is confirmed on your written quote, because on small luxury formats the finishing choices, foil, soft touch lamination, a magnetic closure, move the number more than the board does. The cutting die and the plates are included, along with design support, US shipping and a digital proof before anything prints. With tooling included there is no cost reason to squeeze your pair into a near-standard cavity when a custom internal size fits better.
Production comes out of West Chicago and Guangzhou, in three lanes: rush (expedited production plus air freight, a premium of about 7 to 25% depending on the job), standard (air), and cost saver (sea). The floor is from about 7 business days, plus 2 to 5 for delivery, and specialty imported rigid items can run up to about 12 weeks, so build that into a launch date.
To order, the custom earring boxes page is the place to start. If you are packaging a matched set, the method on sizing a cufflink box covers paired-item layouts. Send your measured insert dimensions and your finish preferences through the quote form and ask for a folding carton and a rigid version side by side.
