There is no standard earring box, because there is no standard earring. A pair of 4 mm studs and a pair of 3 in statement drops are the same product category and completely different sizing problems. Work from the style outward.
Three styles, three sizing rules
| Style | What sets the size | Depth driver |
|---|---|---|
| Studs | Card or pad width, plus the spacing between the two posts | The post and butterfly behind the card |
| Drops and danglers | Full hanging length from the hook to the lowest point | The piece must hang without touching the base |
| Hoops | Outer diameter, laid flat | Shallow, but the hoop must not be forced into a curve |
| Ear climbers and cuffs | Overall length of the piece, laid on its side | Usually shallow, but check the widest cross section |
For drops in particular, measure with the piece hanging as it will be displayed. A drop earring lying flat measures shorter than it does hanging, and the box will be ordered too small.
The insert is the box
Almost every earring box has an insert, and the insert defines the internal dimension:
- Slotted pad for studs, where the posts pass through and the butterflies sit behind. The pad thickness plus the butterfly clearance is your depth.
- Card with punched holes, often the cheapest presentation, where the card size sets the footprint directly.
- Flocked or foam tray with a split for hooks. Adds the most material, and the split position sets where the piece hangs.
- Open cavity with a pillow, used where the pair are laid rather than mounted.
Measure the finished insert, add clearance, and that is your internal dimension. Then ask explicitly whether your quoted figure includes the insert or not.
Closure and construction
A folding carton is the thinnest option and adds a single board caliper per wall. A rigid box with a wrap adds board plus wrap on every face, base and lid, so the external size grows noticeably. A drawer or slide box needs a running clearance so it does not bind, which means the internal cavity is smaller than the sleeve suggests. If you are weighing rigid constructions, our note on what a shoulder box is explains where the extra millimetres go.
If it ships on its own
An earring box sold online rarely travels alone. It goes into a mailer with a card, tissue and sometimes a pouch. Size the mailer after the earring box is final, using the earring box external dimensions plus everything else in the parcel. Doing it the other way around is how people end up with a mailer that will not close.
Ordering, minimum and turnaround
Minimum order is 100 boxes, from about $0.48 per unit at bulk volumes, confirmed on your written quote. Die and plates, design support, US shipping and a digital proof before anything prints are included, so a cavity cut to your actual insert costs no more to tool than a near standard one. At this scale that matters more than anywhere else on the site, because a quarter inch is a large share of the whole box.
Turnaround runs in three lanes: rush (expedited production with air freight), standard (air) and cost saver (sea), from about 7 business days plus 2 to 5 for delivery. Rigid boxes with flocked inserts are hand assembled and specialty imported items can run up to about 12 weeks, so plan a first run generously. Rush adds about 7 to 25% depending on the job. We produce in West Chicago and in Guangzhou. To order, see custom earring boxes.
Send the earring style, the hanging or laid dimensions and the insert you want, then request a quote. A photo of the pair on the insert you have in mind is worth more than a spec sheet.
