The honest answer is that the size comes from your product, and the useful answer is that products fall into a handful of groups that each behave the same way inside a folder. Find yours below and the numbers you need to gather become obvious.
Find your product group
| Product | What sets the cross section | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Rolled posters and prints | Roll diameter, in both axes | A tight roll dents. Wrap around a core or accept a larger cross section |
| Framed art and mirrors | Frame depth, including the hanging hardware | Glass needs a pad, so add its thickness to the cross section |
| Rods, tubes and extrusions | The largest outside diameter in the bundle | Bundled items shift. Add a retainer and count it in the depth |
| Blinds and shades | Headrail depth, not the fabric | The rail is the widest point and it is usually at one end only |
| Clubs, cues and shafts | The head or butt, whichever is fatter | The fat end sets the whole wrap even if most of the length is thin |
Notice the pattern: in almost every group, one local feature at one point along the length sets the cross section for the entire box. That is the number to find.
Three questions that settle the size
- What is the fattest point of the product, and where is it? If it is at one end only, ask whether a stepped or partially telescoping structure would carry less board than wrapping the whole length at that size.
- How long is it, actually? Measure it, including protruding fittings. Then check that length against your carrier's published limits before you commit.
- How much does it weigh and how far does it go? A long single wall folder flexes. Over a few feet, or over a few kilograms, double wall board is usually the answer.
Where a folder is the wrong choice
If your product depth varies across the range, a folder is a poor fit because the wrap is fixed. A telescoping two piece box tolerates a depth range and would serve you better. If the product is short and blocky rather than long and thin, a regular slotted box uses less board for the same protection. The folder earns its place on long, thin, consistently sized goods.
What to send with your enquiry
Send the product length, the fattest cross section with a note on where it occurs, the packed weight, the transport mode and whether you want a retainer inside. If you have a photo of the product laid out as it would sit in the wrap, send that too. It resolves more questions than a dimension list does.
Ordering
Minimum order is 100 boxes, and pricing starts 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 folder cut to your exact cross section tools no differently from a near-standard one. Turnaround runs in three lanes, stated per product: rush with expedited production and air freight, standard by air, cost saver by sea, from about 7 business days, plus 2 to 5 for delivery. Specialty imported items can run up to about 12 weeks. The work is made in West Chicago and in Guangzhou.
For the measuring procedure itself, read how to size a five panel folder. To order the structure, see five panel hanger boxes. Send your length and cross section to request a quote.
