People asking this question usually fall into two groups: someone packing a single printer to ship, and a brand or refurbisher who needs a run of boxes for a known model. The second group is who this page is for, because the answer is always model specific and the only shortcut is knowing what changes by device class.
What changes by device class
| Device | What dominates the size | Specification note |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop inkjet | Body width with trays retracted | Lightest class, but the print head must not move |
| Laser printer | Depth and weight | Dense. Board grade and bottom closure matter most |
| All in one with a scanner | Height with the lid down, plus the ADF | The hinged lid must be secured so it cannot lift in transit |
| Wide format | Length, by a long way | Long parcels attract carrier surcharges before weight does |
| Desktop 3D printer | The frame and any gantry that protrudes | Moving axes need to be blocked, which adds internal space |
| Label or receipt printer | Small footprint, high unit count | Case pack pattern matters more than the single box |
The measuring rule that applies to all of them
Close everything, measure at the extremes, then add the cushioning on both sides of each axis. Write the result as internal length x width x depth, and say the word internal in your quote request. If you already know which foam or pulp end caps you intend to use, give us their thickness too, because the box has to be built to the end cap rather than the other way round.
Weight decides more than size does
A laser printer in a single wall box is a claim waiting to happen. Double wall board is standard for anything dense, and the bottom of the box deserves specific attention because that is where a heavy unit fails first. Ask for the board grade and the maximum gross weight to be written on the quote, since a corrugated shipper carries a box maker's certificate that names that limit.
Check freight before you cut a die
Multiply your candidate internal dimensions plus the board thickness, divide by your carrier's dimensional divisor (commonly 139 for US domestic retail rates, confirm yours), and compare with the scale weight. On printers the dimensional figure frequently wins, which means every unnecessary inch is billed on every unit shipped. Because the die is included at iBox, trimming the box to the device costs nothing in tooling.
Returns, if the box is going back
If customers return in the original box, it needs to open and reclose without a trip to a hardware store. A tear strip plus a second adhesive strip is the usual answer, and it is a die feature, so raise it before the proof rather than after. For the full measuring sequence, see our guide to sizing a printer box.
Ordering and lead time
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. 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, with specialty imported items up to about 12 weeks. Rush adds about 7 to 25% depending on the job. Our plants are in West Chicago and Guangzhou. To order, see custom shipping boxes.
Give us the model, the closed dimensions, the weight and the cushioning you plan to use, then request a quote. If you send the dimensions of the box you use today and what is going wrong with it, that is often the fastest route to a better one.
