Apparel boxes protect clothing during shipping and make the unboxing feel intentional. Whether you are a DTC fashion brand or a boutique retailer, custom apparel boxes start at $1.40/unit at Teal Packaging with a 100-piece minimum.
Why Apparel Brands Invest in Custom Boxes
Clothing is emotional. A t-shirt pulled from a poly bag feels like a commodity. The same shirt lifted from a branded box with tissue paper feels like a gift. The product did not change. The experience did. And that experience drives repeat purchases.
DTC brands like Everlane, Outdoor Voices, and Allbirds all use custom packaging as a brand touchpoint. For smaller brands, a well-designed box closes the perceived quality gap between you and the big players.
Apparel Box Styles
- Two-piece rigid boxes (lid and base): The premium option. 50pt+ chipboard wrapped in printed art paper. Used for premium garments, lingerie sets, and gift boxing. Sizes: 14x10x3" (shirts), 16x12x4" (jackets), 10x8x2" (accessories).
- Mailer boxes (REFT): Roll-end front-tuck. The DTC standard. Corrugated E-flute with full-color exterior and printed interior. Most popular at 12x10x4" and 15x10x5".
- Folding garment boxes: Flat boxes that fold along a center crease. Used in brick-and-mortar stores. Standard department store sizes available.
- Drawer/slide boxes: Inner tray slides out of an outer sleeve. Adds a tactile reveal moment. Popular for high-end accessories, ties, and scarves.
Materials
- E-flute corrugated: Best balance of protection and weight for shipping. Interior can be printed (white liner required for interior print).
- Rigid chipboard (50-70pt): Wrapped in 128gsm to 157gsm coated paper. Luxury tier. Heavy, so factor shipping cost.
- Kraft corrugated: The minimalist option. Natural brown exterior, cost-effective. Works if your brand leans sustainable or understated.
Pricing
- Mailer boxes (12x10x4"): $1.85 to $3.20/unit at 200-500 qty; $1.20 to $2.40/unit at 1,000+
- Rigid lid-base boxes (14x10x3"): $3.50 to $6.00/unit at 200-500 qty; $2.40 to $4.20/unit at 1,000+
- Kraft mailers (no print): $0.95 to $1.80/unit at 200-500 qty; $0.65 to $1.10/unit at 1,000+
Add-Ons That Work for Apparel
Tissue paper wrapping (custom printed, from $0.08/sheet at 1,000+). Sticker seals ($0.04/sticker at 2,500+). Ribbon pulls inside rigid boxes. Thank-you cards or lookbook inserts. These small touches compound into a complete brand experience.
Sustainability Options
All our corrugated apparel boxes are made from 70-100% recycled content and are curbside recyclable. For brands that want to go further, we offer FSC-certified board, soy-based inks, and water-based coatings. Our compostable mailer option uses PLA-coated kraft and breaks down in commercial composting facilities within 90 days.
Order Process
Send us your dimensions and artwork (or just your logo and we will design it). Free 3D mockups within 24 hours. MOQ 100 boxes. Standard production 15-20 business days. Express available in 7-10 days. Free shipping to US, Canada, UK, Australia, and Ireland. Get started here.
Apparel Box Design Considerations
Apparel boxes must accommodate various garment types and sizes:
T-shirts and tops: Folded sizes typically 10x12" to 14x16". Box dimensions: 12x10x2" (small), 14x12x3" (medium), 16x14x3" (large).
Pants and bottoms: Folded or rolled. Box dimensions: 14x10x3" to 18x12x4".
Dresses: Usually shipped flat in mailer boxes. Dimensions depend on dress length. Standard: 16x12x2" to 20x14x3".
Outerwear and jackets: Typically ship in garment boxes or poly mailers. If using boxes: 18x14x4" to 24x18x4".
Apparel Box Interior Options
- Tissue paper (custom printed): $0.06-$0.12/sheet. Adds premium unboxing feel.
- Sticker seals: $0.03-$0.06/sticker. Secures tissue, adds branding.
- Hang tags: $0.04-$0.08/tag. Brand reinforcement.
- Thank-you cards: $0.05-$0.12/card. Personal touch.
Order Apparel Boxes
MOQ 100 units. Production 15-20 business days. Get a quote.