Mailer box vs shipping box: cost and when to use each
Mailer boxes open like a gift and ship on their own; shipping boxes are plain four-flap cartons you tape shut. Here is what each costs for the same space, and which suits your product.
By Supply Run · prices checked Nov 3, 2026 · shipping not included
The short answer
- Mailer boxes (roll-end tuck front) are best for an unboxing: no tape, a lid that opens like a gift, and room to print inside. They come shallow, usually 2–4" deep.
- Shipping boxes (regular slotted cartons) are best for deep, heavy or bulky products. They're taped shut, and you open them by cutting the tape.
- Price: at the sizes we can match, a printed shipping box costs less per box than a mailer that holds the same amount. Mailers add the unboxing; shipping boxes give you depth.
Same space, both styles
Cheapest full-color price for 250 boxes, matching sizes that hold about the same volume.
| Mailer box | Shipping box | Difference per box |
|---|---|---|
| 12 × 9 × 2 $3.15 Arka | 6 × 6 × 6 $2.35 Packlane | Shipping $0.80 less |
| 12 × 10 × 4 $4.50 Vistaprint | 10 × 8 × 6 $3.63 Packlane | Shipping $0.87 less |
| 12 × 10 × 4 $4.50 Vistaprint | 8 × 8 × 8 $2.90 Printivity | Shipping $1.60 less |
Every size we price, smallest to largest
Cheapest full-color price for 250 boxes, white board, printed outside. Sorted by how much the box holds.
| Size | Style | Holds | Cheapest at 250 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 × 3 × 1.5 | Mailer box | 23 in³ | $228 Arka · $0.91/box |
| 6 × 5 × 2.25 | Mailer box | 68 in³ | $450 Arka · $1.80/box |
| 6 × 4 × 3 | Mailer box | 72 in³ | $505 UPrinting · $2.02/box |
| 7 × 5 × 3 | Mailer box | 105 in³ | $600 Vistaprint · $2.50/box |
| 8 × 6 × 3 | Mailer box | 144 in³ | $690 Arka · $2.76/box |
| 12 × 9 × 2 | Mailer box | 216 in³ | $788 Arka · $3.15/box |
| 6 × 6 × 6 | Shipping box | 216 in³ | $588 Packlane · $2.35/box |
| 9.5 × 7.75 × 4 | Mailer box | 295 in³ | $809 Vistaprint · $3.37/box |
| 10 × 8 × 4 | Mailer box | 320 in³ | $1,143 Packlane · $4.57/box |
| 12 × 10 × 4 | Mailer box | 480 in³ | $1,080 Vistaprint · $4.50/box |
| 10 × 8 × 6 | Shipping box | 480 in³ | $908 Packlane · $3.63/box |
| 8 × 8 × 8 | Shipping box | 512 in³ | $725 Printivity · $2.90/box |
| 14 × 10 × 4 | Mailer box | 560 in³ | $1,370 Packwire · $5.48/box |
| 14 × 10 × 6 | Shipping box | 840 in³ | $1,330 Packlane · $5.32/box |
| 12 × 12 × 6 | Shipping box | 864 in³ | $1,207 Vistaprint · $5.03/box |
| 12 × 10 × 8 | Shipping box | 960 in³ | $1,365 Packlane · $5.46/box |
| 10 × 10 × 10 | Shipping box | 1000 in³ | $1,083 Printivity · $4.33/box |
| 13 × 13 × 10 | Shipping box | 1690 in³ | $1,606 Vistaprint · $6.69/box |
| 12 × 12 × 12 | Shipping box | 1728 in³ | $1,780 Packlane · $7.12/box |
| 16 × 12 × 10 | Shipping box | 1920 in³ | $1,978 Packlane · $7.91/box |
Choosing between them
- Choose a mailer box for subscription boxes, gifts, cosmetics, candles and apparel, where opening the box is part of the product. Inside printing and tissue make the most of it.
- Choose a shipping box when your product is taller than about 4", heavy (over 10 lb or so), or shipped in bulk, or when the box is just there to get it to the customer safely.
- Either way, branded tape and a printed insert card add most of the unboxing feel to a shipping box for a fraction of the cost.
- Measure inside dimensions. Both styles are sold by inside size; leave about ¼" on each side for padding.
Compare both styles for your product
Switch "Box style" in the comparison to see mailer and shipping box prices, with a 3D size preview.