What size bakery box do I need?

How do I measure for a bakery box?

Measure the bake itself, not a box you already have. An old box may have been too big or too small, and copying it copies the problem. Use a ruler or a tape measure, measure the widest and tallest points, and round up to the nearest ¼ inch. If the bake sits on a board, a liner or a paper cup, include it, because that's what touches the box. For a mixed box, such as cookies with a small jar of sauce, measure the items laid out the way you want them to sit. Write the size as length × width × height in inches. That's how every quote for printed bakery boxes is written, and it means your account manager can check it in one look.

1. Length: the longest side of the bake, or of the cake board.
2. Width: the shorter side, at the widest point.
3. Height: the tallest point, including frosting and toppers.
4. Add room: about ¼ inch on length and width, ½ to 1 inch on height.
5. Write it as L × W × H in inches, the way boxes are quoted.

Bakery box size chart

These are typical inside sizes for the bakes people order most. Use them as a starting point; your product's exact size always comes first. Counts assume standard sizes, for example 3-inch cookies and standard cupcakes in a card insert. Bigger bakes, thick frosting or a ribbon around the box all need a little more room, so measure if you're between two rows.

What size box do I need for a cake?

Go about 2 inches wider than the cake, so there's room to lift it out by the board without touching the sides. For height, add 1 inch above the tallest point, which is usually a swirl of frosting, fruit or a topper. Tall or tiered cakes need a taller box and a stronger base, so an auto lock bottom box is the usual choice: the base locks flat when you open the box and carries the weight. A window on the lid lets your customer see the decoration without opening it, which also means fewer fingerprints on the frosting. If you sell several cake sizes, you can order a box for each size in the same order. For more cake-only shapes and sizes, see custom cake boxes.

What size box do I need for cupcakes?

Size the box around the insert. A card insert holds each cupcake upright in its own hole so the frosting arrives intact, and the box is built to fit the insert, not the other way round. Standard cupcakes in a box of six usually need about 10 × 7 × 4 in. A box of four is close to square, around 7 × 7 × 4 in, and a box of twelve is around 13 × 10 × 4 in. Jumbo cupcakes need more room on every side, and mini cupcakes need a smaller insert hole, so tell us which size you bake. Height matters most here: measure the tallest swirl of frosting and add about ½ inch. Our cupcake boxes come with the insert made for your count.

What size box do I need for cookies and pastries?

Cookies stack flat, so a shallow box works: 2 to 2.5 inches tall is enough for one or two layers. Lay the cookies out the way you want them to sit, measure the group, and add the usual ¼ inch on each side. If you stack layers, put a sheet of butter paper between them so they don't stick. Pastries and croissants need more height for their shape, around 4 inches, and they're softer, so a box that's slightly roomy is better than a tight one. A window shows the bake at the counter without opening the box. For gift boxes of cookies, see cookie boxes; for croissants and danishes, see pastry boxes.

How much extra room do inserts, liners and ribbon need?

Anything that goes inside the box, or wraps the bake, takes a little space, so add it to your measurements before you ask for a price. A card insert for cupcakes sits under each cupcake and adds a little height, which is why cupcake boxes are sized around the insert. A cake board adds its own thickness to the height. A paper liner or a doily adds almost nothing. Tissue paper or butter paper folded over cookies needs about ¼ inch more height. Ribbon or a sleeve around the outside doesn't change the inside size at all, but it does make the box a little bigger on the outside, which matters if it has to fit a bag. Tell us what goes in with the bake and we allow for it.

Which box style suits each bake?

Once you know the size, the style decides how the box opens, how strong it is and how it looks on the counter. A window box shows the bake and suits cookies, cupcakes and decorated cakes. A gable box has a built-in handle, so it's easy to carry pastries or a small cake out of the shop. A straight tuck end box is the simplest shape, good for cookies and brownies that sit flat. An auto lock bottom box has a strong base for heavier cakes. A tray and sleeve box slides open like a drawer and feels like a gift. Not sure? Pick "Not sure, suggest one" in the quote form and we recommend a style for your bake.

Inside size vs outside size: which one matters?

Boxes are quoted by inside size, because that's what has to fit your bake. The outside is a little bigger because of the board's thickness on each side. Most of the time you only need the inside size. If your box also has to fit somewhere, such as a shelf, a carrier bag, a display case or a shipping box, tell us that space too and we check both before the proof. You see the final size on the digital proof and the 3D mockup before you pay.

What are the most common bakery box size mistakes?

Most of them come from measuring the wrong thing. Check these five before you order

1. Measuring the cake, not the board. The board sets the length and width.
2. Forgetting the frosting. Measure the height at the tallest swirl or topper.
3. Ordering by outside size. Boxes are quoted by inside size.
4. No room to lift. Leave about 2 inches across for a cake so fingers fit under the board.
5. One box for every bake. A 2.5-inch cookie box won't fit pastries. Ask for two sizes in one order instead.

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