Meal kit box
B-flute, liner ready200 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA meal kit box is a B-flute corrugated shipping box sized so an insulated liner, cold packs and the food fit with nothing loose, printed outside and inside the lid. We produce them from 200 units, in 10 to 12 business days after proof, in 32 or 44 ECT board. The common sizes are 14 by 12 by 10 and 16 by 12 by 10 inches.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a meal kit box when chilled food travels one to two days by parcel carrier and has to arrive cold and intact. The box is the outer shell; the liner and the cold packs do the insulating, and the box has to hold them tight, take a drop and still open cleanly on a kitchen counter. B-flute at 32 ECT is right for kits under 20 pounds. A tear strip means no knife near the food. Meal kit brands, farm boxes, seafood and butcher subscriptions use it.
Choose a corrugated shipping box when the contents are dry goods with no liner, because the meal kit sizing leaves an inch of margin you would fill with void fill. Choose a subscription box when the unboxing is the point and the product is light, since a printed E-flute mailer photographs better than B-flute kraft.
Specifications
| Board | B-flute corrugated kraft, 32 ECT standard, 44 ECT for kits over 20 pounds |
|---|---|
| One or two color flexo outside, optional one color inside the lid | |
| Finish | Natural kraft, uncoated |
| Closure | Tuck-top mailer with a tear strip, or RSC with tape |
| Liner | Sized to a standard foil bubble or recycled cotton liner, which you supply |
| Insert | Optional corrugated divider to keep cold packs off the produce |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, in bundles of 20 |
| Sizes we run | 12 x 10 x 8 in 14 x 12 x 10 in 16 x 12 x 10 in 18 x 14 x 12 in any size from 10 x 8 x 6 to 22 x 16 x 14 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
Does the box include the insulated liner?
Not by default. If you already have a liner supplier, we size the box to that liner, so send us its folded dimensions. If you would rather buy it in one place, we can supply a foil bubble or a recycled cotton liner cut to the box. Either way the box is built so the liner sits flush with no gap at the corners.
Is the box a food-contact surface?
No. The food inside a meal kit sits in its own sealed packaging, and the liner sits between that and the box. The box is not a food-contact item and we do not claim it as one. If you plan to pack loose produce against the board, tell us and we specify a food-contact kraft liner instead.
32 ECT or 44 ECT?
32 ECT B-flute carries a kit up to about 20 pounds through a parcel network. Over that, or for a box larger than 16 inches, go to 44 ECT so the walls do not bulge when a cold pack shifts. The heavier board adds a little weight to the parcel, so check the carrier rate before you decide.
How long will the contents stay cold?
That depends on the liner and the cold packs, not the box. A one inch foil bubble liner with two 16 oz packs keeps most kits under 40 degrees for about 36 hours in summer transit. The box's job is to hold the liner tight and keep the packs from sliding, which is why the fit matters.
Can I print inside the lid?
Yes, one color on the inside of the lid, which is what the customer sees first after the tear strip. A recipe card message, a thank you or a diagram of what goes in the fridge first works well there. It is one extra pass and adds no lead time.
How is the meal kit box different from the corrugated shipping box?
The meal kit box is a B-flute kraft shipper sized around an insulated liner, cold packs and the food, with a tuck-top and tear strip or an RSC, an optional one color print inside the lid, and 44 ECT for kits over 20 pounds. The corrugated shipping box is the general regular slotted container in B or C-flute for cases and heavy goods. Both start at 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. If the box has to fit a liner and cold packs with nothing loose, start with the meal kit box.
Similar styles
Read next
Ready to price your meal kit box?
Send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day. Your digital proof follows, usually within one business day of your artwork. Design help and the Swatch Book of materials are free.