Book mailer box
E-flute wraparound200 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA book mailer box is a one-piece E-flute wraparound that folds around the book and locks with tabs, so the book cannot shift and the corners are held. We produce them to trim size from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. The common sizes are 9 by 6 by 1 for a paperback and 11 by 8.5 by 1.5 inches for a hardback.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a book mailer when you mail books, journals, planners, notebooks or vinyl and the corners keep arriving dented. A wraparound cut to the exact trim size holds the book on all six faces, so there is no void to fill and nothing to slide. Self-published authors, small presses, stationery brands and record labels use the same shape. It weighs less than a padded envelope with a stiffener and it looks like the publisher planned it.
Choose a poly mailer for a single softcover where a bent corner is not a returns issue, since it is cheaper to ship. Choose a corrugated shipping box for a box set over 4 inches thick or over 8 pounds, because a wraparound is a one-piece fold and has a limit to what it will hold.
Specifications
| Board | E-flute corrugated, kraft or white liner, 32 ECT |
|---|---|
| One color flexo, or full color digital outside and inside | |
| Finish | Uncoated kraft or matte aqueous on white |
| Closure | Wraparound with front tuck and side locking tabs, tear strip optional |
| Inserts | None needed, corner pads for signed or collector editions |
| Spine | Cut to book thickness in quarter inch steps from 0.5 to 4 inches |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, in bundles of 25 |
| Sizes we run | 8 x 5 x 1 in 9 x 6 x 1 in 10 x 7 x 1.5 in 11 x 8.5 x 1.5 in 12 x 9 x 2 in any size from 6 x 4 x 0.5 to 15 x 12 x 4 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
What size mailer fits a 6 by 9 paperback?
A 9 by 6 by 1 inch wraparound for a paperback up to about 350 pages. A 300 page hardback with a jacket is about 9.25 by 6.25 by 1.25, so it goes in a 9.5 by 6.5 by 1.5 inch box. Send the trim size and page count, or the book itself, and we size to it.
Why a wraparound rather than a mailer with a lid?
A wraparound folds around the book from one flat piece, so there is no lid gap for the book to slide into and the corners sit tight against board. A lidded mailer needs the box to be slightly larger than the book and then needs something to fill the difference. For a flat rectangle the wraparound is the better fit.
Does it protect the corners?
Yes. That is the point of it. The four corners of the book sit in the four folded corners of the mailer and cannot move. If the parcel lands on a corner, the flute takes the hit, not the book. For signed or collector editions we add corner pads for a second layer.
Can it hold more than one book?
Yes, up to a stack about 4 inches thick. Two paperbacks or three journals stack in one wraparound with the spine cut to the total thickness. Beyond 4 inches, or over about 8 pounds, use a corrugated shipping box with a pad between the books.
Can I print inside?
Yes. The inner panel is the first thing seen when the tabs are released, so a message or a color there reads well. One color inside costs one extra pass and does not change the 10 to 12 business day lead time.
How is the book mailer box different from the literature mailer box?
The book mailer is a wraparound. It folds around a bound book cut to its trim size and spine, from 0.5 to 4 inches, so the corners are held on all six faces. The literature mailer box is a slim tuck-lid box 0.75 to 1.5 inches deep, sized to a stack of letter or A4 sheets, a catalog or a press kit, with an optional pocket or card slot on the floor. Both are E-flute from 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof. Bound items go in the book mailer; loose paper goes in the literature mailer.
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Ready to price your book mailer 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.