Plant shipping box
Corrugated E-flute, ventilation slots and pot collar300 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA plant shipping box is a corrugated mailer built with ventilation slots and a die-cut collar or locking tabs that hold the pot upright and stop soil from spilling or the root ball from shifting during transit. We run them on E-flute corrugated from 300 units, ready in about 10 to 12 business days after proof.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a plant shipping box for a nursery or plant subscription brand shipping live plants direct to customers, where the pot needs to stay upright and the foliage needs airflow so the plant arrives in good condition rather than wilted or spilled.
Choose a standard shipping box with foam inserts instead if you're shipping dormant bulbs, seeds, or bare-root plants rather than a potted plant in soil. The ventilation and pot-collar features here are specifically built around a potted, foliage-bearing plant.
Specifications
| Board | E-flute corrugated, single or double wall depending on plant weight |
|---|---|
| Ventilation | Die-cut air slots sized for the plant's foliage needs |
| Pot stability | Interior collar or locking tabs that hold the pot upright |
| Direct corrugated print or a printed wrap label | |
| Height | Tall-format options for taller foliage plants |
| Minimum | 300 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Prototype | On request; timing confirmed in your quote |
| Sizes we run | 6 in pot, 10 in height clearance 8 in pot, 14 in height clearance custom size for your pot and plant height |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
Will the ventilation slots actually keep the plant healthy in transit?
The slots are sized to give reasonable airflow during standard shipping windows. For a longer transit time or a particularly sensitive plant variety, we'd recommend telling us your typical ship duration so we can size ventilation accordingly.
How does the pot collar keep soil from spilling?
A die-cut interior collar or locking tabs hold the pot snugly in place so it can't tip or shift, which is what prevents soil from spilling during handling. Tell us your pot diameter and we'll size the collar to fit.
Can you size this for a tall plant with foliage above the pot?
Yes, send us your plant's typical height including foliage and we'll design a tall-format box with enough interior clearance.
Is single wall or double wall corrugated better for shipping live plants?
Single wall works for most lighter plants and shorter shipping distances. Double wall adds protection for heavier pots or longer transit. Tell us your typical plant weight and shipping distance and we'll recommend.
Can you print care instructions on the interior or exterior?
Yes, care instructions can go on an interior panel or as a printed insert card. Let us know which you'd prefer.
What's a realistic lead time if we need this before a seasonal shipping peak?
10 to 12 business days is standard. For a known seasonal peak like spring shipping, we'd recommend ordering ahead of that window since demand for corrugated production runs up across many industries at once.
How is the plant shipping box different from the kraft mailer box?
The plant box is built for something alive. It is E-flute corrugated, single or double wall by plant weight, with die-cut air slots for the foliage and an interior collar or locking tabs that hold the pot upright so soil stays in. It comes in tall formats for plants with height above the pot. The kraft mailer box is a closed, flat-lidded mailer with no ventilation and no pot hold. The plant box starts at 300 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof; the kraft mailer at 200 units in 10 to 12 business days. For potted plants, use the plant box; for bulbs, seeds or plant care products, the mailer is fine.
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Ready to price your plant shipping 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.