Ear Lock Mailer Boxes That Close Without Tape
An ear lock mailer box has two small ears on the lid that slot into the side walls, so the box locks shut with a push and opens with a lift. It suits brands that film unboxings, send gift sets or want a parcel that looks finished without a strip of tape across it.
From £0.25 a box exact price on a written quote, within one working day
- Free design proof before anything is printed
- Production takes 4 to 6 working days after proof approval
- Free tracked UK mainland delivery in 2 to 3 working days
- Misprints or damage reported within 10 days with photos are reprinted or refunded
- Low minimums, quoted per job
Specification
What ear lock mailer boxes from us are made of and how they are measured. Anything not listed here, ask in the quote.
| Style | Roll-end mailer with a tuck front and two locking ears on the lid |
|---|---|
| Board | Brown kraft or white-lined, E-flute 1.5 mm or B-flute 3 mm |
| Size range | 100 x 80 x 30 mm to 600 x 450 x 450 mm, inside |
| Typical start | 250 x 180 x 80 mm inside, set to your contents |
| Plain, one colour, two colours or full colour on either face | |
| Finish | Matt or gloss varnish; white underprint on kraft |
| Inserts | Die-cut board inserts, dividers or paper void fill, priced with the box |
| Supplied | Flat and creased in strapped bundles |
| Price | From £0.25 a box; exact price depends on size, board, print and quantity |
How to measure for an ear lock mailer box
Pack the order as the customer will receive it, tissue and card included, then measure length, width and height at the widest points. Add 3 to 5 mm to each figure so the ears drop into their slots without the lid pressing down on anything.
Give us those numbers as the inside size. If you post in a particular Royal Mail band, say which one so the outside stays within it.
Which board for which job
E-flute at 1.5 mm is our usual pick for ear lock boxes, because the ears fold crisply and the print stays sharp. B-flute at 3 mm gives a thicker wall for larger boxes or dense contents, and the ears still lock, just with a firmer push.
Design Your Ear Lock Mailer Mailer Box
Drop your logo on a real photo of our ear lock mailer boxes, set the size and quantity, and send it. A designer sets up the real dieline and sends a free proof.
Your logo is placed on a real photo of our box. A designer redraws it to scale on the dieline and sends a free proof before anything is printed.
What is an ear lock mailer box?
It is a one-piece corrugated mailer with a rolled front, double side walls and a hinged lid. The difference sits at the front corners of the lid. Two small ears stick out from the lid flap, and as the lid closes they slide into slits cut in the folded side walls.
Once both ears are in, the lid will not lift on its own, even if the box is dropped on a corner. Ear lock sits with the tuck top, side loading and end open designs in our full set of mailer box styles.
How do the ears lock the lid shut?
Folding an ear lock box from flat takes about half a minute the first time and a few seconds after that.
- Fold up the front and back walls, then roll the side panels over and down so their tabs lock into the base.
- Pack the contents and lay any tissue or card on top.
- Bring the lid over and feed the front tuck flap down inside the front wall.
- Press each ear into the slit on its side wall until it clicks flat.
- To open, lift the lid at the centre of the front edge and the ears slide back out.
Because the side walls are rolled, the ears push against two layers of board. That is why the lock feels firm rather than flimsy.
Why pick ear locks over a plain tuck lid?
A plain tuck lid holds on friction from the front lip alone. That is fine for soft goods, but a bulky or springy pack can push the lid up at the corners. The ears pin those corners down, so the lid stays square and the print across it stays flat.
Ear locks also open more cleanly on camera, since there is no tape to cut and no knife near the product. If your contents lie low and soft, the simpler tuck top mailer box may be all you need.
Who uses ear lock mailer boxes?
Sellers who want the box to stay shut through a sorting office and still feel like a gift when it is opened.
- Beauty brands posting a full routine of four or five items in one box.
- Subscription businesses whose members film the reveal each month.
- Bakers and sweet shops sending a tray of cupcakes or a cake slice set.
- Candle makers posting a jar, matches and a care card together.
- Gift shops building Valentine's Day and Mother's Day hampers.
- Small clothing labels sending a jumper that springs back against the lid.
What size ear lock mailer box do I need?
Start from the packed contents, not the product alone. Measure the longest, widest and tallest points, then add 3 to 5 mm a side so the ears meet their slots squarely.
| What you are posting | Inside size to start from | Band to check |
|---|---|---|
| Lip balm, serum and a card | 150 x 100 x 50 mm | Small Parcel |
| Candle jar with tissue | 120 x 120 x 110 mm | Small Parcel |
| Five-piece skincare set | 250 x 180 x 80 mm | Small Parcel |
| Four cupcakes in a tray | 200 x 200 x 90 mm | Small Parcel |
| Folded knitted jumper | 320 x 240 x 100 mm | Small Parcel |
| Large hamper of mixed gifts | 400 x 300 x 150 mm | Small Parcel |
Royal Mail measures the outside, and B-flute adds roughly 6 mm to each dimension. Check the current band limits before you order. Our guide to mailer box sizes and Royal Mail bands lists the limits side by side.
Which board suits an ear lock mailer?
The ears are small, so the board has to fold tightly at the crease without cracking. E-flute at 1.5 mm does that well and keeps a crisp edge on printed corners.
B-flute at 3 mm is better for boxes past about 300 mm long, or when the contents are heavy for their size. The ears are cut a touch wider on B-flute so they still sit snugly. Our page on E-flute or B-flute board choice compares the two in more depth.
Printing the lid, ears and lining
The outside lid is the panel the courier and the customer see first. A bold pattern, a stripe or a single logo all work, in one colour, two colours or full colour. Kraft takes dark inks well, and a white underprint lets brighter shades sit clean on the brown.
Inside, the lid lining and the raised ears show as soon as the box opens. A repeat pattern or a short message there makes the reveal. Our notes on printing inside a mailer box lid cover placement and bleed. A matt or gloss varnish protects the outer print.
Inserts and void fill for ear lock boxes
Soft items need little more than tissue. Jars, bottles and stacked sets travel better in a die-cut board insert that gives each piece its own pocket.
Keep the insert a few millimetres below the lid line so the ears can still drop into their slits. Dividers and paper void fill are other options, all quoted alongside the box. For glass and ceramics, read about inserts for fragile mailer box contents first.
How the boxes arrive and store
Ear lock boxes come flat and creased, strapped in bundles, with free tracked delivery to the UK mainland in 2 to 3 working days. A flat bundle takes a fraction of the space of made-up boxes.
Store the bundles flat in a dry spot and fold only what you need for the day. Folded boxes left stacked for weeks lose some of the snap in their creases, and the ears may not click as firmly.
Mistakes people make with ear lock boxes
- Filling the box to the brim so the lid bows and the ears miss their slits.
- Putting a thick insert flush with the top edge of the walls.
- Placing fine text over the ear folds, where the crease splits it.
- Ordering B-flute for a small box that would fold neater in E-flute.
- Taping over the ears out of habit and spoiling the clean opening.
- Sending the outside size of a sample box instead of the inside size.
How to order ear lock mailer boxes
Tell us the inside size, board, print and rough quantity. A written price follows within one working day, from £0.25 a box. You get a free proof before printing, and nothing goes to press until you approve it.
Boxes are made in 4 to 6 working days from approval. Any misprint or damage reported within 10 days with photos is reprinted or refunded. Ask for your ear lock box written quote, or message +44 7578 382054 on WhatsApp.
Related mailer boxes
Other closures and finishes that start from the same idea.
Tuck Top Mailer BoxesRoll-over front, tuck-in lid, prints inside and outFrom £0.25 a box
Double Sided Printed Mailer BoxesPattern or message inside, brand on the outsideFrom £0.25 a box
Subscription Box MailersSame size every month, fresh print every quarterFrom £0.25 a box
Insert Fitted Mailer BoxesDie-cut board insert holds each item in placeFrom £0.25 a boxEar Lock Mailer Boxes questions
Do ear lock mailer boxes need tape?
No. The two ears on the lid slot into the side walls and hold it shut. Some sellers add a small sticker on the front edge as a seal, but it is optional.
Can customers reopen an ear lock mailer box and use it again?
Yes. Lift the front edge and the ears slide out without tearing, so the box can be closed again for returns or storage.
Will the ears on an ear lock box tear if I open it often?
The ears are cut from the lid board and fold along a crease. They take repeated opening well, though a box opened dozens of times will show softer creases.
Can the ears of an ear lock mailer be printed?
Yes. They are part of the lid sheet, so the inside or outside print runs across them. We avoid placing small text right on the ear crease.
Is an ear lock mailer box harder to fold than a tuck top?
Only slightly. There is one extra step, pressing each ear into its slit, which becomes a quick habit after a few boxes.
What depth should an ear lock mailer be for a candle jar?
Measure the jar height with its lid, add any tissue, then add 3 to 5 mm. A 100 mm jar usually sits well in a 110 mm deep box.
Can an ear lock box fit the Royal Mail Large Letter band?
Only a very shallow one: Large Letter allows 353 x 250 x 25 mm on the outside. At that depth E-flute is the only sensible board. Check the current band limits before you order.
Do ear lock mailer boxes come in white board?
Yes. White-lined board is standard as well as brown kraft, and it gives a bright base for pastel or photographic print.
Can I add a divider inside an ear lock mailer?
Yes. Board dividers or a die-cut insert can split the box into bays, quoted with the box. Keep them below the lid line so the ears still lock.
Is an ear lock box good for filming an unboxing?
It is one of the better styles for it, because the lid lifts in one clean movement with no tape or knife. Try the look on the Design Your Mailer Box page before you order.
Can an ear lock box be printed black outside and coloured inside?
Yes. Each face is printed separately, so a black outer and a bright lining is a common pairing.
Are ear lock mailer boxes delivered folded?
No, they arrive flat and creased in strapped bundles. You fold each one as you pack it.
Your question is not here? Ask on WhatsApp or call +44 7578 382054.
Tell us what you post
Send the product, a rough inside size and a quantity. We reply in writing within one working day with a price and a free design proof. Prefer to talk? Call +44 7578 382054 or message us on WhatsApp.