End Open Mailer Boxes for Books, Frames and Sets
An end open mailer box loads through one short end, with a tuck flap that closes it once the contents are in. It suits long, boxed or rigid items such as books, picture frames, boxed gift sets and bottles that slide in lengthways.
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 end open mailer boxes from us are made of and how they are measured. Anything not listed here, ask in the quote.
| Style | Tube-like mailer opening at a short end, closed with a tuck flap |
|---|---|
| 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 | 300 x 220 x 60 mm inside, sized around the item |
| Plain, one colour, two colours or full colour, outside or both sides | |
| Finish | Matt or gloss varnish, with white underprint on kraft |
| Inserts | Die-cut cradles, end pads and paper void fill, quoted with the box |
| Supplied | Flat with the long seam glued, ready to open and load |
| Price | From £0.25 a box; exact price depends on size, board, print and quantity |
How to measure for an end open mailer box
Measure the item along its longest edge first, since that is the direction it slides in. Then measure width and depth, and add 3 to 5 mm to each figure so it loads without scraping.
Send the three numbers as the inside size, length first. If the box must fit a postal band, say which one and we will plan the outside to suit.
Which board for which job
E-flute at 1.5 mm makes a slim, sharp end open box for books and boxed sets. B-flute at 3 mm suits frames, bottles and long items, where the thicker wall stops the box bowing as it is carried.
Design Your End Open Mailer Mailer Box
Drop your logo on a real photo of our end open 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 end open mailer box?
It is a corrugated box that opens on one of its short ends instead of across its top. The long seam is glued at the factory, so the box arrives as a flat sleeve. You square it up, close one end, slide the item in from the other end and tuck it shut.
The large top face stays whole, with no lid line across it, so the print has an unbroken panel. It is one of the closures in our mailer box styles collection.
How do you pack an end open mailer?
End open boxes suit packing on a narrow bench, as the item goes in from the side rather than dropping in from above.
- Push the flat sleeve into shape so the four long walls stand square.
- Fold in the dust flaps at the far end and tuck the end flap down behind them.
- Stand the box on that closed end or lay it flat, and slide the item in from the open end.
- Add an end pad or a twist of paper void fill if there is a gap.
- Fold in the near dust flaps and tuck the last end flap firmly into place.
Both ends close with a tuck, so no tape is needed. A label or sticker over the loading end makes tampering easy to spot.
What goes in an end open mailer box?
Items that are longer than they are tall, or already boxed, and slide in without tipping.
- Hardback books, cookbooks and box sets of novels.
- Picture frames and framed prints with corner protectors.
- Boxed gift sets, from tea selections to stationery kits.
- Wine glasses or bottles in a fitted cradle.
- Board games and jigsaw boxes.
- Rolled fabric, tea towels and table runners laid flat.
For glass or framed pieces, see our fragile goods mailer boxes for extra padding options.
What size end open box do I need?
Length is the measurement that matters most, because it is the loading direction. Allow 3 to 5 mm at each end and on the sides so the item slides without catching on the flaps.
| Contents | Inside size to start from | Band to check |
|---|---|---|
| Hardback novel | 245 x 165 x 40 mm | Small Parcel |
| A4 framed print | 320 x 230 x 30 mm | Small Parcel |
| Boxed tea selection | 300 x 220 x 60 mm | Small Parcel |
| Jigsaw box | 360 x 260 x 60 mm | Small Parcel |
| Single wine bottle in a cradle | 340 x 100 x 100 mm | Small Parcel |
| Large board game | 420 x 300 x 90 mm | Small Parcel |
Remember that Royal Mail bands measure the outside, so add the board thickness twice. Check the current band limits before you order. The mailer box measuring guide shows how to measure a boxed item properly.
End open or tuck top: which suits you?
A tuck top opens across its whole top face, so the customer sees everything at once. That makes a better reveal for sets laid out side by side.
An end open box keeps the top face whole and stronger, and it packs faster for one long item. Pick end open for a book or a frame, and a roll-over tuck top mailer box for a display of several pieces.
Which board for an end open mailer?
E-flute at 1.5 mm keeps book and gift set boxes slim and sharp-edged. It is the choice for most jobs under about 300 mm long.
B-flute at 3 mm is better for long boxes and for frames or bottles, which press on the end flaps if the parcel is dropped. Our page on picking between E-flute and B-flute sets the two side by side.
Printing the long faces and the ends
With no lid seam, the top face of an end open box takes a pattern or a logo edge to edge. The two long sides can carry a strapline, and the end flaps a small mark that shows when the box sits on a shelf.
Print is plain, one colour, two colours or full colour, and the inside can be printed as well. White underprint lifts colour on kraft, and a matt or gloss varnish guards it. For a fully branded outer, start from our custom printed mailer boxes.
Do end open boxes need an insert?
A book or boxed set sized to the box needs nothing extra. A frame or bottle should sit in a die-cut cradle, so it cannot slide towards the ends.
End pads take up spare length, and paper void fill closes smaller gaps. All of it is quoted with the box. Our insert fitted mailer boxes show how a cradle is set up.
How end open boxes arrive
They arrive flat with the long seam already glued, strapped in bundles. Delivery to the UK mainland is free and tracked, in 2 to 3 working days.
A flat sleeve takes moments to open, which suits batch packing on a busy afternoon. Keep the bundles dry and flat so the glued seam stays straight. Open only what you need for the day, because squared-up boxes take far more room on the floor.
Common mistakes with end open boxes
- Giving width before length, so the opening ends up on the wrong side.
- Leaving too little length clearance for a frame with corner guards.
- Printing a design that reads correctly only when the box lies one way up.
- Skipping the cradle for a bottle and letting it knock against the end flap.
- Choosing E-flute for a long, heavy box that would sit better in B-flute.
- Forgetting that a dust jacket or shrink wrap adds a few millimetres to a book.
How to order end open mailer boxes
Send length, width and depth, the board and your print idea. We price it in writing within one working day, from £0.25 a box. A free proof is made first, and printing waits for your approval.
Production runs 4 to 6 working days once you approve. A misprint or damage reported within 10 days with photos is reprinted or refunded. Request an end open box price in writing or email info@themailerboxes.co.uk.
Related mailer boxes
Other closures and finishes that start from the same idea.
Side Loading Tab Lock MailersSlide in from the side, lock with two tabsFrom £0.25 a box
Tuck Top Mailer BoxesRoll-over front, tuck-in lid, prints inside and outFrom £0.25 a box
Fragile Goods Mailer BoxesB-flute walls and a fitted insert for glass and jarsFrom £0.25 a box
Custom Printed Mailer BoxesFull colour outside, one colour inside or bothFrom £0.25 a boxEnd Open Mailer Boxes questions
Does an end open mailer box open at the top or the end?
At the short end. The top face stays whole, and the item slides in lengthways before the end flap tucks shut.
Is an end open mailer box glued?
Yes, the long seam is glued so the box arrives as a flat sleeve. The two ends close with tuck flaps and need no glue or tape.
Can both ends of an end open mailer be opened?
Yes. Both ends have tuck flaps, so you can load from either end or close one end before you pack.
Will a hardback book fit an end open mailer box?
Yes, that is one of its main uses. Measure the book with its jacket and add 3 to 5 mm on each side.
Can an end open box hold a picture frame safely?
Yes, with corner guards or a die-cut cradle so the frame cannot slide. B-flute walls are the better choice for frames.
What is the usual starting size for an end open mailer box?
We often start from 300 x 220 x 60 mm inside and adjust it to the item. Every box is cut to your own size.
Can the end flaps of an end open mailer be printed?
Yes. A small logo or a product name on the end flaps shows when boxes sit side by side on a shelf.
Is an end open box quicker to pack than a tuck top?
For one long item it usually is, as the item slides in and one flap closes. For a layout of several pieces a tuck top is easier.
Can a wine bottle go in an end open mailer box?
Yes, in a die-cut cradle that holds the neck and the base. The cradle is quoted with the box.
Can an end open mailer be printed inside?
Yes. The inside can carry a pattern or a message, though it is seen less than the lining of a lidded box.
Will an end open box fit the Royal Mail Large Letter band?
Only if the outside is within 353 x 250 x 25 mm, which suits a slim paperback. Most end open boxes travel as a Small Parcel.
Can I try a design for an end open mailer box before ordering?
Yes. Sketch the outside on our Design Your Mailer Box page and we turn it into a free proof.
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.