Boxes · Inserts & dividers
Inserts & dividersInserts &
dividers
The part of the package nobody photographs and everybody depends on — holding multi-item orders still and fragile ones whole.
The math that justifies an insert
One broken item costs you the product, the replacement shipping, the support time, and sometimes the customer. An insert costs cents. That arithmetic is the whole sales pitch — inserts aren't a premium touch, they're the cheapest insurance in packaging. The secondary benefit is presentation: items held in place open like they were arranged, because they were.
The three types
| Type | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fence partition | Slotted corrugated strips forming a grid | Bottles, jars, glassware — the classic, and the cheapest |
| Die-cut insert | Corrugated cut with cavities matching each item | Mixed items, odd shapes, fragile goods |
| Platform insert | Paperboard tray that presents items on a level | Subscription boxes, gift sets, unboxing-first brands |
Paper, not foam
All three are paper-based — corrugated or paperboard — which means they recycle curbside with the box itself. Foam and molded plastic inserts hold very heavy or precision-fragile goods better, but for the vast majority of e-commerce products, die-cut corrugated does the same job, ships flat, and doesn't ask your customer to sort trash into three bins.
If items can touch each other or the box wall in transit, you need an insert. Shake the packed box: anything you hear is a future support ticket.
Order it with the box
An insert is only as good as its fit, and fit comes from being designed against the box's exact internal dimensions. Quoted together with your mailer or product box, the two come from coordinated dielines, arrive in one shipment, and there's one supplier to call if anything's off. That's the practical argument for not sourcing them separately.
Common questions
What's the minimum order for inserts?
500 units, and they're normally ordered in the same quantity as the box they fit — an insert without its box doesn't have much of a life.
Do inserts fit boxes you didn't make?
Yes, if you give us exact internal dimensions of the existing box. But tolerances between manufacturers are real, so when possible we'd rather make both — the fit is guaranteed instead of measured.
Are corrugated inserts strong enough for glass?
For typical bottles, jars, and drinkware, yes — fence partitions have shipped glass safely for a century. Genuinely heavy or precision-fragile items may need denser solutions, and we'll say so rather than let a marginal insert fail.
Are the inserts recyclable?
Yes — corrugated and paperboard inserts recycle curbside along with the box, unlike foam. One material, one bin.
How much does an insert add to a box order?
It depends on the complexity — a fence partition adds little, a multi-cavity die-cut insert more. It's quoted as part of the single number, so you'll see the real cost, and we'll flag if a simpler style does the same job.
Quote this job
Send the details and quantity — we'll reply with one straight price that includes setup and shipping, plus a cheaper alternative if one exists. Minimum order: 500 units.
Request a quote