Frequently asked questions

Dielines, box codes, file formats and board — what people actually ask.

What is a dieline?

A dieline is the flat cutting plan for a box. It shows every line the tooling has to make: solid lines where the board is cut through, dashed lines where it is creased so it folds, and sometimes perforations for tear-open strips. Fold it up and you have the box. Send it to a converter and it becomes the steel rule die that stamps out thousands.

What does it cost?

Nothing today — there is no account and no per-download charge. That is how it stands rather than a promise about the future.

Which file format should I download?

PDF if you want to print it and cut a mock-up by hand — it is true 1:1, so print at 100% scale. SVG if you are taking it into Illustrator, Figma or Inkscape to lay artwork over it, or driving a laser cutter. DXF if you are sending it to a die-maker or a CAD package — it carries CUT, CREASE and PERF as separate layers, which is what they need to build the tool.

What do FEFCO and ECMA mean?

They are the two standard catalogues the packaging trade uses to name box styles. FEFCO covers corrugated board — the four-digit codes like 0201 (the ordinary shipping box) or 0427 (the ecommerce mailer). ECMA covers folding cartons, the thinner printed boxes on a shop shelf. Quoting a code to a converter is far more precise than describing a box in words.

What is FEFCO 0201?

The Regular Slotted Container — the most-manufactured corrugated box in the world. One piece of board wraps into four walls with a glued joint, and four flaps at each end fold in. All four flaps are half the width, so the outer pair meet exactly at the centre with no board wasted. If someone says "a cardboard box" without qualifying it, this is what they mean.

Should I enter inside, outside or crease-to-crease dimensions?

Inside when you know what has to fit in — the clear space you need. That is the usual choice. Outside when the box itself has to fit somewhere, like a shelf or a pallet footprint. Crease-to-crease is measured between fold lines on the flat blank, which is how a die-maker usually quotes. The app shows all three as you type, so you can sanity-check against whichever your supplier asked for.

What board thickness should I choose?

For corrugated shipping: B flute (3 mm) is the common all-rounder, C flute (4 mm) for more cushioning, E flute (1.5 mm) for retail boxes that need to print well, and double wall like BC (7 mm) for heavy goods. For printed folding cartons, 350–450 gsm cartonboard (0.45–0.58 mm) covers most retail work. The caliper matters: it drives the allowances that decide whether the box actually closes.

Why does my box not fold up properly?

Almost always the board thickness. A dieline that works on 0.4 mm cartonboard will bind on 4 mm C flute, because every fold has to wrap around the material. Check the caliper matches the board you are actually cutting, then look at the advanced parameters — slot width, corner clearance and glue lap are all adjustable, and they are the three that usually need nudging.

Can I use these commercially?

Yes. The geometry is generated from our own parametric code, so there is nothing to license from us. FEFCO and ECMA code numbers are industry shorthand and using them to describe a box style is standard practice. As with any dieline from any source, satisfy yourself it is right before committing to tooling.

How accurate are the templates?

Each one tells you. Templates badged “Checked against the plate” have been compared side by side with the standard's drawing. Templates badged “Not yet plate-checked” are structurally sound — they close, they fold, they export cleanly — but the blank has not been matched to the published drawing in detail. Either way, cut and fold a sample before ordering a die.

Which box style should I use for ecommerce?

For most direct-to-customer shipping, 0427 (roll end tuck top mailer) — folds up without tape and looks deliberate when it arrives. For books and anything flat and rigid, a book wrap with multi-depth creases so one blank fits several thicknesses. For plain despatch where cost dominates, 0201 and a tape gun.

Do you store what I download?

Everything is generated in your browser — no dieline is ever uploaded or stored. The site records anonymous, cookie-free usage statistics (which template styles get downloaded, in which format) so we know which to verify against the standards first. No personal data, and no cookie banner because there are no cookies to consent to.

Still stuck? The About page explains how the geometry is generated and where the standards come from.