Build a Cardboard Box

Prepare materials and tools

Reused boxLook for clean, dry 0.5 mm solid paperboard.
See usable box types
Look for 0.5 mm solid paperboard. Lay the full-size template on a flat panel before cutting.
- Coke or Pepsi multipackLook for a flat, solid edge. Use a large panel clear of handle holes.
- Cereal boxTry the broad front or back panel. Measure away from the glued seam.
- Cracker or snack boxCheck for a wide, uninterrupted panel. Small boxes may be too narrow for the full template.
- Other folding cartonA dry goods or retail carton can work if the edge is solid and the thickness matches.
ScissorsOr use a craft knife and cutting mat.
Pencil, ruler & scorerUse a blunt scorer for folds and calipers to check board thickness.
A4 templatesPrint at 100% and check the 100 mm ruler before tracing.
Glue for the flapsWhite PVA glue or a low-temp hot glue gun. Test the bond on an offcut.
Compare glue types
Test on the same board, especially if the surface is glossy. With a glue gun, keep hands clear of the nozzle and melted glue.
- White PVA glueThe default for this kit. Spread a thin coat on the flap, align the pieces, and hold them while the glue sets.
- Low-temp hot glue gunDry-fit and test a very thin bead on a scrap. Use PVA if the bead keeps the closing flap from sitting flat.

Check the cut edge. Look for a thin, solid edge with no wavy layer. The whole blank needs a flat area of 170 × 210 mm. Check the board →

Choose your board and open the A4 templates ↓

Materials and A4 templates

Print at 100% / Actual size and check that the printed ruler measures 100 mm.

Open A4 templates · 1 sheet

The final A4 page contains the stickers for all three ready-made looks.

Transfer the fold lines and face labels to the outside face. Test the crease and glue on a scrap of the printed board.

One cut piece

The six square faces and seven tapered flaps stay connected. Cut the outer line and lightly score the dashed lines. Use the A4 sheets to trace at actual size.

One-piece box net ×1
N
Part details

Technical drawings

Arrows show dimensions in millimeters. Coordinates in the tables start at the lower-left corner of the cut blank. Use the A4 templates for actual-size tracing.

One-piece box net · N

170 × 210 mm blank · 0.5 mm board

Solid brown · cutDashed purple · score and fold

Cut around the solid outer outline.
Score and fold along the dashed lines.

Exact coordinates and edge lengths

Measure from the lower-left corner of the blank. X runs right and Y runs up. The tables have their own row numbers. Join the outer edges in order.

Tabs, flaps and openings
Mark	Feature	X, Y in mm	Dimensions in mm
1	Glue flap	35, 110 · Center of base	Fold width 50 · Tip width 42 · Depth 10
2	Glue flap	135, 110 · Center of base	Fold width 50 · Tip width 42 · Depth 10
3	Glue flap	35, 160 · Center of base	Fold width 50 · Tip width 42 · Depth 10
4	Glue flap	135, 160 · Center of base	Fold width 50 · Tip width 42 · Depth 10
5	Glue flap	10, 135 · Center of base	Fold width 50 · Tip width 42 · Depth 10
6	Glue flap	160, 135 · Center of base	Fold width 50 · Tip width 42 · Depth 10
7	Glue flap	85, 10 · Center of base	Fold width 28 · Tip width 20 · Depth 10

Fold lines
Line	Instruction	From X, Y	To X, Y	mm
1	fold	60, 160	60, 110	50
2	fold	110, 110	110, 160	50
3	fold	60, 110	110, 110	50
4	fold	110, 160	60, 160	50
5	fold	60, 60	110, 60	50
6	fold	10, 110	60, 110	50
7	fold	110, 110	160, 110	50
8	fold	60, 160	10, 160	50
9	fold	160, 160	110, 160	50
10	fold	10, 160	10, 110	50
11	fold	160, 110	160, 160	50
12	fold	71, 10	99, 10	28

Outer cut edges
Edge	From X, Y	To X, Y	mm
1	110, 60	110, 110	50
2	110, 110	114, 100	10.77
3	114, 100	156, 100	42
4	156, 100	160, 110	10.77
5	160, 110	170, 114	10.77
6	170, 114	170, 156	42
7	170, 156	160, 160	10.77
8	160, 160	156, 170	10.77
9	156, 170	114, 170	42
10	114, 170	110, 160	10.77
11	110, 160	110, 210	50
12	110, 210	60, 210	50
13	60, 210	60, 160	50
14	60, 160	56, 170	10.77
15	56, 170	14, 170	42
16	14, 170	10, 160	10.77
17	10, 160	0, 156	10.77
18	0, 156	0, 114	42
19	0, 114	10, 110	10.77
20	10, 110	14, 100	10.77
21	14, 100	56, 100	42
22	56, 100	60, 110	10.77
23	60, 110	60, 60	50
24	60, 60	60, 10	50
25	60, 10	71, 10	11
26	71, 10	75, 0	10.77
27	75, 0	95, 0	20
28	95, 0	99, 10	10.77
29	99, 10	110, 10	11
30	110, 10	110, 60	50

Folded glue flap

1. Fold the flapFold the flap so it lies flat against the receiving piece.

2. Spread a thin layer of glueCoat the face of the flap that will touch the receiving piece.

3. Press the two faces togetherHold the pieces in place as directed on the glue label.

Open the illustrated joint guide →

Assembly sequence

Read through the steps here, or rotate the exploded model and follow the build in Studio.

1. Cut and pre-fold the blank

Cut the solid outer line. Lightly score all dashed lines, pre-fold the faces and flaps, then lay the blank flat again.

View in Studio →

2. Apply glue to four wall flaps

Lay the blank with its marked outside face up. Coat the two tapered flaps along the front and back edges of each side wall. The blue areas show where the glue goes.

View in Studio →

3. Fold and join the walls

Turn the blank over so the top rests on the work surface. Raise both side walls and fold their glued flaps inward. Raise the front and back walls over the flaps, then press the seams from inside the open box.

View in Studio →

4. Coat the two bottom support flaps

Once the wall seams hold, fold the remaining flap on each side wall inward. Spread glue on the exposed faces where the bottom will sit.

View in Studio →

5. Coat the bottom closing flap

Keep the bottom panel open. Fold the last tapered flap inward and coat the face that will touch the inside of the back wall.

View in Studio →

6. Close and seal the bottom

Swing the bottom panel over the two side flaps. Tuck its closing flap just inside the back wall. Press along the three seams and hold them in place while the glue sets.

View in Studio →

Printable prototype. Test the creases and glue on a scrap of your board before cutting the full blank.