Hover to zoomCustom Archive Boxes for Office Files and Records
From $0.30 a box Exact price in your emailed quote
Archive boxes are built around paper: letter and legal folders, hanging files and three-ring binders. We make them with a fitted lid or flip-top, hand holes and a label panel, cut to the inside size your records need.
Quick answer
What are archive boxes?
Archive boxes are lidded cardboard boxes that keep paper records safe on a shelf for years. The inside fits folders standing upright, and hand holes make lifting easy. A printed panel on the end names the contents, so nobody has to open the box to find out.
Key facts
- Fits letter and legal files
- Fitted lid or flip-top style
- Printed contents label panel
- Hand holes for safe lifting
- From $0.30 a box
- Free design proof
Archive Boxes specifications
18 rows| Styles | Lift-off lid box, flip-top file box or drop-front box |
|---|---|
| Typical board | Single wall C flute; BC double wall for tall stacks |
| Paper sizes | Built for letter, legal or binder-size files held upright |
| Label panel | Printed lines for department, dates and contents |
| Handles | A hand hole at each end, or a finger pull on file boxes |
| Closure | Push-in tab on flip-tops; friction fit on lidded boxes |
| How it ships | Flat in bundles, with lids bundled apart from bases |
| Assembly | Folds up by hand with locking end panels |
| Board options | E, B or C flute single wall; BC flute double wall; kraft or white paperboard |
| Printing | Unprinted, one color, two color or full color CMYK, outside and inside |
|---|---|
| Finishes | Natural kraft left uncoated, matte or gloss laminate, spot UV, foil stamping or embossing |
| Sizes | Built to your inside length × width × height in inches (mm also fine) |
| Artwork files | Vector PDF, AI, EPS or SVG work best; sharp PNG or JPG also accepted |
| Design help | Our designers set up the layout for free |
| Proof | Free design proof to approve before printing starts |
| Production | 4–6 business days once you approve the proof |
| Shipping | Free and tracked to any US address, 2–3 business days in transit |
| Misprints | Send photos within 10 days for a reprint or a refund |
Archive box sizes buyers ask for
| Inside size (L × W × H) | Good for |
|---|---|
| 13 × 4 × 10 in | Slim flip-top box for one letter-size project |
| 15 × 12 × 10 in | Letter files stood upright in one or two rows |
| 17 × 12 × 11 in | Legal folders or hanging files |
| 17 × 13 × 12 in | Five or six three-ring binders |
| 15 × 12 × 5 in | Shallow box for reports and bound papers |
What is an archive box and how is it built?
An archive box is a lidded cardboard box made to hold paper. The inside is set so letter or legal files stand upright, with a little room to pull one out. A label panel on the end shows the contents without lifting the box down.
Two shapes cover most orders. The deep lidded box holds a row of files, much like a drawer. The slim flip-top box holds a single project and sits on a shelf like a book.
Archive boxes belong to our full range of cardboard boxes, and every order is cut to your measurements.
Who buys archive boxes?
Any group that has to keep paper for a set number of years ends up needing good boxes. Even a small company piles up a surprising amount of paper in a few seasons.
Proper boxes turn loose folders into a shelf you can search in minutes. Here are the buyers we hear from most often.
- CPA firms storing client returns by tax year
- Law offices keeping closed case files on site
- Medical and dental practices holding older charts
- Schools and nonprofits archiving board minutes and ledgers
- Homeowners boxing tax records, deeds and insurance papers
Which archive box style suits my files?
Think about how often you will reach back into the box. Daily access suits a flip-top. If you only open it once a year, choose a deep box with a lid.
| Style | How it opens | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Lift-off lid box | Lid comes off whole | Bulk records filed once and left alone |
| Flip-top file box | Lid hinges back, tab tucks in | One project or client per box |
| Drop-front box | Front panel folds down | High shelves, where boxes are pulled out often |
| Shallow lid box | Lid comes off whole | Bound reports, plans and large prints |
How do I size an archive box?
Measure your biggest folder, not a single sheet. A letter sheet is 8.5 × 11 in, but a hanging folder or binder is wider and taller. Stand it upright and add about 1/2 in to the height so it slides out easily.
Next, count the files per box and measure their stacked thickness. Leave a hand's width at the end so you can tip the files forward and read the tabs.
Then think about weight. Paper is dense, and a full box gets heavy fast. Pick a size one person can lift onto a shelf without strain. Our guide to measuring a box explains inside versus outside sizes.
Which board should archive boxes use?
Single wall C flute, about 5/32 in (4 mm) thick, is the usual choice. It keeps the box light, holds its shape when full, and folds cleanly at the corners.
Choose BC double wall, about 1/4 in (7 mm), if boxes will stand five or six high. It also suits storerooms where boxes sit on the floor. The thicker wall stops the bottom boxes from bowing under the load.
White board looks cleaner in offices where clients walk by, while kraft suits a back room. Our single wall versus double wall comparison can help you decide.
What should the label panel say?
A good label saves time years later, when the person who packed the box has moved on. Print the fixed parts and leave ruled lines for handwriting.
- Put the department or client name at the top in large type.
- Add a line for the date range of the papers inside.
- Add a line for a short contents note.
- Include a destroy-after date, so old records are cleared on time.
- Print a box number that matches your own index or spreadsheet.
How do I set up shelves for archive boxes?
The tidiest records rooms use only one or two box sizes. Every shelf then holds the same count, and a gap shows right away when a box is out.
Measure your shelving before you order. Note the clear height between shelves and the shelf depth, then size boxes so two or three fit across with a little room to spare. A box that sticks out past the edge gets knocked by everyone walking past.
Number boxes in order and keep a simple index. When a destroy-after date passes, the whole box goes to shredding in one trip.
Can archive boxes carry my company logo?
Yes. Most archive boxes get one color on the label panel, which keeps the cost down. Some firms add a logo on the lid and front so the boxes look tidy in a conference room.
We print one color, two color or full color CMYK on kraft or white board. For boxes that get handled a lot, a matte laminate resists scuffs.
If several departments share one storeroom, print each in a different ink color. From the doorway, each team can then find its own shelf. Place your logo in Design Your Box, and our designers will check the layout.
What mistakes should I avoid with archive boxes?
The classic error is sizing to the paper instead of the folder. The box looks right for letter sheets, then refuses a binder by a fraction of an inch.
Overfilling comes next. When the sides bulge from too much paper, the lid will not close and the stack leans. Basements cause trouble too, because damp softens board over time. Keep boxes up on shelving.
If a box must hold mixed goods as well as paper, our general cardboard storage boxes may suit better.
How fast can I get archive boxes?
Before anything is printed, we send a free design proof for you to check. Once you approve it, production runs 4 to 6 business days.
Free tracked shipping then takes 2 to 3 business days to any US address. Boxes arrive flat, so a full order fits in a closet until you need it. See our shipping details and timings for more.
How do I order archive boxes?
Archive boxes start from $0.30 a box. The exact figure is sent in your quote by email within one business day. Send us the quantity, board, style and inside size, plus the wording for the label panel.
Start with the quote request form for boxes, or call (503) 461-4788 between 9 am and 6 pm Eastern, Monday to Friday. You can also email info@ordercardboardboxes.com or message us on WhatsApp.
If a box arrives damaged or misprinted, send photos within 10 days and we will reprint it or refund you.
Archive Boxes: questions
12 answersWill an archive box fit three-ring binders?
Yes, if we size it for them. Binders are taller and wider than the paper inside, so tell us you are storing binders.
How is an archive box different from a storage box?
An archive box is cut to suit paper files and comes with a label panel for records. A storage box is an all-purpose lidded box that holds any kind of goods.
Can I get a flip-top archive box?
Yes. Flip-top file boxes open at the top and close with a push-in tab. They work well for one project per box.
How many files fit in one archive box?
That depends on file thickness and the box size you choose. Stack your files, measure them, and we size the box to match.
Should I choose single or double wall?
Single wall C flute suits most offices. Pick BC double wall for tall stacks or boxes that sit on the floor.
Can you print our department name on the label panel?
Yes. Department names and other set text are printed for you, and we leave ruled lines where people can write by hand.
Do archive boxes have hand holes?
Lidded archive boxes usually have a hand hole at each end. Many flip-top file boxes have a finger pull in place of holes.
Can archive boxes be white?
Yes. White board is popular in offices where clients see the shelves.
Do archive boxes arrive flat?
Yes. They ship flat in banded bundles, and you fold each one up by hand. No glue is needed.
Can I order legal-size archive boxes?
Yes. Give us the size of your largest legal folder, and we make the box to fit it.
Do I get a proof of the label panel before printing?
Yes. A free design proof comes to you first, and printing waits for your approval.
How long do archive boxes take to arrive?
Production runs 4 to 6 business days after proof approval. Free tracked shipping then adds 2 to 3 business days.
Still have a question? Phone (503) 461-4788, send our team a WhatsApp message or write to info@ordercardboardboxes.com.
Design Your Box
Pick a box photo, drop your logo onto it, choose the print and send it over. Our designers return a free proof ready for printing.
1Choose a box
2Place your logo
Add your logo to preview it on this box
Selected: Archive Boxes
Tell us about your boxes
Share the inside size, the board you want and how it should be printed. Our team emails a quote and a free design proof within one business day.
- Free design proof before any box is printed
- Made in 4–6 business days after you approve the proof
- Free tracked shipping to any US address
Rather talk it through? Phone (503) 461-4788 or chat with us on WhatsApp.