A box that fits well feels expensive. A box where the bottle rattles feels cheap, however beautiful the print. The good news is that measuring your bottle correctly takes five minutes, and it is the single most useful thing you can send us before we quote.
This guide shows you exactly what to measure, how to measure it, and what happens next.
What you need
- Your bottle, with the cap on
- A ruler or tape measure, ideally a steel ruler or a set of digital callipers
- A flat table and a phone camera
If your bottles have not arrived yet, a technical drawing or the supplier's specification sheet is just as good. Many bottle suppliers list the height, width and depth in millimetres.
The three measurements
Stand the bottle upright on a flat table and measure:
- Height: from the table to the very top of the cap. Not the shoulder, not the neck, the highest point.
- Width: the widest point from side to side, looking at the front of the bottle.
- Depth: the widest point from front to back.
Measure in millimetres, centimetres or inches, whichever you prefer. We work in all of them and show both centimetres and inches on our quotes.
For round bottles, width and depth are the same: this is the diameter at the widest point.
Measure the cap separately
Many caps are wider or taller than they look. A heavy, decorative cap might be wider than the bottle neck, or even wider than the bottle itself. Measure:
- Cap height (from where it meets the neck to the top)
- Cap width at its widest point
The insert needs a separate pocket for the cap, so these numbers help us shape the cut-out properly.
Look for anything that sticks out
Check for anything that changes the shape of the bottle:
- A collar or ring at the neck
- A label that is thicker than the glass
- A tassel, chain or charm
- A spray pump that sits above the cap line
Tell us about these, because the insert has to make room for them.
Take two photos
Photos help us more than any description. Please send:
- One photo from the front with a ruler standing next to the bottle.
- One photo from the side, again with the ruler.
Good light and a plain background make the shape easy to see.
How we turn your measurements into a box size
You give us the size of the bottle. We work out the size of the box. Between the two sit:
- The insert: foam, card or velvet, usually a few millimetres around the bottle on every side.
- The board: rigid board has thickness, so the outer box is larger than the inside space.
- A small tolerance: glass bottles vary slightly from piece to piece, so we leave a small allowance so every bottle fits, not just the one you measured.
That is why you should always send the bottle size, not the box size you think you need. If you already have a box size in mind, send both and we will check them against each other.
We confirm the outer box size with you on the design proof before anything is made.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Measuring without the cap. The most common error. The box ends up too short.
- Measuring the label width instead of the glass. For curved bottles, measure the widest point of the glass itself.
- Rounding down. If a measurement falls between two numbers, give us the larger one.
- Measuring one bottle from a mixed batch. If you have bottles from two suppliers, measure one of each.
Measuring for gift sets
If the box will hold more than one item, such as a bottle with a travel spray or a set of vials, measure each item and tell us how you would like them arranged: side by side, one behind the other, or with the small items in a separate compartment. Our sliding drawer box and double-door box both work well for sets.
What to send us
Send these through Get a Quote or on WhatsApp:
- Height, width and depth of the bottle with the cap on
- Cap height and width
- Two photos with a ruler
- The box style you like, and your quantity
We reply within 24 hours with a price and a proposed box size.
Check the fit before your full order
If fit is critical, order a paid sample. You can put your own bottle in it, open and close it, and see how the insert holds it before approving your bulk order of 50 pieces or more.
