Packaging Boxes FAQ for Online Plant Retailers and Dropshippers
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If you hold artificial plant stock and send single-customer parcels, you need a small set of long boxes matched to your product lengths, plus a cube carton or two for vases and planters. We stock six long box sizes; they are supplied flat-packed and orders containing them ship only when the order is over £500 ex VAT. If you dropship instead, the packing is done for you and the boxes question belongs to your dropship supplier. Short answers to the questions resellers ask most are below.
Box sizes and board
Which box sizes do you stock?
Six long formats. Four have a narrow square section for stems and slim items, and two are for longer or wider items. Our packaging boxes guide shows all six with live stock:
- 16 x 16 x 44cm long box: short stems up to about 35cm.
- 16 x 16 x 65cm long box: stems of 45–55cm, such as a 50cm pompom dahlia stem.
- 16 x 16 x 86cm long box: stems of 65–78cm.
- 19 x 19 x 100cm long box: stems of 80–90cm and slim trailing plants.
- Wide 120 x 30 x 30cm long box: slim potted plants up to about 110cm, such as the 90cm evergreen ficus tree in its 15cm pot.
- 165 x 22.5 x 22.5cm long box: 120cm-plus stems, garlands and slim items up to about 155cm.
How much space should I leave around the item?
Use one rule across your whole range: 30–40mm clearance on each face for rigid items such as planters, and 40–60mm for delicate foliage and flower heads. For stems, that means a box 8–10cm longer than the stem.
Single-wall or double-wall board?
Single-wall suits light stems and small plants sent by parcel courier. Double-wall is the safer choice for tall, heavy or high-value items and anything glass. Our cardboard boxes packaging guide explains board grades in full.
Do your boxes suit glass vases?
Not on their own. Long boxes are the wrong shape for vases and bowls. A 28cm smoke grey glass vase (13.5cm across) needs a cube carton of roughly 22 x 22 x 36cm to leave 40mm of cushioning all round.
Cost and volumetric weight
Why does a long box cost more to post than its weight suggests?
Couriers charge on whichever is greater: actual weight or volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is the box volume in cubic centimetres divided by the courier's divisor. 5,000 is common, but check yours, as some use 4,000 or 6,000.
What is the volumetric weight of each of your boxes?
| Box (cm) | Volume (cm³) | Volumetric weight at ÷5,000 | Typical contents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 x 16 x 44 | 11,264 | 2.3kg | Short stems |
| 16 x 16 x 65 | 16,640 | 3.3kg | Medium stems |
| 16 x 16 x 86 | 22,016 | 4.4kg | Long stems |
| 19 x 19 x 100 | 36,100 | 7.2kg | Extra-long stems, slim trailers |
| 120 x 30 x 30 | 108,000 | 21.6kg | Slim potted plants to ~110cm |
| 165 x 22.5 x 22.5 | 83,531 | 16.7kg | 120cm+ stems and garlands |
Artificial plants are light, so almost every parcel is charged on volume. The biggest single saving is choosing the smallest box that still gives the clearance above. The wide 120cm box has a higher volumetric weight than the longer 165cm box, so don't use it for anything that would fit the slimmer one.
Is it cheaper to send two small boxes than one large one?
Often. Two stems of different lengths in two tight boxes can cost less than both in one large box, and they arrive in better condition. Run both options through your courier's calculator.
Ordering boxes from us
Can I order boxes on their own?
No. Boxes are supplied flat-packed, and orders containing packaging boxes ship only when the order is over £500 ex VAT. Add them to a stock order.
How are boxes sold?
Each box is sold singly, with live stock shown on the product page. Browse the packaging boxes collection.
What does delivery cost?
UK mainland delivery is £14.99 on orders under £300 ex VAT and free on orders of £300 ex VAT or more. Remote areas and the Scottish Highlands and Islands are charged at different rates. Since box orders must exceed £500 ex VAT, a UK mainland order that includes boxes qualifies for free standard delivery, except to remote postcodes. See ordering and delivery.
Repacking held stock
Can I send stems in the packaging they arrive in?
Stems are sold to you individually, and the outer is sized for the whole order, not a single stem. Repack singles or small bunches into a box matched to the stem length.
How should I repack a single stem?
Sleeve it with the head fully inside, tape the stem end to a card strip, and choose a box 8–10cm longer than the stem. The full method is in our packing-bench guide.
What about stems that fall between your box sizes?
Stems of roughly 92–110cm are too long for the 100cm box once you allow clearance at each end. A 100cm eucalyptus stem, for example, needs a box of at least 108cm. The wide 120cm box fits it but carries a high volumetric weight for one stem, so it makes sense when you send several long stems together. For single long stems, compare it with a slim carton from your own supplier.
How do I pack stems of different lengths in one parcel?
Choose the box by the longest stem, lay stems head-to-tail so heads don't stack, and tape all the stem ends to one card strip. Keep shorter stems' heads away from the box ends as well.
What should go in the box besides the item?
A short reshaping note ("fluff the leaves and flowers by hand after unpacking"), your returns information and the invoice or packing slip. The reshaping note alone prevents many "arrived flat" complaints.
Where do I find product sizes to choose a box?
Every product page gives height and width, and most potted lines give pot dimensions. Trade customers can also download product data and photos from our resource library, which is useful for building a box-size lookup against your SKUs.
Dropshipping: a separate service
Does Leaf Design Wholesale dropship?
No. This site supplies stock for you to hold and ship yourself. Dropshipping is run by our sister business, Leaf Dropship (leafdropship.co.uk), on its own terms. Ask them about their packaging and dispatch.
Do I need boxes if I dropship?
Not for dropshipped orders, because the supplier packs and sends them. You need boxes only for stock you hold. Our guide to wholesale versus dropshipping, due later in this series, helps you decide which model fits.
Frequently asked questions
Which box should I buy first?
Match the box to the stems you sell most. If most of your stems are 70–75cm, start with the 16 x 16 x 86cm box and add a second size once you know your mix.
How many boxes should I hold?
Enough to cover the parcels you send between stock deliveries, by size. Count last month's parcels by product length and hold that mix, with a small buffer.
Can I ship a tall tree in your boxes?
Only slim ones. The long boxes suit plants whose pot and body fit within the box section. Wider trees need a larger carton; our guide to long boxes for tall trees covers the options.
What if a parcel arrives damaged at my customer's?
Ask for photos of the box and item, log the claim, and match it to its cause. Our guide to diagnosing shipping damage has a symptom and fix table.
Get the boxes that fit your range
Compare the six sizes with live stock in the packaging boxes guide, then add them to your next stock order over £500 ex VAT. For listing and product data help, see the selling artificial plants online toolkit, and browse flower stems by length.
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