FEFCO Box Styles in Plain English (0201 and the Common Ones)

What FEFCO codes are

FEFCO is a European standard for describing box designs by a four digit code. Instead of everyone inventing their own names, a supplier in Manchester and one in Munich can both say "0201" and mean exactly the same box construction. The system covers hundreds of styles, but as a buyer you only need a handful.

The first two digits describe the broad category. The second two identify the specific design within it. You do not need to memorise the catalogue, just recognise the few codes you will actually order.

0201: the regular slotted case

This is the box most people picture when they think "cardboard box". Four flaps top, four flaps bottom, all the same length, meeting in the middle when folded and taped.

• Ships flat, folds up fast.
• Cheap to make, so widely stocked and keenly priced.
• Works for the vast majority of ecommerce and transit shipping.

If you are not sure what you need, the 0201 is almost always the starting point. It is the default shipping box across UK warehouses. The only real limitation is that on very wide boxes the top flaps do not meet, which is where other styles come in.

0200: the half slotted case

Same as the 0201 but with flaps on one end only, so it is effectively an open topped box with a folding base. Handy when you drop a product in from above and cap it separately, or use it as an open tray with a lid.

0427: the roll end mailer (the ecommerce postal box)

This is the box that has taken over online retail. It has a roll over front edge that tucks in, side wings, and a self locking design that often needs little or no tape. Many versions have a peel and seal strip and a tear tape return strip.

• Neat, branded appearance, good for the unboxing moment.
• Fast to assemble, secure without a tape gun.
• Popular for subscription boxes, apparel and gift orders.

Sometimes called a postal box or a die cut mailer. If you want a tidy retail feel and easy returns, this is the one.

0421 and tuck end mailers

A simpler folder or book wrap style that wraps around flat products and locks at the end. Ideal for books, prints, framed items and anything thin and flat. Uses less material than a deep box and holds the product snug, which is why book wraps are standard for print media.

Tray styles: 0300 series

The 0300 codes are tray and lid designs. Think of a shallow open tray, sometimes with a separate lid, sometimes a full telescopic two piece box. Used for retail display, produce, and products presented in a tray rather than dropped into a deep carton. A telescopic lid and base gives a premium two piece feel and adjusts slightly for content height.

Which one do you need?

• General shipping and transit, any weight band: 0201 regular slotted case.
• Branded ecommerce parcels and easy returns: 0427 roll end mailer.
• Books, prints and flat items: book wrap or tuck end folder.
• Open top, cap separately, or display: 0200 half slotted case or a 0300 tray.
• Premium two piece presentation: telescopic tray and lid.

Why the code helps when comparing prices

Because FEFCO codes are standard, they let you compare like for like across suppliers. A 0201 at a given size and grade from one supplier is directly comparable to a 0201 at the same spec from another, so any price difference is a genuine saving rather than a difference in design. On Packaging Marketplace you can compare live prices by size and style across UK suppliers, which is far easier when everyone is describing the same box with the same code.