Drawer box template
Enter the inside size of your drawer and the dieline below redraws instantly: a tray with corner ears and double walls, and a sleeve that slides over it, with a thumb notch at each end. Open it in the Studio to design both, watch the sleeve slide on and the drawer pull out in 3D, and export the dieline as a 1:1 PDF, SVG or DXF.
Set your box size
- Flat sheet
- 245 mm × 253 mm
- Panels
- 18
Cutting template: a tray (a bottom, four walls, ears on the front and back walls that wrap the corners inside the side walls, and a turn-in on every wall) above a sleeve (a glue flap, two sides, a bottom and a top with a half-round thumb notch at each end). Width, depth and height are the inside of the tray; the sleeve fits round it with a little play, which you can change in the Studio. Ask your printer to confirm the allowances for their board.
What is a drawer box?
A drawer box, also called a slide box, sleeve and tray box or matchbox-style box, is two parts: a tray that holds the product and a sleeve it slides into. Pushing the tray out of the sleeve makes a small moment of unboxing, which is why drawer boxes are popular for jewellery, chocolates, tea, cosmetics, gift sets and premium accessories. The sleeve carries most of the branding and the tray can carry a surprise inside.
What is on the dieline
The template draws both parts on one sheet, the tray above the sleeve, from your three measurements.
- The tray: a bottom and four walls, with ears on the front and back walls that fold round the corners and turn-ins that fold over inside every wall, so the walls are double and hold together without glue.
- The sleeve: a glue flap, two sides, a bottom and a top, glued into a tube open at both ends.
- A half-round thumb notch at each end of the sleeve's top, to push the tray out from either side.
- Sleeve play: the gap between the tray and the sleeve, so the drawer slides smoothly.
- Adjustable turn-ins, sleeve play, thumb notch size and glue flap in the Studio.
- Cut lines and crease lines kept separate, as in the PDF, SVG and DXF exports.
How to fold a drawer box
For the tray, fold up the front and back walls, fold their ears in round the corners, fold up the side walls over the ears, then fold each turn-in over the top of its wall and down inside; the turn-ins hold the ears in place. For the sleeve, glue the glue flap inside the top panel to make a tube and let it dry flat. Slide the tray into the sleeve. In the Studio you can watch both fold and the sleeve slide on in 3D, and the drawer box guide walks through it.
Choosing the size
Measure the product and add a few millimetres of room: width, depth and height are the inside of the tray, and the drawer slides out along the depth. The sleeve is sized from the tray automatically. Thin board slides most smoothly; for a heavier product or a premium feel, choose a thicker board and a little more sleeve play.
Is the drawer box template free?+
Yes. The size picker and dieline here are free. Designing, saving and exporting happen in the Studio with a free account.
Are the sizes inside or outside dimensions?+
Inside, for the tray: width, depth and height are the space the product sits in. The sleeve is sized round the tray with a little play, so the outside of the closed box is a few millimetres larger.
Does a drawer box need glue?+
Only the sleeve, along its glue flap. The tray's ears and turn-ins lock its walls without glue, although a dot of glue under each turn-in makes it sturdier.
Can I change how tight the drawer is?+
Yes. In the Studio, under Box & Size, set the sleeve play: the gap between the tray and the sleeve. You can also change the turn-ins, the thumb notches and the glue flap.
Can I download the dieline?+
Yes. The Studio exports a 1:1 PDF with your artwork, and the cutting template on its own as SVG or DXF with cut and crease lines on separate layers. Ask your printer to confirm the allowances for their board.