Telescope box template (lid and base)
Enter the inside size of the base and the dieline below draws both trays on one sheet: the base, and a lid sized to slide over it. Set the lid height from a shallow lid to a full telescope. Download it free, or open it in the Studio to add artwork and watch the lid close in 3D.
Make your telescope box dieline
Flaps and allowances
Leave blank for the style's own size, worked out from your box.
- Flat sheet
- 993.5 mm × 441 mm
- Inside
- 330 mm × 200 mm × 120 mm
- Panels
- 18
Download Free, no account, no watermark
Using a Cricut or Silhouette: larger than a 12 × 24 in mat
- Upload the SVG in Cricut Design Space (Upload > Upload Image) or open it in Silhouette Studio Designer Edition or above. Silhouette Studio Basic cannot open SVG: use the DXF file instead.
- Check the size before cutting: it should match the flat size shown here. If it does not, unlock the proportions and type the width in.
- In Design Space, ungroup the design, select the blue lines and set their operation to Score (or Draw with a scoring stylus), then attach everything so the scores stay in place.
- On a Cricut mat the largest cut is about 11.5 x 23.5 in (292 x 597 mm) on a 12 x 24 in mat. Larger boxes need splitting or a cutting table.
3D Box Studio folds this box in 3D with your artwork; it needs a free account. Check the board, allowances and bleed with your printer before production.
Cutting template: two four-corner trays side by side, the base and the lid, each with a glue ear on both ends of its front and back walls. Width, depth and height are the inside of the base; the lid fits over the base's outside with a little play each side. Lid height and play are adjustable. Ask your printer to confirm the allowances for their board.
What is a telescope box?
A telescope box is a two-piece box: a base tray and a lid tray that slides down over it, like a shoe box. With a shallow lid it is a lid-and-base box; when the lid reaches down to the bottom it is a full telescope, which doubles the walls all round. Apparel, shoes, gift sets, stationery and subscription boxes use it because the lid lifts straight off and the base stays a tidy tray. This is the folding-carton version; for a wrapped greyboard box see the rigid lid and base box.
What is on the dieline
Both pieces are drawn on one sheet from your three measurements.
- The base: a four-corner tray the size of the inside.
- The lid: a second tray sized to the base's outside plus play, so it slides on without forcing.
- Lid height: about a third of the box by default, adjustable up to the full height of the base.
- Lid play: the gap each side between the base and the lid, adjustable for thicker boards or a looser fit.
- Glue ears at every corner of both trays, and cut, crease, glue, bleed and safe-zone lines on separate layers.
How to fold a telescope box
Fold each tray the same way: walls up, ears in, side walls up over the ears, and glue the ears inside the side walls. Let both dry square, then put the lid on the base. In the Studio both trays fold up together, then the lid turns over and lands on the base; the open slider lifts it off.
Choosing the size, lid and board
Width, depth and height are the inside of the base. A lid a third as deep as the box is easy to lift and saves board; a full-telescope lid makes a stronger box for stacking and shipping. Card of 18–24 pt suits apparel and gifts; for shoe boxes and anything stacked, use a thicker board or E-flute and add a little lid play.
Is the telescope box template free?+
Yes. The dieline on this page is free to download as SVG, PDF, DXF, PNG or a Cricut file, with no account, watermark or limit. Adding artwork and folding it in 3D happen in the Studio, which needs a free account.
What is the difference between a telescope box and a rigid lid and base box?+
They look alike, but a telescope box is folding carton, glued at the corners and shipped flat, while a rigid box is thick greyboard wrapped in printed paper and set up before shipping. The telescope box is far cheaper; the rigid box feels more premium.
How deep should the lid be?+
About a third of the box height is common and easy to lift. Set it to the full height of the base for a full telescope, which is stronger. Change it under Flaps and allowances in the generator or in the Studio.
Are the sizes inside or outside dimensions?+
Inside the base, by default. The generator can also take the outside or crease-to-crease size and work out the inside for your board.
Are both pieces on one dieline?+
Yes, side by side on one sheet. On a Cricut, cut them on two mats if the sheet is larger than 12 × 24 in.