Design & Printing Tools

Box Dieline Generator

Enter your dimensions and get a print-ready dieline in seconds — straight tuck end, reverse tuck end, one-piece tray or sleeve template, drawn true to scale in millimetres — or a die-cut bottle neck hanger for wine and cosmetic bottles. Free, no signup, and clean enough to send straight to any printer.

cut line    crease / fold line    bleed guide

In a hurry? Download a ready-made template (straight tuck end, reverse tuck end, tray, sleeve or bottle neck hanger, in two standard sizes — SVG + PDF, no signup).

What each box style is for

All five templates below are drawn from your dimensions with the same conventions a die-maker uses: panels in order around the tube, flaps hinged on the correct panels, and a glue flap where the carton joins.

Straight Tuck End (STE)

The workhorse folding carton. Both the top and the bottom tuck flap are hinged on the same panel, so the box tucks in the same direction at both ends. It's the cheapest carton to die-cut and glue and the most common shape for cosmetics, supplements and small retail products.

Reverse Tuck End (RTE)

Identical panels, but the top tuck is on one panel and the bottom tuck on the opposite one. The box opens from opposite directions, which stops a stack of boxes from pushing each other open and gives a slightly stronger feel in the hand.

One-piece Tray

A single piece folds into an open-top tray: base, four walls and four corner tabs. Trays are used for small rigid gift boxes, inserts and dividers, and as the base of a two-piece sleeve-and-tray set.

Sleeve (glued tube)

A plain glued tube with no flaps — use it as a wrap-around sleeve over a tray, as a band around a rigid box, or as the starting point for your own flap design in Illustrator.

Bottle Neck Hanger

A die-cut card that hangs on the bottle itself: a round neck hole with an entry slit from the top edge, and a crease so the card folds at the neck. Wineries use them for promotions and vintage notes; cosmetic brands hang dosage cards or promos on pump bottles. Set the neck hole 2–3 mm smaller than the capsule or cap so the card grips instead of sliding — 28 mm suits a standard wine capsule, 80 × 180 mm is a typical card size.

How to use this dieline

  1. Measure your product (see how to measure a box), then add the clearance you want (typically 1–3 mm per side for a folding carton, more for a tray).
  2. Choose dimensions — internal if you know the space your product needs, external if you are matching a shelf or shipping size.
  3. Generate and download the SVG. It is drawn 1:1 in millimetres, so it prints at true size and opens in Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Inkscape or any CAD tool.
  4. Place your artwork on the panels, keeping text and logos clear of the crease lines, then send the finished file to your printer.

Understanding the lines

  • Cut line (solid black) — where the die cuts through the board. The outside shape of the box.
  • Crease / fold line (dashed blue) — where the board is scored and folded. Artwork should cross it only where you want a fold.
  • Bleed guide (dashed red, optional) — the cut outline offset outward by 3 mm so background colour can run off the edge.

Notes before you print

This generator draws a clean parametric template — it is not a substitute for a die-maker's production file. Real dielines add board-thickness compensation to the crease positions (a 350 gsm carton folds differently from a 400 gsm one), a small chamfer on tuck corners, and gripper space for the printing press. If you want the production version, our free dieline service will draw it to your exact board and press — and we can quote from it in the same reply. Pair it with the paperboard thickness calculator to pick the right caliper, and see paper box styles for how each structure is used. If you want to see the box assembled before you commit, our 3D box mockup service renders your artwork onto it.

FAQ

What is a dieline?
A dieline is the flat drawing of a box before it is folded — every panel, flap and glue tab laid out at true size, with cut lines and crease lines marked separately. Printers and die-makers work from it to make the cutting die and to place your artwork on the correct panels.
Is this box template accurate enough to send to a printer?
Yes for mock-ups, artwork layout and quoting. The geometry follows standard carton construction, so the panels, flaps and creases are in the right places. For mass production we still recommend having the die drawn or checked by your manufacturer, because crease positions shift slightly with board thickness and press gripper space.
What is the difference between a cut line and a crease line?
A cut line is where the die cuts the shape out of the sheet. A crease line (also called a score or fold line) is where the die presses a groove so the board folds cleanly without cracking. In this template the cut lines are solid black and the crease lines are dashed blue.
Should I choose a straight tuck end or a reverse tuck end box?
Choose straight tuck end when cost and glue-line speed matter most — both flaps tuck the same way and the die is the simplest. Choose reverse tuck end when boxes are stacked or hang on a pegboard, because the opposite flaps stop one box from pushing the next open.
How do I size a bottle neck hanger?
Measure the capsule or cap at its widest point, then set the neck hole 2–3 mm smaller so the card grips the bottle instead of sliding off. Card width (L) needs at least 8 mm of board on each side of the hole, and card height (H) leaves the body of your message hanging below the neck — 80 × 180 mm with a 28 mm hole fits a standard wine bottle.
Do I need bleed on a box template?
Only if your artwork has a background colour, photo or pattern that must run to the edges of the box. Add the 3 mm bleed guide in the tool and extend your background past the cut line; keep all text and logos inside the cut line.

Want the Production Dieline for Your Box?

Send us your dimensions and board. We'll draw the production dieline, check it against our press, and come back with a quote — free, usually within one working day.

Ask for a Production Dieline →