Chocolate Boxes with Inserts, a Cavity for Every Piece
A printed box with a tray inside that holds each chocolate in its own place. Choose a die-cut card insert or a formed food-safe PET tray, sized to your pieces.
From £0.25 a box, exact price on your quote
Chocolate Boxes with Inserts specification
| Insert types | Die-cut card, formed food-safe PET tray |
|---|---|
| Cavities | Round, square or shaped to your mould |
| Pieces | 2 to 24 or more, in rows that suit the box |
| Box styles | Lid and base, sleeve and tray, book style |
| Board | Printed card or rigid board |
| Food-safe inks on the box; insert printed or plain | |
| Finish | Matt, gloss, soft touch or foil on the logo |
| Production | 4 to 6 working days after proof approval, 8 to 10 for rigid styles |
| Delivery | Free tracked UK mainland delivery, 2 to 3 working days |
| Price | From £0.25 a box; the exact price depends on size, insert, finish and quantity |
Why an insert matters
Loose chocolates slide into each other the moment a box tilts. An insert gives every piece its own pocket, so the box opens looking the way you packed it.
It also lets you leave the box on a counter at an angle without the front row tumbling forward.
Colour of the tray
Dark trays make milk and white chocolates stand out. Gold, white or clear trays suit dark chocolate and painted shells.
Tell us the colours of your range and we will suggest a tray colour on the proof.
Design Your Chocolate Box
Drop your logo on a real photo of our chocolate boxes with inserts, move it and size it, and send it. A designer sets it up to scale and sends a free proof.
Your logo sits on a real photo of our box. A designer redraws it to scale on the box artwork and sends a free proof before anything is printed.
What is a chocolate box with an insert?
It is a printed outer box with a fitted tray inside. The tray has a cavity for each chocolate, so the pieces sit apart and stay still while the box is carried, stacked or posted.
The photos show four common layouts: a long row of twelve, a square of nine, a sleeve over a tray and a lid and base with an assortment. Each was made to fit its own chocolates, which is how yours will be made too.
Makers who only need the tray for an existing box can order chocolate box inserts on their own.
Card insert or food-safe PET tray?
Both hold the chocolates, but they behave differently in the hand and in the post. The table sets out the main differences.
| Card insert | Food-safe PET tray | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Matches the box, can be printed | Glossy, clear or coloured |
| Grip | Holds firm pieces well | Holds soft and dusted pieces closely |
| Shapes | Round or square holes | Formed to the shape of your piece |
| Feel | All card, papery | Smooth, slightly springy |
| Best for | Truffles, firm bon bons, an all-card box | Painted shells, soft centres, boxes sent by post |
How deep should each cavity be?
A cavity should hold the lower half to two thirds of the chocolate. Too shallow and the piece rocks; too deep and customers struggle to lift it out.
For a 25 mm truffle we usually aim for a cavity a couple of millimetres wider than the piece and a little over half its height. Taller pieces such as domes or cones get a deeper pocket and more space under the lid.
Which layouts work best?
The layout follows the shape of the box. Square boxes suit 4, 9 or 16 pieces. Longer boxes suit rows of five or six. A 12 piece box often works as four across and three down.
- 2 x 2 for a four piece taster
- 3 x 3 for a nine piece gift
- 4 x 3 for a classic twelve
- 4 x 4 for sixteen smaller pieces
- 6 x 4 for a large assortment of bon bons
- A single row of five or six in a long sleeve box
Can the insert hold more than one shape?
Yes. A PET tray can be formed with round cups and square cups in the same sheet, so a box can hold truffles beside squares or a bar section. Card inserts can mix hole sizes too, as long as the pieces are similar in height.
Send a photo of each shape with its size in mm and we will draw the tray around them.
Mixed trays are worth the extra thought for a signature box, because the shape of each cup tells the customer which piece is which before they read the key.
How do the box and insert go together?
You receive the boxes and inserts separately so they pack flat. On packing day the routine is simple, and most counters settle into it after a few boxes.
- Fold the base of the box and push the corners into place.
- Drop the insert or tray in so it sits flat on the floor of the base.
- Place the chocolates, starting from the back row.
- Add a glassine or card pad on top if you use one.
- Slide the lid or sleeve on and add a seal or ribbon if you like.
What should be printed on a box with an insert?
Because customers see the tray first when they open the lid, the inside of the lid is the place for a flavour key that matches the layout. The outside carries the logo, the name of the collection and the number of pieces.
Card inserts can be printed too, for example with a small number beside each cavity that matches the key.
Who orders boxes with inserts?
Chocolatiers selling a fixed assortment are the main buyers, because the insert keeps the same flavour in the same place every time. A customer who liked the third piece in the top row can find it again next month.
Bakeries and cafes use a small four or six piece version beside the till for truffles made in house. Corporate buyers like the tidy look when a box is opened in an office, with every piece standing upright in its own cup.
Online shops choose inserts for a different reason. A box that will spend two days in a parcel needs the chocolates held apart, or they arrive scuffed where they have rubbed together.
Does the insert change the size of the box?
A little. The insert has its own walls and a rim around the outside, so the box is drawn a few millimetres larger than the chocolates alone would need. PET trays also have a lip that rests on the floor of the base.
That is why we always size the box and the insert together. If you already own boxes and only want a tray to fit them, send the inside size of the box in mm and we will work the cavities into that space instead.
Which mistakes are common with inserts?
The most common one is sizing cavities from the mould rather than the finished chocolate. Decorations, transfer sheets and dusting all add width.
Another is picking a card insert for very soft pieces that will be posted. A formed PET tray holds them better, and the price difference on most runs is small.
How do you order chocolate boxes with inserts?
Send the piece count, one piece size in mm, the insert you prefer and a logo if you have it. Use the Price this box panel, the quote form or WhatsApp.
We reply by email within one working day with a price, the box size and a note on the insert. Minimums are low and quoted per job.
Production is 4 to 6 working days after you approve the free design proof, or 8 to 10 if the outer box is rigid. Free tracked UK mainland delivery then takes 2 to 3 working days.
If anything arrives misprinted or damaged, tell us within 10 days and we reprint or refund.
Related boxes
Other boxes chocolate makers often order alongside this one.
All chocolate boxes and inserts
Chocolate Boxes with Inserts questions
More answers in Help, or WhatsApp us on +44 7578 382054.
Can chocolate boxes with inserts hold soft ganache pieces?
Yes. A formed food-safe PET tray grips soft and dusted pieces closely, which suits ganaches better than a flat card insert.
Is the insert in a chocolate box food-safe?
Card inserts are printed with food-safe inks, and PET trays are made from food-safe PET, so both can sit next to the chocolate.
Can the PET tray in my chocolate box be coloured?
Yes. Clear, black, gold and white are common choices, and we can suggest one to suit your chocolates on the proof.
Will the insert stop chocolates moving in the post?
It stops them sliding into each other. For posting, pair it with a pad on top and a snug outer carton.
Can a chocolate box insert mix round and square cavities?
Yes, especially in PET. Send each shape with its size and we draw the tray around both.
How do I measure a chocolate for an insert cavity?
Measure the widest point across and the height from base to top, in mm, on a finished and decorated piece.
Can the card insert be printed with flavour numbers?
Yes. Small numbers or symbols beside each cavity can match a key printed inside the lid.
Does a box with an insert need a rigid outer box?
No. Most are printed card. Rigid outers are available and are quoted higher, with 8 to 10 working days to make.
Do the inserts come fitted inside the boxes?
They arrive separately so everything packs flat, and the tray drops into the folded base in a second.
Can I reorder only the inserts later?
Yes. Once the size is set, inserts can be reordered on their own to match boxes you already have.
How deep is a typical cavity for a 25 mm truffle?
A little over half the height of the truffle, so it sits low enough to stay put and high enough to lift out.
Can I get a proof of the insert layout before printing?
Yes. The free proof shows the box and the insert layout before anything is made.
Tell us what you make
Send the piece count, the size of one chocolate, a rough quantity and your logo. We reply by email within one working day with a price and a free design proof. Prefer to talk? Call +44 7578 382054 or message us on WhatsApp.