Cake box: how to choose the size and make a dieline

A cake two millimetres wider than its box means cream on the walls. How to work out the size, when a window helps, and how to get a free drawing of a box with a lid.

BOMBA DESIGN editorialNovember 13, 20268 min read

Dieline of a cake box with a window in the BOMBA DESIGN generator — **Cake box with a window:** base and lid on one drawing.

For a home baker, packaging is half the impression. A cake in a good box with a logo gets photographed before it is cut, and a box with no name is advertising you did not place.

Ready-made boxes do not come in every size, and a non-standard cake in an “almost right” box travels at risk. You can generate a dieline to your own size for free and hand it to a print shop or cut it on a plotter.

Key points

Box side = cake board diameter + 2–3 cm. Height = cake height with decoration + 3–5 cm.
A box with a separate lid is more convenient: the cake is placed on the base, not lowered inside.
A window shows the product but weakens the lid: for heavy cakes use thicker board.

ReferenceBox sizes for cakes and desserts

Product	Box, mm	Dieline
Bento cake 10–12 cm	160 × 160 × 80	open
16 cm cake, up to 1 kg	200 × 200 × 150	open
18–20 cm cake, 1.5–2 kg	250 × 250 × 150	open
22–24 cm cake, 2–3 kg	300 × 300 × 190	open
Tall cake	300 × 300 × 250	open
4 cupcakes	160 × 160 × 100	open
6 cupcakes	240 × 160 × 100	open

These are guides. Work out the exact size from the cake board: it is the board, not the cake, that touches the walls.

How-toHow to make a cake box dieline

Measure the cakeThe diameter of the board and the height with decoration – berries, a topper, candles.
Open the generatorBox dieline generator – the “Cake box with window” type.
Enter the dimensionsYou can choose “Product size” – the tool adds clearance on each side itself.
Set up the windowChange its size and shape, or switch it off.
Download the fileThe drawing has two parts: the base and the lid, which is slightly larger and fits over the top.

ChoiceWith or without a window

With a window. The customer sees the cake without opening the box: handy for a display and for delivery. The window is covered with clear film from the inside.

Without a window. A stronger lid and more room for the logo. Suits gift sets and surprises.

Side window. For tall cakes with decoration on the sides. A packaging engineer can add one where the standard template is not enough.

MaterialWhich board to choose

Product weight	Material
up to 1 kg (bento, cupcakes)	Board 300–350 gsm
1–3 kg	Heavy board or micro-flute
over 3 kg, tiered cakes	Micro-flute, reinforced base

The board must be intended for food contact. For rich creams use coated board – it does not stain.

DesignWhat to print on the box

Logo on the lidIf there is a window – above or below it.
Instagram and phoneMost orders for home bakers come from there.
A sticker instead of printingTo start, a white box and a branded sticker are enough. Stickers are easy to order in a small run.
Storage conditionsTemperature and shelf life – briefly, on a side wall or a sticker.
RibbonIf you tie the box, build that into the design: do not put the logo where the ribbon will run.

HonestlyThe tool gives you the drawing. We design the packaging

The generator builds the shape to your dimensions: cut and crease lines, bleed, and files for the print shop. It is a standard construction – a manufacturer may adjust it to their equipment, and a test sample is a must before a print run.

Colour, typeface, sticker, ribbon, a card inside – that is what the impression of a bakery is made of. We design packaging in your brand style: write to us and send the dieline from the tool.

Put a real cake on its board into the test box and carry it down the stairs. If the cake did not touch the walls, the size is right.