A sleeve that starts with your item.

A paper sleeve is a four-panel wrap with two open ends. This version is for one rectangular gift, such as an already wrapped bar of soap. It closes with a glue flap. It is not a closed box.

Applies to: Fold to Fit prototype · lightweight rectangular gift packaging

1. Find the three measurements

Place the item flat. Length runs from one open end to the other. Width runs across the broad face. Height is its thickness. Include any existing wrap and measure the widest points, especially if your item is irregular.

2. Decide how much to cover

Band width is the amount of the item’s length covered by paper. For a 90 mm long gift, a 55 mm band leaves 35 mm uncovered in total, or 17.5 mm at each end if centered. Band width must not exceed item length.

3. Add clearance on both sides

For a 60 mm wide, 25 mm thick item with 1 mm clearance per side, the four panels measure 62, 27, 62 and 27 mm. A fixed 12 mm glue flap makes the flat strip 190 mm long. With a 55 mm band, the cutout is 190 × 55 mm.

4. Make the first sample

1. Print the PDF at 100% and check its 50 mm line.
2. Cut the outer boundary. Score the four dashed folds.
3. Wrap around the item with the shaded flap under the opposite end.
4. Check how easily the item slides out before gluing the seam.

If the fit is too tight, increase clearance and remake one sample. If the band is too wide, reduce band width. Do not reduce print scale: that changes every dimension at once.

Make your template →