Also known as: FEFCO Box Styles, FEFCO/ESBO Code, International Fibreboard Case Code, FEFCO 0201
FEFCO codes are four-digit numbers from the International Fibreboard Case Code that identify a corrugated box style independent of language or supplier. The first two digits give the family — 02 slotted boxes, 03 telescope, 04 folders, 05 slide, 06 rigid, 07 ready-glued, 09 interior fitments — and the last two the variant, so 0201 is the standard RSC.
The code was published by FEFCO, the European federation of corrugated board manufacturers, together with ESBO (solid board), and has become the worldwide shorthand for box construction. A buyer in Rajkot, a converter in Ahmedabad and a customer in Rotterdam can all agree on "0201, 400 × 300 × 250 mm internal, 5-ply BC flute" without exchanging a drawing. Dimensions under the code are always internal and always quoted length × width × height, with length being the longer side of the opening.
The 02 family is slotted boxes made from one blank with a glued, stitched or taped manufacturer's joint. 0200 is the half slotted container with no top flaps; 0201 the regular slotted container whose outer flaps meet at the centre; 0203 the full overlap container whose outer flaps overlap completely for a double-thickness base; 0204 the centre special slotted box where both inner and outer flaps meet. The 03 family is telescope boxes — 0300 a full-depth lid over a full-depth base, 0301 a shallow lid — used for tiles, panels and cake-style presentation.
The 04 family is folder and tray styles cut from one piece with no manufacturer's joint: 0401 wraps a flat product, 0427 is the roll-end tuck-front mailer used across Indian e-commerce. 05 covers slide boxes with a sleeve, 06 rigid two-piece bliss boxes (0601) with separate end panels for very heavy loads, 07 ready-glued boxes that pop open in one motion such as the 0713 crash-lock base. The 09 family is interior fitments — pads, sleeves, liners and slotted partitions such as 0933 — which are specified alongside the outer box.
Style choice follows the failure mode and the running cost. 0201 is cheapest because a rectangular blank yields it with almost no waste, and it runs on a standard slotter without a die. 0203 pays extra board for a doubled base when a heavy machined part sits on the bottom flaps. 0427 and 0713 need a cutting die but erect by hand without tape, which matters when packing staff, not machines, set the pace. 0601 bliss boxes give the best stacking strength for engine parts and produce because the end panels act as columns.
In practice most Indian converters quote from the FEFCO number plus internal dimensions, ply, flute, paper grades and printing. Slotted styles (02xx) are made on a printer-slotter and cost the least to tool; every 04, 06, 07 and 09 style needs a steel-rule die whose cost is spread across the run, so quantity matters. For a new product it is worth asking for a plain blank sample of two candidate styles and drop-testing both before tooling is cut.
FEFCO Codes at a glance
| Format | Four digits: family (first two) + variant (last two) |
|---|---|
| 02xx slotted | 0200 HSC, 0201 RSC, 0203 FOL, 0204 CSSC |
| 03xx telescope | 0300 full telescope, 0301 shallow lid |
| 04xx folders | 0401 wrap, 0427 e-commerce mailer |
| 05xx / 06xx / 07xx | Slide boxes, rigid bliss (0601), ready-glued (0713 crash-lock) |
| 09xx fitments | Pads, sleeves, liners, slotted partitions (0933) |
| Dimension convention | Internal, length × width × height, in mm |
| Most common in India | 0201 RSC — lowest waste, no die required |
Common questions
What does FEFCO 0201 mean?
0201 is the regular slotted container, the everyday corrugated box: one blank, four top and four bottom flaps of equal length, outer flaps meeting at the centre, closed with tape or glue. It uses the least board of any style and is made on a slotter without tooling, so it is the default for shipping cartons.
What is the difference between FEFCO 0201 and 0203?
Both are slotted boxes, but in 0203 the outer flaps are full width and overlap completely, giving a double-thickness top and bottom. It uses more board than 0201 and is chosen for heavy items that bear on the base, or where the box is repeatedly opened and closed. 0201 flaps only meet at the centre.
Do I need a FEFCO code to order a corrugated box?
No, but it removes ambiguity. Give the code, internal dimensions in mm, ply, flute and paper grades and any converter can quote the same box. Without a code, "carton with lid" could mean a 0201 taped shut, a 0300 telescope or a 0427 mailer, which differ in board use and tooling.
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