See each width on a box
The box and the ribbon are photographs. The ribbon and its bow are cut from a photograph of a real tied ribbon, recoloured, and resized to the width you pick at true scale for the box size you choose. Pick the size nearest your box; the verdict follows the rule of thumb further down this guide.
The standard widths
Ribbon widths started life in inches, and many suppliers still name them that way. In millimetres they are rounded to the nearest whole number, which is why you will see 16 mm in one list and 15 mm for what is, in practice, the same ribbon.
| Millimetres | Inches | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | 1/8″ | Tags, fine trims, tying small favours |
| 6 mm | 1/4″ | Jewellery boxes, cupcake boxes, invitations |
| 10 mm | 3/8″ | Small gift boxes, sweet boxes, stationery |
| 15–16 mm | 5/8″ | Chocolate boxes, bottle necks, favour bags |
| 25 mm | 1″ | The everyday gift box width; the most bought |
| 38 mm | 1½″ | Large boxes, hampers, generous bows |
| 50 mm | 2″ | Statement bows, displays, corporate hampers |
Wider ribbons exist, from 63 mm up to 100 mm and beyond, and are used mostly for displays, chair sashes and grand openings rather than boxes.
How to choose a width
There is no law here, but there is a good starting point: the ribbon should look like it belongs to the box, not like it is hiding it or about to disappear on it. As a rule of thumb, based on the shorter side of the lid:
- Up to about 15 cm: 6 to 16 mm.
- About 15 to 30 cm: 16 to 25 mm.
- Over 30 cm, and hampers: 38 to 50 mm.
Test before you order in bulk. Hold two widths across the lid and step back two metres, or take a photo. The width that looks right on camera is the one your customers will see.
Width changes the bow
Going up a width does not add much to the band around the box, but it adds a lot to the bow, because a wider ribbon needs bigger loops to look balanced. If you move from 25 mm to 38 mm, tie a new sample bow and measure it again before you use the ribbon calculator.
Width and printing
If your ribbon will carry a logo or a message, width is also the height limit for your artwork. Leave a clear margin at both edges, so the print never runs off when the ribbon twists. Narrow widths limit you to short words or a simple mark; 25 mm and wider give room for a logo with a line of text.
Questions buyers ask
What width ribbon for a 20 cm gift box?
A 20 cm gift box suits 16 to 25 mm ribbon, and 25 mm (1 inch) is the everyday choice. The rule of thumb works from the shorter side of the lid: 6 to 16 mm up to about 15 cm, 16 to 25 mm for about 15 to 30 cm, and 38 to 50 mm over 30 cm. Hold two widths across the lid and step back before you order in bulk.
What is 1 inch ribbon in mm?
One inch ribbon is sold as 25 mm; the exact figure is 25.4 mm. The other common conversions are 1/8 inch to 3 mm, 1/4 inch to 6 mm, 3/8 inch to 10 mm, 5/8 inch to 16 mm, 1½ inch to 38 mm and 2 inch to 50 mm. Ribbon widths began in inches and the millimetre figures are the trade's rounded names for them, mostly the nearest whole millimetre (2 inch is 50.8 mm and sold as 50), which is why catalogues sometimes disagree by a millimetre.
Is 15 mm ribbon the same as 16 mm ribbon?
In practice, yes. Both are the millimetre name for 5/8 inch ribbon, which is 15.875 mm, and different suppliers round it down or up. The same rounding is why one catalogue lists 25 mm and another 1 inch for the same roll. If you are matching a ribbon you already use, compare the inch name or hold the two side by side rather than trusting the number alone.
What width ribbon for a large hamper in Dubai?
Use 38 to 50 mm ribbon on a hamper or any box over about 30 cm. At 38 mm (1½ inch) you get a generous bow that still wraps quickly; 50 mm (2 inch) gives a statement bow for corporate hampers and displays. Hampers that are carried and delivered hold up better in grosgrain, as the guide to ribbon finishes explains.
What is the most popular ribbon width for gift boxes?
25 mm, or 1 inch, is the most bought ribbon width and the all-rounder for gift boxes. It suits boxes of about 15 to 30 cm across, which covers most chocolate, perfume and corporate gift boxes, and it is wide enough to carry a printed logo with a line of text. Smaller boxes and favours step down to 16 mm or 10 mm; hampers step up to 38 mm.
Does wider ribbon use much more ribbon per box?
Not on the band around the box, but a lot more on the bow, because a wider ribbon needs bigger loops to look balanced. If you move from 25 mm to 38 mm, tie a new sample bow, measure it, and use that figure in the ribbon calculator before you order. Judging the quantity from the old bow is the usual way to run short.
What width ribbon do I need to print a logo on?
Choose 25 mm or wider if you want a logo with a line of text. The ribbon's width is the height limit for the artwork, and you need a clear margin at both edges so the print never runs off when the ribbon twists in a bow. Narrower widths such as 10 or 16 mm limit you to a short word or a simple mark.
