Size Guides
Macaron box sizes by count, from single and 4-count to 6, 12 and 24, with grid layouts, box styles, measuring tips and custom options.
Quick answer: A 6-count macaron box is typically 11" × 2.5" × 2". A 12-count box is about 11" × 4.5" × 2", or 7.3" × 4.2" × 2" for a compact grid. A 24-count box runs about 11" × 9" × 2". Shells sit in rows, so boxes are long and shallow. Heights hover near 2".
*Last updated: November 2026.*
Macaron box sizes depend on shell diameter, filling height, and layout. Most boxes hold shells in two or three tight rows. The chart below gives real dimensions by exact count.
Count | Box L×W×H (in) | Box (cm) | Grid layout / shell size it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
1 (single) | about 2.5 × 2.5 × 2 | 6.4 × 6.4 × 5.1 | 1 shell, up to 2" |
4 | about 4.8 × 1.9 × 1.9 (inside) | 12.2 × 4.8 × 4.8 | 1 row of 4, up to 1.75" |
6 | 11 × 2.5 × 2, or 11.8 × 2 × 1.4 | 27.9 × 6.4 × 5.1, or 30 × 5 × 3.5 | 1 row of 6, up to 1.75" |
6 (compact) | 3.7 × 3.9 × 2.1 | 9.4 × 10 × 5.3 | 2 × 3 grid, 2" cavities |
12 | 11 × 4.5 × 2 | 27.9 × 11.4 × 5.1 | 2 rows of 6, molded slots |
12 (compact) | 7.3 × 4.2 × 2 | 18.5 × 10.7 × 5.1 | 3 × 4 grid, under 1.8" |
24 | about 11 × 9 × 2 | 27.9 × 22.9 × 5.1 | 4 rows of 6, molded slots |
Key takeaway: Count matters less than layout. A 12-count box can be long and thin or short and square. Check the grid before you compare macaron box sizes.
The 1-count row is our own sizing math, not a catalog standard. The 4-count figure is an inside measurement. We found one listing for the 24-count box, so confirm it with your supplier.
Most French macaron shells are about 1.5 inches wide. Jumbo shells run closer to 1.75 to 2 inches. The shell width sets the cavity width, and the cavity sets everything else.
Supplier trays confirm this. One 12-count tray lists cavities of about 1.97 inches. Another 12-count box is built for shells under 1.8 inches wide and 1.2 inches thick. So a "standard" French macaron box size has room for a 1.5-inch shell plus a little slack.
Here's the rough math. Add about a quarter inch between shells and a half inch of wall. A row of six 1.5-inch shells then needs roughly 10.5 to 11 inches. That matches the 11-inch lengths we kept seeing.
Heights are shorter than you'd guess. Most boxes run 1.4 to 2.1 inches tall. A filled macaron stands about 1.2 inches high, so the lid barely clears it.
Box style changes the outer size by half an inch or more. Here's how the common types stack up.
Style | What it does | Size effect |
|---|---|---|
Insert tray | Molded slots hold each shell upright | Adds about 0.25" of height |
No tray | Shells sit loose on the board | Smaller box, more rattling |
Window lid | Shows the colors without opening | Same footprint as solid lid |
Ribbon pull | Ribbon opens a sleeve or lid | Adds a little width for the pull |
Magnetic lid | Rigid, gift-grade closure | Thicker walls, larger outside size |
I'm opinionated about trays. Skip the loose-shell box unless you sell to someone driving two blocks. Shells crack when they slide, and a cracked macaron is a refund. A tray costs a bit more and saves the batch.
Windows are a fair call. Pastel shells sell themselves. But a window shows every chipped edge, so only use one if your shells are consistent.
Grab a ruler and five finished macarons from your real batch. Don't use a test tray.
Start with width. Lay a shell flat and read the widest point. Measure five and use the largest. Piping varies, and the box has to fit your worst one.
Next, check the stacked height. Set a filled macaron on its side, with both shells and the filling. The filling bulges past the shell edge. I've seen a ganache center add a tenth of an inch to the footprint. Measure the bulge, not just the shell.
Last, pick your layout. Multiply the width, plus a quarter inch of gap, by the count in each row. That gives the cavity length. Add wall thickness and compare it to the chart.
A few Easy Box Packaging products that fit what this article covers.
Rigid Boxes
Small rigid boxes give compact products a firm base-and-lid presentation without forcing a nominal stock size. The finished footprint is scoped around the packed item's length, width, height, weight, insert needs, opening sequence, printed panels, and shipping route.
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Gift Boxes
A small rigid presentation box built around one pair of earrings, with an insert that holds posts, hooks, or hoops in place so the pair doesn't shift or separate before it's opened.
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Chocolate Boxes
Custom window chocolate boxes made around the packed piece count, cavity layout, product height, and the view the package needs to provide. Set the window position, insert, opening route, and printed panel hierarchy together so a retail or gift presentation shows the chocolates clearly without leaving the interior loose.
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Rigid Boxes
A 2 piece rigid box uses a separate base and lift-off lid to give a single product or compact set a stable presentation. Share the packed footprint, height, weight, insert needs, opening direction, print coverage, and finish preference so the structure can be reviewed around the actual item.
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Gift Boxes
Honey Gift Sets built around the real jar count, jar footprint, and presentation style, with a custom printed outer box and an interior layout that keeps multiple honey products arranged as one considered gift.
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Chocolate Boxes
Custom chocolate gift boxes made to order around the packed assortment, piece count, inner tray, opening route, and printed panel layout. Choose a folding carton or rigid base-and-lid direction around the chocolate geometry and gifting moment so the presentation feels intentional without relying on an assumed stock footprint.
Request a QuoteA macaron looks flat from above. It isn't. Two shells plus a thick layer of buttercream stand taller than the shells alone. Fillings with fruit or caramel can squeeze out and add more.
The shells are also fragile. They have a thin, crisp top and a soft center. Press the lid down on that top and you'll leave a dent or a crack. You can feel it in the hand: a good macaron box lets the lid close without touching a shell.
So plan a clear quarter inch above your tallest piece. The trade-off is simple. More headroom protects the shells, but it also lets them shift. A tray fixes both problems at once.
Standard macaron box sizes are a good start. Many shops sell a classic 6-count and a 12-count, and stock boxes cover that fine. Trouble starts with jumbo shells, odd counts like 5, or a gift set with a card slot.
That's where we come in. EBP custom-cuts macaron and gift boxes to your exact count, grid, and height. Many of our products start from 50 units, so a small shop can test a size first. Standard production is 7 business days after approval, with rush from about 4 days. See our bakery boxes and gift boxes for what we make.
One note on materials. For food contact, confirm material compliance documentation with your supplier before you order.
What size is a 6-count macaron box? A 6-count box is typically 11 by 2.5 by 2 inches. Some paper versions run 11.8 by 2 by 1.4 inches.
What size is a 12-count macaron box? A 12-count box is about 11 by 4.5 by 2 inches. A compact version is about 7.3 by 4.2 by 2 inches.
How big is a 24-count macaron box? A 24-count box is about 11 by 9 by 2 inches. We found only one listing for this size, so confirm it.
How big is a single macaron box? A single box is about 2.5 by 2.5 by 2 inches. That's our estimate for a shell up to 2 inches wide.
How wide is a standard macaron? A standard French macaron shell is about 1.5 inches wide. Jumbo shells run 1.75 to 2 inches.
Do macaron boxes need an insert? Yes, for anything you ship or carry far. A tray holds each shell upright and stops cracking. Loose-shell boxes only suit short trips.
How tall should a macaron box be? Most run 1.4 to 2.1 inches tall. Leave at least a quarter inch above your tallest filled macaron.
Can I use a cookie box for macarons? Only with an insert. Cookie boxes are wider and lack slots, so shells slide. See our cookie box sizes guide.
Macaron box sizes come down to three numbers: shell width, filled height, and count. Measure all three on real macarons. Then pick a tray, because the insert matters more than the lid. Selling other treats too? Our cupcake box sizes, donut box sizes, and chocolate box sizes guides cover the rest. The box size guide ties them all together.
Product doesn't fit a standard size? We custom-cut every box to spec — get a free quote.
Questions, answered
A 6-count box is typically 11 by 2.5 by 2 inches. Some paper versions run 11.8 by 2 by 1.4 inches.
A 12-count box is about 11 by 4.5 by 2 inches. A compact version is about 7.3 by 4.2 by 2 inches.
A 24-count box is about 11 by 9 by 2 inches. We found only one listing for this size, so confirm it.
A single box is about 2.5 by 2.5 by 2 inches. That's our estimate for a shell up to 2 inches wide.
A standard French macaron shell is about 1.5 inches wide. Jumbo shells run 1.75 to 2 inches.
Yes, for anything you ship or carry far. A tray holds each shell upright and stops cracking. Loose-shell boxes only suit short trips.
Most run 1.4 to 2.1 inches tall. Leave at least a quarter inch above your tallest filled macaron.
Only with an insert. Cookie boxes are wider and lack slots, so shells slide. See our cookie box sizes guide.
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