When you order cardboard packaging, sooner or later you’ll come across a mysterious four-digit number in the offer, something like “0201”. It’s not a warehouse code or a manufacturer’s symbol — it’s the FEFCO catalogue, the international naming standard for cardboard constructions. Thanks to it, every box has an unambiguous “catalogue number” that describes its build without words and without misunderstandings. Below we explain where the system came from, how to read the codes, what hides under the individual groups and — most importantly — why this knowledge matters to you as the buyer. Relax: you don’t have to learn the codes by heart.
What the FEFCO catalogue is and where it came from
FEFCO stands for the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers. The catalogue it created is a set of standardised packaging constructions, each assigned a four-digit code. The idea was to create a common “language” between customer and manufacturer: instead of describing in words “that box with flaps that folds on a tab”, you give the code and the other side immediately knows which construction you mean.
This solution works the same way in Warsaw as it does in Berlin or Milan — which is why the FEFCO catalogue is an industry standard, not the internal marking of a single plant. The codes aren’t the property of any company; the entire corrugated board industry uses them, which makes it easier to compare offers and eliminates construction mistakes when ordering.
How to read a four-digit FEFCO code
The logic itself is simple. The code always has four digits, and the first two are the key ones — they define the construction group, i.e. the general type of packaging. The next two digits are the number of the specific variant within that group. Take the most famous example (roughly): the code 0201 starts with “02”, so it belongs to the slotted group, and “01” denotes the specific, most popular “American-style” slotted box in the world — the one everyone associates with shipping and moving house.
In practice, it’s enough to remember the rule: the first pair of digits says “what kind of construction”, and the second “which variant”. The rest is detail that the manufacturer handles at the stage of selection and die-cutting.
FEFCO code groups — a rough overview
The catalogue divides constructions into groups marked by the first two digits. The table below shows the most commonly encountered groups along with the type of construction and typical use. Treat the codes and examples as indicative — each group hides many variants, and we’ll pick the right one for your product:
| FEFCO group | Construction type | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 02xx | Slotted boxes (classic cartons, e.g. 0201) | Shipping, warehousing, e-commerce |
| 03xx | Telescopic (separate lid and base) | Heavier products, sets, premium packaging |
| 04xx | Die-cut / folder (one-piece, self-forming) | Food service, gifts, short runs without gluing |
| 05xx | Slide-type (an element slides into a sleeve) | Electronics, books, flat products |
| 06xx | Rigid (two-piece, assembled) | Premium packaging, exclusive sets |
| 07xx | Ready-glued / self-assembling | Fast packing, cosmetics, small products |
| 09xx | Interior fitments (dividers, partitions) | Protection, separation, bottles and jars |
As you can see, the group number alone reveals a lot even before you see the drawing. We break down the difference between the two most popular families — slotted boxes from the 02xx group and die-cut ones from 04xx — in detail in our article die-cut vs slotted boxes.
Why the FEFCO code matters to you as the buyer
You don’t have to be a structural designer to benefit from this knowledge. Knowing the idea of the catalogue alone gives you a few concrete advantages when ordering:
- Faster quote — when you give the code (or recognise it in an offer), the manufacturer immediately knows which construction is meant and doesn’t waste time asking about the basics.
- Zero construction mistakes — the code is unambiguous, so there’s no risk that you’ll both understand “a box with a lid” in two different ways. That protects you from a misunderstanding that costs time and money.
- Easy offer comparison — if two companies quote the same FEFCO code, you’re comparing apples to apples, not two different constructions with similar names.
- Repeatable orders — on the next delivery it’s enough to cite the code to get exactly the same construction as before, without recreating the arrangements from scratch.
In practice you don’t have to know the codes by heart
This is the most important part of this guide. The FEFCO catalogue is a manufacturer’s tool, not an exam for the customer. In everyday work it looks the opposite of what you might expect: you describe the product and how it’s used, and we pick the right construction and its code. The order is simple:
- Tell us what you’re packing — dimensions, weight, fragility, whether it’s a single product or a set. That says the most about the construction you need.
- Describe the use — courier shipping, sale on a shelf, a gift, food service takeaway. A different goal means a different FEFCO group.
- Leave the rest to us — based on this information we propose a specific construction, its code and die-line, and you get a design and visualisation to approve before production.
The choice of group depends not only on shape but also on material — the same construction in a different board will behave differently. We explain how to pick the flute and paper weight in our article on types of corrugated board.
Frequently asked questions
What does the abbreviation FEFCO stand for?
FEFCO is the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers. The catalogue it developed is an international standard in which every packaging construction is assigned an unambiguous four-digit code.
Do I have to know the FEFCO codes to place an order?
No. It’s enough to describe the product and its use — we’ll pick the right construction and its code for you. Knowing the catalogue is useful mainly for understanding offers and reaching agreement faster, not for learning the numbers by heart.
What does the code 0201 mean?
Roughly, it’s the most popular “American-style” slotted box. The first two digits “02” indicate the slotted group, and “01” the specific variant. This box is used every day for shipping, moving house and warehousing.
Are FEFCO codes the same at every manufacturer?
Yes — that’s their biggest advantage. The catalogue is an industry standard, so a given code means the same construction regardless of company and country. That’s why it makes comparing offers easier and eliminates mistakes.
What if my product doesn’t fit any ready-made code?
Then we design a custom construction, often based on the nearest FEFCO code as a starting point. The catalogue is a foundation, not a limitation — we always match the construction to the product.
Match the construction to your product
Don’t guess the code — describe what you’re packing and what for, and we’ll propose the right FEFCO construction, prepare a design and visualisation, and calculate a preliminary quote:
→ Match the construction and calculate the cost of your packaging
See also
Want to get to grips with the topic from the ground up? Start with our guide to types of cardboard packaging, and when you’re packing lighter — take a look at the overview of types of paper bags. Moving on to graphics? It’s all organised by the guide how to design packaging with a logo. We are a packaging manufacturer from Warsaw — design and visualisation are included in the price, we produce from 500 units and ship across all of Poland.