Corrugated Box Styles: RSC, HSC, FOL and the Other FEFCO Codes Explained
RSC, HSC and FOL are three flap layouts of the same slotted box family, and the rest of the common styles are telescope boxes, folders and die-cut mailers. This chart gives each style its FEFCO code, how it is built, what it is for, and how many sizes of each are stocked here.
Box style chart with FEFCO codes
Corrugated box styles are catalogued by the FEFCO Code of Designs, the international reference maintained by FEFCO and ESBO that assigns a four-digit code to each construction. The first two digits are the family: 02 for slotted boxes made from one glued blank, 03 for telescope boxes, 04 for folders and trays, 05 for slide boxes, 06 for rigid (bliss) boxes, 07 for ready-glued cases. The code says nothing about size, board grade or flute, which is why a 12 x 12 x 12 RSC in 32 ECT and a 12 x 12 x 12 RSC in 48 ECT double wall are both 0201. The chart covers the styles that show up in stock catalogues and on packing specs.
| Style | FEFCO code | How it is built | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Slotted Container (RSC) | 0201 | One piece, glued manufacturer's joint. All four flaps are the same depth; the two outer flaps meet in the middle of the box. | Almost everything: parcel shipping, case packing, storage. The cheapest style per cubic inch because the blank has no waste. | The outer flaps only meet, they do not overlap, so the top and bottom rely on the tape seal. Long narrow boxes get floppy. |
| Half Slotted Container (HSC) | 0200 | An RSC with no top flaps: one open end. Often paired with a separate cover (0200 plus a 0320 lid). | Bins, open-top totes, display cases, bulk loads that are lidded or shrink-wrapped, and any box filled from the top on a line. | Not a shipping box on its own; needs a cover, a stretch-wrapped pallet, or a lid to close. |
| Overlap Slotted Container (OSC) | 0202 | Outer flaps overlap each other by an inch or more but do not reach across the full width. | Long boxes where an RSC would leave the centre seam unsupported; boxes that get stapled rather than taped. | Uses more board than an RSC for the same inside size; the overlap sits proud unless stapled or strapped. |
| Full Overlap Container (FOL) | 0203 | Outer flaps run the full width of the box and overlap completely, giving a double layer of board top and bottom. | Heavy or narrow contents, side-loading boxes for doors, frames and long parts, anything that takes rough handling on its faces. | Heaviest blank of the slotted family. Tape or staple both flaps; the double thickness makes the box stiffer but adds weight. |
| Center Special Slotted Container (CSSC) | 0204 | Inner and outer flaps are cut so both pairs meet in the centre, giving a flat, level inside bottom and a double-thickness top and bottom. | Fragile or heavy items that sit on the floor of the box; cases that need a flat inside surface for an insert. | Board use is between an RSC and an FOL; fewer stock sizes. |
| Telescope box | 0301 / 0320 | Two pieces: a body and a separate cover that slides over it. 0301 is a full-depth cover; 0320 has a shallow cover on a half-slotted body. | Variable-height loads, framed art and mirrors (four-piece telescoping mirror boxes), tall parts, retail display cases. | Two pieces to inventory. The cover adds a second wall on the sides, which is the point, but costs more per unit. |
| One-Piece Folder (OPF) | 0401 | A flat blank with a bottom panel, side walls and a hinged lid that wraps around the contents; scored to fold around flat items. | Books, framed prints, documents, flat artwork, catalogues. | Limited depth; the lid relies on tape or a tuck. Not for anything that needs cushioning depth. |
| Tuck-top mailer (roll end) | 0427 | Die-cut one piece with roll-over side walls, a tuck-in front flap and locking tabs; folds without tape. | Ecommerce mailers, subscription boxes, literature mailers and any box that doubles as presentation packaging. | Priced above an RSC of the same cube; the die-cut blank wastes more board. Lid tabs wear if the box is reopened many times. |
| Multi-depth RSC | 0201 with extra scores | An RSC with several score lines on the side panels so the box can be cut and folded to a shorter depth. | Variable-height contents, one SKU of box covering several product heights, moving and storage. | Cutting to a score takes a knife and time; each cut removes board strength at the fold. |
| Bliss box | 0605 / 0606 | Three pieces: a body and two end panels glued on; no manufacturer's joint on the long walls. | Heavy produce and meat, automotive parts, anything stacked hard on a pallet. Very high stacking strength for its board weight. | Machine-erected, so it is a volume item; rarely stocked as a carton for small buyers. |
Codes are from the FEFCO Code of Designs, 12th edition. The RSC, HSC and FOL names are the North American trade terms; a supplier outside the US will usually quote the code instead.
RSC vs HSC vs FOL: how to tell them apart in hand
- Count the flaps. Eight flaps of the same depth that meet in the middle is an RSC. Four flaps on the bottom and none on top is an HSC. Outer flaps that run the full width and lie on top of each other is an FOL; if they overlap by only an inch or two it is an OSC.
- Look at the blank. An RSC blank is a rectangle with slots; the flap depth equals half the box width. An FOL blank is longer because the outer flaps equal the full width. That extra board is where the strength and the cost come from.
- Check the top seam. RSC outer flaps meet edge to edge and are taped; there is a single layer of board at the seam. FOL and CSSC tops are two layers thick, which is what makes them the choice for heavy or face-loaded contents.
- Pieces. Anything that arrives as a body and a separate lid is a telescope style, whatever the catalogue calls it. Mirror and picture boxes sold as four-piece sets are two telescoping halves per box.
Stocked styles and how many sizes each covers
The catalog is counted by title, so the numbers below are live counts of products whose name carries the style, not an estimate.
| Stocked style | Count in catalog | Typical grades | Sizes and examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft RSC (0201) | 1,097 inside sizes | 32, 44, 48, 51, 71 ECT | From 4 x 4 x 4 to 36 x 24 x 24. 8 x 5 x 5, 12 x 4 x 4 |
| White RSC | 52 products | 32 ECT, some 44 ECT | 4 x 4 x 4, 6 x 6 x 4 |
| Multi-depth RSC | 83 products | 32 and 44 ECT | 6 x 4 x 4, 6 x 6 x 4 |
| Side-loading RSC and FOL (0201 / 0203) | 38 side-loading, 16 full overlap | 32 and 44 ECT | 30 x 5 x 24, 30 x 5 x 30 |
| Telescoping inner and outer boxes (0301) | 42 products | 32 and 44 ECT | 30.5 x 6.5 x 24, 4 x 4 x 48 |
| Four-piece mirror and picture boxes (telescoping) | 4 products | 32 ECT | 30 x 40 x 3.5, 40 x 60 x 3.5 |
| Corrugated trays (0200 family, shallow) | 6 products | 32 ECT | 15 x 12 x 1.75, 15 x 12 x 1.75 |
| Gaylord and bulk boxes (0201 / 0200, heavy board) | 14 products | 32 to 90 ECT, double and triple wall | 48.5 x 24.5 x 5, 36.5 x 36.5 x 5 |
| Triple wall RSC | 11 products | 90 ECT | 14 x 14 x 14, 24 x 24 x 24 |
| Wardrobe boxes (RSC with hanger bar) | 7 products | 48 ECT | 36 x 21 x 20, 20 x 20 x 45 |
| Tuck-top and literature mailers (0427) | 281 literature mailers, 433 crush-resistant mailers | 32 ECT B flute | 5 x 3 x 2, 7 x 3.625 x 2.125 |
| Easy-fold mailers (0427 variant) | 20 products | 32 ECT | 9.625 x 6.625 x 1.25, 9.625 x 6.625 x 2.5 |
Choosing a style
Default to the RSC. For the same inside size it uses the least board, stocks in the most sizes, and ships flat in bundles. The board grade matters more than the style for most parcel shipments: a 32 ECT RSC handles packed weights to about 65 lb, and 44 or 48 ECT covers the next band. The style only changes when the shape or the handling is unusual.
- Long and narrow (framed art, shelving, curtain rods, doors): an RSC's outer flaps meet over a small area and the box bends in the middle. Use a side-loading RSC or a full overlap box, both of which close across the long face. Check the carrier length thresholds: a side over 48 inches adds handling at UPS and FedEx, and USPS adds a nonstandard fee above 22 and 30 inches.
- Variable height: a multi-depth RSC cut to the nearest score, or a telescoping inner-and-outer pair for tall loads. Telescoping boxes also double the side wall thickness, which is why they carry mirrors and prints.
- Open-top or lidded: an HSC body under a stretch-wrapped or shrink-wrapped load, or an HSC plus a telescope cover where the lid is removed repeatedly.
- Presentation: the tuck-top mailer (0427) folds without tape and opens cleanly. Literature mailers are the same construction in B flute, sized to paper. The cost per box runs higher than an RSC of the same cube; the mailer box vs corrugated mailer page compares them.
- Flat items under 3 inches deep: a one-piece folder or a shallow RSC. The picture frame box table maps frame sizes to stocked flat boxes.
- Bulk: gaylords are 0201 or 0200 in double or triple wall, usually on a pallet footprint of 48 x 40 or 48 x 48. The pallet loading table covers the stacking side.
Style and board work together
Two boxes with the same style and size can still behave differently because of the board. Single wall C flute is the default for an RSC; B flute is the default for die-cut mailers because it prints well and crushes less in the die; double wall (BC) is what turns a 48 ECT box into a box that survives a corner drop. When a spec sheet gives only a style code, ask for the board grade and the flute before ordering. The single wall vs double wall comparison covers that choice, and the RSC vs HSC page goes deeper on the two most-confused slotted styles.
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Frequently asked questions
What does RSC stand for on a box?
Regular Slotted Container, FEFCO code 0201. It is the standard one-piece shipping box: four flaps top and bottom of equal depth, with the outer flaps meeting in the middle.
What is the difference between RSC and FOL?
Flap length. An RSC's outer flaps meet in the centre; an FOL's outer flaps each span the full width and overlap completely, so the top and bottom are two layers of board thick. FOL boxes are used for heavy, narrow or side-loaded contents.
What is an HSC box used for?
A Half Slotted Container (0200) has a bottom but no top flaps. It is used as an open bin, a tote on a line, a stretch-wrapped bulk container, or as the body of a two-piece telescope box with a separate lid.
Which box style is cheapest?
The RSC for a given inside size. Its blank has the least waste and it stocks in the most sizes, so it is the price floor that other styles are measured against.
Is a mailer box the same as an RSC?
No. A mailer box is usually a tuck-top, roll-end die-cut box (FEFCO 0427) that locks without tape. An RSC is a slotted box sealed with tape. The mailer costs more per box but folds faster and presents better.