3D Letter Box Template Maker
Type a letter or pick a shape and this free 3D letter box maker turns it into a paper box template: a front, a back, and the wall strips that join them, with tabs and fold lines already drawn. Letters with holes like B, A and O get their own inside walls. Download one true-size SVG for your Cricut, Silhouette or laser.
Each square is one 12x12 sheet with a 1/4 inch border. The download is one SVG with each sheet in its own group (Mat 1, Mat 2 and so on), so in Cricut Design Space you can select one mat's group, Attach it, and it cuts as one mat. The letters on the strips match the letters on the front and back, so you know where each strip starts. The letters sit on their own layer, so if your cutting software brings them in, hide that layer or set it to Draw.
Cardstock for letter boxes
For small letters and favor boxes, my smooth cardstock folds up crisp and clean. For bigger letters or anything you plan to fill, I reach for my 250 gsm shed-free glitter cardstock because it's sturdier and keeps its shape. Use the same color for the front, back and walls, or mix them for a two-tone letter.
How to put a 3D letter box together
- Cut every piece. With perforated folds there is nothing to change in your software; with score lines, set the dashed layer to Score.
- Fold every wall strip along its fold lines, and fold all the small tabs in the same direction.
- Join the strips into a loop: glue the end flap of one strip behind the start of the strip with the same letter.
- Glue the tabs along one edge of the loop to the back of the front piece, lining up the letters. Work a few tabs at a time around curves.
- Do the same for any inside walls (the hole in a B or an O), then glue the back on last.
Want a simple rectangle box instead? Try my box template maker. Planning a big project? The cardstock sheets calculator tells you how many sheets to buy.
3D letter box FAQ
How do I make a 3D letter box out of cardstock?
Type your letter above, pick a font, set the height and wall depth, and download the SVG. Cut the front, back and wall strips, fold the strips, glue them into a loop, then glue the tabs to the front and back. The matching letters show which strip goes where.
Does this work with my Cricut or Silhouette?
Yes. The SVG comes in at true size in Cricut Design Space, Silhouette Studio (Designer Edition reads SVG), xTool Creative Space and LightBurn. Perforated folds are tiny cut dashes, so they work on any machine with no scoring tool.
What is the difference between perforated folds and score lines?
Perforated folds are rows of short cuts that fold easily and need nothing extra. Score lines are pressed in with a scoring wheel or stylus, so the outside of the box stays smooth. Pick Score lines if you have a scoring tool and want a cleaner finish.
How big can I make my letter box?
Wall strips are split automatically so none is longer than 11.5 inches, which fits a 12x12 mat. The front and back have to fit the mat too, so keep the letter under about 11.5 inches tall and wide, or cut it on a 12x24 mat.
What cardstock weight is best for a 3D letter box?
Small letters fold up nicely from 65 to 80 lb cardstock. For letters over about 6 inches, or boxes you plan to fill, use a heavier sheet like 250 gsm (about 92 lb) so the walls stay straight.
Can I upload my own shape?
Yes. Choose Upload SVG and drop in any solid shape with a closed outline, like a welded design, a logo or a silhouette. Holes inside the shape get their own inside walls.
Happy crafting, Ashlee