Box template generators compared
Six tools that draw a box dieline from your dimensions. Two of them give you the DXF for free, and we are not one of them. This table shows what each one charges for and what you get.
| Tool | Account to download | Free | DXF | Board thickness | 3D | Price | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CardboardShaper | No | Design and 3D preview; every file is paid | Yes, €3.50 per file | Yes, on every style (0.45–7 mm) | Yes, folds the blank shut and reports panels that collide | €2.50 PDF, €3.50 DXF or SVG | 18 styles, 43 presets |
| Pacdora | Not checked | PDF, says the FEFCO 0201 page; the pricing page lists no exports on Free | Paid plans | Yes (“Thickness” field) | 3D mockup | Pro €16 per seat per month, Business €53 | 3,000+ dieline templates |
| Templatemaker.nl | No (there are no accounts) | Everything: PDF, DXF, SVG, PNG | Yes, free | On some templates (tuck flaps only) | Not seen | Free, donations welcome | About 40 in the menu |
| PackMyMan | No (an account adds cutting dimensions) | PDF, DXF and SVG | Yes, free | Yes, caliper or thickness on every template | Not seen | Free; one template carries a “PRO” label | About 53 templates (our count) |
| EasyPackMaker | Yes | Nothing to download; a 3-day trial gives 5 models | Paid, per model | Yes (paper thickness) | 3D preview | $1.19–$3.86 per model | 668 templates |
| Die Cut Templates | Yes | No free download seen | Paid | Yes (allows for 10% crush) | 3D mockup | €8.90 per download, or €27.90–€89.90 per month | 37,000+ templates |
Checked on each tool's own website on 16 October 2026. “Not seen” means we looked and did not find it, not that it is missing. Prices change; the links go to the page we read.
Which one to use
- You want a free file and the template exists
- Use Templatemaker.nl or PackMyMan. Both let you download a DXF without paying or signing up.
- You need a mockup with artwork on it
- Pacdora (3,000+ templates) and Die Cut Templates (37,000+) are built for that, with 3D mockups on a subscription.
- You are sending the file to a die maker or cutting it on a plotter
- That is what CardboardShaper is for. Every style corrects for the board you choose, from 0.45 mm carton to 7 mm double-wall, and the tool folds the blank shut in 3D and flags panels that collide before you pay. You pay €2.50 for a PDF or €3.50 for a DXF or SVG, once, with no account. We did not find a fold check like that on the other five sites.
- You want to work out the blank size yourself
- The FEFCO code pages give the formula with board thickness for each style, and a free calculator.