Box sizes,
explained.
The wholesale flower industry uses standardized box sizes — QB, EB, HB, FB — that determine how many stems ship together. Understanding box sizing is what separates florists who plan tight to their budget from those who guess.
Boxes are the unit your operation handles.
When you order wholesale, you order in box quantities, not stem counts. The box you receive is the unit your operation handles — your cooler space, your design team, your event budget all calibrate around box thinking.
Once you understand the four core sizes, you can plan flower budgets, storage, and event logistics with precision. An event needing 500 stems of Freedom 60cm is 4 QB boxes — not 20 individual purchases.
This guide walks through what each box holds, when each is used, and how Magnaflor packs to keep the cold chain intact.
Four boxes.
Industry standard.
QB / EB / HB / FB — same across reputable wholesale platforms. Magnaflor uses all four.
Bunch quantities per variety.
Every variety in our catalog includes the bunch count for each box size on the variety detail page. The "At a glance" section lists stems per bunch, box options available, and bunches per box.
Example: Freedom 60cm — QB box = 5 bunches × 25 stems per bunch = 125 stems. A wedding needing 500 stems is 4 QB boxes (125 × 4 = 500), not 20 individual purchases.
When planning a season, calculate total stem demand by variety, convert to box quantities (round up), and compare per-stem cost across box sizes for budgeting.
Storage + handling.
- At the dock: Move to walk-in cooler within 30 minutes of arrival. Temperature 34-38°F (1-3°C).
- Unpacking: Open carefully — boxes are packed tight for cold-chain integrity.
- Conditioning: Cut stems at 45° angle. Use clean water with floral preservative. Allow 4-8 hours for full hydration.
- Vase life: Each variety lists typical vase life on detail page. Treat per variety.
Larger boxes hold temperature longer.
Larger boxes retain temperature longer and handle handoffs better. Smaller QB and EB boxes require more careful temperature management because their thermal mass is lower. Our cold chain protocol is identical for all box sizes — but if you're receiving multiple small boxes, plan dock-to-cooler time accordingly.
Ready to plan your orders?
Apply for wholesale access to see live availability and your wholesale pricing across box sizes.
Apply for wholesale access