• FREE SHIPPING On all orders
  • SUPPORT 24/7 We support online 24 hours a Day
Call Us Now 888-395-0493 or chat online

How Many Bottles of Wine in a Box?

By Blake Harper, June 4, 2025

How Many Bottles of Wine in a Box?

Shopkeepers are commonly asked, “How many bottles of wine are in a box?” The answer is: that it depends on the type of box you are asking for. Boxed wines and wine cases are typically used in the storage and shipping of premium-quality wines. Standard boxes have the capacity of 3 liters of wine, which means 4 wine bottles. However, some bigger boxes also exist that can hold up to 5 liters of wine, which is around 6.67 bottles. For serving, the number of wine bottles in a box depends on your glass size and how much you pour. Generally, it is found that a 5-ounce of wine is usually served at a time. So, from a standard wine box, you are expected to get at least 5 glasses of wine.

On the other hand, a wine bottle case usually refers to a box or carton with 6 to 12 standard wine bottles. Generally, there are cases with 6 bottles, especially for larger or special wines. Hence, the number of bottles in a box or wine case depends on the bottle and box size. So, if you’re unsure about the number of wine bottles in the packaging, it’s better to check the label or ask the shopkeeper. Want to explore how boxed wine packaging came into existence, what are wine boxes and cases, and why you should know about the number of wine bottles in packaging? Buckle up! Give a read to this detailed blog post.

From Amphorae to Cardboard – The Fascinating History of Custom Wine Packaging

According to archeologists, the evidence of winemaking dates back over 8,000 years. It shows that wine is as old as the civilization itself. But boxes of wine? It’s relatively a new concept in the market. Back in 3000 BCE, wine was stored and transported in amphorae, large ceramic jugs sealed with wax or resin. Animal skins, especially the goatskin were also used by nomadic tribes and early travelers for wine storage and transportation. From the Roman Empire to the onwards era, wooden barrels caught the attention of wine packaging and storage. In the 17th century, glass bottles paired with corks changed the game. By the 18th and 19th centuries, glass bottles became the default for fine wines.

But with all these innovations, one problem still remained and that’s the “preservation of wine after opening”. Once a cork was popped, the oxidation would soon spoil the wine. This originated the idea of boxed wines. Thomas Angove, a South Australian winemaker invented wine boxes, featuring a cardboard composition with a collapsible plastic bladder inside. Today, this type of packaging is trending in the industry because of its cost-effectiveness, lightweight, and eco-friendly nature. Boxed wines are also preferred for improving the shelf life of packaged wine and keeping it fresh for at least 4-6 weeks.

So, whether you’re stocking up for a party, planning a wedding, or simply a midnight friends’ gathering, choosing custom bottle wine boxes is a way to go. But, before making a decision, it’s important to know how many bottles of wine are in a box. Scroll down and get the answer!

Common Queries on Custom Boxed Wines – Everything You Want to Ask!

It’s quite common to have certain questions in mind while purchasing custom wine boxes. Below are some of the most common queries, highly asked by people when getting boxed wines:

  • How many bottles of wine are in a wine box?
  • How many bottles of wine in a 3-liter box?
  • Are there 4 bottles of wine in a box?
  • How many glasses are in a box of wine?

Though I shared a quick answer to the above questions. Here, the explanation is given for a better understanding. But, before getting into the number game, let’s understand some basics of wine packaging.

What is a Box of Wine? – Durable, Sustainable, & Affordable Solution

When someone says “box of wine”, he/she might mean one of two completely different things:

  • Boxed wine
  • Wine case

Boxed wine is a rectangular cardboard container with a spout, often stored in fridges. It’s the most common term used by people when they casually ask for wine boxes.

Whereas, wine cases are a more traditional method of wine packaging. They are the actual boxes that contain glass bottles of wine. Custom wine cases are commonly used in retail and wholesale settings. They are typically used for the storage and shipping of premium wine across different regions.

What’s In the Box? A Detailed Overview of Custom Wine Bottle Packaging

As said, a standard wine box is a custom cardboard packaging solution with a plastic bladder inside. The bladder is securely tucked inside the box featuring a tap or spigot for easy pouring.

Estimated Wine Quantity in these Boxes

Custom-printed boxed wines usually come in the following three main sizes:

  • 3-liters – it’s the most common size, capable of holding 4 wine bottles in a single packaging.
  • 5-liters – this size is potent enough to hold around 6.67 bottles and is often preferred by budget-friendly brands.
  • 1.5 liters – these are smaller-sized boxes with the potential to hold 2 wine bottles at a time.

Why Go with Custom Boxed Wines?

Below are some of the most amazing pros of using and choosing custom wine boxes:

  • They are highly cost-effective and easily accessible.
  • Featuring an air-tight bag, they are an ideal option to ensure the wine’s freshness and longevity.
  • Custom wine packaging solutions are eco-friendly, providing less packaging waste.
  • Best to be placed at parties.

Thus, if you want to pour wine glass after glass without breaking the bank, boxed wines are the way to go.

Custom Wine Cases – The Retail & Wholesale Standard

A wine case is a standard packaging solution, used by vineyards, distributors, and retailers to store and ship large numbers of wine bottles across different regions. Similar to wine boxes, the cases are also made up of high-quality cardboard. The higher-end versions of these cases also come in the best-quality wood composition.

Total Number of Wine Bottles in a Case – One Case, Countless Pours

When someone asks about the total number of wine bottles in a custom bottle case, the answer is simple: 12 bottles are present per case and each bottle typically holds 750 ml. So, a standard 12-bottle case holds a total of 9 liters of wine in a single packaging.

Some of the Most Common Case Sizes & Maximum Wine Bottle Capacity

Besides standard case size, the following are some most common case sizes available in the market:

  • 6 bottles per case – they are highly used for large-format wine bottles, offered by premium brands.
  • 3 bottles per case – they are preferably used for the storage and shipping of ultra-premium wines.
  • 24 half-bottles (375 ml each) – though less common, they are greatly used for a wide variety of different-sized wine bottles.

Top Perks for Which Custom Wine Cases Stand Out

Here are some of the most compelling benefits for which people are encouraged to go with custom-printed wine cases:

  • They are an ideally sustainable packaging option for wine bottles.
  • Serve as an effective branding tool for wine businesses.
  • Ensure a memorable unboxing experience for buyers.
  • Provide a lasting and attractive shelf presence.

How Many Bottles in a Wine Box? Tabular Explanation for Better Understanding

 

Type of Packaging Number of Bottles Bottle Size (ml) Total Volume (ml) Total Volume (liters) Common Use / Notes
Standard Wine Case 12 bottles 750 ml 9,000 ml 9 liters Industry standard for retail, wholesale, and storage
Half Case (Mini Case) 6 bottles 750 ml 4,500 ml 4.5 liters For smaller purchases, gifts, or lighter stocking
Quarter Case / Trio Pack 3 bottles 750 ml 2,250 ml 2.25 liters Common for gifting or limited-edition sets
Single Bottle Box 1 bottle 750 ml 750 ml 0.75 liters Ideal for premium wine gifting or collector packaging
Boxed Wine (3L) No bottles (bladder inside) 750 ml 3,000 ml 3 liters Equivalent to 4 standard bottles; great for parties
Boxed Wine (5L) No bottles 750 ml 5,000 ml 5 liters Equivalent to 6.6 bottles; often used for bulk or events
Boxed Wine (1.5L / Mini Box) No bottles 750 ml 1,500 ml 1.5 liters Equals 2 bottles; perfect for picnics or casual sipping
Magnum Case 6 magnum bottles 1,500 ml 9,000 ml 9 liters Same volume as 12 standard bottles; used for aging or gifts
Jeroboam Box 1 jeroboam bottle 3,000 ml 3,000 ml 3 liters Large-format wine; used for celebrations or aging
Wine Tasting Box 6 to 12 mini bottles 100–375 ml Varies 1.2–4.5 liters Sampler kits, subscriptions, and wine flights

 

More Bottles, More Cheers! Why Does it Matter to Know the Bottles’ Quantity in a Box?

Knowing the total number of bottles in a wine box is essential to determine the overall value, storage capacity, and design planning of custom wine boxes or cases. By having a clear overview of the total number of wine bottles in a box, you can easily figure out the following:

1- Help Understand the Event Budgeting

Whether you’re planning weddings, friend parties, or significant corporate events, you must know how much wine is required for the event. For example,

  • A 3-liter box will have 4 wine bottles and is sufficient to serve up to 20 glasses at the event.
  • A 12-bottle case has enough amount of wine to serve at least 60 wine glasses to the guests at personal or corporate events.

This helps you better understand how much budget is required to invest in wines for the guests during a corporate or private event or parties. This is really very important for retailers and wholesalers buying in bulk, event planners or caterers managing strict budgets, and everyday consumers trying to get the best out of the event.

2- Assist in Storage & Space Management

Whether you’re a wine collector or in restaurant management, knowing the total number of wine bottles per box is important to:

  • Professionally organize storage space efficiency.
  • Estimate how much wine your cellar, shelf, or stockroom can easily hold.
  • Perfectly plan for delivery logistics, such as the weight, dimensions, and shelf space to hold the required number of wine bottle boxes and bottles.

3- Lead you to Manage Shipping & Handling Costs

The more bottles in a wine box, the better the shipping efficiency. Though it’s a great perk, here it’s also important to note that:

  • Heavier loads often lead to higher transport costs.
  • Larger and bulkier wine packaging boxes also require special and professional handling during transit and storage.

Hence, knowing the actual number of wine bottles in a box helps determine and balance economy vs convenience when ordering or shipping wine.

4- Help Manage & Control Inventory

For retailers, distributors, and bar owners, knowing the exact bottle count per box is crucial for:

  • The accurate inventory tracking.
  • Automating reorder levels.
  • Preventing stockouts or overstocking.

More Wine, Less Money: The Bulk Buy Breakdown You Need!

Whether you’re a retailer or a wholesaler looking for a bulk of boxed wines or wine cases, here are some of the pro tips to help you save a lot of money on bulk wine purchasing:

Tip # 1: Understand your Audience & their Needs

Like other businesses, first, find out the target audience. Make sure the people you target are wine aficionados. Once find such people, analyze the most popular or demanded wine in the community. Find out if the target audience is more into red, white, bubbly, or any other option.

Tip # 2: Don’t forget to Taste the Wine Before Making a Bulk Purchase

Before committing to a dozen or more of the boxed wines, try a bottle from the boxed wine. Check out the flavor and quality of the packaged wine. Never go for the low-quality wine or the one that tastes bad. Because it will build your brand’s bad reputation in the market and among buyers, which will ultimately affect your brand’s sales & revenue.

Tip # 3: Prefer Opting for the Mixed & Match Custom Wine Cases

Some retailers and online stores offer mixed-and-match options for custom wine cases, including a few red wine bottles, some white, rose, or any other options. This provides versatility in a single packaging, helping you to cater to the wide demands of consumers.

Tip # 4: Look for Discounts

To save money on bulk orders of custom-printed wine bottle packaging boxes, go with the supplier offering discounts on bulk orders. There are many options in the market providing at least 10 to 20% off on massive or bulk purchases. Well, custom-boxed wines usually come in bulk discounts.

Final Words

All in all, a box of wine or a wine case might look like just another packaging solution but inside it are 4 or 12 wine bottles of your favorite Merlot or dozens of vintage flavors. If you’re a retailer looking for classy and unique wine boxes and cases, CPP Boxes is the go-to option. We are an expert and experienced company, renowned for creating versatile, attractive, and fully customized wine packaging solutions at wholesale rates.

We also provide custom labels, highlighting the actual number of wine bottles packaged in the box or case. So, by partnering with us, you don’t need to answer your buyers “How many bottles are in a wine box?”. Just show them the box and they’ll know themselves. Contact us today at 888-395-0493 or quotes@cppboxes.com and make a difference by setting the bar high.

GET YOUR QUOTE

user-icon

Blake Harper

Custom Packaging Editor

Blake Harper is an experienced and dedicated packaging engineer with a deep passion for creating innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective packaging solutions. He holds a degree in Packaging Engineering, where he gained a strong foundation in materials science, product design, and manufacturing processes. With years of hands-on experience, Blake has honed his skills in optimizing packaging designs for a wide range of industries, including consumer goods, electronics, and food packaging.

Currently, Blake has been with CPP Boxes, a leading packaging solutions provider, for several years, where he has played a key role in designing packaging that balances functionality, cost efficiency, and sustainability. His work at CPP Boxes has involved designing protective packaging, improving supply chain logistics, and developing eco-friendly solutions that reduce waste and environmental impact.

Blake's expertise lies in selecting the right materials, creating structural designs that maximize protection and minimize costs, and ensuring that packaging meets both consumer expectations and industry standards. His approach integrates creativity with technical know-how, always striving for solutions that are both practical and innovative.

Passionate about environmental sustainability, Blake is always exploring new ways to incorporate eco-friendly practices into his work. He is committed to advancing packaging technologies and methodologies that reduce waste, improve recyclability, and contribute to a more sustainable future. Throughout his career, Blake has become known for his strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and his ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to meet project goals.

Innovations in Custom Boxes