Chess Piece Storage Boxes

Chess piece storage boxes

A storage box is bought for one reason: loose pieces in a drawer knock against each other and chip. The boxes here are sized for kings from 85mm up to about 117mm, in pine, golden rosewood and leatherette. Each states the piece size it is built for, and that figure is the one that matters. Pieces to put in them are in chess pieces.

Sizing is the whole decision

A box is not a generous fit. It is cut for a particular king height and base diameter, and a set that is 5mm too tall simply will not close. Measure your king from base to the top of the cross, and check the base diameter of the rook, which is often the widest piece on the board. Then match those to the capacity stated on the product page rather than to the box's outside dimensions.

If your set sits between two sizes, go up. A box that is slightly large can be padded; a box that is slightly small is useless.

The boxes

• Up to 95mm, pine with green felt. The straightforward option for a club-sized army.
• 85mm or 95mm, with precision-cut compartments. Segmented so each piece has its own recess, with dark blue felt. The most protective of the four, and the best choice for a set you care about.
• Up to 107mm, leatherette with green velvet. A book-style case with two side-by-side compartments, one per colour, fully lined. Leatherette is a synthetic leather-like material rather than hide.
• 102mm to 117mm, golden rosewood. Finger-jointed hardwood with an interior divider and a felted base. Note that the side walls are not lined on this one. The largest capacity of the four.

Timber, leatherette or compartments

Three different answers to the same problem. A timber box looks like part of the set and sits well on a shelf. Leatherette is lighter and the lining is more complete. A segmented interior protects best of all but only fits the piece sizes it was cut for, so it is the least forgiving if you ever change sets.

Browse related

• Chess accessories. Storage and timers together.
• Luxury chess pieces. The larger carved armies these boxes are usually bought for.
• Theme chess pieces. Carved sets, where storage matters most.
• Travel chess sets. Sets that already store their own pieces.
• Dal Rossi. A maker of boxes in this collection.

Buying a chess piece storage box in Australia

Everything here is held in Australian stock and shipped from Australia, so there is no international freight wait and no customs step.

All products sold by Sterling Chess are backed by a 12 month limited manufacturer warranty. This covers manufacturing defects and cracking, and ensures every product is 100% genuine. Sterling Chess also offers 100 day free returns.

Chess piece storage box FAQs

How do I know which box fits my pieces?

Measure the king from base to the top of the cross, and check the base diameter of your widest piece, usually the rook. Match those to the capacity stated on the product page. Outside dimensions will not tell you whether a set fits.

What are the boxes made from?

Pine, golden rosewood hardwood, and leatherette. The product page states the material for each.

Are they lined?

Three are: green felt, dark blue felt, and green velvet across both compartments on the leatherette case. The golden rosewood box is felted on the base but not up the side walls, which its page states.

Is there a box with a slot for each piece?

Yes, one has precision-cut compartments with a recess per piece. It is the most protective option and the least flexible, since it only fits the sizes it was cut for.

What is leatherette?

A synthetic leather-like material. It is lighter than timber and takes a full interior lining well. It is not hide.

Will a box fit a set with spare queens?

Check the stated capacity and compartment layout. A segmented box has a fixed number of recesses, so a 34 piece set with two spare queens may not fit one cut for 32.

Do the boxes include pieces?

No. These are empty storage boxes.