GRIP & LIGHTING
Apple Box Sizes Explained: Full, Half, Quarter, and Pancake
A wooden crate that shows up under actors, cameras, and craft services tables — and one of the most standardized, most-used pieces of gear on any set.
The Four Standard Sizes
An apple box is a simple wooden crate, but it’s one of the most-used pieces of equipment on any set. It shows up under actors’ feet, under camera legs, under monitors, under craft services tables — anywhere a small, precise height adjustment is needed. Apple boxes come in four standardized sizes, all sharing the same 20″×12″ footprint but stacked at different heights.
| Size | Dimensions (L×W×H) | Common Name |
|---|---|---|
| Full apple | 20″ × 12″ × 8″ | Full, or just “apple box” |
| Half apple | 20″ × 12″ × 4″ | Half apple |
| Quarter apple | 20″ × 12″ × 2″ | Quarter apple |
| Pancake | 20″ × 12″ × 1″ | Pancake, or “mini apple” |
Because every size shares the same footprint, they stack cleanly on top of each other in any combination to dial in a very specific height.
What They’re Actually Used For
- Adjusting actor height: standing an actor on a box to match eyelines with a scene partner, or sitting on one dressed to look like a chair
- Camera and support height: a quick lift under tripod legs or a slider rail when the built-in adjustment doesn’t quite reach
- Leveling: shimming furniture, set pieces, or a dolly track section on an uneven floor
- Seating and stepping: an impromptu stool, step, or footrest anywhere on set
- Wedging and bracing: stacked and wedged against a flat or backdrop to hold it steady
Why Not Just Use Any Box
The standardization is the entire value. Because every apple box on every set shares the same footprint and a small set of fixed heights, crews can combine them predictably — two quarters equal a half, two halves equal a full — without measuring. A random moving box or milk crate doesn’t stack safely, doesn’t hold weight reliably, and doesn’t match anything else in the truck.
Apple Boxes
- Standardized sizing means predictable stacking
- Solid wood construction holds real weight, including a standing actor
- Hand-hole cutouts make them easy to carry and grab quickly
- Cheap, durable, and nearly indestructible with normal use
Limitations
- Fixed height increments — not infinitely adjustable like a jack or riser
- Bulky to store in quantity compared to folding alternatives
- Wood can splinter or crack after years of hard use
- Not a substitute for a certified platform when actor safety height gets significant
Buying and Kit Tips
- A basic grip kit usually carries at least a few of each size — two to four fulls, and more halves, quarters, and pancakes since they get used constantly for fine adjustments
- Look for solid pine or similar hardwood construction with routed hand holes on the ends
- Some sets use “half apple with holes” for cable pass-through, though a standard box works for most needs
- Rope handles or fabric loops are sometimes added by crews for faster grabbing, though most boxes come with cut hand holes built in
Frequently Asked
Why are apple box sizes standardized?
So they stack predictably across any set and any production. Two quarters equal a half, two halves equal a full, without measuring each time.
What’s a pancake used for?
The thinnest size, at 1 inch tall, is used for the smallest height adjustments — leveling a table leg or nudging a camera height by a fraction of an inch.
Can an apple box hold an actor’s weight?
Yes, standard apple boxes are solid wood construction built to be stood or sat on safely.
How many apple boxes does a set typically carry?
It varies by production size, but most grip trucks carry several of each size, with more of the smaller quarter and pancake sizes since they get used most often for fine adjustments.
Building Out Your Grip Kit?
Apple boxes are grip-department basics. Browse our grip equipment guides for the rest of the toolkit that keeps a set running.