A typical small box of Ship safety matches usually contains about 40 matches.

Quick scoop answer

For most small “Ship” brand matchboxes sold in multi-packs, retailers list the average content as 40 matches per box.

This can vary slightly by manufacturer or regional packaging, but 40 is the commonly quoted figure for small safety match boxes.

Why the number can vary

  • Different factories or brands may pack 35–40 matches in similarly sized small boxes.
  • Product listings often say “average content,” which means the exact count in a single box could be a little above or below 40.

If you need an exact count

  • Check the side or back of your specific Ship matches box; many packs print the approximate number of matches on the carton.
  • When in doubt, the only guaranteed precise answer for your particular box is to count the sticks manually , since packing tolerances can differ slightly box to box.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.