Baseball card boxes generally contain either loose packs of cards or factory sealed card packs. For loose pack boxes, the number of cards is determined by counting the individual cards. These boxes usually contain anywhere from 300-500 loose cards that have been removed from packs. The cards are tossed loosely into the box without any organization.

For factory sealed pack boxes, the number of packs corresponds to the approximate number of total cards but there will be variety in the exact count. Modern boxes of 2020+ cards usually contain either 30, 36, or 24 packs. Here are some potential numbers of packs and estimated cards per common modern box types:

30 pack box – This is a very common size for current year retail boxes. With about 11 cards per pack on average, this style of box would have around 330 cards (30 packs x 11 cards/pack). Some years or brands may have more or fewer cards per pack so the range would be 275-385 cards.

36 pack box – Slightly larger than a 30 pack, this size provides more value. At around 11 cards a pack still, expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 cards (36 packs x 11 cards/pack) with a range of 330-495 cards depending on variables.

24 pack box – On the smaller side compared to 30 and 36 pack boxes. Figuring 11 cards a pack still, anticipate around 265 cards (24 packs x 11 cards/pack) with 225-330 cards being a reasonable range.

For vintage boxes from the late 1980s back to the early 1950s, pack counts were generally higher which translates to more cards per box despite fewer cards per pack on average:

1950s/1960s boxes – These ranged from 60-100 packs normally. At 5 cards per pack average, expect 300-500 cards per box from this era.

1970s boxes – Pack counts fell some but still generous. Around 48-72 packs meant estimated cards in the 240-432 range for most 70s boxes.

Late 1980s boxes – 36-48 packs which puts them similar to modern boxes but with more cards at 7-9 per pack on average. Look for about 252-432 cards.

Beyond the base number of packs and cards per pack, promotional boxes and specialty releases may contain drastically different numbers that require further research for an accurate count. For example, high-end vintage boxes holding dozens of unopened wax packs could clearly contain 1,000+ cards while single pack “boxes” are only a handful of cards.

Knowing the box type, year, brand, and any unique labeling is important context for estimating the probable range of baseball cards contained inside. With modern boxes sticking mainly to 30, 36, or 24-pack configurations, allow for approximately 275-500 cards depending on the exact box. For pre-1990s boxes, the pack counts were higher which results in vintage boxes typically containing a few hundred cards or more on average. While precise numbers vary, this covers the ballpark of what to expect in terms of baseball card quantities inside different box configurations. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!