The Police: Sting (acoustic & electric basses, lead vocals, saxophone, keyboards), Andy Summers (guitar, keyboards, background vocals), Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion, keyboards, background vocals). Producers: The Police, Stewart Copeland, Nigel Gray, Tim Summerhayes, Hugh Padgham, Laurie Latham. Compilation producer: Stewart Whitmore. Engineers: The Police, Tim Summerhayes. Includes liner notes by Phil Sutcliffe.

All tracks have been digitally remastered. MESSAGE IN A BOX contains tracks from the group's five studio albums, rare B-sides, and live tracks. It also includes a 64-page booklet with extensive liner notes, a discography, the band's commentary on the b-sides and other obscure tracks, rare photographs and a Police time-line.