You may think that a cardboard box is just a cardboard box. Well, that’s where you’re wrong.
The right cardboard box not only keeps your products safe but can also help reduce waste and optimise shipping costs. Whether you’re moving house, shipping goods, or storing items, choosing the right box is key.
Let’s break down all you need to know about boxes, from types of construction and materials to measuring cardboard boxes correctly:
Types of Cardboard Boxes ExplainedÂ
Not every cardboard box is identical. The box you’ll need depends on what you’re shipping, its weight, and how it’s shipping or stored.
Single Wall Boxes
These are the most cost-effective and least pricey options. Built with one fluting layer between two liners, they’re best suited for lightweight to medium-weight products.
Double Wall Boxes
Need extra protection? Double wall boxes are built with two fluting layers and three liners and are extra strong. These boxes are ideal for use on heavier merchandise or fragile merchandise that needs extra cushioning during shipping.
Triple Wall Boxes
For heavy-duty products, the triple wall boxes are the strongest. For industrial goods or shipping overseas, they offer maximum strength.
Die-Cut Boxes
There are pre-cut boxes to special sizes and shapes, occasionally for custom or branded packages. They’re ideal for presentation and are typically used in e-commerce.
Understanding Fluting Grades
The fluting layer between liners is what gives a box its strength and rigidity. Different grades offer different benefits:
- A Flute – Thick and sturdy, ideal for cushioning and stackability.
- B Flute – Sturdy and more compact, ideal for smaller heavy-duty boxes.
- C Flute – Good all-around performer, offering a good balance between cushioning and strength.
- E Flute – Light and thin, ideal for printing high-end and retail packaging.
- BC Flute – Blend of B and C flutes for extra strength and protection.
- EB flute – This combines E and B flutes into a double walled material.
Measuring Cardboard Boxes
It’s essential to measure a box precisely so that your products will fit in correctly and be properly defended. It will also enable you to select the most cost-effective means of transportation and storage.
Our Reuseabox top tip: you need to be measuring cardboard boxes internally, since it is this which forms the available volume.
Internal Dimensions are measured as: Length x Width x Height (L x W x H)
- Length – the longest side of the opening of the box.
- Width – the opposite side to the length (alongside the length).
- Height (or Depth) – from the top of the opening to the bottom of the box.
Another top tip: If you’re packing with void fill like shredded paper, air pillows or paper roll, make sure you account for this in your size calculations.
The correct dimensions avoid oversized boxes, conserve filler, and lower your carbon footprint while on the move.
Things to Bear in Mind When Picking Your Box
Weight of Contents
Heavier contents will need double or triple wall boxes to ship securely.
Fragility
For delicate items, consider using more padded boxes and pair them with void fill.
Storage and Shipping
Think about where your boxes are going to be stored, e.g. on pallets to be stacked, damp storage, or exposed display? Moisture-resistant solutions or reinforced corners may come in useful.
Environmentally Friendly Packaging
If you’re doing your best to reduce your environmental impact, look for:
- Recycled content boxes
- FSC or PEFC-certified materials
- Fully recyclable or biodegradable substitutes
Or better yet, reuse packaging. This is the easiest and most cost-effective way you can reduce the environmental impact of your packaging.
At Reuseabox, we source a wide range of used cardboard boxes, helping companies to save money and reduce their environmental impact by extending the life of cardboard boxes. For every box reused instead of recycled into the same box again (which is a bit wasteful!), you save trees, carbon, water and energy.
Choosing the right cardboard box isn’t just about size. It’s about strength, sustainability, and suitability for your products. By understanding how to measure your box properly and knowing what to look for in terms of construction and material, you can make smarter choices that protect your goods, reduce waste, and cut shipping costs.
Want to make the decision even easier?
Choose to Reuseabox. By giving used boxes a second life, we help you lower your carbon footprint and reduce costs without compromising on quality. Browse our range of used cardboard boxes.