Which Box is Best For My Product?

To ship anything, you need a box. Packaging is important to protect the contents within it. But which type of box is best for shipping and storing your products?

Understanding box types and common uses for each one can help narrow down your options and reduce shipping costs. Do you need a UN Rated box, durable and heavy-duty, or narrow? This list will help you decide which box is best for your product. 

What Is Corrugated Material?

Boxes are made of corrugated material and have single, double, or triple wall construction. This durable cardboard is layered, offering protection and durability to your products. The Edge Crush Test (ECT) measures how much a box can hold. Use this to determine which type of corrugation is best for your product so items are not damaged. Corrugated material also prevents dust and moisture from getting to the content inside. 

Corrugated boxes are all created with fluting. This is what makes a corrugated box, corrugated. The flute is the layer of paper between the two boards that makes a box more durable. Coming in a variety of sizes, each flute size (also called a profile) is assigned a letter. C-Flute is the most common type and A-Flute is the strongest. 

Corrugated boxes are versatile, convenient, and cost effective shipping solutions. Learn more about the benefits and uses of corrugation from our guide to corrugated boxes.

5 common flute sizes include: 

• A-Flute: about 36 flutes a foot, thickness: 1/4"
• B-Flute: about 49 flutes a foot, thickness: 1/8"
• C-Flute: about 41 flutes a foot, thickness: 3/16"
• E-Flute: about 90 flutes a foot, thickness: 1/16"
• F-Flute: about 128 flutes a foot, thickness: 1/32"

Shipping bulky, large items that require a sturdier base will be best protected with a heavy-duty box. These boxes are a versatile choice for any industry.

Use a heavy-duty box for: 

• Pillows/blankets
• Clothing
• Towels/tablecloths
• Household materials 
• Electronics 
• Glassware

Mailers offer excellent protection for shipping smaller items. With a variety of options to choose from, these boxes provide flexibility to be used for any product within any industry. Mailers are lightweight and durable. 

Common applications of mailers include:

• Promotional materials
• Food packs
• Samples
• Literature/business documents
• Jars
• Apparel

Hazmat boxes are UN rated to store and ship hazardous materials. These boxes are designed to safely transport and store materials that need extra caution. 

These boxes come printed with warning information to communicate the type of product inside. To properly meet UN rating requirements, the box is only UN rated when it matches the contents inside the contents inside match the printed rating.

Use hazardous material boxes for: 

• F-style bottles
• Jugs
• Paint cans
• Pails

Foam shippers maximize protection of products that may be fragile or cannot move during shipping. Composed of two layers of polyurethane convoluted foam inserts, these boxes are designed to protect content from shocks and blows. 

Common uses for foam shippers include: 

• Glassware
• Jewelry 
• Electronics 
• Small art

Reshippers are designed to hold specific products to ship and store the items safely.  These boxes are printed to communicate information about the contents inside. 

These boxes are meant for: 

• F-style bottles
• Paint pans
• Pails
• Jugs

Use multi-depth boxes to get the exact size box you need, without excess boxes in your inventory. Cut along the premade scores on the box to reduce it to the desired height. Multi-depth boxes can be eaisily reused or recycled.

Use these boxes for: 

• Clothing
• Towels/tablecloths
• Household materials
• Electronics
• Glassware

7. Telescoping Boxes

Meant for skinny, irregular shaped items like fishing poles, golf clubs, rolled documents, and rugs, telescoping boxes accommodate items of varying lengths. Flat telescoping boxes can be used for mirrors, picture frames, glass panels, trays, and more. 

Use telescoping boxes for: 

• Fishing poles 
• Golf clubs 
• Rolled documents 
• Rugs

Useful for large, odd-shaped items that can fit on a pallet, gaylord boxes are great for storing and shipping these items. Gaylord containers are eco-friendly and can be recycled. A versatile and convenient box style, gaylord boxes have a fascinating history.

These boxes can be used for:

• Materials
• Equipment
• Plastic pellets 
• Dry materials: corn and flour

** Lid sold separately.

Bulk cargo containers are meant for large, irregularly shaped items. These large boxes hold the same capacity as four 55-gallon drums but in less space. A flat top closure allows for ease of opening and closing. 

Use bulk cargo containers to ship or store: 

• Powders 
• Resins
• Irregular shaped items

** A pallet is needed to easily move contents.

Items that require temperature control will use insulated shippers for their transportation. Insulation is used to shield products from contamination by only allowing filtered air to enter and exit. 

Common applications for insulated boxes include: 

• Pharmaceuticals 
• Food 
• Chemicals

Sort and keep documents organized with durable  file storage boxes. We offer a variety of styles including heavy-duty, interlocking flap, economy, string and button, and more. No tape or glue is needed to assemble these boxes. File storage boxes have pre-printed labels to identify content and provide access.  

Use file storage boxes to organize within your office or home for: 

• Paperwork 
• Files
• Books 
• Pictures

Corrugated bins optimize organization on your shelves or work space. No tape, glue, or staples are needed to assemble these boxes. 

Common uses for bins include: 

• Brochures 
• Office supplies 

Corrugated displays showcase your content on table surfaces, counters, and shelves. Using a sturdy construction, these boxes display and fold together quickly without tape or glue. 

Use displays for: 

• Magazines
• Brochures 
• Suggestion box 
• Product displays

Overpack cartons are used to transport shipping cartons, pails, containers, and more. These sturdy boxes are designed to carry multiple containers within one box. They are specific to the container types they ship to allow for efficient packing.

Use overpack cartons for:

• Pails 
• F-Style bottles

Additional Box Accessories

The Cary Company offers a wide variety of shipping supplies to meet all your needs. We've got you covered no matter what you are shipping. Browse our shipping accessories that will keep your products safe during transit. 

Product Sourcing - Can't find the right size or type of shipping supply? We can help! The Cary Product Sourcing Team will work with you to find the best solution available. -- Call 630.629.6600!