Types of Cardboard Boxes

There are different types of cardboard boxes, but most widely used are Corrugated Boxes in packaging and shipping. Corrugated cardboard boxes are made from cardboard which has three layers made of inner liner, router liner and fluted layer in the middle. Corrugated cardboard boxes are strong, heavy duty, lightweight and durable which makes it best for packaging a wide range of products. It's important to understand the technical specs of all boxes too. How strong the box is measured by two types of tests, Bursting strength and Edge crush test. Bursting strength is measured as the force required to burst the box. Whereas Edge Crush Test(ECT) is the amount of weight the box can carry before getting crushed. The strength of the box is measured in pounds per inch (ECT), with higher ECT indicating greater strength.

Ucanpack manufactures the following types:

Regular Slotted Container (RSC)

The regular slotted container, or RSC for short, is the most common style of corrugated box or shipping box. It has four flaps that are of equal size that meet at the center of the box when folded. The RSC has a wide range of sizes and is used more often for packaging and shipping.

Pros:

• Cost-effective: The RSC has various affordable styles of corrugated boxes and are budget friendly.
• Versatile: The RSC can be used for different types of product packaging, used by many industries.
• Easy to Assemble: The RSC boxes are quick and easy to fold and tape, as all the four flaps can be easily folded.

Cons:

• Stacking Strength: The RSC is not strong so it has limited stacking strength.
• Extra material and Extra Cost required for Cushioning: As RS C has limited stacking strength, cushioning material is added to the package to protect the contents of the box during shipping, which can increase the total cost of packaging.

Technical specs:

The RSC are available in a range of strengths, from 200 lbs ECT to 275 lbs ECT.

Half-Slotted Container (HSC)

The half-slotted container, or HSC is a corrugated box that is open from the top. An addition of a corrugated lid is an option if the customer wants it to close and store products. The top of the box is open, which makes it easy to load and unload products. HSCs are used for products that require  fast and easy access to the product. 

Pros:

• Easy to load and unload: The open top of the HSC makes it easy to load and unload products.
• Space-saving and time saving: Because the HSC does not have a top, it takes up less space than a fully closed box, which can be beneficial when storing or transporting large quantities of boxes. It also saves time in handling products. 
• Strong: The HSC is made with a heavier-grade corrugated fiberboard, which is strong and durable.

Cons:

May need extra cushioning in stacking, storage and transportation.

Technical specs:

The HSC is available in a range of strengths, from 200 lbs to 350 lbs mullen.

 

Full Overlap Slotted Container (FOL)

The full overlap slotted container, or FOL, has flaps that fully overlap all the way to the edge of the box when folded, providing extra protection and strength. It is mostly used for heavier products, fragile items.

Pros:

• Extra protection: The full overlap flaps of the FOL gives extra protection to the products. Used mostly for fragile items. 
• Stacking strength: The FOL has a higher stacking strength so it's better for storage and shipping.
• Customizable: The FOL can be customized with handles, perforations.

Cons:

• More expensive: The FOL is typically more expensive because of its extra material and manufacturing process.
•  Difficult to assemble: The full overlap flaps of the FOL are difficult to fold and tape.

 Technical specs:

 The FOL is available in a range of strengths, from 275 lbs to 700 lbs bursting strength.

 

Die-Cut Mailer Box

The die-cut mailer box is a special corrugated box that is used for shipping small or flat items.  It is usually made from a lighter-grade corrugated fiberboard  mostly 32 ECT and does not need tape as it has a self-locking design.

Pros:

• Cost-effective: The die-cut mailer boxes are affordable corrugated boxes, and used by small businesses for low cost items.
• Easy to assemble: The self-locking design of the die-cut mailer box makes it easy to assemble and does not need tape. Which saves the cost of the tape usage.
• Space-saving: The design of the die-cut mailer box is very compact and thus takes less space which can be more profitable in storing or transporting large quantities of boxes.

Cons:

• Limited protection: The lightweight mailer box cannot give extra protection to the products.
• Limited sizing options: The die-cut mailer box is only suitable for small or flat items, which limits its usage for heavier and bigger products.

Technical specs:

• Die-cut mailer boxes are available in a range of strengths to 200 lbs bursting strength.
• The bursting strength of Die-cut mailer boxes is up to 200lbs.

 

Custom Printed Mailer Box

The custom printed mailer boxes are corrugated boxes that can be customized  by printing on it for branding and  marketing. It is used by e-commerce businesses to create a memorable unboxing experience for the customers.

Pros:

• Branding: The custom printed mailer box has an opportunity for businesses to show their brand, market and create a memorable unboxing experience for the customers.
• Versatile: The custom printed mailer box can be used for a wide variety of products, making it a versatile option for businesses in many industries.

Cons:

• More expensive: The custom printed mailer box is more expensive than regular plain corrugated box due to the added cost of customization and printing.
• Longer lead times: The custom printed mailer box can take longer in  manufacturing and processing time compared to standard boxes.

Technical specs:

Custom printed mailer boxes are available in a range from 32 ECT to 200 Lbs.

 

Small Shipping Boxes

The small shipping boxes are corrugated boxes used for shipping small items. These boxes are lightweight, compact, easy to handle and transport.

Pros:

• Cost-effective: Small shipping boxes are less expensive than larger boxes.
• Easy to handle: They are compact in size and lightweight and easy to transport.
• Versatile: Small shipping boxes are mainly used for small products.

Cons:

• Limited sizing options: Small shipping boxes are only suitable for small items, which limits their versatility.
• Limited protection: The lightweight design of small shipping boxes has less protection for the products. 

Technical specs:

Small shipping boxes are available from 32 ECT to 200 Lbs.

 

Reverse tuck corrugated boxes

Reverse tuck corrugated boxes have a tuck-in flap design that gives a secure opening and closure without using any tape. 

Pros:

• Easy to assemble: The reverse tuck design makes it easy to open and close the boxes quickly. It has secured closure thereby preventing damage of the product in transit.
• Versatility: These boxes can be used for various products such as cosmetics, electronics, food items and also used by many industries.
• Customization: The reverse tuck corrugated boxes can be customized by size, printing, and design.
• Lightweight yet strong: These boxes are made of  thin corrugated cardboard, and are strong, durable, lightweight and thus shipping cost is less to mail the product in these boxes

Cons:

• Limited stacking ability:  These boxes cannot be stacked because of tuck in design.
• Higher cost: The reverse tuck design needs  extra manufacturing steps.  Thus these boxes are a little more expensive compared to other corrugated boxes.

Technical specifications:

These boxes are made of Corrugated cardboard, mainly flute B and flute C.

Conclusion

Choosing the right corrugated box helps prevent product damage in storage and transit. Selection should be done with complete awareness of the type of product to be packaged and key features of the corrugated box used to pack the product.