Choosing the Right Shape and Size of Shipping Boxes

When you’re shipping products of different sizes, shapes and weights, you want to have the right size of boxes that will fit the products and protect them during delivery. With the variety of costs, sizes and shapes, it is quite challenging to know how to choose the right shipping boxes for your business.

Carriers of shipping boxes

A business needs different types of shipping boxes – for delivery of orders, for internal transfer of supplies, and storage of various items. Shipping services in the UK charge according to volumetric weight, destination, and the manner of shipment. There are also size and weight restrictions to observe. Be sure that you understand all the rules, so your shipments are not delayed.

Shapes and sizes of shipping boxes  

For most shipments, you can use corrugated boxes. The type of box you choose will depend on the weights and sizes of the products you usually ship. They are typically square and rectangular, while some are elongated. There are tall boxes, multi-height boxes, side-loading boxes, and telescopic boxes.

There are also several options regarding the type of corrugated boxes:

• Single wall cardboard boxes
• Double wall cardboard boxes
• Triple wall cardboard boxes
• Bulk distribution carton (BDC) and bulk distribution carton metric (BDCM) boxes
• Wardrobe boxes
• Pallet boxes
• Ream boxes
• Postal boxes
• Removal boxes
• Archive boxes
• Made to measure boxes

Strength of shipping boxes

When choosing Mailing Boxes for shipping, it is vital to understand that boxes have different strengths as well. The box you use should be able to handle the size and weight of the product, and the handling the box will receive during transfer and delivery.

The shipping boxes’ strength is measured using the edge crush test (ECT). It determines the stacking strength of the boxes. For testing a box’s bursting strength, it has to pass the Mullen test.

Since there are several sizes, types and shapes of boxes, you can imagine the range of boxes in various strengths, to conform to the needs of the industries and retailers that use cardboard boxes for shipping their products. Among the hundreds of box strength options available, the most commonly used for shipping are:

• 200# boxes. Use them when you are shipping items with some weight. These are typically used for heavy-duty items.
• 32 ECT boxes. They can withstand a maximum of 32-pounds per square inch vertical compression. They are commonly used when stacking lightweight items.

For heavy-duty items, boxes can be in 44 ECT, 48 ECT, 51 ECT, 71 ECT, and 90 ECT. Most of the heavier items need double wall and triple wall shipping boxes. Make sure that you check with the shipping company as to the correct box strength to use when shipping various items.

Proper product delivery

Using the right box matters to your business as it affects the packaging and shipping needs of the products you sell. The choice also affects the security and safety of the product.

There is no standard size when you’re shipping various items. The shipping box manufacturers produce a variety of types, shapes and sizes of mailing boxes so you can find the right one for the type of item you want to deliver to your customers. The shipping provider provides a guide for shipping boxes to help you pick out the right size to hold the item plus padding. This option is critical since you do not want to be charged extra for a box that is too big for the item for shipment.