What are the different types of Cardboard Boxes used in ECommerce Shipping?

eCommerce refers to the buying and selling of goods online and it has become a huge and thriving part of the trade industry with its benefits and advantages helping to ensure that e-commerce is firmly becoming the best option for retail shopping.

 

 

When compared to traditional retail, eCommerce has a lot of benefits which include; elimination of travel risk, time and cost, a faster buying process, overcoming geographical limitations, lower costs, 24/7/365 availability, access to a wide variety of products, and many more.

Thanks to its nature, the packaging is one of the most important aspects of eCommerce and plays a critical role because it is the first physical point of contact customers have with the brand and it helps to create an impression in the mind of the customer.

The way a product is packaged also can protect the product and prevent it from breakage or damage and that is why it is important to properly package any product before shipping down to a customer.

Different types of boxes can be used to package products and while they each have their uses, advantages, and drawbacks, the choice of boxes to be used to package a product depends on several factors including the size and structure of the box, the material of the box, the distance to be shipped, and these should be carefully considered before making a choice.

This article helps to provide an insight on the common type of boxes used for shipping, different type of Cardboard boxes available in the market, and common sizes of boxes used in eCommerce shipping.

Common types of boxes used for shipping:

•         Carton

Easy to use and easy to carry, folding cartons are one of the most common types of boxes used for shipping items in the industry. They are a preferred option as regards shipping lightweight including clothes, linen, canned items, etc.

•         Rigid Boxes

These types of boxes are used for heavyweight items because of their strength and structural capacity when subjected to high pressure. One particular drawback about this box is that it is not flexible and cannot be unassembled and reassembled easily. They can be used to transport items such as automobile spare parts, electronic gadgets including mobile phones, speakers.

•         Corrugated Boxes

Corrugated cardboard boxes are the standard boxes used by most eCommerce companies to ship items and products. They are a great choice because while they can withstand high pressure and carry heavy items, they are also very lightweight meaning they can carry heavy items that rigid boxes can carry as well as light items.

 

Different types of cardboard boxes available in the market:

•         Regular Slotted Container (RSC)

These are the most common type of cardboard boxes used in the packaging industry. With the flaps on the regular slotted boxes all of the same length and one-half the container’s width; which enables them to meet perfectly in the center, they are a versatile and brilliant option for multiple packaging applications.

•         Die-Cut Self-Locking

Typically used for lightweight and small products, the die-cut self-locking boxes are very easy to manage and can be assembled in a very short space of time. They are cost-effective with little waste being created during the production process ensuring that they come out robust and come either flat packed on a pallet or strapped into manageable bundles.

•         One Piece Fold

Perfect for packaging products that have a shallow depth such as frames, journals, catalogs, and unique lightweight items, the one-piece fold boxes are easy to assemble and package efficiently. They are manufactured using a single piece of board with the longer flaps forming the top of the box, the side flaps providing an extension to make the box stable and the bottom a flat and unbroken base.

•         Five Panel Wrap

Ideal for packaging long and narrow products, the five-panel wrap can be manufactured either using single corrugated cardboard or double-wall corrugated cardboard depending on how thick you want the box to be to offer more protection for your product.

•         Box and Lid

This type of cardboard box is manufactured for products with a wide width and depth. The top is usually cut out from the bottom creating a nice and appealing way to present products to customers. Manufactured with very little waste product left behind, the packaging of this box is supplied flat packed which makes it easy to store and very economical.

Common sizes of boxes used in eCommerce shipping

Cardboard boxes come in a variety of sizes to suit the different design and sizes of items and while there is the possibility of custom boxes created for specific products, there are some common sizes of boxes used for shipping;

•         12” x 12” x 40” [30x30x102cm]

This size of the box is mainly used to package and ship items that do not have a regular shape such as sports equipment, telescope, sewing machines.

•         15” x 12” x 10” [38x30x25cm]

These sizes of boxes are not essentially used as they can only be used to package folders, personal records. They are 1 cubic foot and can as well be called a file box.

•         16” x 12” x 12” [40x30x30cm]

One of the smallest boxes manufactured, the “book box” is 1.5 cubic foot can be used to pack items that are small but heavy such as books, power tools, canned products, etc.

•         18” x 18” x 16” [46x46x40cm]

This is a medium-sized box and it is designed to ship products including toys, electronic gadgets, and small kitchen appliances. The 3 cubic foot box is commonly used in the industry to ship most items.

•         18” x 18” x 24” [46x46x61cm]

These are large sizes of boxes which are mostly used to package and ship really large and heavy items. The 4.5 cubic box is tailor-made for items such as large kitchen appliances, large toys, clothes, and lampshades.

•         24” x 18” x 24” [61x46x61cm]

These are usually the largest sizes of boxes you will see available. The 6-foot box is used to ship extra-large sizes of items such as rugs, comforters, pillows, and coats.

In the case where the item you want to ship seems to not fit into the common sizes of boxes, you can contact a manufacturing company to have boxes made to fit your item.

Can you have different colored boxes?

You can have different colored boxes as colors have shown overtime to help increase recognition in customers by up to 90%.

Colors such as red can be used to package food for example while white would be a good color choice for cleaning agents for example.

Your choice of color for your box has a big role to play in the industry and should be carefully considered before selecting an option.

Cardboard boxes are a great way to package and ship your items and products nicely yet effectively. Remember, it is the first physical interaction your customer gets to have with you and it is critical to leave a good impression than a bad impression to establish loyalty, elevate your reputation and gain even more customers with positive reviews.

They can also help you to save money that may otherwise be spent on replacing items that may have been damaged in transit.

We at Awesome Pack have a wide range of Eco-Friendly packaging solutions including Cardboard Boxes so if you are looking for a Cost effective packaging supplier then look no further.

 

Warm Regards,

From the Awesome Pack Team