Where to buy cheap shipping boxes?

Cheap Is Not the Same as Low Cost Per Parcel

A box that costs a few cents less can cost much more once you count everything around it. That is false economy, and it is the most common trap in this search.

• Damage. A weak box that crushes means a refund or a resend, plus an unhappy customer.
• Filler. A box that is too big needs more paper or air pillows to stop the item moving.
• Postage. Carriers charge by weight or by size, whichever is higher. An oversized box can bill like a heavier parcel.
• Time. Packing an awkward box slowly costs labor, even if it is your own.
• Storage. A pallet of boxes you cannot use up takes space and cash.

So the real question is what a box costs you once it is packed, sealed and delivered. Start with the box that protects the item and fits it closely, then look for a fair price on that box.

Where to Buy Cheap Shipping Boxes

These are the kinds of places that sell shipping boxes. We name no stores on purpose, since the best choice depends on your quantity and location.

For the first four, ask for the strength rating of the box, not only its size. For the last, ask for the minimum order. Our shipping boxes start at 50 units, and we reply to quotes within 1 business day.

Box Strength: Single Wall or Double Wall

Most shipping boxes are made from corrugated board. Corrugated board is paper made of flat layers called liners with a wavy layer between them called the flute. The flute acts like tiny arches and gives the board its stiffness. More layers mean a stronger box.

Reading the Strength Rating

Stock boxes often carry a stamp on the bottom flap, called the box maker's certificate. It usually shows one of two ratings.

• ECT (edge crush test). It measures how much pressure the board edge takes before it crushes, in pounds per inch. It tells you how well boxes stack and survive pressure.
• Burst or Mullen strength. It measures how much pressure the board takes before it bursts, in pounds per square inch. It is an older rating that still appears.
• Maximum gross weight. Many certificates also show the heaviest load the box is rated for, including its contents.

As a rough guide, common single-wall boxes run from about 32 ECT to 44 ECT, and double-wall boxes are rated higher still. Treat those figures as typical, and check the stamp on the boxes you are buying.

Board thickness also matters for fit: thicker walls take room from the inside. Our guide to measuring a box correctly explains inside and outside sizes. For what to pack in them, see what boxes are good for shipping.

Right-Size the Box to Cut Shipping Cost

Many carriers charge by dimensional weight, often called DIM weight. It is the weight a carrier assigns to a parcel from its size: length x width x height, divided by a number called the divisor. The carrier bills the higher of the real weight and the DIM weight. Divisors differ by carrier and rate type and change over time, so check the current one with yours.

In the example above, an item of 10 x 8 x 4 inches that weighs 2 pounds sits in two boxes. With an example divisor of 139, the big box works out to about 13.8 pounds and the right-sized box to about 4.7 pounds. The item has not changed, but the first parcel bills at a much heavier weight.

How to Right-Size in Five Steps

• Measure the packed item. Include its wrap, cap and any insert, as in our measuring guide.
• Add room for cushioning. Allow about an inch or less on each side for paper or air pillows, more for fragile items.
• Pick the closest stock size. Round up to the next size that fits.
• Test one parcel. Pack it, shake it, drop it from table height and weigh it.
• Limit your sizes. Two or three box sizes cover most sellers, and fewer sizes mean better prices and less storage.

Soft goods do not need a box at all. Clothing and other flexible items can ship in poly mailers, which are light and take little room.

Buying in Bulk: When It Helps and When It Hurts

Larger quantities usually lower the price per box, because the supplier spreads setup and handling over more boxes. That helps only if you can use them up.

• Check storage. Boxes ship flat in bundles but take a lot of room. Measure your shelf or floor space first.
• Keep them dry. Corrugated board absorbs moisture and weakens, so store boxes off the floor in a dry place.
• Count your use. Buy about two to three months of supply for a size you use daily, and less for a size you use rarely.
• Ask for price tiers. Many suppliers quote several quantities. Compare the steps, not only the biggest.
• Add delivery. Bulky boxes can cost a lot to ship, so a lower box price with high freight may not save anything.

Buying a few different sizes in small packs is a smart first step before committing to a large run.

Used and Free Boxes: What Can Go Wrong

Free boxes from stores, friends or recycling bins look like the lowest-cost option. They suit light, low-risk parcels, such as a handmade card or a soft item, if you take care.

• Lost strength. A box that has been used once, stacked or wet can be much weaker than a new one, even if it looks fine.
• Old labels and marks. Cover or remove old barcodes and addresses so scanners do not read them. See our guide to where to place a shipping label on a box.
• Odd sizes. A random box often fits badly, which brings back the filler and DIM weight problem.
• Hygiene. Boxes that held food or chemicals can leave smells or residue. Do not use them for food, cosmetics or clothing.
• Brand impression. A scuffed box with another company's logo does not look like you.

For anything heavy, fragile, valuable or sold under your brand, use new boxes.

When Custom Shipping Boxes Pay Off

Custom boxes cost more per box than stock at small quantities, but they can lower the cost per parcel. They pay off when:

• your product has an unusual size and every stock box needs lots of filler;
• you ship the same product every week, so one custom size replaces three stock sizes;
• your brand matters on the doorstep, and printing the box means you skip the extra sticker, tape and tissue;
• you can reach the minimum. Our shipping boxes start at 50 units, and our mailer boxes at 100 units.

For a plain look with a perfect fit, our corrugated boxes page explains the board and the styles. For a deeper cost comparison, read are custom shipping boxes worth it.

A Worked Example

Take a small candle brand that ships 150 jars a month. Its jar is 3 x 3 x 4 inches. It uses two stock boxes to fit gift sets and singles, and adds crumpled paper to stop movement. A custom shipping box sized to hold one jar with a divider could remove the filler and one stock size from the storeroom. This is an example, not a customer story: the saving depends on your quotes and your carrier rates.

Other Ways to Cut the Cost of Shipping Packaging

• Use paper filler. Crumpled kraft paper or packing paper protects well and is easy to recycle.
• Use dividers and inserts. Box inserts hold items still and replace bulky void fill.
• Seal well, but not too much. Use the H-tape method, with strips along the center seam and both edges, rather than a dozen random strips.
• Standardize. If you sell twelve products, group them into two or three box sizes.
• Check carrier rates. Compare two carriers for your usual parcel size and weight, and ask about discounts for volume.

How to Compare Shipping Box Offers

Put each offer next to the others and check the same points.

Order a small test pack before a large run. Our Standard Sample Kit costs $50 with shipping included, and the samples page lists other sample types such as a structural sample, an unprinted prototype that shows size and form.

Common Mistakes When Buying Shipping Boxes

• Choosing by price alone and ignoring the strength rating.
• Measuring the item, not the packed item with cushioning.
• Using one big box size for everything.
• Reusing a worn box for heavy or fragile goods.
• Ordering a pallet before testing one box.
• Forgetting that carriers measure the outside of the box.
• Not asking about freight on bulky boxes.

A Checklist Before You Buy

• Packed item measured and weighed.
• Box size chosen with room for cushioning and no more.
• Strength chosen for the load: single or double wall, rating checked.
• Carrier DIM divisor checked for your usual parcel.
• Quantity worked out, with storage space planned.
• Test parcel packed, shaken and weighed.
• Stock or custom decided by your quantity and brand needs.

Next Step

If you ship a few parcels a week, buy stock boxes in your two or three most common sizes and test them. If you ship the same product often, tell us what it is, its size and how many you ship, and we will recommend a style: get a free quote. You can also read our guide to choosing the right box for your product.