Where to Buy Large Cardboard Boxes?

Common Large Box Sizes and What They Are For

There is no single standard, because each seller chooses its own sizes. The sizes below are typical examples that show how large boxes are grouped by use.

A rule of thumb for packing is to use small boxes for heavy things and large boxes for light things. A large box filled with books is too heavy to lift and can split at the bottom.

Moving Boxes, Shipping Boxes and Wardrobe Boxes

These three can look alike, but they are built for different jobs.

Moving Boxes

Moving boxes are designed to be carried by hand and stacked in a truck. They usually have handle holes and come in a few standard sizes. They are made to be used once or a few times.

Shipping Boxes

Shipping boxes are made to be handled by machines and carriers, so strength and a clean, square shape matter more than handles. Our shipping boxes are custom size and can be printed, and our mailer boxes suit products that go flat-packed to customers.

Wardrobe Boxes

A wardrobe box is tall and has a metal or cardboard bar across the top, so clothes hang as they would in a closet. It is built for a move or for storing clothes, not for sending a product to a customer.

Special Boxes

Some stores sell dish packs, TV boxes, mirror boxes and mattress boxes. These are made for one product shape, usually with double-wall board. They suit that one job and are often a poor fit for anything else.

Wall Strength: Single, Double and Triple Wall

Corrugated board is made of flat liners with a wavy flute between them. The more layers it has, the stiffer and heavier it gets.

Our guide to where to buy cheap shipping boxes shows the cross-section of single and double wall board and explains the strength ratings printed on box stamps, such as ECT. Look for the stamp on the bottom flap: it usually shows the board rating and the heaviest load the box is built for, including its contents.

Large boxes need more strength, not less, because a larger panel flexes more and a heavier load presses on the bottom. As a general rule, choose double wall for large boxes that carry heavy or fragile goods.

How Carriers Treat Large and Oversized Parcels

Large boxes can cost more to ship than you expect. The details change by carrier and year, so treat this as a map of what to check rather than a rule.

• Dimensional weight. Carriers bill the higher of the real weight and the weight worked out from the box size. A large, light box often bills by size.
• Length plus girth. Girth is the distance around the box, measured as 2 x (width + height). Carriers add it to the length, and parcels above certain totals can be charged extra or refused.
• Longest side and weight. Very long or very heavy parcels can attract handling surcharges.
• Packaging and shape. Parcels that are not in a sturdy, regular box, or that have an odd shape, can attract extra fees.

In the example above, a box of 30 x 20 x 20 inches has a girth of 2 x (20 + 20) = 80 inches, so its length plus girth is 110 inches. The numbers are an example to show the method. Ask your carrier for its current limits and surcharges before you buy a large box, and use the carrier's rate calculator with the packed size and weight.

The practical lesson is to use the smallest box that protects the item. Right-sizing a large box saves more than shopping around for its price.

Where to Buy Large Cardboard Boxes

These are the kinds of places that sell large boxes. We do not name stores because the best option depends on your location and quantity.

For a one-off move, a store or an online retailer is the quickest route. For regular shipments of a large product, custom boxes can be sized to remove empty space and can carry your branding. Our shipping boxes start at 50 units, and we reply to quotes within 1 business day. See our corrugated boxes page for the board and styles.

How to Measure Before You Buy

Measure the item, not the box you hope it fits. Our guide to measuring a box correctly covers the order of length, width and height and the difference between inside and outside size.

• Measure the item at its longest, widest and tallest points. Include handles, legs or anything that sticks out.
• Add room for cushioning. About 2 inches on each side is a common starting point for a fragile item, and less for a sturdy one.
• Check inside dimensions. Seller sizes are often outside sizes, and the walls take room from the inside.
• Check the weight limit. The box must be rated for the weight of the item plus packing.
• Check carrier limits. Work out the girth and the DIM weight before you order.

A Worked Example

Say a seller ships a framed mirror that measures 40 x 30 x 1.5 inches. With 2 inches of cushioning on each side, the inside of the box needs to be about 44 x 34 x 5.5 inches. A 44 x 34 x 6 inch box has a volume of 8,976 cubic inches, which with an example divisor of 139 is about 64.6 pounds of dimensional weight. The mirror may weigh far less, so the size is what the carrier would bill. The seller should compare a thinner cushion, a different packing method and a custom size before buying. This is an example, not a customer story.

Protecting Fragile Items in Large Boxes

A large box leaves a lot of empty space, and empty space is where damage happens. Fix it with structure, not just filler.

• Use double wall for fragile loads. The extra layers resist crushing and punctures.
• Fill voids. Crumpled paper or packing paper stops the item moving.
• Use dividers and inserts. Box dividers and box inserts hold the item away from the walls.
• Protect corners and edges. Corner pieces or folded cardboard shield the weakest points.
• Use the box-in-box method for valuable goods. Pack the item in a snug box, then place that box in a larger one with cushioning around it.
• Seal like you mean it. Use the H-tape method, with strips along the center seam and both edges, and add extra tape on heavy boxes.

A Fragile sticker alone does not protect an item, because parcel systems are largely automated. Pack as if the box will be dropped and stacked.

Moving and Storage Tips

• Keep each box to a weight you can lift, and label the room and contents.
• Put heavy items at the bottom and light ones on top, with no empty gaps.
• Tape the bottom with extra strips before you fill the box.
• Store boxes off the floor and away from damp, since corrugated board weakens when wet.
• Do not stack filled boxes higher than the weaker, lower boxes can bear.

If you only need boxes for a move, ask local stores or neighbors for good used boxes, and pay for new boxes only for heavy or valuable items.

Reuse and Recycle Large Boxes

A large cardboard box is easy to reuse. Flatten it and store it for the next move, use it for storage, use it as a protective layer in garden or craft projects, or pass it on. Our guide to ways to reuse packaging boxes has more ideas.

When a box is worn out, cardboard is widely collected for recycling where local facilities accept it. Flatten it, remove plastic tape and labels where you can, and keep it dry. Our guide on whether cardboard gets recycled explains the details. Recycling rules differ by town, so check yours.

When Custom Large Boxes Make Sense

Custom boxes cost more per box at small quantities but can lower cost per parcel when you ship regularly. They tend to pay off when:

• the product has a fixed size that stock boxes never fit well;
• you ship at least weekly and can reach the minimum;
• stock boxes need heavy filler or force you into a larger size and a higher bill;
• your brand matters on delivery, and printing the box skips a sticker or tape.

Our guide to are custom shipping boxes worth it compares costs in more detail. A structural sample, an unprinted prototype that shows size and form, helps you test the fit before a full run. See the samples page.

Common Mistakes When Buying Large Boxes

• Filling a large box with heavy items so it is too heavy to lift.
• Choosing single wall for a heavy or fragile load.
• Ignoring carrier size limits until the label shows a surcharge.
• Using the outside size as the inside size.
• Not leaving room for cushioning.
• Storing boxes in a damp garage or basement.
• Buying a pallet of boxes before testing one.

A Checklist Before You Buy

• Item measured, packed size worked out with cushioning.
• Job decided: moving, storage, shipping or hanging clothes.
• Wall strength chosen for the load, with the box stamp checked.
• Carrier girth, DIM weight and surcharge rules checked.
• Source chosen by quantity: store for one-offs, retailer or manufacturer for volume.
• Tape, void fill and dividers bought with the boxes.
• Storage and reuse plan ready.

Next Step

For a move or one-off shipment, buy stock boxes and use the checklist above. For a product you ship often, tell us its size, weight and how many you send, and we will recommend a style: get a free quote. You can also read our guide to choosing the right box for your product.