Breaking Down the Box:

Terms You Should Know

Box dimensions usually refer to the inside usable space of the box, not the outside measurement. This helps make sure your product fits properly inside. The outside size may be slightly larger because of the thickness of the corrugated material.

Fluting is the wavy, wave-like, or arched paper layer sandwiched between the flat sheets of linerboard in corrugated cardboard.

Board style refers to the structural and material composition used to manufacture cardboard boxes. It defines the paperboard's thickness, physical strength, and insulating properties.

ECT stands for Edge Crush Test. It measures the vertical stacking and compression strength of a corrugated cardboard box. The rating indicates how much weight (in pounds per linear inch) the board's edge can withstand before buckling, helping ensure boxes don't collapse when stacked on pallets.

Bubble Cell Size Guide

3/16" (Standard/Small):

• Best for: Light-to-medium-weight products. This is the most common, all-purpose bubble wrap.
• Examples: Books, kitchenware, and general fragile shipments.
• Use case: Excellent for interleaving between stacked items and general wrapping.

5/16" (Medium):

• Best for: Heavier, bulky, or irregularly shaped objects.
• Examples: Laptops, lighting fixtures, ceramics, and artwork.
• Use case: Provides great all-around cushioning and works perfectly for light to moderate void fill in larger boxes.

1/2" (Large):

• Best for: Heavy, bulky, or highly sensitive items.
• Examples: Large appliances, sculptures, antiques, and heavy auto parts.
• Use case: Primarily used as structural void fill to keep heavy items from shifting and to absorb strong shocks during heavy-duty transit.

Kraft Paper Weights

Kraft paper is available in different weights to match different packing and protection needs. Lighter kraft paper is flexible and easy to wrap around items, making it useful for void fill, layering, and light surface protection. Thicker kraft paper offers more strength and cushioning, making it better for wrapping heavier items, filling larger spaces, or adding extra protection during shipping and storage.
• 40 lb Kraft Paper is lightweight, flexible, and easy to handle. It is best for light-duty packing, wrapping, crafts, gift wrap, and general void fill. Because it is the most flexible option, it works well for detailed wrapping, shaping around products, or filling open space inside boxes.
• 50 lb Kraft Paper offers a balanced mix of strength and flexibility, making it a great everyday option. It is ideal for packing, wrapping, crafting, and general shipping use when you need more durability than 40 lb paper without losing easy handling. This weight is a reliable middle-ground choice for many packaging needs.
• 70 lb Kraft Paper is a heavy-duty option designed for stronger protection. It is best for industrial packing, wrapping larger surfaces, and protecting items that need added resistance against tearing or punctures. While it is less flexible than lighter paper weights, it offers the most strength and durability.

Mailers

Kraft Bubble Mailers

Best for small items that need light cushioning with a clean kraft paper look.

Use them for jewelry, accessories, books, media, gifts, picture frames, and other small products.

Poly Bubble Mailers

Best for items that need cushioning plus moisture and tear resistance.

Use them for beauty items, electronics, accessories, collectibles, and lightweight e-commerce products.

Poly Mailers

Best for soft, non-fragile items that do not need padding.

Use them for clothing, apparel, fabric goods, catalogs, books, and lightweight products.

Chipboard Flat Mailers

Best for flat items that need rigid protection against bending.

Use them for photos, prints, documents, certificates, stickers, calendars, discs, and paperwork.

Eco-Friendly Paper Mailers

Best for businesses looking for recyclable or plastic-free mailing options.

Use them for apparel, books, accessories, gifts, documents, soft goods, and everyday e-commerce shipments.

Corrugated Mailers

Best for items that need more structure, crush resistance, and edge protection.

Use them for books, literature, magazines, prints, artwork, framed photos, records, and small products.

Mailing Tube Length

The Usable length dimensions shown on the Mailing Tubes product indicate the amount of space within the tube that is available after the end caps have been placed onto the mailing tube.

Cast Stretch Wrap Vs. Blown Stretch Wrap

Stretch film is used in a variety of industries and it is important to choose the best one for each specific application. The two different types of stretch film are blown and cast, with the primary difference between the two being the process in which each is created and manufactured. These differences also impact the usability and price of the film.

Cast Stretch Wrap

A cast extrusion process is used to manufacture cast stretch film. Beads of resin are fed into a heated barrel and forced through a narrow slotted die, creating a 'sheet' of film. The film is then fed along a rolling path that has been cooled, solidifying the film. This process is faster and costs less than the blown extrusion method as more is produced per man-hour. Machine stretch wrap is commonly produced by this method.

Blown Stretch Wrap

The blown film extrusion process to create blown stretch film is similar to the cast extrusion process. Beads of resin are fed through a heated machine with a circular die, then forced through the die and blown out vertically into a bubble. As this formed bubble finishes the process of being transformed into rolls of stretch film, it is cooled by the surrounding air. This type of film generally costs more to make because the output per hour is less than with cast films. Hand stretch wrap is often manufactured using this process and typically has higher holding power and puncture resistance.