Corrugated Box Industry Terminology Guide

Boxes are similar to hay bales. A bale is a bundle of boxes, usually held together with plastic straps. When the boxes are packed, they are unfolded so that they lie flat on top of each other. Large bales may also be called bundles.

Knowing how many boxes are in a bundle may help you understand the box supplier’s pricing structure. Suppliers don’t like to take apart bales, so the minimum order quantity is usually equal to the number of boxes in the bale. Some suppliers offer quantity discounts for buying multiple packs at once.

The grade seal is unique to corrugated boxes made in the USA. This is a rectangular or circular stamp indicating that the stamped box meets all applicable standards. The stamp is usually affixed to the inside lid of the box. Sometimes the grade stamp is called the Box Manufacturer’s Certificate (BMC) or Certificate Stamp.

Not all cardboard boxes have a grade stamp, as these are exclusive to US-made boxes. Also, a box may not have a stamp and still meet all applicable standards. Still, seeing the stamp is an indication that the box you’re looking at is made in the USA and is a quality box.

Box style refers to the configuration of the box – how it is cut. Box size has nothing to do with it. Boxes of different sizes can still be cut to the same shape, which means they will all have the same style.

Box style numbers vary from vendor to vendor, but each vendor keeps their numbering system consistent. If you find a box that you like its shape but is too big or too small, this can help you identify other boxes to look at.

Paperboard has a technical definition, a term that is often misused by those outside the paper and carton industry. Cardboard is a thin, stiff paperboard that is commonly used for signage, playing cards, poster board, and other similar items. Unlike corrugated boxes, which many people call cardboard boxes, it is not used in corrugated boxes.

Corrugated boxes are made of corrugated cardboard, also known as corrugated cardboard, corrugated cardboard. This is a fluted material consisting of at least one flat layer and one zigzag layer. Most have two flat layers with a zigzag layer in between, but some boxes have only one flat layer or are reinforced with another zigzag layer.

Both of these materials are different from fiberboard. Fibreboard is made from multiple layers of cardboard – slightly thinner than cardboard. It is often used on retail boxes that don’t need to support much weight and are designed to grab the shopper’s attention.

Knowing the difference between cardboard, corrugated cardboard, and fiberboard will help you find the exact type of box you’re looking for. Sometimes people who don’t understand these definitions have a hard time finding the right box because they’re looking under a different heading than they should.

A panel is one side of a box. Traditional cubes and rectangular boxes have six panels: four sides, a top, and a bottom. If you plan to custom print your box, you will discuss the different panels.