shipping boxes

shipping boxes are corrugated cardboard cartons used to protect goods in transit from a seller to a customer, a warehouse or another business. Custom Postal Boxes manufactures shipping boxes in Wolverhampton in custom sizes with print, supplying UK ecommerce brands, retailers and trade sellers who need parcels to survive sorting hubs, delivery vans and doorstep drops without damage or returns.

A shipping box has three jobs. It must resist crushing and knocks, it must hold its contents still, and it must present the sender properly when it arrives. Getting the board grade and the size right covers the first two jobs, and print covers the third. Everything else, from tape choice to how staff pack, builds on those foundations.

Types of shipping boxes and when to use each

Standard cartons sealed with tape are the most flexible format and suit mixed contents. Mailer style boxes with tuck in lids present better for direct to customer orders and open without a knife. Self seal boxes close fast on a busy bench. Heavy loads and fragile goods call for thicker board or double walls. Compare cardboard shipping boxes, corrugated shipping boxes and custom shipping boxes for the main constructions.

Single wall and double wall board explained

Single wall board has one fluted layer between two flat liners and covers most everyday parcels up to moderate weights. Double wall board has two fluted layers, giving much better crush resistance and stacking strength for heavier, fragile or export goods. Choosing between them is a judgement about weight, fragility and how the parcel will be handled, and the team can advise where a single wall box is genuinely enough.

Kraft, white and printed finishes

Brown kraft board is the economical and widely recycled default, and it hides transit scuffs well. White board gives cleaner colour for printed designs and photography friendly parcels. Print can be as simple as a logo and handling marks or as full as complete artwork inside and out, depending on whether the box is a trade carton or the customer facing pack itself.

Handling marks and labels that help carriers

Printed handling guidance such as this way up or fragile notes only helps if it sits where handlers will see it, usually on two opposite faces. Leave a clear flat area for the courier label and barcode, because labels that wrap over an edge or sit on tape can fail to scan and slow the parcel down.

Shipping boxes, sizes and Royal Mail pricing in proportion

Royal Mail charges by size band as well as weight, a system known as pricing in proportion. Large letters are limited to 353 by 250 by 25 millimetres and 750 grams, small parcels to 450 by 350 by 160 millimetres and 2 kilograms, and medium parcels to 610 by 460 by 460 millimetres and 20 kilograms, as set out in the Royal Mail size and weight guide. Couriers use their own size and volumetric rules, but the principle is the same everywhere. A box that fits the contents closely is cheaper to send and safer than an oversized box filled with air and padding.

Measuring and packing for fewer damages

Measure the contents as they will be packed, add a modest allowance for cushioning, and choose the internal box size from those figures. Fill remaining voids with paper based fill so nothing can shift, keep heavy items centred and low, and tape the centre seam and edges of the top and bottom. For multi item orders, wrap items that could rub or leak separately before they share a box.

Buying shipping boxes from a UK manufacturer

Custom Postal Boxes is a project of Vertex Packaging, based in Wolverhampton, with manufacturing in house, free design support, low minimum order quantities and free UK delivery. Pricing depends on size, material and quantity because ordering is quote based rather than fixed price, so request a quote on the contact page with your dimensions and volumes. For smaller goods see small shipping boxes, and for demanding loads see heavy duty shipping boxes and double wall shipping boxes.

Businesses that place packaging on the UK market should also understand their reporting position, and the GOV.UK extended producer responsibility guidance explains the packaging scheme in official terms. Using right sized boxes supports that direction of travel in a practical way, because every order carries less material while arriving in better condition.

FAQs about shipping boxes

What is the difference between single wall and double wall shipping boxes?

Single wall board has one fluted layer and suits most everyday parcels of light to moderate weight. Double wall board has two fluted layers, giving stronger crush and stacking resistance for heavier, fragile or export shipments where parcels face rougher handling.

How do I choose the right size of shipping box?

Measure your contents as they will be packed, add a small allowance for cushioning and pick the closest internal size that holds everything without forcing the flaps. A close fit reduces movement, filler and postage cost compared with a much larger box.

Can shipping boxes be printed with my branding?

Yes. Boxes can carry anything from a simple logo and handling marks to full colour artwork inside and out. Free design support is included, so artwork is checked for position and legibility before production, including space for courier labels and barcodes.

Are cardboard shipping boxes recyclable?

Yes. Corrugated cardboard is widely recycled through UK household and commercial collections. Flatten used boxes and remove excess tape where asked, and consider reusing sound boxes for returns or internal movements before recycling them at the end of their life.